Windows Latest discovered a patent application that describes wireless earbuds with several high-end technology. The patent is titled “Wearable audio accessories for computing devices” and was filed back in December 2017 and published today. Interestingly, this could mean Microsoft has already integrated this technology into the Surface Buds. On the other hand, it is always worth remembering patents don’t always become full products. This could be Microsoft covering its bases and preventing other companies creating similar tech....

Windows Central reports on documents that show the launch date will be in early May. This looks to be a good leak as the report also shows a leaked box for the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. Microsoft has been a leader in the changing trends and the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition helps the company reach the forefront of digital gaming. The landscape of gaming is changing and disc games must be installed and updates downloaded....

“The urgency of the climate crisis has by now fully been absorbed, and the conversation has turned to the practical matter of what needs to be done to mitigate the worst impacts of a rapidly changing climate and adapt to that which we cannot avoid”, said Lucas Joppa, chief environmental officer at Microsoft. “This means that the time of raised ambitions and grand announcements without clear action plans is also past....

Windows 10 1909 fit that new strategy. As expected, it came with a focus on security and performance improvements, with few features added. However, it seems users are unhappy with the new strategy and Microsoft is responding. In fact, the company has said it is scrapping its proposed new update schedule for Windows 10. In other words, Microsoft is going back to its usual twice-yearly updates. Responding to negative feedback, Redmond suggests the pilot program will be removed for Insiders....

Traditionally, Microsoft was not one of the major players at MWC. However, in recent years the company has entered the mixed reality realm. MWC 2020 was going to be a platform for Microsoft to discuss its ongoing plans for Windows Mixed Reality, HoloLens, and related ecosystem. With MWC shuttered for the year, the company is now hosting its own event. The Mixed Reality Dev Days event will be held just before Microsoft opens the doors on Build 2020 in May....

1 Windows 10 Creators Update, what we know so far2 Windows 10 build 15063 And Microsoft seems to have started rolling out this Windows 10 Creators Update RTM build via the Windows 10 Update Assistant. The Update Assistant tool will allow users who are running an older version of Windows 10 to download and upgrade their OS to Windows 10 build 15063. The importance of build 15063 could be significant as this release could be the full Creators Update....

Azure Stack is a hybrid cloud solution launched by Microsoft last July. The cloud platform offers specifically designed for on-premises data centers. Microsoft points out that Stack customers access cloud services using on-premises data centers and hosted environments. At the time of launch, the company described Stack as continuous innovation: “As an extension of Azure, Azure Stack will deliver continuous innovation with frequent updates following the initial release. These updates will help us deliver enriched hybrid application use cases, as well as grow the infrastructure footprint of Azure Stack....

SQL Server 2008/2008R2 followed the SQL Server 2005 release. That earlier version brought a near total overhaul of the platform, including leaving behind the original code base. As the second generation of the new SQL Server, 2008 brought plenty of modern tools. For example, the version delivered master data management, Power Pivot (which was a first-generation Power BI of sorts), and self-service reporting. Microsoft is now ending support for SQL Server 2008 and urging users of those legacy versions to embrace the cloud....

According to a report, Microsoft is renewing Cloud Clipboard. Hidden the background of SwiftKey is mention of the features. Specifically, the note says “Sync clipboard history to the cloud.” Cloud Clipboard is a wider concept that supposedly allows users to copy content from Microsoft app or service and past it on another, across platforms and devices. It was originally announced alongside Timeline, separate tool in Win10. Both features were delayed several times, but while Timeline finally launched, Cloud Clipboard was axed....

According to Microsoft, Thallium conducted spear phishing campaigns and also leveraged malware to attack devices. Most of the group’s activity was focused on government employees and organizations such as universities and human rights groups. Targets were widespread across the United States, South Korean, and Japan (the three leading opposers to the North Korean regime). In terms of the spear phishing, Thallium hackers would utilize a fairly complicated attack method. Indeed, they would research targets by gathering data from social media and other resources....

Microsoft said it’s been working with customers for several months to perfect its app, which is the first of the Office suite to debut on the OS. We heard the first rumors of an Linux app in August, so that makes sense. Even in preview, it’ll support all of Teams’ core capabilities, bringing together workplace chat, document collaboration, and video calling. “Most of our customers have devices running on a variety of different platforms such as Windows 10, Linux and others....

We reported back in February that Microsoft is working on a free version of its work-based collaboration tool. Today, WalkingCat has uncovered support documents to all but confirm Microsoft Teams will indeed be available for free. This move puts Microsoft Teams closer to Slack in terms of usability. Slack is free but allows users to unlock pro-level features by upgrading to premium. It seems Microsoft will pursue a similar paywall tactic with a free version of Teams and the full version through Office 365 subscription....

Found by User Adoption Consultant Tero Niemi, the two new features will expand the productivity of Microsoft Teams. It seems Microsoft has already sent out the update for these features, so users should already have access to them. First up are option controls for the new meetings experience. This is focused on providing more management tools to hosts. Organizers can manage and view options from the new Meetings experience. In the options panel, it is now possible to open options for a meeting during a conversation or video call....

In an announcement on Friday, the company said Microsoft Teams will be automatically activated on Office 365. However, admins can block the inclusion if they want. Microsoft has not said an exact date for Teams’ arrival but did say it will be available for Office versions 1906 and later. Over on Mac, users running version 16.21 of later will be able to choose from install packages that include Microsoft Teams and packages that don’t....

By adding support for grouped lists, users can now collect lists and reduce the clutter on the app. It is worth noting some users who have Microsoft To-Do beta on Android say they still don’t have this feature. It is likely Microsoft is either rolling the update out in stages or some device users will receive it before others. Either way, the support continues Microsoft’s ongoing love for To-Do, an application that has become increasingly useful over recent years....

A Progressive Web App is a regular web page that can be used like a traditional or mobile application. The major takeaway from the report is that Microsoft will integrated PWAs for the first time in Redstone 4. The company has recently launched the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. Microsoft is now previewing Redstone 4, which will be launched a full major update to all users next spring. PWAs will come to Windows 10 with that release....

“Later this month we’re going to make a change to help here. Based on feedback from a number of people across a few competitive games, such as Overwatch, we’re going to change how reports of players impact the ability for people to play multiplayer in games,” he said in a Blizzard forum post. “In short, we’ll change it so that it will have no impact on a player’s ability to join and play multiplayer....

In an email statement today, Microsoft informed users that it will be killing the service globally at the end of next month. Instead, the team will “better focus our efforts on bringing you the best possible experience through our core Skype features.” The service currently covers over 2 million hotspots globally and is purchased via Skype credit. Come March 31st, users won’t be able to download the application, and those with it already downloaded won’t be able to find hotspots....

Video Indexer was launched at IBC a year ago and automatically creates metadata through user media. It achieves this by transcribing the video in any of 10 languages supported in Microsoft Translator. This allows the indexer to add subtitles to the file. VI also leverages facial recognition technology to detect all people in the video. If the person/s are well known enough, the app will assign a name tag. Alternatively, users can add the name themselves....

Layer is already a strategic partner to Microsoft Ventures. The company says it is raising funds so it can acquire fellow communications startup Cola. This other company develops interactive bubbles for messaging apps and will be integrated with Layer’s service. Layer has enjoyed success since launching its technology in 2013. Among the company’s worldwide customers are Stabples, Udacity, and others. The startup is also already a Microsoft partner. Layer uses the Microsoft Translator API to give users tools to send messages that can be automatically translated....