Tuesday, February 28, 2017

NVIDIA unveils GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, world’s fastest gaming GPU for $699

NVIDIA today unveiled GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, world's fastest gaming GPU. This new GPU is 35 percent faster than a GTX 1080 and also faster than Titan X. GTX 1080 Ti is manufactured on the industry's cutting-edge FinFET process. It comes with 3584 NVIDIA CUDA cores and a massive 11GB frame buffer running at an unheard of 11Gbps.

GTX 1080 Ti features superior heat dissipation from a new high-airflow thermal solution with vapor chamber cooling, 2x the airflow area and a power architecture featuring a seven-phase power design with 14 high-efficiency dualFETs.

GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards, including the NVIDIA Founders Edition, will be available worldwide on March 10, from NVIDIA GeForce partners, including ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision 3D, MSI, Palit, PNY and Zotac.

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti costs $699 and pre-orders on nvidia.com will go live on March 2, at 8am Pacific.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mbPKrz
via IFTTT

Windows 10 Build 15042 ISO now available for download

Microsoft today released the official ISOs for Windows 10 Build 15042 for Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft last week released Build 15042 for PCs to Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring.

It was a minor update with a few changes. First, it came with an updated Cortana persona that you'll see when you land on the Cortana page in OOBE. Second, they added a new dialog in the URL bar to make it clearer when Flash content has been blocked. Third, they improved the EPUB reading experience in Microsoft Edge.

Download Windows 10 Build 15042 ISO here from Microsoft.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m6fGVk
via IFTTT

Microsoft releases Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 15042

Microsoft today released an updated Windows 10 Creators Update SDK Preview to be used in conjunction with latest Windows 10 Build 15042 or greater. The Preview SDK Build 15042 contains bug fixes and under development changes to the API surface area. Find the full change log below.

What's New:

  • No API changes have occurred since build 15021.
  • Windows SDK setup name change: With this release of the Windows SDK the setup executable name changed.  If you have scripts designed to install the previous SDK, you will need to update the path to use the new name:  WinSDKSetup.exe.
  • The Windows SDK will now formally only be supported by Visual Studio 2017 and greater.

Known Issues Windows SDK:

  • DX12 Template Throws when running Build 15042: This is a known bug in the Windows SDK installer.  If you encounter this issue, you can repair the SDK by simply running the following command from an Administrative command prompt:  C:\program files (x86)\windows kits\10\bin\10.0.15042.0\x86\DismFoDInstall.cmd
  • Unable to deploy to device:  If you are unable to deploy your app to a device or emulator, it may be because Windows IPOverUSB did not install correctly.  To work around this issue:
    1. Open up the ISO
    2. Navigate into the WindowsSDK\Installers folder
    3. Double click on the file "Windows IP Over USB-x86_en-us.msi"
    4. Follow the prompts
  • Windows App Certification Kit crashes when launched from Visual Studio: If Visual Studio cannot deploy the app, the Windows App Certification Kit may crash when loading.  To work around this issue:
    1. Launch the Windows App Certification Kit from the Windows shortcut
    2. Provide a pointer directly to the package to run the tests

You can download the Preview SDK here from Windows Insider. As always, the Preview SDK is a pre-release and cannot be used in a production environment. And you cannot submit apps that are built using this SDK build to Windows Store.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mDtbt9
via IFTTT

Developer Submission: Perfect 500px – a new app from Perfect Thumb

The best third-party 500px app designed exclusively for Windows 10 Universal. Stay inspired with a continuous feed of the world's most incredible images, connect with 7 million photographers, and share your best work with a passionate community.

Have fun while being discovered

  • Share your photos with the world and get recognized by international brands
  • Collect photos based on your personal visual style with Galleries
  • A unique discovery experience ensures everyone has a chance to get noticed, and keeps you up to date on the latest and greatest from the 500px community
  • A sleek home feed will keep you scrolling through inspiring images from the people you follow, and recommendations based on the photos they like
  • All photos are displayed uncropped and at the highest quality – your photos have never looked better on a mobile device!
  • Automatically updates lock screen/desktop/mobile start screen wallpaper from any Gallery or Photo

The only thing better than being a part of the world's best photo community is having access to it wherever you go. The beautifully-designed 500px app puts a world of inspiring photography at your fingertips.

Free download at Windows Store here:

WP-Appbox: Perfect 500px (Free+, Windows Store) →



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lx5fa8
via IFTTT

Developer Submission: Your All-In-One Task Automation app for Windows

In today's day and age, technology is practically everywhere! It's at the office, in the palm of our hands, it's signaling traffic messages, at your local eatery – it's practically all around us! It's no wonder that we turn to technology to help us with the majority of our day-to-day tasks. With the hectic lives we lead today, it would be hard to get everything done without the use of technology to aid us. As great as it is, however, technology still presents some unpleasantries. Since most PC tasks are so vast they, require you to use different settings, different input devices, and interactions…making managing certain activities an absolute nightmare – to say the least. Good thing for you, Ellp can help with this.

download-ellp

Ellp simplifies this process, bringing together multiple features into an all-in-one platform, that allows you to manage tasks with ease. Ellp is an automation program which easily connects and automates the most common and critical tasks that you do every day on your device, so you can focus on what matters the most. As opposed to the standardized one-size-fits-all approach, Ellp offers a more personalized way of automating device tasks.

Main Screen.PNG

Ellp's entire automation structure is built around a collection of Ellp cards, that cover a vast number of categories including performance, the online sphere, social media, security, audio, storage, and productivity. The cards are the heart and soul of the Ellp. They are based on a trigger and action approach, with each card focused on helping you carry out a particular task. For example, 'When an application is slowing down my PC startup, alert me'. Here, the application slowing down PC startup is the trigger, and the notification received is the resulting action. The best part of the Ellp card system is that you can personalize the cards around your needs. You can flip through and select your preferred Ellp cards effortlessly in 3 easy steps:

  1. Choose the cards that matter most to you
  2. Edit them according to your preferences
  3. Switch the activation toggle on

Once you're done, you can simply sit back and let Ellp work its magic silently in the background, only alerting you when an action is required from your end. It's quite flexible, and with 15 Ellp cards already at your disposal, you'll see that with Ellp automating is simple, fun and best of all it's free!

Sounds great? Why not try it out for yourself. Installation is quick and simple and will only take a couple of minutes of your time. For a complete guide of how to install Ellp, feel free to check out our blog, here. With Ellp you can rest assured that you'll certainly tick off that comfort and convenient box! Go ahead start automating easy with Ellp.

download-ellp



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mqMY28
via IFTTT

HP Elite x3 gets a firmware update with camera improvements, barcode reader support and more

HP has released another firmware update for the HP Elite x3, taking it to version 0002.0000.0026.0118. The update brings a number of improvements, including camera quality improvements, performance improvements and support for HP's recently released barcode scanner jacket.

Here's what's new:

  • Camera

    • Photo quality in full dark environment with flash on is improved.
    • Auto focus tuning updates.

    Carriers

    • APN configurations updated for Orange, MegaFone, Vodafone

    System

    • Memory utilization is optimized.
    • Performance of application launches is improved.

    Accessories

    • HP Elite x3 Barcode Scanner Jacket is supported.

You can snag the update by heading into Settings > Security > Phone Update, although the rollout might be limited by your region and carrier (in some cases).

You can get the HP Elite X3 from Microsoft Store (US) here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2llXT8j
via IFTTT

Here’s what’s new, fixed, and broken in Windows 10 Build 15046

Another week, another new build of Windows 10. Microsoft is today releasing build 15046 for Insiders in the Fast Ring, and it comes with a handful of bug fixes and improvements for PCs. There aren't any notable new features in the update, so don't get too excited. Nevertheless, you can find the full changelog for the update below:

What's new (for PCs)

Color of Cortana's home on the taskbar: You had a LOT of opinions on this topic and we have been loving the enthusiastic feedback coming in! We finished our experiment with the color of Cortana's home on the taskbar and for now, it's back to the color it was before. Thanks for your feedback on this change.

Windows Defender Improvements: Windows Defender Security Center has added a notification icon to the notification area so you can see your protection status at a glance. You can also easily launch the app from the notification icon. Windows Defender Antivirus notifications also now lead to Windows Defender Security Center when clicked. Also: Windows Defender Security Center can now be launched directly from the Settings app and the "App and Browser" page is now functional.

Pick up where you left off in Cortana: We are experimenting with how we display what you can pick up where you left off across your devices in Cortana. Cortana now proactively shows you apps, files and websites from Microsoft Edge. Previously, this feature only displayed websites from Microsoft Edge in Action Center. Let us know what you think! (Available EN-US only.)

Improved translations: For Insiders who speak non-English languages, we wanted to let you know that we have heard your feedback on our translations and have been actively making improvements. With this build you should see improvements – particularly in OOBE and for some of our newer settings, but across the system as well. We encourage you to take a look around the system, and if you spot anything translation that doesn't quite seem on point, please log feedback using the steps here.

Updated Gaming Settings icon: A lot of you sent in feedback on this. We listened and adjusted the Gaming icon in Settings to feel more inline with the other icons on the Settings home page.

Application Installation Control: You now have the option to control what type of apps are allowed to install on your PC. This setting is available by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. You can choose to only allow installation of Store apps, choose to be warned when installing a non-Store app but allow their installation, or choose to allow installation of apps from anywhere.

When you choose either of the Store options, you'll see a warning when attempting to install a non-Store app. The warning will direct you to the Store where you can download an alternate app if available. In some cases, when there's already an equivalent app in the Store, the warning will provide link to that app. This is an opt-in feature, and the default setting is to allow installation of apps from anywhere. (Note: This went live with last week's build.)

What's fixed

  • We fixed the issue causing a small percentage of PCs to fail to update to recent builds due to a corrupt registry key.
  • We fixed the issue causing Microsoft Edge and / or the taskbar to stop responding requiring you to open Task Manager to restart explorer.exe.
  • Windows Hello face authentication should work again on Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book devices.
    After updating to a new build, we've updated the text on the welcome screen to say "Might take several minutes" instead of "Might take several minutes or so". Thanks to everyone who sent feedback on how the original phrasing was overly casual.
  • Cortana's background is now black instead of the previous grey.
  • We fixed an issue in tablet mode where, with certain DPI levels, Start tiles would render on first launch of Start after entering tablet mode but on subsequent launches would appear blank.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Shift+F10 not working to open context menus for websites displayed in Microsoft Edge.
  • We fixed an issue in Microsoft Edge where using the left/right arrow keys might sometimes unexpectedly result in forward/back page navigation.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in copy failing the first time you tried to copy a password from the LastPass extension in Microsoft Edge to a website.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in the Microsoft Edge app window being unexpectedly slow to follow your mouse when dragging it around the screen.
  • We fixed an issue in Microsoft Edge where, after opening a link in a new tab, tooltips might start drawing behind the Microsoft Edge window instead of on top.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in input no longer working in a particular Microsoft Edge tab after tearing it away to make a new window.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Microsoft Edge launching on pen click when that was the configured pen click action in Pen and Windows Ink Settings.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Microsoft Edge sometimes unexpectedly crashing when deleting characters typed using an IME (for example, the Japanese IME, or the MS Pinyin IME).
  • We fixed an issue resulting in drag and drop (for example, into an Outlook 2016 email) sometimes not working on PCs with multiple monitors where the two monitors have different DPIs.
  • We fixed an issue where the icon for Windows Insider Program under Settings > Update & security was shown as a square.
  • We fixed an issue where all windows on a PC using multiple monitors would move to the primary monitor after remoting into the machine from a single monitor remote desktop session.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Storage Sense in Storage Settings failing to purge the recycle bin with certain machine configurations.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in an unexpected and unnamed 0 byte item listed under Manage Optional Features in Settings.
  • We fixed an issue where PC Reset wasn't working in the last flight, the PC would boot to a blue screen saying that there was a problem resetting your PC.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in being unable to mount an ISO with the sparse file attribute set.
  • We fixed an issue where handwriting text candidates might stop working properly after using strikethrough to erase words written in the handwriting panel.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in the Korean IME's composition indicator unexpectedly not appearing when typing jamo into certain text fields.
  • We fixed an issue where app updates in the Store may fail with error code 0x8020002B.
  • We fixed an alignment issue with entries on the Sign-in options Settings page.
  • We fixed the issue causing the Microsoft Edge F12 Developer Tools to intermittently crash, hang, and fail to accept inputs. If you continue to have issues with the F12 Developer Tools, send us feedback!
  • We fixed the issue where pressing F12 in Microsoft Edge multiple times invokes multiple F12 windows (all but one are non-functional).
  • We fixed the issue where toggling F12 between the docked and undocked state repeatedly can crash Microsoft Edge.

 

What's broken

  • Some PCs will fail to update to this build at 71% and roll-back to the previous build. See this forum post for details.
  • [GAMING] Some popular games might minimize to the taskbar when launched. You can click on the game on the taskbar to get the game back.
  • [GAMING] Certain hardware configurations may cause the broadcast live review window in the Game bar to flash Green while you are Broadcasting. This does not affect the quality of your broadcast and is only visible to the Broadcaster.
  • Some UWP apps may unexpectedly appear with their app package in the title bar as opposed to the app name.
  • Pressing F12 to open the Developer Tools in Microsoft Edge while F12 is open and focused may not return focus to the tab F12 is opened against, and vice-versa.
  • Sometimes launching F12 will launch the F12 window behind the active Microsoft Edge window.

 



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mIepRm
via IFTTT

Windows 10 Build 15046 released to Windows Insiders

Another new build of Windows 10 is rolling out to Windows Insiders today. Microsoft today released Windows 10 build 15046 for Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring, and it's a fairly minor update from the last build (15042). The latest build is only available for PCs.

As we are nearing the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update, the latest build of Windows 10 does not include a lot of new features and it mostly focuses on bug fixes and improvements in the OS. This will likely be the case for most of the upcoming builds of Windows 10, as Microsoft is busy polishing up the Windows 10 Creators Update for the public release in April.

There are a couple of new features in the update, however. Firstly, Microsoft is bringing back the old color for Cortana in the taskbar which the company removed with an earlier build of Windows 10 as part of an experiment. As it seems like, Insiders didn't really like the change so Microsoft is bringing it back to its original design. Microsoft is also adding a tiny new feature to the Windows Defender notification in the taskbar which will now show your status right from the taskbar icon.

Microsoft has also improved the "Pick up where you left off" feature with build 15046. With the latest build, Windows 10 now shows your apps, files, and websites from Microsoft Edge in Cortana rather than the Action Center. As a result, they are always accessible and you won't have to worry about mistakenly removing the notification from the Action Center anymore.

There are a couple of other minor new changes — for instance, Microsoft is introducing improved translations, especially for the new OOBE as well as a new icon for the Gaming page in the Settings app. Apart from all of this, there really isn't anything else in this build.

Windows 10's development will get exciting once again when Microsoft starts releasing Windows 10 "Redstone 3" builds following the public rollout of the Creators Update. Redmond is expected to reveal details regarding the Redstone 3 update at its annual developer conference, Build 2017. Windows Insiders should be able to try out some of the upcoming new features sometime around June/July of this year when Redstone 3 development enters the "prime-time" period.

In the meantime, if you are interested in getting the latest build of Windows 10, make sure your device is enrolled into the Fast Ring. Once that's done, go into Windows Update in the Settings and check for updates to download and install build 15046 on your machine.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mC2Hsh
via IFTTT

BBC iPlayer for Windows Phone now warning of 3rd April shutdown

A few weeks ago we reported that the BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Radio app for Windows Phone was shutting down in April 2017.

Now the app has started to inform users of the same fact, both in the app listing and in the app itself (screen shot above.)

The notice links to the BBC's website, where they note if you are on Windows 10 and Edge you can continue watching programming using in-browser streaming and recommend users who are able to upgrade to the latest version of the OS. This solution of course lacks some of the features of app-based viewing, such as being able to download programming for off-line viewing.

The coming removal of the app is just the latest in the exodus of high-profile phone apps from the store, with replacement with UWP apps an uncommon but always hoped for outcome.

Find the app, while it lasts, in the Windows Store here.

WP-Appbox: BBC iPlayer (Free, Windows Store) →



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lTGiXg
via IFTTT

Here are all the titles supported by Xbox Game Pass so far

Microsoft today announced a new gaming subscription service called Xbox Game Pass which will gamers access to over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games for $9.99 per month.

The Game Pass will include games from top industry publishers such as 2K, 505 Games, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK CORPORATION, THQ Nordic GmbH, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Microsoft Studios.

Microsoft has so far announced 21 titles which will be accessible on the service, arriving in Spring this year.

The list includes:

A Kingdom for Keflings (360)
Banjo-Kazooie (360)
Comic Jumper (360)
Dark Void (360)
Defense Grid 2 (XB1)
Gears of War: Judgment (360)
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (XB1)
Halo: Spartan Assault (XB1)
Hexic 2 (360)
Jetpac Refuelled (360)
Kameo (360)
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (XB1)
Monday Night Combat (360)
Ms. Splosion Man (360)
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (360)
Perfect Dark Zero (360)
Sacred 3 (360)
Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space (360)
Sunset Overdrive (XB1)
The Maw (360)
Viva Pinata (360)

The list will be dynamic and a bit like Netflix's catalogue titles will be added and removed regularly. Subscribers will also get an exclusive discount to buy games on the list and add them to their permanent library to play whenever they want.

Xbox Live Gold members will also be receiving exclusive access to Xbox Game Pass prior to the program launching to the broader community.

Looking at the games list, are any of our readers tempted? Let us know below.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lvOw70
via IFTTT

Developers: This extension lets you add Surface Dial integration to Visual Studio

If you use Visual Studio and happen to own a Surface Dial, you might be glad to know that there's a new extension that lets you add Surface Dial integration to Visual Studio. With this extension enabled, you can scroll in the editor in Visual Studio, browse through your bookmarks or interact with the editor itself. For instance, you can use the Surface Dial to play around with hex color or you can use it to change integer values which is pretty neat. Here's a GIF showing off the Dial menu on Visual Studio action:

Here's a full list of features:

  • Status bar indicator
  • Scrolling
  • Zooming
  • Navigation
  • Debugging
  • Errors
  • Editor shifters
  • Bookmarks

If you want to give the extension a try, you can download it from the Visual Studio marketplace here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lQzHyx
via IFTTT

Microsoft brings 5 new Azure services to Canada

Microsoft recently highlighted the new Azure services that are now available in Canada. These are five new services: HDInsight, Azure Functions, Managed Disks, Azure Site Recovery, Azure Backup.

HDInsight is a fully-managed cloud Hadoop offering that provides optimized open source analytic clusters for Spark, Hive, MapReduce, HBase, Storm, Kafka, and R Server backed by a 99.9% SLA. Azure Functions is an event-based serverless compute experience to accelerate your development. With Managed Disks, customers only need to specify the desired disk type (Standard or Premium disk) and the disk size, and Azure will create and manage the disk for them. Azure Site Recovery contributes to your BCDR strategy by orchestrating replication of on-premises virtual machines and physical servers. Azure Backup replaces your existing on-premises or off-site backup solution with a cloud-based solution that is reliable, secure, and cost-competitive.

Learn more about Azure here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lvMDXO
via IFTTT

Qualcomm says they want Windows 10 on ARM to be “credible”

Speaking to PCWorld, Keith Kressin, senior vice president of product management at Qualcomm Technologies, said they had big plans for Windows 10 on ARM.

"The goal is to get something credible out, show people why it's different from RT. Show that it's Windows 10—there isn't a second version of Windows 10," Kressin said.

Unlike Windows RT, the connected PCs would be able to run x86 apps via emulation.

Kressin said the reception to the joint announcement between Microsoft and Qualcomm has been positive, and the resulting product would offer long battery life and be always connected.

Powered by Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 835 processor, and featuring the latest technologies like gigabit LTE and Bluetooth 5, unfortunately they would not be super low-cost, with Kressin saying the cellular PCs will be priced at a "sweet spot."

The first Windows 10 devices powered by ARM will start arriving in 2017, as part of a slow roll-out.

"It'll start, and you'll see more headed into 2018 and 2019. It's a patient move into the market, and establishing a new value proposition," Kressin said.

Kressin also hoped that their Snapdragon 835 processor would end up in Windows Holographic headsets, though there were no solid plans for this yet.

"There's nothing that would prohibit it from a hardware standpoint. I just think it's a function of time," Kressin said.

Read more about Microsoft's Windows 10 on ARM plans here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lQrU3v
via IFTTT

Microsoft Word’s new Editor pane helps you with grammar, spelling and styling

Microsoft today announce a new Editor pane for Word on Windows that will help you write better Word documents. The new Editor pane is a replacing Word's classic Spelling & Grammar pane, but the new Editor pane is going to offer much better help than the old Spelling & Grammar pane. Microsoft actually introduced the new Editor feature in Word back in 2016, and it essentially offers suggestions for your writing style, as well as spelling and grammar. For instance, the Editor pane will give you vocabulary suggestions, along with suggestions for sentence structures as well:

Editor, your digital writing assistant in Word, is now even more helpful. The new Editor pane gives you additional information from its advanced spelling, grammar and writing style recommendations. It also makes it easy to scan your whole document. This experience replaces the Spelling & Grammar pane and incorporates inclusive design best practices to be accessible for the visually impaired.

Microsoft is rolling out the new Editor pane to Word users on the Office Insider program's Fast Ring first. The company will likely release the new feature widely to all users after a couple of weeks testing with Office Insiders. Along with the new Editor pane, Microsoft is also rolling out a new QuickStarter feature in PowerPoint to Office Insiders.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m3ZiVk
via IFTTT

MobileIron announces partnership with Lenovo for using its EMM platform with select Windows PCs

At MWC today, MobileIron announced a partnership with Lenovo to use its EMM platform with select Lenovo PCs. With this partnership, organizations buying Lenovo devices can purchase MobileIron's security and management platform at the same time as Lenovo PCs and tablets. Lenovo, MobileIron, and its reseller partners will provide expert services to deploy across the global enterprise.

"We're finding innovative ways to meet our customers' needs as they transition from legacy devices to new form factors. The introduction of Windows 10 allows customers to move to Cloud-based, agent-less provisioning of PCs for the enterprise," said Jerry Paradise, Lenovo's Executive Director of Global Enterprise PC and Think Business Management. "We're working with MobileIron to give our enterprise customers a secure, agile platform as they build out and update their infrastructure."

"Modern enterprise computing means moving to modern operating systems like Windows 10, Android, and iOS, and using enterprise mobility management (EMM) to secure all your devices from mobile to desktops," said Barry Mainz, President and CEO, MobileIron. "As the market leader in PC sales, Lenovo is leading that transition on the hardware front and this partnership with MobileIron adds the critical security layer that companies need for modern operating systems. Customers can now get both their hardware and their software from the same trusted company."

Learn more about it here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2l8ut28
via IFTTT

Microsoft starts testing tablet support for Arrow Launcher on Android

Microsoft's popular Android launcher, Arrow Launcher picked up a huge new update yesterday. The 3.0 update for Arrow Launcher introduced a new Utility tab, along with a couple of other improvements. Today, Microsoft has started testing another major update for Arrow Launcher on Android.

With the upcoming update, Microsoft is introducing support for Android tablets on Arrow Launcher which is a major new addition. Previously, Arrow Launcher has only been available for Android phones and you couldn't even download the app on tablets — but with the upcoming 3.1 update, you will be able to get it on your Android tablet. Here are a couple of screenshots of the tablet mode in Arrow Launcher:

In addition to Tablet Support, Microsoft is adding a couple of other new features with the update — firstly, you now more options for the backup & restore feature as you can now choose which apps and settings you want to backup or restore. Microsoft is also adding support for more IP apps messages in the Recent Page with the latest update, so that's pretty nice too.

At the moment, these new features are only available to those part of the beta program of the Arrow Launcher. The beta program is available to everyone, and you can sign-up for it here. Once you get into the beta program, you can download the app on your Android device here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m9B1xs
via IFTTT

Microsoft joins Enterprise Ethereum Alliance as a launch partner

Microsoft today announced that they are joining Enterprise Ethereum Alliance as a launch partner. Enterprise Ethereum Alliance will build, promote, and broadly support Ethereum-based technology best practices, standards, and a reference architecture, EntEth 1.0. Microsoft is also today making the first reference implementations of Ethereum available in a public cloud. Ethereum and Enterprise Ethereum are supported by Azure middleware services like Cryptlets, Azure Active Directory for Identity, data services via Cortana Analytics Suite, Key Vault for key management, operations and deployment. Enterprise customers can now deploy their own implementation of this platform on Azure.

Ethereum is a blockchain-based, general purpose decentralized application platform, enabling smart contract functionality. It employs the Ethereum Virtual Machine and the Solidity programming language to directly implement and execute peer-to-peer and multiparty agreements among other applications. This technology facilitates more efficient and secure transactions without centralized intermediation. Notably, Ethereum blockchain technology will improve banking trade settlement latency, increase transparency in supply chains, and create peer-to-peer markets where intermediaries typically were previously needed between counterparties.

"At Microsoft, we are proud to be a founding member and board member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance to continue the advancement of enterprise-grade blockchain platforms. Participating with the Ethereum community to implement open standards will accelerate deployment of blockchain solutions. In addition, Microsoft Azure's open, global scale cloud infrastructure and platform services provide fertile ground for the evolution of Ethereum into the enterprise," said Marley Gray, Principal Architect, Azure Blockchain Engineering at Microsoft.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m9ogTw
via IFTTT

Microsoft announces simplified Azure AD Connect Health licensing model

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Connect Health helps you monitor and gain insights into your on-premises identity infrastructure and the synchronization services.  Microsoft yesterday announced the general availability of Azure AD Connect Health for Windows Server AD DS and Azure AD Connect Health Sync Error Reports. Microsoft also announced a simplified Azure AD Connect Health licensing model. Read about the changes below.

  • First Connect Health agent requires at least one Azure AD Premium license.
  • Each additional agent requires 25 additional incremental AADP licenses.
  • Agent count is equivalent to the total number of agents registered per role (AD FS, Azure AD Connect, AD DS) per server.

Azure AD Connect Health for Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) provides monitoring for domain controllers that are installed on Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2016. The Health Agent installation enables you to monitor your on-premises AD DS environment from the cloud.

With the Sync Error Reports within Azure AD Connect Health for Sync it's now easy to get all the relevant information about sync errors in one place. This reduces the time required to fix errors and helps your users embrace the cloud.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m3pDmg
via IFTTT

Fallout Battle maps now available for Minecraft Console Edition

Fallout Battle mini game is now available for Minecraft Console Edition. The three new Battle maps are inspired by the blasted future depicted in the Fallout RPG series.  "We tried out various different scenarios to see how they would look as Battle maps and we could quickly see Fallout would fit really well," says 4J's art director, David Kenningale.

"But we knew we couldn't just take anything from Fallout's open world and hope it worked: Battle maps have to be pretty self-contained. By contrast, we did think about doing things in a Vault but we felt it was too enclosed for the way that Battle plays and you might get lost in the tunnels a little bit too much. So we decided to take it above ground and condense some of our favourite areas from across the series."

Last year, Mojang announced the Fallout Mash-Up Pack for Minecraft Console Edition. The UI was given a retro-futuristic overhaul in honour of Fallout's wristmounted computing device, the Pip-Boy and the pack came with a soundtrack combining familiar tunes from across the Fallout series. You can download the pack today for $2.99.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m3e26Q
via IFTTT

Experiment: Using Windows Store apps exclusively for a week

With Microsoft's last insider build – the firm debuted an option that allows users to configure their machines so that they can't install and use non-Windows Store apps – not even by accident.

With this option enabled,  the installation of non-store apps like Microsoft Office 2016, Google Chrome, iTunes (I use Apple Music too), and Spotify becomes restricted. Rather, the user is now guided to rely on Microsoft's own inbox apps Internet and media, as well as supplement those apps with apps from the Store.

For a week, I'll be using Windows 10 Store apps only on my Surface to test the feasibility of this option. Much like with Windows RT, the lack of traditional Windows software will no doubt hurt users who already have a workflow in mind. On the other hand, I am intrigued to see just how far one can get using just the modern Windows 10 era Store. I have unpinned Chrome, iTunes and Spotify as well as the traditional Office apps from my taskbar and have switched to the Microsoft Store equivalents.

( Note: I'm making one exception here however, we at MSPU typically use Slack to communicate – and while Slack is available on Windows 10 via the Store I have been experiencing a bug that appears to prevent me from installing Centennial apps from the Store. )

My workflow for MSPU here typically involves email, communicating strategy via Slack, writing articles online in the CMS and via the Grammarly Chrome extension as well as doing quick crops and resizes to photos with Microsoft Paint(the real one), and looking up PDFs and documents. Aside from that, as someone in Law School, I'm typically reading a few cases and journal articles weekly and rely on OneNote to act as a digital repository of sorts.

It'll be interesting to see how this experiment plays out over a week, and see if the Windows 10 Store can really be used as a viable replacement for "real" software for at least for some people.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m2VJ1v
via IFTTT

Microsoft announces Xbox Game Pass, a new gaming subscription service coming later this spring.

Microsoft today announced Xbox Game Pass, a new gaming subscription service coming later this spring. With this Xbox Game Pass subscription, gamers can get access to over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games for $9.99 per month. Microsoft mentioned that Game Pass will include games from top industry publishers such as 2K, 505 Games, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK CORPORATION, THQ Nordic GmbH, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Microsoft Studios. They highlighted that Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and SoulCalibur II are some of the titles which will be available during the launch of this service later this year.

In addition to downloading the games which are available from Xbox Game Pass, subscribers can get an exclusive discount to buy the game and add it to their permanent library to play whenever they want. New games will be added every month into the subscription with some getting removed. Microsoft will try to maintain fresh collection all the time.

Microsoft is now rolling out Xbox Game Pass to select members of the Xbox Insider Program in the Alpha Preview with a very limited number of titles. Xbox Live Gold members will also be receiving exclusive access to Xbox Game Pass prior to the program launching to the broader community.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mGFUuq
via IFTTT

PSA: Microsoft is ending support for older versions of Skype on March 1st – tomorrow

If you're on an older version of Skype today, its time to make arrangements to switch over to a newer version. Microsoft earlier this year announced that they would be shutting down older versions of Skype on the 1st of March – and that deadline's finally here.

For users of Microsoft's Windows 10 there's no problem, Microsoft supplies Windows 10 users with a Skype Preview app which is automatically kept up to date by default in the Windows Store. However, Windows Phone 8.1 users might be out of luck. While the older Skype app was still usable even after going EOL in 2016, Microsoft stated that the app would no longer be able to work once the Skype transition to the cloud was complete – and we've reached that point.

Because we want to provide our users with the best possible Skype experience, necessary changes must be made along the way. So, beginning March 1, users running older versions of Skype for Windows desktop (7.16 and below) or Skype for Mac (7.0 to 7.18) will no longer be able to sign in. If you're one of those users, all you'll need to do is download the new update.

If you're concerned you're not on the latest Skype version, you can update to a newer version of Skype as long as you're on Windows 10, MacOS,  Windows 10 Mobile (Anniversary Update+), Android Jellybean+ and iOS 8+. For those on unsupported devices who rely on Skype, perhaps its time to move on.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2lk2ZC4
via IFTTT

Microsoft is focused on growing the top-line revenue of LinkedIn

At the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference yesterday, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood spoke about their financial strategy around LinkedIn acquisition. She said that Microsoft is focused more on growing the top-line revenue and accelerating the business, not cost savings.

"To add more customers. To increase their impact. To have it grow faster. To accelerate our business. To have the technical integration to deliver customer value…. I'm deeply, deeply focused on driving revenue growth," she said.

Microsoft currently has no plans to have single accounting team for both Microsoft and LinkedIn. They are just going to leave LinkedIn alone for now as they believe they are doing great with their current structure. She mentioned that her first rule of the LinkedIn integration is "just don't mess with it."

"You want to keep the core growing and they're doing a great job of that, things are good," Amy said.

Read more about her talk from the source link below.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2mA1DFf
via IFTTT

Microsoft opens Data Insights Summit 2017 registration

Microsoft's second Data Insights Summit conference is happening in Seattle this year. It is a user conference for Power BI, Excel and whole of the Microsoft Data and Analytics family of offerings.

Attendees can expand their skills and discover new tools and capabilities that will help them extract new insights and create more efficient process flows. They can have deep-dive into the latest innovations, covering a range of topics across Microsoft Power BI, SQL Server BI, Excel, PowerApps, Flow, and Stream. They can also connect with experts in the community, and schedule meetings with the product teams behind Microsoft's data insights tools to solve their most complex data challenges.

We are also expanding the topics we will cover and include two brand new products from Microsoft that are closely aligned to Power BI: PowerApps and Microsoft Flow. These are part of the "Power*" suite of products that enable business analysts to rapidly build sophisticated solutions, without writing code. They combine, insights, actions, and automation to deliver complete end-to-end solutions, and are a part of the broader Microsoft Application Platform that works hand-in-glove with Excel and Microsoft Dynamics.

Following the strong interest for this conference last year, this year they have moved to a larger venue and doubled the capacity. The registration is now open, you can for it register it here.



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2m2iK4E
via IFTTT

King’s Bubble Witch 3 Saga now in the Windows Store

Stella the Witch is back in "Bubble Witch 3 Saga," the latest addition to King's "Bubble Witch" series. This time, she needs your help in defeating Wilbur – whose cute looks belie much magical mischief.

Burst as many bubbles as you can in your travels through the realm, discovering spellbinding new game modes and adorable characters. With new personalization features, you can build a house and visit your friends' houses, too, to get rewards. Sync the game easily between devices via the internet, and follow your success on the leaderboards.

The game features:

  • The next exciting instalment to the Bubble Witch series of games
  • Match 3 bubbles to pop them in this magical shooting adventure
  • Spellbinding new game modes and cute characters!
  • Release the owls, free the ghosts and save the Fairy Queen from Wilbur!
  • Personalisation features: Build your house and visit your friends' to get rewards
  • Special booster bubbles to help you pass those tricky levels
  • Easily sync the game between devices when connected to the Internet
  • Leaderboards to watch your friends and competitors!
  • Free & easy to play, challenging to master!

See the launch trailer below:

Find the game in the Windows Store for phone and PC here.

WP-Appbox: Bubble Witch 3 Saga (Free+, Windows Store) →



from MSPoweruser http://ift.tt/2ljvvUq
via IFTTT