“Microsoft Monday" is a weekly column that focuses on all things Microsoft. This week, Microsoft Monday includes details about Black Friday sales, the Xbox One X launch, Bill Gates’ latest investments, the acquisition of SWNG and much more!
Microsoft Holiday Sales Includes A Huge Xbox One S Deal
Microsoft has rolled out previews of its Black Friday discounts today, which includes some solid deals. One of the best deals is an Xbox One S 500GB console with a free game of choice and a 1 month of Xbox Game Pass. There are discounts on Surface bundles, Xbox consoles, Xbox games, Windows laptops and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Forbes contributor Gordon Kelly published a comprehensive guide about all the Microsoft Black Friday 2017 deals.
Xbox One X Reviews And Reports
The Xbox One X was released on November 7 and a number of reviews and reports have been published about experiences with the new console. The Xbox One X is a high-end version of the Xbox One with a $500 price tag. What makes it high-end is that the Xbox One X has upgraded hardware that can play games at 4K resolution.
According to GameIndustry.biz, the Xbox One X sold roughly 80,000 units in the U.K. It took the Sony PlayStation 4 Pro four weeks to hit the same milestone.
“Huge thanks to everyone for their support of @Xbox One X. Great initial results not just in UK, but seeing similar results across Europe. NA #s much bigger, amazing first week!” wrote Microsoft head of Xbox Games Marketing Aaron Greenburg in a tweet.
Forbes contributor Dave Thier said that his console broke after using it for two days. The problem started when game downloads became corrupt. Thier was able to download Gears of War 4 and Halo Wars 2 without a problem. However, he kept seeing a “something went wrong” error followed by a number of strings and numbers. A factory reset did not work and a number of Reddit and ResetEra complained about similar problems.
John Archer, a Forbes contributor that focuses on video quality, recently published an article titled “The Xbox One X 4K Blu-Ray Player Is A Disaster.” Archer said that the problem is raised black levels when playing high dynamic range images into HDR-capable TVs. And the “below wide aspect ratio films look markedly greyer from the Xbox One X than they do via any other 4K Blu-ray player. This is because something about the way the Xbox One X is outputting its video seems to be raising the base luminance level of the entire high dynamic range image.” Fortunately, a fix is on the way.
And Forbes contributor Kevin Murnane cited a report comparing Halo 5: Guardians running with the 4K patch on the Xbox One with the original version running on the Xbox One. “The original Halo 5 used dynamic resolution scaling to sustain a 60 fps frame rate no matter how frantic the onscreen action became. Sixty fps is ideal for a shooter like Halo 5, but it was achieved at the cost of visual quality. Details were absent, textures were blurry, and draw distances were short,” wrote Murnane. “That was then; this is now. The difference between the unpatched version running on the Xbox One and the patched game running on the One X is like putting glasses on and having your vision go from blurry to sharp. And gameplay is still locked at 60 fps.”
Microsoft To Focus On Building And Acquiring Game Studios
In an interview with Bloomberg, Xbox head Phil Spencer discussed plans to develop more video games in-house by starting new gaming studios or buying existing ones. “We need to grow, and I look forward to doing that,” said Spencer via Bloomberg. “Our ability to go create content has to be one of our strengths. We haven’t always invested at the same level. We’ve gone through ups and downs in the investment.” Microsoft on Tuesday will start selling the Xbox One X, a high-end console targeted at hard-core gamers.
This is a big deal because Microsoft’s own franchise games have done very well including Halo and Gears of War. This news also comes as a surprise because Microsoft shut down the Lionhead and Press Play gaming studios in Europe a year ago.
As Microsoft’s overall strategy has been shifting to the cloud, the company has been emphasizing more on subscription numbers on Xbox consoles, iPhones, Androids and PCs rather than hardware sales. And Xbox’s software and services revenue increased 21% this past quarter despite a drop in console sales. Console sales are expected to increase this quarter due to the introduction of the $500 Xbox One X.
Spencer also said that Microsoft will launch a streaming service sometime in the future that does not require a console within the next 3 years. Microsoft attempted to launch a concept of this service in 2012, but it did not end up becoming commercially viable. But with the advancement of Azure, it would be possible to make it work this time around.
Bill Gates Is Investing $100 Million To Fund Alzheimer's Research
Today Forbes wealth team reporter Deniz Cam published an article about how Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates is investing $100 million to battle Alzheimer’s disease. This investment is independent of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Of that $100 million, $50 million will be put into U.K.-based Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF). Some of DDF’s other investors include Biogen, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Takeda and Woodford. And another $50 million will be spread across a number of startups that are working on Alzheimer's research.
“The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop a chronic condition. Your risk of getting arthritis, Parkinson’s, or another non-infectious disease that diminishes your quality of life increases with each year. But of all the disorders that plague us late in life, one stands out as a particularly big threat to society: Alzheimer’s disease,” wrote Gates in a blog post. “You have a nearly 50 percent chance of developing the disease if you live into your mid-80s. In the United States, it is the only cause of death in the top 10 without any meaningful treatments that becomes more prevalent each year.”
Bill Gates Purchases 25,000 Acres In Arizona To Build A “Smart City”
Bill Gates and his investment firm Belmont Partners have purchased about 25,000 acres of land in the West Valley area west of downtown Phoenix, Arizona to build a “smart city.” The community is expected to be called “Belmont.”
"Belmont will create a forward-thinking community with a communication and infrastructure spine that embraces cutting-edge technology, designed around high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies and distribution models, autonomous vehicles and autonomous logistics hubs," said Belmont Partners in a statement.
Around 3,800 acres will be used for office, commercial and retail space. About 470 acres will be used for public schools. And the rest of the land will be used for residential units.
SwiftKey Now Has Photo Themes And A Partnership With Keith Ladzinski
SwiftKey, a predictive keyboard app for iOS and Android acquired by Microsoft last year, has announced a new Photo Themes feature and a partnership with Keith Ladzinski. The Photo Themes features allows users to upload your own images for personalized themes on the SwiftKey Keyboard. Ladzinski is a contributing photographer for National Geographic that is providing a gallery of 12 curated images exclusive to SwiftKey. Android users can also customize whether or not the keyboard has borders on the keys and whether or not there are symbols and secondary characters.
You can set up Photo Themes by opening “SwiftKey Settings” and clicking on the “Themes” tab on SwiftKey for Android. And iOS users can customize the color of the keys, which will show when pressed. The keyboard can be customized by opening the SwiftKey app and selecting “Design.”
LinkedIn Announces Sale Navigator Lite For Gmail
In a blog post, LinkedIn said that one of the biggest requests it received for Sales Navigator for Gmail was when a free version would become available. So LinkedIn announced Sales Navigator Lite for Gmail last week — which offers a few features built into the premium version.
For example, the Lite version allows you to hover over an email address to see the LinkedIn profile information of the person you are communicating with. And you can also see icebreakers such as mutual connections. If you want to set up this feature on the Chrome browser, you can download it from the Chrome Web Store now.
Rapportive users will automatically be migrated to Sales Navigator Lite in the “coming weeks.” Existing Sales Navigator subscribers will continue getting the full feature set and the ability to save leads and TeamLink in the inbox.
Ola To Build A Connected Car Platform With Azure
Ola, a popular ride-hailing service in India, will be using the Microsoft Azure cloud computing service for in-car infotainment systems. The new in-car infotainment system would assist with navigation and vehicle maintenance.
“At the heart of this partnership is Ola Play, the world’s first connected car platform for ridesharing, that will leverage Microsoft AI and IoT to enhance driver experiences with telematics and navigation guidance; passenger experiences with cloud-based infotainment and productivity; and provide auto manufacturers with custom digital experiences for their customers,” said Microsoft in a blog post. “Ola Play customers will be able to use productivity tools such as Office 365 and Skype for Business, as well as voice-assisted controls built using Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot framework, in-car during their rides. The advanced telematics platform will transform the car into a high-performing, intelligent vehicle, capable of assessing fuel efficiency, engine performance, and driver performance. It will also enable smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, enhancing safety and security while creating new business models and opportunities.”
Microsoft is also reportedly considering an investment in Ola, according to Reuters. Last month, Ola raised $1.1 billion from Tencent Holdings and SoftBank Group.
Microsoft Pulls KB 4052233, 4052234 And 4052235 Patches
According to ComputerWorld, Microsoft has pulled three KB patches along with the associated articles for them. The three KB patches were supposed to fix vulnerabilities in Windows 7 SP1/Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2. Specifically, the patches were intended to fix the “Unexpected error from external database driver” bug that started appearing after the October Windows security patches.
Microsoft Word Now Has A Resume Assistant Feature Powered By LinkedIn Data
Last week, Microsoft Office 365 general manager Bryan Goode announced that Resume Assistant has been added to Microsoft Word to help Office 365 subscribers build compelling resumes with personalized insights powered by LinkedIn. Resume Assistant appears in the sidebar and it started rolling out to Office 365 subscribers in the Office Insiders program on Windows Desktop (English) last week. It will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, United, Kingdom and the United States of America first.
“The workplace is changing, impacting not only how people work, but also the frequency with which they change roles, introducing new challenges for job seekers. Nearly 70 percent of people say they have difficulty portraying their work experience effectively, and 50 percent struggle to tailor their resume to a specific job opportunity. Furthermore, job applications on LinkedIn have increased 40 percent year-over-year, signaling increased competition for jobs,” said Goode.
Microsoft Partners With Wisconsin-Based gener8tor Startup Accelerator
Microsoft has partnered with Wisconsin-based startup accelerator gener8tor. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Microsoft and gener8tor are working in conjunction with five regional education and business organizations to sponsor a new business accelerator program called gBETA. The partnership is between gener8tor, Microsoft, The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Business Success Center, Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College, WiSys, UW-Green Bay Cofrin School of Business and The Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corp. gBETA will have meeting times and office hours in Green Bay and Appleton. gBETA will give 10 new and upcoming companies access to mentoring and investment resources.
“What this ultimately comes down to is there are companies in the region creating wealth and jobs locally,” said gBETA managing director Maggie Brickerman via the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “Our work is focused on helping these companies take that next step.”
gener8tor is well known for investing in high-growth startups. And the goal is for Microsoft and gener8tor to drive local economic growth and spur innovation.
Microsoft President Brad Smith is a native of Appleton, Wisconsin. Last month, Smith announced a partnership between Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers called TitletownTech. TitletownTech is a startup accelerator based in Green Bay’s Titletown District, which is adjacent to Lambeau Field.
Microsoft Acquires The Talent And Technology Behind The SWNG App
Microsoft has acqui-hired the talent behind the SWNG mobile app (previously known as Polaroid Swing), presumably to add “living photos” to Skype. The terms of the deal were undisclosed. The technology can be compared to Apple Live Photos. The SWNG app allows users to take an animated photo that shows a short video clip when it is pressed. SWNG also has filters and slow-motion effects. Swing employees will be joining the Skype team at Microsoft.
"The Swing team's deep expertise in imaging technology will help us deliver great new features and capabilities for Skype. They have an impressive track record of delivering great user experiences and brand design around the technology they develop," said Skype corporate vice president Amritansh Raghav via eWeek. "I welcome the new team members and am excited about how Swing will deliver innovation to our customers."
Skype Adds Photo Effects
Last week, Skype added a photo stickers feature to its messaging app. The “Photo Effects” features include “smart, whimsical effects, like quirky face stickers and witty captions, for your photos or Highlights.” Skype said it will suggest the stickers to use based on the photo’s content, day of the week and other related information.
And the photo effects are based on technology that Microsoft added to the Spinkles app earlier this year. And that app utilizes machine learning and A.I. to detect emotions and age of people in photos. Users can swipe through suggestions and select the stickers or captions. The feature can be accessed by taking a photo and then tapping the magic wand icon at the top of the screen.
Photo Effects have been added to Skype in Android version 8.10.0.4 and iOS 8.10.0.5.
Microsoft Is Integrating Third-Party Security Software Into Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection
Microsoft is integrating third-party security software into the Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection service including solutions created by Bitdefender, Lookout, and Ziften. These companies will add its software into macOS, Linux, iOS and Android threat-detection offerings with Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), according to ZDNet.
Microsoft’s Windows Defender ATP — which should not be confused with the Windows Defender free antivirus service — ships with Windows 10 Enterprise. Windows Defender ATP is evolving into a suite of tools that includes Windows Defender Application Guard, Windows Defender Device Guard and Windows Defender Antivirus.
Microsoft Is Adding Mute Tab To Edge And Near Share Feature In Windows 10
Last week Microsoft announced Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17035 for PCs to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. The Build includes several interesting new features.
Microsoft Edge Additions
There are a couple of new features in Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17035. This includes the ability to mute tabs in the browser. And there is an option to save EPUB books from the web in Microsoft Edge.
Near Share
Microsoft And Princeton University Are Suing Trump Administration To Keep The “Dreamers” Program Active
Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith is overseeing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration in collaboration with the Trustees of Princeton University. Microsoft and Princeton want to preserve the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) program. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in a U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., according to GeekWire.
The lawsuit alleges that President Donald Trump’s attempt to end DACA is in violation of the U.S Constitution and federal law. What is DACA? It is a program that offers deferred deportation and work permits to people that entered the country illegally when they were children, known as “Dreamers.”
“The termination of the DACA program severely harms Perales Sanchez and other Dreamers, as well as the employers and educational institutions that rely on and benefit from their contributions. For example, as a result of the rescission of the program, Princeton will suffer the loss of critical members of its community—students who lead vital student organizations, contribute to important research projects, participate in study-abroad programs, and perform oncampus work that aids the activities of the University. Similarly, Microsoft will lose employees who fill critical positions in the company’s workforce and in whom the company has invested—leaving gaps that cannot easily be filled,” wrote Microsoft and Princeton in the lawsuit filing.
President Trump intends to allow the DACA program to expire in March. And if Congress does not handle the issue, then over 800,000 Dreamers would be eligible for deportation.
Other technology companies that are part of a coalition to lobby in support of Dreamers include Facebook, Alphabet (Google), Uber, Intel and a number of others.
Microsoft Releases An Xbox One X 4K HDR Demo
According to SlashGear, Microsoft has released an Xbox One X 4K HDR official demo called Insects. The app was designed for Xbox One X owners to experience HDR10 and 4K Ultra HD. There is a seizure warning for the app so it should not be downloaded if you are photosensitive or cannot handle bright flashing lights. The app can be downloaded from the Microsoft store.
How Microsoft Wants To Use Machine Learning For Finding Cancer Cures
Microsoft is looking to improve healthcare using artificial intelligence and machine learning. One of Microsoft's latest initiatives — Healthcare NExT — seeks to combine artificial intelligence with health research to find cures for deadly diseases.
“It’s a big challenge,” said Microsoft Research NExT Corporate Vice President Peter Lee via Futurism. “But we believe technology – specifically the cloud, AI and collaboration and business optimization tools – will be central to health care transformation.”
According to Digital Journal, Microsoft is expanding Healthcare NExT to cancer research. Microsoft will be approaching the research by viewing living cells such as cancer mutations as computers. And cancer will be looked at as a glitch in the system that could be potentially reprogrammed. The research is taking place at Microsoft’s biological computation labs in Cambridge, U.K.
LinkedIn and Silver Lake Are Investing $300 Million In Cornerstone OnDemand
Microsoft’s professional social network LinkedIn and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners are making a $300 million investment in Santa Monica, California-based Cornerstone OnDemand. Cornerstone OnDemand is a talent management system that offers recruitment, training and collaboration solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Cornerstone OnDemand plans to use the funding to fund growth initiatives and for managing capital structure such as repaying convertible debt and repurchasing common shares. Silver Lake Partners and LinkedIn are purchasing $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75 percent convertible notes due July 2021 at a conversion price of $42 per share.
“We believe that executing our strategic plan, with the backing of Silver Lake and LinkedIn, is the best way to maximize shareholder value. We came to this determination after a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, led by a committee of independent directors, during which we evaluated both solicited and unsolicited interest in the company,” said Cornerstone OnDemand founder and CEO Adam Miller in a statement. “This investment constitutes a vote of confidence in our future, an affirmation of the work we have done to build our business and, most important, a validation of the tremendous opportunities we see ahead. As we execute on our plan, we look forward to driving significant value for all of our shareholders.”
Satya Nadella Tells iPad Owners To “Get A Real Computer”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently traveled to India to promote his book “Hit Refresh” and how the software giant has been transforming. TechRadar’s Sahil Gupta was in attendance with a colleague taking notes on their iPads. When Nadella spotted the iPads, he said “You need to get a real computer, my friend.”
Another interesting anecdote that Nadella told at the India Today Next Conclave is about learning from mistakes. Even though Nadella flunked the entrance exams for the Indian Institutes of Technology and did not attend an Ivy League university in the U.S., Nadella was still able to become the head of Microsoft. "It is my personal philosophy flunking exams has definitely taught me as long as I’m learning I’m fine. Failure is part and parcel of life, the question is what are you going to do about it,” said Nadella via TechRadar.
Microsoft Monday includes seven days worth of updates from the Redmond-based software giant. What are your thoughts about the “Microsoft Monday” news from this week? Please leave a comment!
