In the News

In a promising first update to the Windows Phone 8.1 OS, Microsoft extends Cortana support to new markets, live folders, improved Xbox Music app, and enhanced privacy features, among others. The update brings Microsoft’s voice assistant to Canada, India and Australia as an opt-in ‘alpha’ or ‘early test’ version and will give users the ability to try Cortana using English language models from the US and the UK. Full support for the service may be extended to India by 2015.

In response to user requests, Microsoft rolled out an update to its One-Note app on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Now the OneNote app for Mac comes with the ability to let users access notebooks on OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online (via Office 365). Microsoft adds that users of the app for iPad, iPhone and Mac can also insert and view files or attachments in their notebooks—including PDF formats.

Popularly known as the Olympics of technology, the ‘apps for office’ challenge hosted by Microsoft Office is a coveted platform for developers to create cloud-hosted web apps that work inside Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and SharePoint. Two finalist teams have now won a trip to Seattle to compete in the Imagine Cup World Finals this month. This year, Team Codeblue from Manav Rachna International University is all set to represent India against China at the finals.

In a bid to provide more features to Android users, Microsoft has started rolling out an update to its Outlook.com app for Android, introducing some new features for easier access to emails, new colors for the app interface, and more. This update lets users access emails from any time period via the Outlook server-side search. Earlier, users could only access those mails that had been downloaded on to their Android devices.

Windows hybrid tablets for classroom learning have been adopted by four schools in Chennai, Microsoft said recently. At an event held in Chennai, the schools also announced the setting up of SOLE Labs (Self Organised Learning Environment Labs), Microsoft India stated in a press release. These SOLE Labs will enable students in elementary and middle school classes to learn in self- chosen collaborative work groups that will leverage the power of these Windows devices, it added.

In a recent announcement, Microsoft Ventures in India stated that it has selected the fifth batch of 12 technology start-ups that will constitute the winter batch of its Accelerator Program. CryptoPhoto, DabKick, Fairket, FlatPebble, NiftyWindow, Playblazer, RHLVision, AppKnox, DeltaX, ProHance, Tallenge and TruTech have been chosen after several rounds of shortlisting from the original list of 1300+ applications received for this batch. The applications were a mix of B2C and B2B companies in various technology fields, and also included few international start-ups.

The Wellfare Institute of Science Technology and Management (WISTM) has launched the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) on its campus. The centre was inaugurated by Director Educational Advocacy, Microsoft India, Lokesh Mehra, in the presence of the Managing Director of the Wellfare group of companies Malla Vijay Prasad. Launching the centre, Mr. Mehra explained the benefits of MIC and how students could optimize the resources that have been made available.

Hiring the world’s top-notch mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists and researchers for Station Q, Microsoft is looking to change how computing will work in the future. It is said that large-scale quantum computers will be able to solve certain problems much quicker than any classical computer. In the wake of International Business Machines Corp investing billions in the development of synthetic brains and quantum computing, Microsoft has developed a quantum computing research facility called ‘Station Q’.

In a long-term strategic partnership, Microsoft announced that GoDaddy will be its exclusive email and productivity service for small businesses in India. Microsoft Office 365 offered through GoDaddy will give millions of small businesses access to enterprise-grade productivity solutions at an affordable price, starting at Rs. 149/month. Microsoft Office 365 helps even the smallest of businesses look professional, collaborate with employees and customers, and effectively run their business anywhere, on any mobile device.

Kimberley Bolton is blazing a trail for all young women currently considering a career in IT. The 19-year old from Maidenhead made history last week after becoming the first woman to win a Microsoft Apprentice of the Year award. Kimberley was chosen from 1,000s of apprentices on the Microsoft program to win in the ‘Medium Business Category’. Working as a Junior Support Consultant for Pythagoras, she was nominated by her employers in recognition of her positive attitude and hard work.