Author: Microsoft Stories

Autodesk and Microsoft have teamed up to bring virtual product designs into the real world using augmented reality. The two companies announced that Autodesk Fusion 360 — software that lets users design, test, and ultimately manufacture physical objects — will connect with Microsoft’s HoloLens headset.

At its annual Convergence EMEA conference, Microsoft introduced new innovations that will enable companies to succeed in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Chief Marketing Officer Chris Capossela detailed new capabilities in Microsoft Office 365, announced the worldwide availability of its customer engagement solution, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016; and introduced Microsoft PowerApps.

Microsoft has started offering PUA protection in its anti-malware products for enterprise customers. The new feature is available in Microsoft’s System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP) and Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) as an option that can be turned on by system administrators. PUA signatures are included in the anti-malware definition updates and cloud protection, so no additional configuration is needed.

Microsoft’s latest smartphones—Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL— are two of slimmest Windows 10-based handsets manufactured by the company. However, Japanese manufacturer Yamada Denki has launched a new Windows 10 based smartphone, which is slimmer than both the devices. Yamada Denki’s Everyphone is also one of the first non-Windows mobile devices to utilise a Windows 10 OS. A just 6.9mm thickness and 139 grams.

Taking ahead its idea of offering users with the ability to tie together iPhones and PCs, Microsoft has started rolling out the beta version of its Cortana virtual assistant for iOS, albeit only to early testers Akin to Apple’s own Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana for iOS offers voice-based assistance and further helps the user in managing schedule, reminders, alarms, track flights, packages, stocks, etc.

Microsoft will launch its first Windows 10 smartphone Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL in India on Monday. The company has sent the invites for an event which will be held in New Delhi. Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik and Microsoft Mobile Devices Country Head Ajay Mehta are expected to be present at the launch.

Microsoft has launched a new Nokia 230 phone. Priced at $55, roughly Rs 3,360, the feature phone features polycarbonate frame and a sand-blasted aluminum back cover, and is 10.9 mm thick. Microsoft has also launched a dual-SIM version of the phone, called the Nokia 230 dual-SIM.

Mike Ybarra director of programming for the Xbox Division, recently talked about what 2016 should be focused on, after coming off of a successful year in 2015. He said, “We are all gamers. I’m on the platform side, but I would be encouraging us as an organization to focus on games. Games are why we are all buying these consoles to play and so you go t to have a great lineup. It’s in my opinion the best holiday lineup we’ve had in Xbox One [history]. I really feel like we have to continue to focus on creating great content and great games.”

Microsoft is adding a new opt-in defense for enterprises to block adware, which is often sneakily wrapped into free downloads. The feature, which will be in the company’s System Center Endpoint Protection and Forefront Endpoint Protection products, is opt-in, meaning administrators will have to turn it on. PUAs will be blocked and quarantined under the default setup.