We’ll start with new features brought to SharePoint Online in August. For example, the have been additions made to page authoring. Specifically, pages and news can now use a Web Part when showing recommended content. By leveraging Microsoft Graph, page authoring can display more accurate information regarding an organization and make suggestions based on the data. Elsewhere, a new Vertical Sections Web Part was added to the platform. This is a page-layout tool that allows content to be compiled in a single column....

However, the tool is only available in preview for Microsoft Teams. Dynamic View allows meeting hosts to have better visibility of content shared in a group. The tool automatically adjusts the size of content, such as images and slides during a meeting. In the Microsoft Teams roadmap, Microsoft explains how the tool will help video participants: “Dynamic view automatically optimizes shared content and video participants in Teams meetings. New controls let you personalize the view to suit your preferences and needs, such as the ability to show shared content and specific participants side-by-side....

Microsoft is a regular annual visitor to the Bett education conference each year. This year is a little different because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The conference is usually held at the ExCel in London but was cancelled this year. Instead, the BettFest is being held as a two-day virtual event through January 20 and 21. Ahead of that event, Microsoft is teasing some new Windows 10 laptops that will target education users:...

After waiting such a long time, users have numerous features that they have wanted for years. Microsoft is checking some of those off the list with this release. It is worth mentioning that while Notepad is not users’ note-taking app, it is still widely used by Windows 10 users for logs, development, and other text editing. If you have used the service, you will know it is a basic app with a core function that just works....

However, with many schools moving to digital whiteboard solutions, Microsoft’s tool could be a strong offering. With it, the entire class or small groups will be able to collaborate at once, while the entire canvas is mirrored to a big screen. If necessary, Whiteboard also lets users collaborate remotely. This makes it a good tool for homework projects. For users who don’t have a pen-focused device, there’s the ability to use keyboard and mouse or a touchscreen and finger....

Users can place either all pages or a single one on their canvas, resizing it to fit. They can then annotate it, collate pages from different sources, and add supporting images, sticky notes, or PDFs. The functionality adds a new aspect to the app, which has been growing steadily since its initial release. As Microsoft continues to make a play for the education market, its tool has gone from a basic drawing and mind mapping software to one that quickly integrates with the rest of its suite....

Recently, Microsoft offered a glimpse of just how popular its applications are on Android. The company says its Microsoft Word app from the Office suite has been installed on Android devices over 1 billion times. Users can see this milestone for themselves as download data is found on the Google Play Store. As for other Office applications on Android, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and OneDrive have each been installed over 500 million downloads....

You probably already know why Minecraft Dungeons has been cancelled. Mojang says the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has escalated since the first launch announcement. As such, less developers have been working on the game and the company says it won’t risk its teams. As you all know, we initially planned to release Minecraft Dungeons by the end of April. However, due to the current state of the world, this was no longer possible, as we wanted to guarantee the health and safety of our teams and empower them to deliver the best possible experience to you, our players....

Announced this week, Minecraft Earth has been crafted as the future of gameplay, especially for Minecraft on mobile devices. Developed in the same division as Microsoft’s next Halo game for Xbox, the new Minecraft experience is available for free on iOS and Android. The Verge spoke to Alex Kipman, the driving force behind Microsoft AR development through devices such as Kinect and HoloLens. Kipman has already led the company to creating holographic content across a broad range of niches....

Specifically, for iOS and iPadOS, the update brings Bluetooth mouse and keyboard support to Minecraft. Users on Apple’s iPad iOS variant will probably get more mileage from this update, but it will also work for iPhone too. So, you could send your iPhone screen to a big screen and play Minecraft with mouse and keyboard. The ability to stream your iPhone on a big screen is available on all models from the iPhone X and newer....

Rather than the unlimited free access of the early testing, regular users will get 12 hours of free time each month. These come in the form of four three-hour passes that are designed to keep you safe while using public Wi-Fi networks. There’s also a chance of unlimited access for the app’s improved closed beta: “For unlimited access, you have the opportunity to join our invite-only VPN beta We’re nearly ready to invite our beta testers to try out Firefox Private Network full-device protection,” said Mozilla in a post on the Private Network site....

Like the platform affirming news last year, this decision has wider consequences. It once again highlights the decline and demise of Windows Phone. The consumer market is long gone, and now the organization market is also slipping away. The New York Post says the NYPD will adopt the iPhone by the end of the year. The decision ends a three-year partnership with Microsoft. Redmond initially partnered with the police department in 2014, creating a trial that put 25,000 Lumia smartphones in officers’ hands....

For the unfamiliar, this episode follows protagonist Jesse as he fights a powerful enemy and explores the ‘icy unknown’. It uses Telltale’s textbook mechanics, forcing the player to make hard decisions that will impact the outcome of the story. The second season will be broken up into five episodes, each unfolding the plot dynamically. This time, Telltale is also introducing a ‘Crowd Play’ feature, which lets friends vote on decisions via a mobile device....

Currently in testing, the new Account Manager gives Office Insiders the ability to toggle between personal and professional accounts. It seems the feature is available on core apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Access, and Visio. “This updated experience makes it clear how you’re logged in, and now you can toggle between work and personal accounts without having to sign out first or deal with complex dialogs,” the company explained in the release notes for Office Insiders....

That because while the update offers no new features, it does squash a couple of notable bugs. Some users have reported search was becoming unresponsive, while others have complained about the app stopping PDF files from being created. While neither of these issues were universal, they warranted attention from Microsoft. In response, OneDrive version 11.15.8 fixes both problems. Below you can see the explanation provided by Microsoft: “Search was unresponsive from folders in the offline view....

The chipmaker also showcased a smartphone reference design, with plans for commercial launch in early 2019. The design will help OEMs test and optimize 5G technology, utilizing spectrum bands above 24 GHz. “Achieving the world’s first announced 5G data connection with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem chipset on 28GHz mmWave spectrum is truly a testament to Qualcomm Technologies’ leadership in 5G and extensive expertise in mobile connectivity,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president, Qualcomm Technologies....

QuickLook is available now in the Microsoft Store. As it suggests by name, the app allows users to preview files within File Explorer. The developer points out the application supports most file formats. A quick look at the app suggests it works exactly like the Mac features, meaning a space bar press will open the preview. There are also some other one button commands for interacting with files. Pressing Enter will run the preview in the default program in File Explorer....

It seems this is being done by contractors and not directly within Microsoft. However, one contractor says the fact they have permission and the ability to listen to users shows “how lax things are in terms of protecting user data”. While not wanting to be named, the contractor says personal communications are often heard. They cite “phone sex” as common when reviewing audio, as well as users entering personal information such as their address into Cortana....

While only renders of the proposed Facebook Watch were ever seen, it is widely believed the device was a genuine project within the company running on the codename Milan. In fact, it was also purported to deliver a fresh take on smartwatch technology by placing a camera on the device for videos and images. It would look similar to the Apple Watch with a rectangular design with rounded covers, with a function button on the right....

Digitimes quotes a Chinese report from UDN, which says that a new Surface 2-in-one device will be coming in the first quarter. It’s expected to feature a 4K display and a magnetic charging Surface Pen. The publication also suggests that the device will be Manufactured by Pegatron Technology. The Chinese company produced Microsoft’s Surface Studio, as well as a chunk of Apple’s iPhones. Microsoft also considered Quanta Computer as a manufacturer, but it’s not yet known if an agreement was made....