In the News

User’s choice of web browser can have a tremendous effect on the laptop’s battery life, and Microsoft is determined to prove that its Edge browser the most efficient of them all. The Redmond team has posted battery tests showing that Edge lasted longer in web video playback and standardized surfing tests than any other browser (including Opera in low-power mode), and over 3 hours longer than Chrome in the video test.

ZedIT Solutions, a leading North American IT consultancy and Microsoft Dynamics partner, has achieved Microsoft’s Silver ERP competency. The prestigious title is awarded to Microsoft partners who have demonstrated technical proficiency in implementing Microsoft’s flagship ERP application, Microsoft Dynamics AX. To earn a Microsoft Silver ERP competency, partners must complete a rigorous certification process and submit customer recommendations that demonstrate successful ERP implementations and customer satisfaction.

In a study conducted by Microsoft and Columbia University, it has been revealed that 59 percent of the links shared on micro-blogging site Twitter are never clicked, including people who share them. The study is based on data collected over a month by researchers from Microsoft and Columbia University, which included almost 2.8 million shares on Twitter. The researchers also said that this study is the first of its kind and has been published on an open-access platform.

Smart music discovery playlists are all the rage right now and Microsoft knows it. It recently introduced a Your Groove feature to Groove Music that automatically creates playlists suited to taste. It’ll generate track listings for existing OneDrive music collection based on user’s listening habits, moods and artist activity.

Microsoft released a free tool for Windows 10 that claims to scrub PCs of the “bloatware,” also called “crapware” that computer makers pack on new machines. Refresh Windows, which must be downloaded from Microsoft’s website, currently works only on preview builds of 10, those seeded to participants of the Insider program. Since Insider is a precursor to the production code, the tool should be usable by owners of systems upgraded to the Anniversary Update, version 1607.

Microsoft’s black box is available at a host of gaming stores across the country. Particularly the 500GB Kinect edition complete with three games for Rs. 45,990. These are Kinect Sports Rivals, Dance Central and Zoo Tycoon all as digital codes. Several store Managers have confirmed that these were official stock complete with warranty from Microsoft India and its distributor sticker.

Technology giant Microsoft has finally got the long awaited official Facebook app for Windows that would be available for Windows 10-powered personal computers and smartphones. The mobile app that was available till now was developed by Microsoft on behalf of Facebook. The new app, now in beta, is being developed and published by the social networking giant.

Console brands Xbox and PlayStation are finding ways to keep their players on board by offering something for everyone. Both Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation are changing their approaches to console gaming. At E3 2016, Xbox announced not one but two console revisions August 2016’s Xbox One S, 2017’s Project Scorpio while PlayStation confirmed its PlayStation 4 upgrade, the PS4 Neo, in the days before. Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, opened his division’s gaming showcase by introducing a smaller, slightly more powerful version of 2013’s Xbox One. Two hours later, he closed with a look at the ambitious tech behind Project Scorpio, a machine set to become the most powerful console on the market at launch.

Earlier this year, Microsoft officially opened up Xbox Live, finally allowing for the prospect of true cross platform play. With this restriction no longer in place, would Square Enix now consider an Xbox One port? Final Fantasy 14 Director Naoki Yoshida told Polygon, “Microsoft actually approached the Final Fantasy 14 team about the cross-platform opportunity. The Final Fantasy 14 team has fed back to Microsoft that there are certain elements of its regulations that we would have to consider waived. We’re waiting on Microsoft’s response for that, but we are having discussions.”

Speaking during Microsoft’s E3 live coverage, Aaron Greenberg, Xbox head of marketing, hinted at a great lineup to come for Xbox. He said, “Of course the games are what it’s all about, right? This year we’ve shown that over the next year we’ll launch more first party games that we’re developing with our internal studios and our partners that we’ve ever had in the history of Xbox.”