As normal, the new release works with previously released Windows 10 SDKs and Visual Studio 2017. It is worth remembering that Windows SDK is now supported exclusively through VS 2017. This is a Redstone 5 preview update, so is only available from Windows Insiders at the moment. The Preview SDK can be downloaded from developer section on Windows Insider. In terms of what’s new, Microsoft has added MSIX Support, something developers have been asking for....

Among the services PlayFab brought to Microsoft are virtual currency tracking, leaderboards, authentication, commerce, and more. The company has now integrated features from the software into live game operations through Azure cloud. The new platform was announced by Kevin Gammill, general manager of gaming cloud at Microsoft in a blog post today: “As game developers, we strive to build incredible gaming experiences with dynamic play that drives engagement,” Gammill said....

It was widely thought the company would introduce a new generation Surface Studio 3 at the event this year. However, rumors that began last month about Microsoft using old specs on the new machine raised doubts. Now it is clear both were true, there is a new Surface Studio and it does have old specs. It is called the Surface Studio 2+ and acts as a refresh of the previous model rather than an overhaul....

Microsoft points out the initiative will help games become more accessible to gamers with impairments. Specifically, developers can choose to have a title tested against Xbox Accessibility Guidelines (XAGs): “Developers now have the option to send Microsoft their Xbox or PC title and have it analyzed and validated against the recommendations provided in the XAGs,” says an Xbox blog post. Xbox Accessibility Guidelines is documentations that provides details on how developers can integrate inclusive access into their games....

Last week, we reported on Microsoft pausing what was believed to be the RTM version of Windows 10 April 2019. Specifically, it was removed for users updating from the last Slow Ring release, build 18356.16. Microsoft says an issue is preventing users on that build upgrading to build 18362. The company has delayed the release for those users while it searches for a fix. “In the meantime, Build 18362 will no longer be offered to Insiders who are on Build 18356....

1 Easier navigation, better presentation2 Developers get broader exposure3 Microsoft to “kill” gallery on April 30 Back in July 2015, Microsoft announced the release of custom visuals, along with the general availability of Power BI. Now, the company has announced in a blog post that it has begun moving the Power BI custom visuals to the Office Store. As for the custom visuals gallery, it will still be available after Microsoft has finished moving the custom visuals to the Office Store....

The savings cover Surface devices, Xbox, accessories and more, but the biggest savings are on Windows PCs. Best President’s Day Deals Searching through all of the different items can be a difficult task, so we’ve provided some of the best deals for you. Here’s a selection of PCs on sale: Alienware 15 Touch Signature Edition Gaming Laptop: 15.6-inch UHD touchscreen, Intel Core i7-6700HQ, 16 GB RAM, GTX 970M Graphics – $1399 ($1,100 off) VAIO Z Flip VJZ13BX0211B Signature Edition Laptop: 13....

According to Microsoft, yesterday’s Patch Tuesday was the last time the two older Microsoft Office versions will receive security updates. You can also throw in no more technical support or bug fixes. End of support means MacOS users need to be running Office 2019 to receive future updates. That does not mean users of the older Microsoft Office builds must upgrade. It is possible to still use Office 2010 and Office 2016, albeit without the safety net of support from Microsoft: “This means that we’ll no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security updates for these products, and organizations that continue to use them may face increased security risks and compliance issues over time....

It is worth noting Minecraft Earth has been testing on iOS since last month. However, those tests have been limited to just five cities around the world. With pre-registrations now open, it seems Microsoft is preparing for a wider rollout. First announced in April this year, Minecraft Earth is Microsoft’s first AR title. Developed in the same division as Microsoft’s next Halo game for Xbox, the new Minecraft experience will be available for free on iOS and Android....

Interestingly, Microsoft has also started advising people to buy brand new laptops instead of upgrading from Windows 7. According to the company, there could be driver issues when upgrading from Windows 7. “For most Windows 7 users, moving to a new device with Windows 10 Pro is the recommended path forward. Surface devices are faster and lightweight, and more powerful and more secure, with an average price that’s considerably less than that of the average PC eight years ago....

Spotted by LetsGoDigital, it details an Xbox Elite Controller with a Braille display on the back. This would give physical bumps for in-game text or dialogue, aiding those who have clues for elements on-screen but struggle with text from a distance. Though text-to-speech solutions exist, Microsoft says screen readers can lag gameplay. Its solution could provide additional data to complement screen readers, such as chat in a multiplayer game....

Microsoft describes the solution as a Flexible Magnetic Actuator. The company uses two layers of flexible magnets, which allows the magnetic attraction to be dynamically adjusted between layers. This makes it ideal as a wearable technology, for example woven into cloth or another fabric. In the Microsoft Patent, the company explains how the controller could increase or decrease friction between the magnetic layers. Alternatively, layers could be locked into place....

For example, like on Microsoft Teams, the Planner appears in a tab. This will be the same for SharePoint, where the tab can be used to house tasks in a single location. Planner makes it easier for businesses to manage teamwork operations, allowing the creation of team-wide email notifications, project due dates, and visual dashboards. There are two specific Planner abilities integrated into SharePoint. The first gives users tools to add a plan to the left navigation pane of SharePoint sites: “Adding a plan – The +New button on the homepage of every SharePoint site makes it easy to create lists and document libraries directly from your homepage....

That changed on Wednesday with the release of Microsoft Planner for iOS. Users can now create plans, share files and collaborate from iPad or iPhone. The result is a much faster, performance-tweaked experience. Users can just start up the app and retain their login regardless of any browser cache changes. However, be aware that you need an Office 365 commercial subscription to use it. Android and Windows 10 Mobile Microsoft has confirmed plans for an Android version next, though it’s not clear how long that will take....

PowerShell 7 has been in preview for over a year. It expands the capabilities of the tool that gives users a command-line shell and solution for managing scripts and modules. “Today, we’re happy to announce the Generally Available (GA) release of PowerShell 7.0,” Microsoft’s Joey Aiello writes in the announcement. “We’d like to thank our many, many open-source contributors for making this release possible by submitting code, tests, documentation, and issue feedback....

Titles “Weaknesses in the encryption of solid state drives,” the paper shows how hackers could access the drive and transfer data without needing password authentication. While this is clearly a major problem, it is somewhat self-mitigated. That’s because the attacker would need physical access to the drive to be able to exploit the vulnerability. Still, the flaw does affect most solid state drives from leading manufacturers. Microsoft has responded to the paper with a security advisory that provides a step-by-step guide to switch to software-based encryption....

Microsoft says it has made Submit URL more efficient with support for Facebook and Google authentication. In a blog post today, the company explained some of the reasons it has decided to remove the anonymous URL submission tool. Leading the decision was the fact URLs received are not quality enough to be trusted. Additionally, webmasters have told the Bing team they prefer more ownership of their site URLs. As for URL Submit, Microsoft says the tool is available for webmasters who verify their sites....

Prisoner’s Dilemma is a social game that is designed to see how people cooperate with each other. It is based on the idea that people may be cooperative at first, but will ultimately decide to be individualistic. It is definitely worth reading about Prisoners Dilemma and even playing it. For the purpose of this news, I will refrain from giving a social science lesson, because I am not qualified. However, the most important aspect from Prisoner’s Dilemma is that studies show people are together at first, but eventually become uncooperative....

You may remember last month users started complaining about worse than normal battery degradation. The Surface Pro 3 was dropping battery life quickly, mostly under one hour. Users noted that devices with SIMPLO batteries were more frequently affected. Of course, battery degradation for li-on juicers is common. It is par for the course in fact. However, this kind of rapid decline is worrying. It was especially concerning considering the degradation of the Surface Pro 3 coincided with the device ending its warranty cycle....

To help people stay connected and productive during the outbreak. Microsoft is offering a free six-month trial to the premium version of Microsoft Teams. Now available globally, the tier will help organizations manage their workforces and remain connected. When signing up for the tier, customers will work with a Microsoft sales team member to help the set-up process. Microsoft also says it will update the free Microsoft Teams on March 10th to remove restrictions on how many people can be part of a team....