In the News

The latest feature in Windows 10 mobile devices (build 14291 and 14295) allows Cortana to tell users if other connected devices are running low on battery, if they have missed a text and even sends app notifications. The builds are only available to members of the Microsoft Insider Program on both mobile and desktop. The feature must be explicitly enabled in Cortana’s settings menu, where you need to enable the “Send phone notifications” feature.

Microsoft Research has released SandDance, a free data visualization app that lets users gain insight in surveys and research projects. Users can simply fire it up in browser, upload a data set (TXT, CSV and JSON formats are currently supported) and analyze in a variety of ways. SandDance is the latest project to come out of Microsoft Garage, the company’s program to foster experimental products developed by its employees.

Microsoft, thanks to its accelerator program Microsoft Ventures and extensive global enterprise customer base of 25,000, has turned beneficial for many startups and enterprises. It was the first major accelerator program in India and has grown by far the most robust. Since its launch in mid-2012, Microsoft Ventures has seen 84 startups graduating in seven batches. Harish Vaidyanathan, who heads the independent software vendor ecosystem engagement for Microsoft India, said, “The biggest problem most startups face is access and connections with enterprise customers.”

A Reddit survey indicated that Microsoft is looking at the possibility of letting users trade in their digital games for store credit. The exchange rate appears to be a slightly less than what users would get for trading in a physical copy. Microsoft suggested that a 10% store credit would be on offer also.

Nuk3town, a futuristic version of the classic Black Ops map, is now available free for PS4, Xbox One and PC users. the Nuk3town Personalization Pack which adds a Nuk3town themed weapon camo, three themed weapon reticles and a themed calling card is also added in the deal. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 recently received the Awakening DLC, adding four new maps to the four new maps to the mix, while a free update added some new weapons for players to earn through the Black Market.

Real Time Media Engine 2.0 is now available for Linux-based thin clients. It means users can benefit from new features and HD video conferencing. The HDX Real Time Media Engine 2.0 allows high-quality HD video conferences as well as Enterprise VoIP telephony via Microsoft Skype for Business. Citrix is also decoupling the functionality so that Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2015, Microsoft Lync Server 2013 and Office 365 (Skype for Business Online) are supported.

Microsoft has open-sourced its Visual Studio Productivity Power Tools and made them available on GitHub. First released in 2010, the tools serve as extensions for improving developer productivity. Justin Clarebert and Michael Dick, Microsoft senior program managers for Visual Studio, said, “Making the current set of tools available to the community is important to us, and we hope it will also inspire developers with concrete examples of what can be achieved with extensions of their own.”

Microsoft retreated from an earlier retirement date for Windows 7 and 8.1 support on newer hardware. The company revealed that it would now support them on PCs running Intel’s Skylake silicon until July 2018. Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s top Windows and devices Executive, said, “As partners make customizations to legacy device drivers, services, and firmware settings, customers are likely to see regressions with Windows 7 ongoing servicing.”

Microsoft India has tied up with the Government of Telangana as part of its Microsoft Openness Day in Hyderabad. The event aimed to create specific solutions for issues related to women’s safety, transport and other key areas on Azure cloud platform. The six-hour Open Hack challenge saw participation from close to a 1000 developers. Narendra Bhandari, General Manager, Developer Experience and Evangelism, Microsoft India, said, “The IP of the solution developed will rest with the developers. The top 5 to 10 ideas will be mentored by entrepreneurs and members from the state government. Mature ideas will also be taken to the Microsoft Bizspark.”

Three new games have become backwards compatible on the Xbox One. Xbox One gamers can now play Alan Wake, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Pac-Man on their consoles.