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4 Key Benefits of Video Content

Entrepeneur 31 Oct 2020 01:00 PM Image credit: gradyreese | Getty Images October 31, 2020 5 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In the digital age, getting attention is anything but a given. An abundance of publishers, gadgets and apps are competing for mind share, and data overload causes audiences to block distractions and instead focus on what’s urgent. Five years back, a Microsoft study found that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish, which lasts about eight seconds —

The Sponsorships That Win You Diehard Customers Now

Entrepeneur 28 Oct 2020 09:10 PM Image credit: PeopleImages | Getty Images October 28, 2020 4 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In 2003, Maya Angelou said, “People will forget the things you do, and people will forget the things you say. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” It has been almost two decades, but it seems that sponsorships and partnerships have started to listen to Maya Angelou. The nature of sponsorships has evolved. Sponsorships bring brand awareness At the

Careful with that alternate data stream Eugene

Gartner 24 Oct 2020 09:36 AM Careful with those alternate file streams, Eugene! One of the things I’ve been researching quite in depth this year has been the Insider Risk Management problem, and I hope to have some useful research notes published quite shortly. Return of the shuffling hordes. BRAAAIIINSSSS! There are lots of interesting questions to answer, for example Insider Risk or Insider Threat as a fundamental one, but also moving onto more Cyber-Existentialism such as: What is Insider Risk anyway? Isn’t this just DL

The Rapid Cloud Adoption Guide

Gartner 17 Oct 2020 10:50 AM The global pandemic has challenged IT departments in ways unimaginable at the beginning of this year. Planned projects have either been shelved or expedited to an almost dangerous pace. IT budgets are having to be re-written at the same time that business is screaming for capabilities which might not have been envisaged for another 5 or so years. How can the IT leaders deliver this cloud transformation without exposing themselves to serious consequences further down the line? Gartner has plenty

How to Improve Marketing Attribution Without Burdening Your Sales Team

MarketingProfs 07 Oct 2020 02:00 PM One of the biggest sources of friction between B2B demand generation and sales teams is attribution—the process of understanding which campaigns contribute to revenue so that Marketing can optimize its limited dollars on the most effective programs. Although it sounds like an easy process, it often results in finger-pointing and blame between Marketing and Sales. But it doesn't have to be that way: When companies use technology more effectively, the friction over attribution decreases. Why the F

These six headphones could make the perfect holiday gift

Mashable 03 Oct 2020 04:00 PM Sometimes during the holidays, you really need headphones.Image: Mashable composite; Apple, Samsung, Microsoft All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. The holidays give us precious time with our loved ones, as we gather around dinner tables, living rooms, and all other types of communal spaces with those we hold near and dear. And sometimes you just need a good pai

‘Asymmetrical in every sense’: The latest console wars see Sony and Microsoft pursue diverging battle plans

Digiday 25 Sep 2020 04:01 AM September 25, 2020 by Seb Joseph Two decades after they first squared up to each other, Sony and Microsoft are facing off again with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, set for release this fall. And yet after all these years, both companies couldn’t have a more contrasting take on what gamers want. This is the first time the two gaming brands are coming to market with fundamentally different business models. Sony is trying to preserve and protect the traditional console gaming model, built o

PlayStation or Xbox? Picking the right next-gen console and model for you.

Mashable 22 Sep 2020 08:22 PM Image: vicky leta / mashable The new consoles are almost here and the key word is choices. You have lots of them. Microsoft and Sony are each releasing two consoles, for starters. And in Microsoft's case at least, there are some outside-the-norm options for buying them. Then there are the tie-in subscriptions which, if you can afford them, add lots of value to your hardware. Video game consoles are supposed to be easy. Buy one, plug it into your TV, and you're all set to play every game. But al

Microsoft buys Fallout creator Bethesda for $7.5bn

BBC Technology 21 Sep 2020 05:08 PM Image copyright Microsoft Xbox-owner Microsoft has acquired the games company behind blockbuster titles including Doom, Fallout, Skyrim and Wolfenstein.It is paying $7.5bn (£5.85bn) for Bethesda's parent ZeniMax Media. Xbox has said that the publisher's franchises would be added to its Game Pass subscription package for consoles and PCs.This could help make the forthcoming Xbox Series X more attractive than the PlayStation 5 to some players.Both machines are due to launch in November. Game Pass

Game changer: Microsoft buys Elder Scrolls company ZeniMax for $7.5bn

Guardian Technology 21 Sep 2020 03:25 PM Microsoft is acquiring ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, publisher of the best-selling video game franchises The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Doom. The $7.5bn deal (£5.85m) will see all future releases from Bethesda’s studios included on the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.Xbox chief Phil Spencer said: “Like us, Bethesda are passionate believers in building a diverse array of creative experiences, in exploring new game franchises, and in telling stories in bold ways. All

Before pre-orders open, an Xbox mic drop: Microsoft acquires Bethesda Softworks

Mashable 21 Sep 2020 02:34 PM Image: microsoft If you were on the fence about which new video game console to pre-order, maybe this will push you over the edge. Microsoft is acquiring ZeniMax media in a $7.5 billion cash deal that brings Bethesda Softworks into the Xbox family. Even if you're not familiar with Bethesda by name, you probably know some of the big series it publishes, like Doom, Fallout, Wolfenstein, and Elder Scrolls. Microsoft confirmed the acquisition in a Monday morning announcement, with just over 24 hour

Sony announces PlayStation 5 release date and price - as it happened

Guardian Technology 16 Sep 2020 08:58 PM Updated The Sony PlayStation 5 and its controller - a date and price for the new console will be announced tonight Photograph: Sony Interactive Entertainment I/Reuters 9.54pm BST21:54 Sony announces release date, price and new games for PlayStation 5 Here’s everything that just happened (you can scroll down to see all the trailers and footage): -The PlayStation 5 is out November 12th in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea -For the rest of us in the UK and Europ

TikTok rejects Microsoft bid at eleventh hour

BBC Technology 14 Sep 2020 10:37 AM Image copyright Getty Images Microsoft has said that its offer to buy the US operations of hugely popular video-sharing app TikTok has been rejected, paving the way for Oracle to secure a last-minute deal.US President Donald Trump gave a 15 September deadline for the Chinese-owned app to sell or shut down.The Trump administration claims TikTok and other Chinese apps are national security threats.Microsoft and Oracle led the race to buy TikTok from Chinese firm ByteDance. TikTok is a hugely popu

TikTok rejects Microsoft offer as rumours swirl over Oracle deal

The Drum 14 Sep 2020 03:44 AM Microsoft would have to make significant changes to its operations. Microsoft has announced it will not buy TikTok’s US operations, sparking widespread overnight press coverage claiming the platform had instead struck a technology partnership with Oracle.That deal is not yet confirmed, however, after China's state-run English television channel CGTN said on Monday that TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, would not give the source code for the video platform to any US buyers, reports Reuters.Upo

Microsoft Surface Duo review

Tech Crunch 10 Sep 2020 01:07 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your personal data that may be used Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Precise location Find out more a

Microsoft Surface Duo review: Is this the new normal?

Mashable 10 Sep 2020 01:00 PM Double your pleasure?Image: zlata ivleva / mashable Microsoft Surface Duo Gorgeous design • Super lightweight and thin • Flexible and sturdy hinge • Compose / tent / book postures add versatility Buggy • Lack of a front-facing notification panel • Lack of water resistance • Steep navigation learning curve • Hard to control one-handed The Bottom Line The Surface Duo is a right step in a different direction for Microsoft's mobile efforts. This dual-screen Android device is far from perfect, but i

Microsoft unveils pricing of next generation Xbox consoles

Telegraph 09 Sep 2020 03:06 PM

Xbox blinks first by pricing Xbox Series X ahead of Sony's PS5

BBC Technology 09 Sep 2020 04:10 PM *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]> img{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}]]>image copyrightMicrosoft *:not([hidden]):not

Daily Crunch: India bans PUBG and other Chinese apps

Tech Crunch 02 Sep 2020 10:41 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your personal data that may be used Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Precise location Find out more a

Deepfake detection tool unveiled by Microsoft

BBC Technology 01 Sep 2020 04:01 PM *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]>By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor img{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}]]>image cop

There's still time to preorder 'Marvel's Avengers' (and get these exclusive bonuses)

Mashable 31 Aug 2020 04:56 PM All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. TL;DR: As of Aug. 31, you can preorder select editions of Marvel's Avengers (out Sept. 4) at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, the Playstation Store, the Microsoft Store, and Steam. We've held out for a hero long enough: After several years in the making and a delayed release, Marvel's Avengers is finally coming to Xbox One, Playst

Cloud gaming: Are game streaming services bad for the planet?

BBC Technology 28 Aug 2020 11:15 PM *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]>By David MolloyTechnology reporter img{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}]]>image copy

What a Walmart-Microsoft bid for TikTok could mean for e-commerce

Digiday 28 Aug 2020 04:01 AM Member Exclusive August 28, 2020 by Anna Hensel Ever since an August 6 executive order forced Byte Dance owned- TikTok to begin acquisition talks with other U.S. companies, there’s been no shortage of unusual suitors looking to snap up the video sharing app. Over the past few weeks, Microsoft has been rumored to be among the top contenders interested in acquiring TikTok. TikTok started entertaining acquisition offers after President Donald Trump issued an executive order effectively ordering Ti

Walmart expresses interest in TikTok, teaming up with Microsoft

Tech Crunch 27 Aug 2020 04:48 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your personal data that may be used Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Precise location Find out more a

Microsoft’s hands-off handling of LinkedIn offers model for potential TikTok acquisition

Digiday 24 Aug 2020 12:27 PM August 24, 2020 by Tim Peterson If Microsoft successfully ekes by Oracle to acquire TikTok, agency executives have some advice for how the tech giant should handle the social video app’s advertising business: treat it like LinkedIn. “Microsoft acquired LinkedIn and has left it largely to operate independently,” said Jeremy Hull, svp of innovation at iProspect That’s right. After it would have likely spent tens of billions of dollars to purchase TikTok, the best thing Microsoft could do to recou

Fortnite Apple row: Microsoft backs Epic in court filing

BBC Technology 24 Aug 2020 10:16 AM Image copyright Getty Images Microsoft has thrown its weight behind Epic Games in a continuing legal battle with Apple.Apple pulled hugely popular game Fortnite from its App Store after Epic deliberately broke its rules in protest at Apple's policies.In an escalation, Apple then said it would pull Epic's access to developer tools on iOS and Mac.But Microsoft said this would damage a "critical technology" for many third-party game creators.That is because Epic also owns the Unreal Engine - a too

Microsoft backs Epic Games, says Apple is threatening game development

Mashable 23 Aug 2020 09:31 PM Image: Konstantin Savusia / shutterstock Microsoft has inserted itself into the ongoing legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games, and the Xbox company is lining up behind the Unreal Engine. Unreal, which is Epic's creation, is a set of software tools (often referred to as an "engine") that developers use to build video games. Epic confirmed on Monday that Apple will cut the company off from iOS and MacOS development tools on Aug. 28. That spurred a response from Microsoft. On Sunday, Microsof

Microsoft’s Seeing AI founder Saqib Shaikh is speaking at Sight Tech Global

Tech Crunch 20 Aug 2020 06:22 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your personal data that may be used Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Precise location Find out more a

Brush up on your Excel skills with this discounted course

Mashable 20 Aug 2020 04:00 AM Products featured here are selected by our partners at StackCommerce.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. The 2020 Excel Certification School Bundle is on sale for £37.74.Image: pexels TL;DR: The 2020 Excel Certification School Bundle is on sale for £37.74 as of August 20, saving you 94% on list price. There's no need to force yourself to learn a new skill or get toned while in isolation. Full stop. However, if you're getting sick of Netflix

Publishers’ “shadow traffic” problem: Why your traffic numbers are off by 20%

What's New in Publishing 17 Aug 2020 08:30 AM Getting the complete picture of your traffic has always been challenging. Dark traffic first popped up in 2012, when it became clear that traffic stripped of its referrer information was categorized as “direct.” Dark traffic has grown with the rise of HTTPS and the increasing prevalence of private messaging systems (Slack, WhatsApp, and the like). While campaign tracking helps identify some dark traffic, there’s a new wrench in the gears of our analytics: shadow traffic. What is shadow traffic?

Microsoft's Surface Duo is coming soon — here's where you can preorder one

Mashable 13 Aug 2020 04:00 PM All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Image: microsoft TL;DR: As of Aug. 13, you can preorder the new Microsoft Surface Duo through the Microsoft Store, Best Buy, and AT&T starting at $1,399.99. The Microsoft Surface Duo is waiting in the wings. Initially announced at the company's hardware event last fall, the dual-screen device marking Microsoft's first for

Microsoft announces Surface Duo will arrive on September 10

Telegraph 12 Aug 2020 01:54 PM

Microsoft's Surface Duo is a dual-screen 'risk' that might pay off. Just don't call it a phone.

Mashable 12 Aug 2020 10:31 AM Deep breaths, Microsoft. You got this.Image: microsoft Microsoft is nervous. That much was clear from an early morning (virtual) briefing which saw the company trot out select team members to discuss the upcoming not-a-phone, not-a-tablet, definitely-not-a-foldable Surface Duo. The dual-screened device, a stark departure from the Lumia phones that tried and failed to pave the way before it, is clearly a gamble for Microsoft and the Surface line. After all, it is the company’s first “smartphone

Google updates G Suite for mobile with dark mode support, Smart Compose for Docs and more

Tech Crunch 05 Aug 2020 04:00 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. Click 'I agree' to allow Verizon Media and our partners to use cookies and similar technologies to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more about how we use your data in our Privacy Centre. Once you confirm your privacy choices here, you can make changes at any time by visiting your Privacy Das

5 questions about Microsoft’s plans for TikTok

Digiday 05 Aug 2020 04:01 AM Member Exclusive August 5, 2020 by Tim Peterson If ByteDance is forced to sell TikTok to another company, there are places worse than Microsoft where a media platform could wind up (like Verizon). That being said, the maker of Microsoft Office is not an obvious candidate to acquire a social video app popular with high schoolers. Microsoft’s unexpected emergence as TikTok’s potential next parent company has raised eyebrows since news broke on July 31 that Microsoft was exploring an acquisition o

Microsoft's TikTok grab: Inspired or naive?

BBC Technology 04 Aug 2020 11:04 PM By James Clayton North America technology reporter Image copyright EPA/Getty Images Last week, Congress grilled Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook. Microsoft wasn't invited to the party. I thought Microsoft's boss would be relieved that his company was safely out of the firing line.It appears I was wrong. What I didn't know at the time was that Satya Nadella was in fact looking to expand deeper into social media. Microsoft already owns LinkedIn. Acquiring video-based social-media platform TikTo

Best cloud storage services: Back up, share, and collaborate more easily

Mashable 04 Aug 2020 09:00 AM Why should you store your files in the cloud? In a word: security. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Remote based storage is nothing new, but there's never been a busier time for cloud-based services. With the growing trend for more and more businesses working remotely and more individuals than ever storing increasingly large amounts of essential files, it's

Daily Crunch: Microsoft-TikTok acquisition inches closer to reality

Tech Crunch 03 Aug 2020 10:19 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. Click 'I agree' to allow Verizon Media and our partners to use cookies and similar technologies to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more about how we use your data in our Privacy Centre. Once you confirm your privacy choices here, you can make changes at any time by visiting your Privacy Das

Microsoft confirms plans to buy TikTok after 'personal' talk with Donald Trump

Telegraph 02 Aug 2020 11:58 PM

Microsoft's Cortana is saying goodbye to Android and iOS in 2021

Mashable 01 Aug 2020 10:28 PM Cortana, say "bye-bye" :(Image: RAFAEL HENRIQUE/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES It's looking like curtains for Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant. On mobile, at least. In an announcement posted on July 31, the company said it would pull the Cortana mobile app from both iOS and Android devices in early 2021. While this is new for American users, Microsoft did a similar scrubbing of mobile Cortana in regions like Canada, Australia, and the U.K back in Jan. 2020. As Mashable tech repo

Microsoft brings fans virtually back to NBA league

Campaign 28 Jul 2020 04:58 PM Microsoft will bring National Basketball Association fans back to the court through an in-venue broadcast. Three hundred fans will appear live at each game from 30 July via 17-foot video boards surrounding the court. They will have the opportunity to digitally interact with each other throughout the games and support the players by cheering them on in real time. The experience was created using Microsoft's "Together" mode, a feature available on Teams. It allows participants to have their indivi

Xbox Series X games showcase: Halo: Infinite, Fable and more - as it happened

Guardian Technology 23 Jul 2020 05:13 PM Updated A first look at the Halo: Infinite campaign mode will provide the centrepiece of the day’s revelations. Photograph: Microsoft 6.27pm BST18:27 Keza MacDonald Here’s a summary of what was shown tonight for the Xbox One X: Gameplay from Halo Infinite’s campaign A quick look at a new Forza Motorsport Zombie multiplayer game State of Decay 3 announced A beautiful new fantasy nature game from Rare: Everwild Updates on Dontnod’s emotionally-charged Tell Me Why and Ori: Will o’ the Wisps, both

Typewise taps $1M to build an offline next word prediction engine

Tech Crunch 23 Jul 2020 12:18 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. Click 'I agree' to allow Verizon Media and our partners to use cookies and similar technologies to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more about how we use your data in our Privacy Centre. Once you confirm your privacy choices here, you can make changes at any time by visiting your Privacy Das

Slack to Microsoft: Bundling Teams with Office is an antitrust violation

Mashable 22 Jul 2020 09:26 PM Image: JUSTIN LANE / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock Follow @https://twitter.com/PCMag PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Slack is accusing Microsoft of breaking antitrust law in the European Union by bundling its competing business chat service, Microsoft Teams, with Office, and is calling on

Slack makes EU antitrust claim against Microsoft over Teams

BBC Technology 22 Jul 2020 02:41 PM Image copyright Slack Work messaging platform Slack has filed an antitrust claim against Microsoft, claiming the tech giant’s rival app Teams has an unfair advantage.Slack said Microsoft’s bundling of Teams within Office 365 software was “illegal and anti-competitive practice” and that the tech giant was “abusing its market dominance”.The complaint will now be reviewed by the European Commission.Microsoft said that it was providing the EC with information."We created Teams to combine the abilit

Where will travel go in the future?

The Drum 16 Jul 2020 07:12 AM By Ed Heaney-16 July 2020 08:12amThis promoted content is produced by a member of The Drum Network.The Drum Network is a paid-for membership product which allows agencies to share their news, opinion and insights with The Drum's audience. Find out more on The Drum Network homepage. All of our lives have been affected by the pandemic. From restrictions on travel, postponement of large events like the Olympics, the need to home-school to the way we shop and maintain relationships, the disruption

Microsoft and Zoom join Hong Kong data 'pause'

BBC Technology 07 Jul 2020 11:49 AM By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor Image copyright Reuters Microsoft and Zoom have said they will not process data requests made by the Hong Kong authorities while they take stock of a new security law.They follow Facebook, Google, Twitter and the chat app Telegram, which had already announced similar "pauses" in compliance over the past two days.China passed the law on 30 June, criminalising acts that support independence, making it easier to punish protesters.Apple says it is "assessing" th

Sick of Zoom? Here are 8 other video conferencing options to try.

Mashable 25 Jun 2020 09:00 AM Whether you're working remotely or just want to connect with friends and family who are far away, investing in a great video conferencing platform will allow you to check in easily. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Whether you're looking to video chat with your friends and family regularly, or if you're simply looking for a visual calling solution for your c

This $25 training could be your ticket to understanding data analysis

Mashable 23 Jun 2020 09:00 AM Products featured here are selected by our partners at StackCommerce.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Learn how to build professional business reports after taking this digital course.Image: pexels TL;DR: Access hundreds of lessons with The Data Analysis with Excel and Power BI bundle for $24.99, a 95% savings as of June 23. Ah, Microsoft Excel. It's been around since the '80s and has still managed to not only remain relevant, but actua

PlayStation 5 v Xbox Series X: how will the rival consoles compare?

Guardian Technology 19 Jun 2020 07:00 AM Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 games consoles. Composite: Xbox, PlayStation Last week, in a livestream watched by millions, Sony revealed the first games coming to its PlayStation 5 console. Due out this winter, the machine will be competing with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X in the first major console war since 2013. But what will these new devices offer that Xbox One and PlayStation 4 do not – and will this finally get the kids off Fortnite? Technology Like the Xbox One and PS4, the two new mach

GitHub abandons 'master' and 'slave' terms to avoid row

BBC Technology 15 Jun 2020 12:41 PM Image copyright Getty Images The world's biggest site for software developers is abandoning decades-old coding terms to remove references to slavery, such as master and slave.GitHub Chief Executive Nat Friedman said the firm is working on changing the term "master" - for the main version of code - to a neutral term.The firm, owned by Microsoft, is used by 50 million developers to store and update its coding projects.This is the latest in a campaign to remove such terms from software jargon.The

PS5 reveal: The next generation of PlayStation looks a lot like the last one - for now

Telegraph 12 Jun 2020 10:57 AM

George Floyd: Microsoft bars facial recognition sales to police

BBC Technology 11 Jun 2020 10:49 PM Image copyright Getty Images Microsoft has become the latest US company to limit the use of its facial recognition technology by police.The firm said it would not start sales to US police departments until the country approves national regulation of the technology, which critics say is racially biased and easy to abuse.Amazon and IBM have already made similar moves.These followed widespread protests over police brutality and racial discrimination.Amazon on Wednesday banned police from using its

PlayStation 5: Sony gives first look at the PS5 console and games

BBC Technology 11 Jun 2020 11:38 PM By Leo Kelion & David Molloy Technology reporters Media playback is unsupported on your device Sony has given gamers a first look at the design of its next console as well as some of the titles it will play.The PlayStation 5 has a black core surrounded by curved white edging, and a blue glow.Two follow-ups to bestselling PS4 releases were among the standout games announcements - Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Horizon: Forbidden West.Sony's machine will launch alongside Microsoft's rival Xbo

6 of the best keyboards for working from home

Mashable 11 Jun 2020 05:00 AM Missing your office keyboard? Upgrade your WFH setup with one of these impressive models from top brands like Logitech, Razer, and Microsoft. The reality of working from home is different for everyone, and depends on lots of factors. For some people, the transition to working from home is totally straightforward. These people will probably have their home office set up with things that make for a comfortable and efficient working day. They'll have desk chairs, monitors, and printers. Basically

‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’: Publishers set for a second wave of layoffs

Digiday 08 Jun 2020 04:02 AM June 8, 2020 by Lucinda Southern State intervention and government prop-ups have led some media companies to approach job cuts by stage. The initial cuts were often less than the declines in ad revenue these companies faced. In the U.S., the overall unemployment rate surprisingly fell in May, thanks in large part to government loans to employers as well as hiring of part-time workers for essential services. But as that money runs out, and fears of a second coronavirus spike in the fall bubble u

Facebook and Microsoft muscle in on Zoom video-call boom

Guardian Technology 03 Jun 2020 11:15 AM Zoom’s revenue surged by 169% to $328m in the three months to the end of April, prompting the company to double revenue guidance for this year. Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Zoom may be booming as the global coronavirus lockdown moves work and social life to cyberspace but deep-pocketed rivals including Microsoft, Google and Facebook are taking aim as video conferencing becomes a staple of daily life. On Tuesday, Zoom, which has been catapulted from a relatively unknown video servic

Get ready for the 'holy grail' of computer graphics

BBC Technology 21 May 2020 11:13 PM By Padraig Belton Technology of Business reporter Image copyright Microsoft Ray tracing has always been the "holy grail" of computer graphics, says Jason Ronald, head of program management for the gaming console Xbox.The technique simulates a three-dimensional image by calculating each ray of light and promises stunning lighting effects with realistic reflections and shadows.The method finds where it bounces, collects information about what those objects are, then uses it to lay down a pixel an

Surface Go 2 review: Microsoft’s smaller, cheaper Windows 10 tablet

Guardian Technology 19 May 2020 06:00 AM The Surface Go 2 is Microsoft’s smaller, cheaper and great Windows 10 tablet. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The Surface Go 2 is Microsoft’s second iteration of its low-cost, smaller tablet computer and continues to prove that cheap Windows PCs don’t have to be terrible. The Surface Go 2 starts at £399, but for that you don’t get the £100 Type Cover keyboard, which is a must-have. That places the Surface Go 2 in the low-end PC bracket and makes it Microsoft’s cheapest current PC, undercu

Xbox: Microsoft reveals first games for Series X console

BBC Technology 07 May 2020 07:13 PM Image copyright Microsoft Microsoft has revealed some of the first third-party games that will be optimised for its next-generation console, the Xbox Series X.The Xbox livestream featured previously unseen footage of the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.But many viewers complained too little gameplay was displayed.Both Microsoft and PlayStation-maker Sony have promised to deliver their latest consoles in time for Christmas 2020.Typically, Microsoft holds an annual showcase of games

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla among 13 games announced for Xbox Series X

Guardian Technology 07 May 2020 03:58 PM On the horizon … Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Photograph: Ubisoft Microsoft has revealed 13 games coming to its Xbox Series X console when the machine launches this winter. In an hour-long presentation, streamed live on Thursday, the company announced that well-known titles such as the recently announced Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, as well as Madden NFL 21 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon, will all be on Xbox Series X. Also featured was Paradox Interactive’s vampire adventure, Vampire: The Masquerade – B

Best VoIP for small business owners — whether you're WFH or not

Mashable 30 Apr 2020 05:56 PM In order to have a shot at being successful, every small business needs to be reliable. Investing in a VoIP service will go a long way to ensure this happens. Here are our top picks. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. More than any other type of business, small businesses heavily depend on their reputation for reliability and excellent service. That's one of t

Marketing in the value exchange economy: Do brands need to think differently about brand trust?

The Drum 29 Apr 2020 07:44 PM [embedded content] Consumers don't exactly understand the value of what marketers are giving them in exchange for access to personal data and information, a panel discussion on brand trust concluded. The Covid-19 crisis has inevitably impacted customer behavior, shaking up the industry and the ways marketers respond - yet there are steps brands can take to earn, maintain, and regain their audience’s trust. The Drum’s associate editor Sonoo Singh moderated a panel discussion during the Digital T

Block party: eight brilliant Minecraft models to attempt at home

Guardian Technology 20 Apr 2020 11:47 AM Have fun and experiment ... modelling with Minecraft. Photograph: Microsoft With lockdown entering its fifth week, Minecraft is proving a useful venue for friends and families to meet up, play together and work on collaborative projects. The game is widely used in schools throughout the world to teach everything from sustainable farming to the history of art, and Microsoft recently made the many lessons and exercises in its Minecraft Education programme available to everyone with an Office 365

Why trust matters most when it comes to consumer data

The Drum 15 Apr 2020 02:15 PM Join us for 'In brands we trust. Or do we?' digital panel, in partnership with Microsoft Data is changing the way we live. It enables businesses to fulfill people’s genuine needs and desires. However, a whopping 92% of consumers have concerns about the amount of data companies and brands have collected about them, according to new research from Microsoft.As part of Digital Transformation Festival, The Drum, in partnership with Microsoft, will host a digital panel to discuss how brands can use t

‘Like being in film school’: How Goodby Silverstein & Partners is still producing new ads

Digiday 14 Apr 2020 04:01 AM Over the course of the last two weeks, Goodby Silverstein & Partners has made more than 20 new ads for its clients. With its staff working from home due to coronavirus, the agency has turned to at-home shoots. The agency now relies heavily on its in-house production capabilities as well as its post-production division, Elevel, to be able to continue to make new ads. “The kind of ads we’re creating hasn’t changed as much as how we’re making them,” said Margaret Brett-Kearns, co-director of

Microsoft patent details folding phone with 3 displays

Mashable 07 Apr 2020 02:08 PM Image: Microsoft / screengrab Follow @https://twitter.com/PCMag PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Microsoft's Surface Duo is a folding phone, but it relies on two displays rather than one that folds. However, a new patent suggests Microsoft's future folding phones may end up using th

How COVID-19 has impacted search results and how to develop an action plan to thrive

The Drum 31 Mar 2020 02:15 PM By Nemash Patel-31 March 2020 15:15pmThe marketing sector can be a complicated place as new marketing tools and techniques are launched, almost on a weekly basis. Powered by The Drum Network, this regular column invites The Drum Network's members to demystify the marketing trade and offer expert insight and opinion on what is happening in the marketing industry today that can help your business tomorrow. Push Group look at how companies and brands can adapt during the pandemic. COVID-19 is impa

‘You have to be constantly available’: Confessions of a copywriter on managing anxiety and burnout

Digiday 30 Mar 2020 04:01 AM As millions of people stay trapped indoors and in industries like advertising, working remotely, the threat of overwork and burnout has become even more prevalent. Adjusting to working in isolation amid a period of heightened anxiety can be tough. In the latest edition of our Confessions series, in which we trade anonymity for candor, we hear from a copywriter about how the coronavirus has affected her job, made balancing work and life more difficult and how she fears burnout. This interview has

How to Strategically Generate Search Engine Traffic

Entrepeneur 26 Mar 2020 04:00 PM Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox Stay informed and join our daily newsletter now! Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy Image credit: marchmeena29 | Getty Images It's easy for a newcomer to the world of search engine marketing to assume that the search engines (e.g., Google, Microsoft) are all the same and that clicks from them all behave in the same ways. In order to optimize your efforts, you need to know the differences between Google and Microsoft, their search engines and sh

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review: the best Windows 10 tablet PC you can buy

Guardian Technology 23 Mar 2020 07:00 AM Microsoft’s top detachable PC finally gets the USB-C port it should have had three years ago, making the Surface Pro 7 the new king of Windows 10 tablets. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The Surface Pro 7 is an update of the excellent Surface Pro 6 with new processors and, finally, a USB-C port. That means the design of the new Surface Pro 7 hasn’t changed since the 2017 Surface Pro 5, with Microsoft taking an “if it ain’t broke” approach. It’s competitively priced at £699 and up – but yo

How to approach new business during the coronavirus shutdown

The Drum 19 Mar 2020 01:30 PM By Cat Davis-19 March 2020 13:30pmThe marketing sector can be a complicated place as new marketing tools and techniques are launched, almost on a weekly basis. Powered by The Drum Network, this regular column invites The Drum Network's members to demystify the marketing trade and offer expert insight and opinion on what is happening in the marketing industry today that can help your business tomorrow. On this, the first week of the Covid-19 shut down, we agencies are caught between a rock and a

What do I need to work from home due to coronavirus?

Guardian Technology 19 Mar 2020 08:00 AM Working from home will likely be a necessity over the next few months at least, so FranklySwiss wants to know what they need to get work done remotely. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA What do I need to work at home during the coronavirus outbreak? At this rate, we might all be working from home for a year! How will the broadband providers cope? Do we need a plan B? FranklySwiss Everyone will need their own customised solution, but there are two things to think about. First, will you be working at hom

Microsoft Surface Pro X review: not yet ready for prime time

Guardian Technology 12 Mar 2020 07:00 AM Microsoft’s Surface Pro X is a cutting-edge Windows 10 tablet, but lack of developer support will be a problem for a while. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian The Surface Pro X is a glimpse of an ARM-powered Windows future, combining the best bits of phones and computers, but while that future is closer than ever, it isn’t quite ready yet. The new £999 Surface Pro X might look like the rest of Microsoft’s Surface tablets on the outside, but it is fundamentally a different beast on the inside

Microsoft becomes the latest corporate victim of coronavirus chaos

Telegraph 27 Feb 2020 02:58 AM

Microsoft's unified Office app launches on iOS and yes, it has dark mode

Mashable 19 Feb 2020 04:00 PM Microsoft's new Office app is now available on both major mobile platforms.Image: Microsoft In November 2019, Microsoft previewed a new version of its Office app for Android and iOS, combining Word, Excel and PowerPoint into a single application. The Android version of the app was made available on Google Play on Monday, but it is now officially available on Apple's iOS as well. [embedded content] Some of the advantages of this unified approach include, according to Microsoft, a simplified us

‘There’s a lot of posturing’: Microsoft Windows exec on the browser-privacy wars

Digiday 07 Feb 2020 05:00 AM Microsoft became the latest in a long line of tech companies to ramp up its attack on ad trackers last month when it rolled out the latest version of its Microsoft Edge browser. Built on the same open source code as Google’s Chrome, the new version of Microsoft Edge has an enhanced tracker-prevention feature that is turned on by default. Microsoft has claimed this feature blocks 25% more trackers than its prior version of the component. Digiday spoke with Aaron Woodman, Microsoft’s general mana

Google, Microsoft, GoCompare, Linkedin, Deliveroo: Meet The Drum Search Awards 2020 jury

The Drum 29 Jan 2020 07:00 AM Microsoft, GoCompare, Linkedin, Delete, Google: Meet The Drum Search Awards 2020 jury The Drum Search Awards returns for 2020, celebrating the most effective search strategies and campaigns over the past 12 months. Microsoft, GoCompare, Trainline, Yotel, Linkedin, Google, Vaunt, Deliveroo, MediaCom, Amara, Delete Agency and Foxtons are set to judge this year's crop of entries. The jury will come together with their knowledge and expertise to asses the most innovative, creative and effective sea

Data privacy is a ‘human right’ says Microsoft’s Satya Nadella

Telegraph 23 Jan 2020 02:15 PM

Microsoft Could Revitalize Knowledge Management With Project Cortex

Gartner 22 Jan 2020 04:22 AM by Darin Stewart | January 22, 2020 | Submit a Comment Everybody wants effective knowledge management in their enterprise. Nobody wants to exert the effort or commit the resources necessary to make KM happen. Creating and capturing knowledge is a pain and the effort is rarely recognized or rewarded. Once expertise is pulled out of someone’s head and deposited in a knowledgebase, it is usually out of date before anyone consumes it. Besides, who has the time to curate content when there are re

Can Microsoft's 'moonshot' carbon goal succeed?

BBC Technology 17 Jan 2020 06:39 PM By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News Image copyright Getty Images Tech giant Microsoft has announced two bold ambitions: firstly, to become carbon negative by the year 2030 - meaning it will be removing more carbon from the air than it emits - and secondly, to have removed more carbon by 2050 than it has emitted, in total, in its entire history.In an interview with the BBC's Chris Fox, Microsoft president Brad Smith admitted that the plan was a "moonshot" - a very big idea with no guar

Microsoft vows to be 'carbon negative' in 10 years and remove all historic emissions by 2050

Telegraph 16 Jan 2020 06:43 PM

Amazon to block Microsoft from working on $10bn 'war cloud' contract

Telegraph 14 Jan 2020 10:48 AM

CAA: Microsoft boss calls India's new citizenship law 'sad'

BBC Technology 14 Jan 2020 06:52 AM Image copyright Getty Images Microsoft boss Satya Nadella has spoken out about India's controversial new citizenship law.The India-born executive said what is happening is "sad" and he would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant succeed in the country's technology industry.His comments come amid ongoing, sometimes violent, protests against the law.The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been criticised as it is seen as discriminating against Muslims.Speaking at a Microsoft event for editors in Ne

Microsoft ends Windows 7 support: What should you do?

BBC Technology 13 Jan 2020 03:14 PM By Sam Shead Technology reporter Image copyright Oli Scarff Cyber-security experts are urging Windows 7 users to upgrade their operating system. Microsoft is going to stop supporting Windows 7 from Tuesday so that it can focus on "newer technologies". As a result, Windows 7 users will no longer receive the all-important security updates and patches that keep their machines safe. One in four Windows users is running Windows 7, according to statistics website StatCounter.What does this all mean?I

Microsoft hits $1 trillion market valuation

BBC Business 25 Apr 2019 02:49 PM Image copyright Getty Images Microsoft has seen its stock market value top $1 trillion (£774bn) after reporting better-than-expected sales and profits. The US software giant passed the mark briefly on Thursday, before its share price fell back. It makes it one of only three public firms to have hit the $1tn mark, the others being Apple and Amazon.Microsoft's stock has climbed by about a third in the past year, helped by the growth of its cloud business.On Wednesday, the firm said revenue rose 1

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