Speaking to Reuters, Smith argues that the number of people who want a top-level tech job is dwindling. With a smaller pool to choose from, he believes corporations – not just Microsoft – will need to compete more than ever for talent. One way to do that is to simply throw money at the problem. “That helps explain part of why you can have low growth and a labor shortage at the height at the same time....

In an update, Microsoft is adding a watermark on the desktop wallpaper. Furthermore, that is now a warning also on the Settings app landing page. You may remember last month that we reported on Microsoft starting to test this new addition. It is now available on the Release Preview on the Inside. That means the update is ready to reach general release, which should happen sometime this week. It is worth noting the relevant update release notes do not mention the watermark....

The LinkedIn app has begun rolling out to users which can find it at the Windows Store and get it for free. Microsoft notes in a blog post that it will be rolling out the app globally by the end of July. Thanks to the LinkedIn app for Windows 10, users can now stay in touch with what is happening in their professional world right from the application. The fully integrated LinkedIn experience is quickly accessible from the Start menu and the taskbar....

What’s interesting about this release is it comes just nine days after Microsoft rolled out Patch Tuesday updates for March. This is when the company send out big cumulative releases to deal with known issues. These two new releases could mean the company has discovered a solvable issue since Patch Tuesday. The updates in question here are KB4016635 (OS build 14393.970) and KB4016637 (10240.17320). As usual, these cumulative releases focus on fixing issues or shoring up security....

Microsoft watcher WalkingCat revealed Remix 3D will be shutdown next year. This report was confirmed by Microsoft’s own Rudy Hyun. The company has since followed with a banner on Remix3D.com that schedules the closure of the service for January 10, 2020. Users are told in the notice to download and save their existing content because all content will be deleted when Remix 3D is shuttered. That means users will no longer be able to use the repository of 3D objects....

Google’s Chrome app for the Windows Store was not really an app at all. Instead, it was a web wrapper that was basically just a link that opens in a browser. Naturally, that link would send you to the ‘Download Chrome’ webpage. Weather this was some kind of joke from Google or a sneaky effort to get people to the installer remains to be seen. However, it was clear from the start the app would not sit well with Microsoft....

The world’s most popular game is no longer available on the Apple (iOS) App Store or Google Play (Android) in Russia. This was almost inevitable when Microsoft announced last week it would cease all sales within in the country. Apple, Google, and a host of other tech giants have taken a similar stance, while Facebook has been banned in Russia. So, not only is the country now cut off economically and politically, but also technologically....

Companies have tried to solve the control issue via basic controllers and front mounted sensors, but both have a major problem. When playing in VR, the user doesn’t have a sense of weight to their actions. Firing a gun doesn’t have recoil, and hands often clip straight through objects. However, a fascinating project out of Microsoft Research hints at how the industry can overcome such limitations. CLAW is described as a “multi-functional handheld haptic controller” and it’s like nothing we’ve seen before....

The strategy is part of the company’s plans to ship 19H2 with new features off by default. In a methodology it hopes will reduce disruption, it will begin to switch features on after feedback. Users on 18362.10015 can expect mainly enterprise additions, though there have also been some improvements to Narrator and Windows Search. Here’s the full changelog: “We have enabled Windows Defender Credential Guard for ARM64 devices for additional protection against credential theft for enterprises deploying ARM64 devices in their organizations....

In addition, users can take advantage of the Box add-on packages directly in Azure. This includes the necessary governance to match organizational security requirements and compliance standards. California-based Box offers cloud content management and file sharing service for enterprise customers. The company is already a long-time partner of Microsoft. It has been applying its solutions to the Windows platform as a Windows 8 and Windows 10 app. Box integration has since extended to several other Microsoft services....

What’s worse for customers is the Microsoft Store is not telling customers. This means a user can buy and app for the Surface Pro X even if that app ultimately will not work. That’s frustrating as Microsoft could put a compatibility warning on non-functional apps. Last week, we discussed which apps work and don’t work. At the time, Microsoft promised it would fix the problem and has, in a roundabout sort of way....

As a result, showing a non-user what’s happening can be difficult. In its demos, Microsoft usually mounts a HoloLens to a DSLR with a special lens setup. For the general user, that isn’t at all practical. As a result, Microsoft is letting devs create a bespoke Spectator View app on iOS. Rather than a complex rig, users can simply point their phone and see the same elements like everyone else....

Users can now head to the Microsoft Store to download a sample application that shows Windows Machine Learning (ML) API in action. If you are unfamiliar with the API, it allows Windows 10 to perform machine learning tasks powered by the device instead of a remote server. In the case of the Emoji8, Microsoft is highlighting how the Windows Machine Learning API can be used for on-device facial recognition. The app leverages the API to map your facial expressions while you mimic a selection of emojis....

In the latest push towards this goal, the company is creating a feature that allows users to input text by voice. This new voice typing experience will allow users to dictate to Windows and type across apps. Sure, Windows 10 already has a voice diction typing capability, but it is probably not the best solution. Indeed, most users who frequent this technology typically opt for a third-party. Microsoft wants to change that with the “most reliable voice typing experience ever on Windows”....

It seems Microsoft finalized its new Search experience through the release of Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update). However, the search app improvements are currently hidden. New features include the ability to search within applications and across recent activities. With Windows Search now independent of Cortana, users should be getting a more complete tool. Microsoft said an independent Search app allows deeper development of the service through bespoke updates....

There’s no doubt that Microsoft rushed out the patch. In fact, I am struggling to think of a quicker response to an emergency from the company. So, maybe it is no surprised that a record-breaking patch may have some holes in it. PrintNightmare was spotted by security researchers at Sangfor, the flaw became active when the group accidentally released the proof-of-concept (PoC). This gave attackers the knowledge of how to exploit the flaw, meaning they could conduct remote execution code attacks to gain system-level privileges....

Project xCloud allows users on smartphones to access and play Xbox One titles. Microsoft handles the computational load and users play through the cloud. However, many of those users won’t be carrying around an Xbox One controller or another compatible controller around with them. Last November, we discussed a Microsoft Patent for a split controller system. Like the Nintendo Switch, the controller would split and be placed either side of a smartphone....

A report by Windows United says xCloud will leverage AI to allow mobile gamers to have a more responsive experience. If you are unfamiliar with xCloud, it is a service that will bring Xbox games across platforms and devices. By storing all game data in the cloud, users will not need highly specified hardware. Instead, Microsoft’s servers will do the heavy lifting and gamers will just need a good internet connection....

1 Azure2 Xbox Microsoft has fallen into the habit of lumping multiple services and products into umbrella divisions. In other words, the company places Windows, Surface, and Xbox under More Personal Computing. As for Azure, it is hidden in Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud umbrella. It is worth pointing out the company does detail growth or decline margins across individual products, but not specific sales for some. We can take this both ways and it’s obvious Microsoft enjoyed another bumper quarter regardless....

A report from Gaming Bolt points to several Microsoft job listings related to the Xbox division. These listings appear on the company’s official job board and include Senior Mechanical Engineer and Senior Electrical Engineer. Of course, a senior engineer is a broad title and does not necessarily mean these jobs are for Project Scarlett. However, the listing does make reference to future Xbox consoles. “The successful candidate will be the primary technical focal point for existing and leading-edge storage technologies on currently shipping and future Xbox design projects The Xbox Accessories Team is looking for a highly motivated and seasoned Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical system development of our next generation accessories....