The UK has been preparing for a pandemic for nigh-on a decade, but despite detailed plans, it didn’t predict the impact coronavirus would have on the immune system. That’s led to situations where the doctors may have to choose which patient gets breathing support, which is an unenviable position. Companies like Tesla are taking the initiative to directly produce ventilators directly, but Microsoft is taking a multi-tiered approach. It’s exploring the production of ventilators with Ford, GKN, and Penlon and Smiths, but it’s also providing vital help to manufacturers on the software side....

The company aligns with Microsoft’s previous philosophy surrounding high carbon taxes, but it also seeks legal immunity from historic climate change damages. The CLC’s individual founders include former secretaries of state James Baker and George Shultz, as well as renowned scientist Stephen Hawking. “Despite mounting risks from climate change and growing international calls for action, leading nations have yet to settle on a winning strategy capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the necessary scale or speed,” reads the CLC’s mission statement....

It should be noted immediately that at the moment the Beam app is available only in Preview form. This means it can only be accesses on the Xbox Insider Program. However, Microsoft says the full experience will launch in the spring. For the time being, only select Xbox Insider Program users will be given The announcement was made by Beam co-founder Matt Salsamendi. He said the integration will give Xbox One gamers more choice over their gaming....

The ever-vigilant WalkingCat has discovered Marquette, an MR prototype tool for PC VR headsets. It lets users plan their creations in 3D, rather than stare at a 2D screen, creating a more intuitive and easily testable experience. According to Microsoft, Marquette began as an internal tool, but it quickly realized how useful it could be to the wider community. Though we’ve seen similar tools for VR creations, tools for Mixed Reality haven’t been as generous....

Taking the mobile aspect further, Mixer Create allows users to stream mobile games while they play. Microsoft says the new app is separate from the main Mixer app, which was recently rebranded from Beam. Mixer Create is specifically developed for broadcasters and not viewers. Of course, mobile game streaming is the big selling point. It allows streamers to create content on their device, such as Minecraft and Clash Royale. Mobile streaming is instant, without any needed additional hardware requirements....

By allowing users to create groups before, OneDrive makes it easier for users to find these groups when sharing files. Microsoft points out there are two ways to create groups in the app, through a Microsoft Account to invite family members, or through Outlook.com creating a group from contacts. Below are the specifics of those two methods: “To set up your family, go to family.microsoft.com, then select Create a family group and follow the directions....

The changelog shows the app has now been optimized for devices running older Android builds. Microsoft has tweaked audio and video performance so Skype will work on low-end devices. On any other platform, this would be pointless. However, on Android it is a welcome decision and arguably essential. That’s because Android is an incredibly forked platform. Hundreds of millions of users are on older Android versions, and many of them will never be on the latest builds....

One of the big announcements surrounding the Meta Quest Pro is the inclusion of workspaces in Meta’s Metaverse virtual world. To help drive this feature, Meta is collaborating with Microsoft and Accenture. Specifically, Microsoft will provide the productivity services that will make the Meta Quest Pro interesting as a workspace platform. For example, integration with Microsoft Teams allows users to enter immersive meetings within the metaverse. That includes accessing Teams workrooms with a Meta Avatar....

Alongside the learning platform, Microsoft is offering a new course focused on quantum computing. Imaginatively titled “Quantum Computing”, the course emphasizes the learning of programming in the Q# language. Microsoft says self-learning students can go to Brilliant.org and get started with quantum. Entirely web based, the course has been developed to not stifle students, allowing them to create quantum-based algorithms on the move. Making quantum development easier was clearly Microsoft’s goal with the course....

While we await the launch of the Surface Duo later this year, it seems Microsoft is willing to its aspirations in folding tech a step further. A newly discovered patent shows the company is working on a smartphone with a folding screen. It has been well documented that Microsoft has been developing folding display technology. While it did not make it to the Surface Duo, it could be something Microsoft is looking to for the future....

A new Microsoft patent found by Windows Latest shows how Microsoft may keep information on the dual displays of the Surface Duo and Neo. Called “Control Logic”, the technology would help to determine in what level of folding the hinge is at. Microsoft’s patent is titled ‘DEVICE HAVING A SCREEN REGION ON A HINGE COUPLED BETWEEN OTHER SCREEN REGIONS’ and was published by USPTO on October 31, 2019, and filed by Microsoft on July 8, 2019....

Before getting to the patent itself, there is context behind it. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said recently that the company will re-enter mobile hardware, but will redefine the space. Nadella claimed Microsoft’s next smartphone may not look like a phone at all. This was later backed up by HoloLens chief Alex Kipman, who suggested the future of mobile is mixed reality. One thing is clear, Microsoft believes the only way to succeed in mobile is to go bold and innovative....

WinFuture reports Microsoft is also planning to upgrade the Surface Book 2 alongside the Surface Pro 6. It seems the upgrades will focus on increasing the available RAM alongside the Intel Core i5 processor model. The report points to Microsoft planning to include 16GB of RAM in a lower grade deal. At the moment, that amount of RAM is only available in the top of the range Core i7 variant....

This is a connection of two existing capabilities. Specifically, the Xbox Series X already has support for ray tracing, which Minecraft on Windows also supports the feature. Now, the two will combine with Minecraft on Xbox consoles getting ray tracing capabilities. Ray tracing is a technology that allows hardware acceleration on the new consoles. With ray tracing, the Series X has better dynamic shadows, physics-based lighting effects, and dynamic shadows....

The decision to launch Windows 10 version 1903 in May instead of April was part of a wider Microsoft strategy to extend the preview period. Simply put, issues with last year’s April 2018 and October 2018 Updates led to a rethink. By changing its release pattern, Microsoft insists it can better ensure stable builds at launch. Previously, the company would finalize a Windows update one month and then launch it weeks later at the start of the next month....

Founder of Pinboard Maciej Ceglowski has highlighted Microsoft’s recent donations on the social site’s official Twitter account. They include payments to the military, as well as politicians Ceglowski that have expressed anti-LGBT, climate change, and other sentiments. Over the past month, the company donated at least $11,000. $5,000 of that went to the American Defense and Military PAC. Given that Microsoft won over $18 billion in defense contracts in the past year, that may raise hackles but isn’t particularly surprising....

Perhaps the most eye-catching are changes to Minecraft’s Education Edition. In a somewhat unexpected move, the company has implemented its immersive reader in the game. This displays NPC text on a blank, customizable background with a friendly font, highlighting words as they’re read. The feature will also apply to in-game signs, chalkboards, and more. In more immersive reader news, Microsoft is pointing to services that have also adopted its immersive reader, from Skooler to Squigl, Nearpod, Oxford Press, PowerSchool, and more....

According to Microsoft, Brainwave has allowed performance increases of up to ten times for Bing AI, giving real-time performance. As well as latency reductions, it has enabled a tenfold model size increase. As well as the platform itself, performance is thanks to Intel’s FPGA chips. The same type of have been used in Bing for some time as part of Microsoft’s Catapult v2 server design, and come with AI-focused advantages....

Last week, Microsoft was forced to send out an emergency update to solve a security issue in Internet Explorer. However, it seems the fix is causing its own problems. Some owners of Lenovo laptops report the fix is causing their device not to start. When installing KB44832229, Lenovo laptops with less than 8GB of RAM are failing to start. Why this is happening is unclear as the patch was only supposed to fix Internet Explorer....

Since announcing Story Remix in the spring, Microsoft has been padding out its feature set. The company also rebranded its service under the existing Photos banner for Windows 10. 3D effects were added last month alongside 57 other new editing effects. Windows Insiders have been testing these new effects using the Skip Ahead feature. While the tool is for the Redstone 4 branch, Microsoft has since confirmed the 3D effects will debut with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update....