Recent News

Microsoft has launched a Skype Insiders Program allowing users on any platform (Windows, Android, Mac OS and iOS) to volunteer to test upcoming functions being developed for the famous software. The program is based on the same concept as the Windows Insider Program, which gives users insider access to new features coming to the firm’s operating system. With this new cross-platform program, Microsoft is seeking fast user feedback from thousands of testers all over the world. The aim is to correct bugs, of course, but also to evaluate the quality of upcoming innovations before rolling them out once and for all.

According to a report by Microsoft Accelerator, startups in healthcare, retail and banking are the biggest adopters of enterprise technology solutions. They are adopting start-up technologies based on their growth potential, willingness to adopt start-up solutions, and availability of such complex solutions locally. The Ecosystem report provides insights into how this enterprise-startup partnership has evolved in last few years, underlining the value of collaboration and building the start-up ecosystem. It showcases the top 151 enterprise ready start-ups in India and the 10 sectors that have demonstrated momentous growth.

As is usually the case with high profile releases, Arkane Studios’ Dishonored 2 already has several copies floating about before its official release. A Reddit user noted how the patch was 9.1 GB to download on PS4. It’s also been confirmed by Press-Start that the Xbox One version has a 9 GB patch. According to Reddit, it includes improvements to frame rate, texture streaming, reloading time, audio mix, shadowing quality and the usual bug fixes. Mid-mission stats and screenshot previews for saved games have also been added. Patch notes are still due to be released.

Microsoft is betting on artificial intelligence (AI) with the creation at the end of September of a new AI and Research Group. This newly formed group brings together Microsoft’s research organization and more than 5,000 computer scientists and engineers focused on AI and is now the fourth major division in the company, on par with the Windows, Office and Cloud divisions.

Almost half of Australian IT leaders will drive their organizations’ transition to hybrid cloud infrastructure over the next few years, according to a study by Microsoft. Approximately 40 percent of Australian respondents indicated that their organizations are already transitioning to hybrid cloud with either integrated or non-integrated public or private cloud infrastructure. Microsoft expects this number to increase to 49 percent in the next 12 to 18 months.

Microsoft issued a firmware fix to a second battery issue affecting some Surface Pro 3 devices on November 7. Microsoft officials acknowledged a second battery issue affecting some Surface Pro 3 users in late September. This acknowledgement came after a firmware fix for a different Surface Pro 3 battery issue experienced by some with devices using Simplo batteries. Microsoft issued a firmware fix meant to address those with Simplo devices suffering from extreme battery-drainage issues in August.

Back in May, MSPoweruser got a preview of Project Cheshire, a to-do list app that Microsoft has been building. Reportedly that tool has got a major update and is in private beta. Since the first time it was revealed, Project Cheshire has arrived on Android and iOS, and is also available as a UWP app. As with other such tools, it lets users create multiple lists, set reminders and sync your to-dos across your devices.

WhatsApp has always been a supporter to Windows Phone and now the company has decided to add another security feature for the Windows Phone users. WhatsApp is still investing in its Windows Phone apps, keeping Microsoft users in line with Android and iOS users. According to MicrosoftInsider, WhatsApp might soon offer two-factor authentication for the Windows Phone platform. Two-factor authentication is a security measure that protects users’ accounts beyond the typical username and password layer, providing alternative authentication systems, such as codes that are delivered to the owner’s mobile phone.

Earlier this year, Microsoft made a splash at its Ignite conference for IT professionals when it announced that it has been racking cards of programmable chips together with servers in its cloud data centers. The chips, called field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), can be reconfigured after being deployed to optimize them for particular applications such as networking and machine learning. Now, Microsoft is investing in tools that would allow customers to program the FPGAs, said Scott Guthrie, the Executive Vice President in charge of Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise division.

Congratulating Donald Trump for becoming the 45th US President, Microsoft’s Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella said he looks forward to working with all those elected. “We witnessed the democratic process in action here in the US. The results are of importance around the world, and I know that interest is shared among Microsoft employees,” Nadella said in a statement posted on LinkedIn.