Popular vendor of OS.http://aics-app.sakura.ne.jp/rss_share/201504271430106698867Microsoft, Apple, Google's latest news. Contains official and unofficial news.(ENG)New Xbox One YouTube app has voice search but doesn’t support Kinect
https://www.onmsft.com/news/new-xbox-one-youtube-app-has-voice-search-but-doesnt-support-kinect
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 07:03:09 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kinect3-1031x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Xbox One Kinect" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kinect3-1031x580.jpg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kinect3-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kinect3-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />The official Xbox One YouTube app updated earlier this week with a cleaner, streamlined design that loads significantly faster than the previous version and looks a lot better too. One rather odd addition to the new YouTube app is the option for voice search which can be activated from the Search screen by pressing LT […]Fri, 16 Mar 2018 07:03:09 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft hits milestone in Chinese to English machine translation
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-hits-milestone-in-chinese-to-english-machine-translation
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 02:09:43 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/skype-translator-1033x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/skype-translator-1033x580.jpg 1033w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/skype-translator-250x140.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/skype-translator-768x431.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/skype-translator.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px" />On Wednesday, Microsoft Researchers announced some impressive gains in machine translation that resulted in a Chinese to English accuracy rate on par with an actual human to human translation. With several 2,000 sentence tests run and confirmation from 3rd party bilingual language consultants Microsoft Researchers had enough data to confidently attest to the accuracy of […]Fri, 16 Mar 2018 02:09:43 +0000On MSFTConnected health accessory maker iHealthLabs suffers minor data breach
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/connected-health-accessory-maker-ihealthlabs-suffers-minor-data-breach/
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:43:27 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/screen-shot-2018-03-15-at-9-41-40-pm.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Health accessory maker <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%253Daps&field-keywords=iHealthLabs">iHealthLabs</a> has suffered from a data breach, CEO Yi Liu said in an email to customers this evening. In the email, Liu explains that a security researcher was able to decrypt encrypted email addresses of users, but that iHealthLabs was able to correct the software error within 24 hours of confirmation…</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/connected-health-accessory-maker-ihealthlabs-suffers-minor-data-breach/#more-524429" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:43:27 +00009to5MacMicrosoft could be facing a gender discrimination and harassment class action lawsuit soon
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-could-be-facing-a-gender-discrimination-and-harassment-class-action-lawsuit-soon
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:15:02 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/women-870x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/women-870x580.jpg 870w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/women-100x66.jpg 100w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/women-248x165.jpg 248w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/women-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px" />women who worked at US-based Microsoft employment have filed 238 discrimination and harassment complaints over the last six years.Fri, 16 Mar 2018 01:15:02 +0000On MSFTSafari targeted in two more exploits at the Pwn2Own security conference
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/safari-pwn2own-security-conference/
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:44:06 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/screen-shot-2017-09-19-at-3-06-13-pm.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>As the annual Pwn2Own conference continues today, Safari remains a common target among security researchers. Following the exploits we <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/pwn2own-mac/">reported on earlier today</a>, day two of the conference brought more news for Apple…</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/safari-pwn2own-security-conference/#more-524427" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:44:06 +00009to5MacLatest Microsoft Edge Beta on iOS brings much-anticipated iPad layout
https://www.onmsft.com/news/latest-microsoft-edge-beta-on-ios-brings-much-anticipated-ipad-layout
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:40:37 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-773x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-773x580.jpg 773w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-220x165.jpg 220w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-1376x1032.jpg 1376w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-1044x783.jpg 1044w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-632x474.jpg 632w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180316_000834823_iOS-536x402.jpg 536w" sizes="(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px" />Beta testers of Microsoft Edge on iOS can finally enjoy the browser with an optimized tablet layout on the iPad.Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:40:37 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft releases Windows 10 Mobile build 15254.313 with fix for PDF bug
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-releases-windows-10-mobile-build-15254-313-with-fix-for-pdf-bug
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:12:39 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Windows-10-Mobile-808x580.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Windows-10-Mobile-808x580.png 808w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Windows-10-Mobile-230x165.png 230w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Windows-10-Mobile-768x552.png 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Windows-10-Mobile.png 1512w" sizes="(max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px" />This month’s Patch Tuesday update for Windows 10 Mobile finally fixes the issue with PDFs that couldn’t be opened in Microsoft Edge.Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:12:39 +0000On MSFTGoogle Lens w/ visual search and assistance now rolling out to Google Photos for iOS
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-photos-ios-lens-launch/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 22:07:19 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/google-lens-e1495041578311.png?w=1600" /></div><p>Last month, Google <a href="http://9to5google.com/2018/02/23/google-lens-roll-out-ar-core-flagship/">announced that Lens</a> — its set of visual search and analysis tools — is coming to iOS. First introduced at last year’s Google I/O developer conference, it will be rolling out over the coming weeks to all users using Google Photos.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-photos-ios-lens-launch/#more-524417" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 22:07:19 +00009to5MacThis is the ‘GrayKey’ box used by law enforcement to unlock iPhones [Gallery]
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/this-is-the-graykey-box-used-by-law-enforcement-to-unlock-iphones-gallery/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:46:35 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/messages-image2632765270.png?w=1600" /></div><p>It’s been a few years since the <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2016/04/21/fbi-1-million-dollar-iphone-exploit/">San Bernardino debacle</a> between law enforcement and Apple over the company refusing to create a back door to unlock an iPhone. After going back and forth on the case, the FBI eventually dropped the case entirely after it found a third-party company able to gain access to the device.</p>
<p>However, in 2017, a company by the name of ‘Grayshift’ created a device called ‘GrayKey’ that successfully unlocked iPhones without knowing the passcode.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/this-is-the-graykey-box-used-by-law-enforcement-to-unlock-iphones-gallery/#more-524401" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:46:35 +00009to5MacFortnite for iOS is now live in the App Store, here’s how to get an invite
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-get-fortnite-for-ios-invite/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:29:54 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/screen-shot-2018-03-15-at-5-23-15-pm1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>As <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/08/play-fortnite-on-ios-iphone-ipad/">originally teased last week</a>, Fortnite Battle Royale is <a href="https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/app/fortnite/id1261357853?mt=8&at=11l3RE">now available for iOS</a>. While the app is live in the App Store, you’ll need an invite from a friend or Epic Games to gain access…</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-get-fortnite-for-ios-invite/#more-524404" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:29:54 +00009to5Mac#ifdef WINDOWS – What is Windows Machine Learning and how to get started
http://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2018/03/15/ifdef-windows-what-is-windows-machine-learning-and-how-to-get-started/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:00:06 +0000With the next release of Windows, developers will be able to evaluate trained machine learning models locally on Windows 10 devices, allowing developers to use pre-trained models within their applications with hardware-accelerated performance by leveraging the device’s CPU or GPU to compute evaluations for both classical Machine Learning algorithms and Deep Learning. Lucas Brodzinski from […]Thu, 15 Mar 2018 21:00:06 +0000Windows BlogUsers in Iran are no longer able to access the App Store
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-bans-iran-app-store-access/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:54:49 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/app-store.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000" /></div><p>According to <em>Bleeping Computer</em>, the App Store is no longer available in Iran. The ban took place sometime around noon GMT today.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-bans-iran-app-store-access/#more-524387" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:54:49 +00009to5MacHow to share one iCloud Storage plan with your whole family
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-share-one-icloud-storage-plan-with-family-sharing/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:45:50 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/how-to-share-one-icloud-storage-plan-with-family-sharing-iphone-ipad-ios.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Apple’s Family Sharing iCloud feature was introduced back in 2o14 with iOS 8, but for several years many users requested a way to share one iCloud storage plan with multiple accounts. Apple brought this option to users with iOS 11, but for many it’s not turned on by default. Follow along for how to share one iCloud Storage plan with your whole family.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-share-one-icloud-storage-plan-with-family-sharing/#more-524374" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:45:50 +00009to5MacApple touts developer success in response to allegations of ‘abusive trade practices’ in France
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-responds-to-french-abuse-claims/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:19:57 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/tim-cook-france.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>It was reported <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/14/france-apple-abusive-trade-practices/">yesterday that the French government</a> is taking both Apple and Google to court over alleged “abusive trade practices.” Specifically, the government claims that neither Apple nor Google treat their developers fairly, citing factors such as non-negotiable commissions and contract terms.</p>
<p>Today, both Google and Apple have commented on the accusations made by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire…</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-responds-to-french-abuse-claims/#more-524380" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:19:57 +00009to5MacGoogle Maps adds ‘wheelchair accessible’ routes’ for improved mobility [Video]
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-maps-wheelchair-routes/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:13:26 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/google-maps-wheelchair.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Few will argue if you tell them Google Maps is the best navigation service, and it’s continually getting better all the time. Today, Google is bringing a new feature to Maps to improve its functionality for wheelchair users.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-maps-wheelchair-routes/#more-524378" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:13:26 +00009to5MacIntel’s upcoming Xeon and 8th gen Core chips will have built-in protections against Meltdown and Spectre
https://www.onmsft.com/news/intels-upcoming-and-xeon-and-8th-gen-core-chips-will-have-built-in-protections-against-meltdown-and-spectre
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:10:07 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Intel-8th-Gen-processors-1050x549.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Intel-8th-Gen-processors-1050x549.png 1050w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Intel-8th-Gen-processors-250x131.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Intel-8th-Gen-processors-768x401.png 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Intel-8th-Gen-processors.png 1196w" sizes="(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px" />Intel's Xeon and 8th gen Core series of processors, coming in the second half of 2018, will be the first Intel chips with built-in protections against Meltdown and Spectre.Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:10:07 +0000On MSFTHow to compose 2:1 video in Final Cut Pro X that’s better formatted for today’s smartphones [Video]
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-compose-21-video-in-final-cut-pro-x-thats-better-formatted-for-todays-smartphones-video/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:54:01 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/2x1-aspect-ratio-final-cut-pro-x-iphone-x.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Recent smartphones like the iPhone X, Galaxy S8/S9 and Pixel 2 XL feature wider screens than their predecessors. In fact, this is an ongoing trend in the smartphone world, smaller bezels coupled with taller phones featuring wider screens.</p>
<p>Such a change has affected the way traditional 16:9 widescreen video is displayed on modern phones. The result is an image that doesn’t take up as much screen real estate as it could, leading to a more prominent pillarboxing effect.</p>
<p>In this hands-on video, we discuss why you should consider adopting 2:1 video to better take advantage of today’s modern smartphone displays, and how to go about doing so in <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/procutx-for-final-cut-pro-x/id596946635?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l9Le">Final Cut Pro X</a>. <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/how-to-compose-21-video-in-final-cut-pro-x-thats-better-formatted-for-todays-smartphones-video/#more-524125" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:54:01 +00009to5MacMicrosoft looks to get game developers on board with Azure with new Game Cloud division
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-looks-to-get-game-developers-on-board-with-azure-with-new-game-cloud-division
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:32:15 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_0676-773x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Xbox Logo Featured Image Hero" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_0676-773x580.jpg 773w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_0676-220x165.jpg 220w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMG_0676-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px" />Microsoft has reportedly created a new Game Cloud unit within the Xbox division to get developers on board with the Azure cloudThu, 15 Mar 2018 18:32:15 +0000On MSFTUnlikely ‘iPhone SE 2’ with iPhone X design surfaces in new video
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/iphone-se-2-fake-video/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:06:00 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/iphone-se-2.png?w=1600" /></div><p><em><a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-34592.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">Macotakara</a> </em>has shared a new video that first surfaced on <a href="https://weibo.com/kimmi0005">Weibo</a> and shows an iPhone SE-style phone with an iPhone X-style display that appears to be running iOS. Based on the current rumors (and lack of schematics and hardware leaks) so far, however, the likelihood that this is an actual iPhone is next to nothing. The footage does make for some nice visual eye candy however…</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/iphone-se-2-fake-video/#more-524360" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:06:00 +00009to5MacGoogle sets sights on iPhone users as it rebrands its wearable platform from Android Wear to ‘Wear OS’
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-wants-iphone-owners-to-use-wear-os-android-wear/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:09:05 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/wear-os-google-iphone-users.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=834" /></div><p>Google <a href="https://9to5google.com/2018/03/15/google-android-wear-os-rebrand/">officially announced today a rebranding</a> of its wearable platform from Android Wear to <a href="https://9to5google.com/2018/03/15/google-android-wear-os-rebrand/">Wear OS</a>. The company says the shift “better reflects our technology, vision, and most important of all—the people who wear our watches.” Along with this news is some interesting data on how a subset of users on Google’s wearable platform are also iPhone users.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/google-wants-iphone-owners-to-use-wear-os-android-wear/#more-524351" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:09:05 +00009to5MacFirst major update for Swiftkey on Android adds in plenty of new features
https://www.onmsft.com/news/first-major-update-for-swiftkey-on-android-adds-in-plenty-of-new-features
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:08:35 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Untitled-1050x537.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Untitled-1050x537.png 1050w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Untitled-250x128.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Untitled-768x393.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px" />Microsoft today is rolling out the first major update for the Swiftkey keyboard on Android. The version 7.0 release adds in a new toolbar, gives better access to GIFS and many more useful featuresThu, 15 Mar 2018 17:08:35 +0000On MSFTOK Go makes some noise in the classroomhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/D1nMxNOKK9k/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><i>Editor’s Note: Many of us on <a href="http://g.co/sciencejournalapp">Google’s Science Journal team</a> are huge fans of <a href="https://okgo.net/">OK Go</a>, the popular rock and YouTube sensation. Their music videos are a spectacular blend of science, engineering, and creativity—a great formula for engaging classroom activities. So when professor AnnMarie Thomas approached us about the <a href="http://www.okgosandbox.org">OK Go Sandbox</a>, a collection of materials for K-12 educators, we simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity. OK Go frontman Damian Kulash tells us more in this guest post.</i></p><p>I’m always so proud and excited when I hear from a teacher who uses an OK Go music video in the classroom, and over the years, I’ve heard it more and more frequently—from pre-school teachers to grad school professors. We know our videos are joyful and nerdy (we’ve done a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w">Rube Goldberg machine</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWGJA9i18Co">a dance in zero gravity</a>, for instance), but we didn’t plan them for the classroom environment. It’s a wonderful surprise to hear they’re sneaking in there on their own, and we want to support that in any way we can.</p><p></p><p>Last year I met Dr. AnnMarie Thomas, who leads the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas. Together we brainstormed ways to open up our videos for classrooms, and we set up a survey to ask educators for their ideas. Within just a few days, nearly a thousand teachers sent us their thoughts, and, with support from Google, we took this feedback and together developed our new <a href="http://www.okgosandbox.org">OK Go Sandbox. It’s a</a> collection of materials created for and with K-12 educators: design challenges, educator guides, and more.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="170924mde084_002.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/170924mde084_002.max-1000x1000.jpg"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text">Here’s Dr. AnnMarie Thomas and me meeting with teachers to go over OK Go Sandbox materials.</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>It was especially cool to work with Google’s Science Journal team to develop tools that allow students to explore the world around them through music. Their new pitch detection feature makes it possible to make sounds using glasses of water (like we did in the Rube Goldberg machine for “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w">This Too Shall Pass</a>”, and in the musical performance of a robotic car for “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MejbOFk7H6c">Needing/Getting</a>”), and there’s now an option to play data values as pitches which lets students use their phone’s sensors to compose new sounds and interpret their data in a new way.</p></div></div><div class="block-video"><div class="article-module article-video "><figure><a class="h-c-video h-c-video--marquee" data-glue-modal-disabled-on-mobile="true" data-glue-modal-trigger="uni-modal-jxD_QQWyhCc-" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=jxD_QQWyhCc"><img alt="OK Go Sandbox - Surrounding Sounds" src="//img.youtube.com/vi/jxD_QQWyhCc/maxresdefault.jpg"/><svg class="h-c-video__play h-c-icon h-c-icon--color-white" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-youtube-icon"></use></svg></a></figure></div><div class="h-c-modal--video" data-glue-modal="uni-modal-jxD_QQWyhCc-" data-glue-modal-close-label="Close Dialog"><a class="glue-yt-video" data-glue-yt-video-autoplay="true" data-glue-yt-video-height="99%" data-glue-yt-video-vid="jxD_QQWyhCc" data-glue-yt-video-width="100%" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=jxD_QQWyhCc" ng-cloak=""></a></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>So whether we’re exploring frame rates by making flip books, or using a light sensor to make music (with <a href="https://sciencejournal.withgoogle.com">Google’s Science Journal app</a>), we hope that the challenges in the OK Go Sandbox help stoke curiosity and encourage learning through joy and wonder. And we particularly look forward to learning more from educators as this stuff gets into the world.</p><br/><p>Educators! Please reach out to us at <a href="mailto:hello@OKGoSandbox.org">hello@OKGoSandbox.org</a>with your input and ideas so that we can grow and adapt this to be maximally useful in inspiring your students. The best part of a sandbox is that we can try building lots of new things, even if we occasionally have to knock some things down and start over.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/D1nMxNOKK9k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogPlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) crosses 5 million players on Xbox One
https://www.onmsft.com/news/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-crosses-5-million-players-on-xbox-one
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:54:13 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Xbox_PUBG_16x9_INFOG_FINAL_r1t4_bm-2-1031x580.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Xbox_PUBG_16x9_INFOG_FINAL_r1t4_bm-2-1031x580.png 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Xbox_PUBG_16x9_INFOG_FINAL_r1t4_bm-2-250x141.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Xbox_PUBG_16x9_INFOG_FINAL_r1t4_bm-2-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />Three months after its launch on the Xbox One, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) has already crossed 5 million players.Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:54:13 +0000On MSFT9to5Toys Last Call: MacBook Pros from $1,280, Powerbeats3 $100, Anker Qi Chargers 20% off, more
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/9to5toys-macbook-pro-powerbeats3-qi-charger/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:30:17 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/9to5toys-lunch-break.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by <em><strong><a href="http://9to5toys.com/9to5toys-newsletter-signup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter</a></strong></em>. Also, be sure to check us out on: <a href="http://twitter.com/9to5toys">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://9to5toys.com/feed">RSS Feed</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/9to5toyscom/228249133858390">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/b/105878626736210310777/105878626736210310777/posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google+</a> and <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2013/12/11/safari-push-notifications-are-live-on-all-9to5-sites/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Safari push notifications</a>. <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/9to5toys-macbook-pro-powerbeats3-qi-charger/#more-524341" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:30:17 +00009to5MacMicrosoft Store in Houston’s Galleria moving in next door to Apple
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-store-in-houstons-galleria-moving-in-next-door-to-apple
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:04:02 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store-870x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Microsoft Store" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store-870x580.jpg 870w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store-100x66.jpg 100w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store-247x165.jpg 247w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MS-Store.jpg 1402w" sizes="(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px" />Microsoft and Apple have long been rivals, but Houston residents may soon have an easier and more convenient way to choose between Macbook or SurfaceThu, 15 Mar 2018 16:04:02 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft offers up to $250k in new bug bounty program after Meltdown and Spectre
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-offers-up-to-250k-in-new-bug-bounty-program-after-meltdown-and-spectre
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:02:28 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_2567-e1485241434409-1033x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Microsoft Logo" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_2567-e1485241434409-1033x580.jpg 1033w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_2567-e1485241434409-250x140.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_2567-e1485241434409-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px" />Meltdown and Spectre totally changed the threat environment this year, which is why Microsoft is opening a limited-time bounty program to encourage research on speculative execution side channel vulnerabilitiesThu, 15 Mar 2018 16:02:28 +0000On MSFTMajor update to SwiftKey iOS keyboard brings new toolbar, customizable stickers, more
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/swiftkey-update-toolbar-stickers/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:00:27 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/swiftkey-7-update-android.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>SwiftKey today is releasing a major update to the iOS keyboard app that offers up some of the biggest changes since its <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2016/02/02/microsoft-purchases-swiftkey/">Microsoft acquisition back in 2016</a>. Changes include a new toolbar to replace the old hub, editable stickers, and more new features promised.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/swiftkey-update-toolbar-stickers/#more-524307" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:00:27 +00009to5MacKeeping cloud entry points secure with Google Chrome Enterprisehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/fimVpJ7M-hk/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>When we <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/introducing-chrome-enterprise/">introduced Chrome Enterprise</a> last August, our aim was to provide a single solution that connected employees while giving admins the flexibility and control they needed to keep their businesses protected. Since then, security has only become more of a priority for enterprises. In fact, last year alone, 98% of businesses were <a href="https://www.accenture.com/t20170926T072837Z__w__/us-en/_acnmedia/PDF-61/Accenture-2017-CostCyberCrimeStudy.pdf">affected by malware</a>, and employee endpoints—like laptops, tablets, and smartphones—were <a href="https://lp.google-mkto.com/rs/248-TPC-286/images/Google_Endpoint_Security_us.pdf">increasingly the target of attacks</a>.</p><p>Enterprise IT admins know this all too well. With hardware, firmware, browsers, apps and networks to protect, admins now face more risks than ever, while managing more devices than ever. We built our Chrome Enterprise ecosystem with this complex landscape in mind, and today we’re adding new enhancements and partnerships as we continue to make Chrome Enterprise the most secure endpoint solution for businesses in the cloud.</p><p>Here’s a look at how these updates can help protect businesses, and their data, at every cloud access point.</p><p><b>Offering more ways for businesses to manage their devices from a single unified management solution</b><br/></p><p>For many businesses, managing a broad range of devices within one unified endpoint management solution is a necessity. Last year, <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/chrome-os-joins-forces-vmware-accelerate-adoption-chromebooks-enterprise/">we announced</a> our first enterprise mobility management (EMM) partnership with <b>VMware AirWatch</b>, the first third-party solution with the capability to manage Chrome OS. Today, we’re expanding this with four new partnerships with EMM providers, which gives IT admins the ability to manage and implement security policies across their full fleet of devices from a single place.<br/></p><p><br/></p><ul><li><p><b><a href="https://meraki.cisco.com/blog/2018/03/systems-manager-chrome-os-management-for-enterprise-users/">Cisco Meraki</a></b> offers a comprehensive set of solutions that includes wireless, switching, security, endpoint management, and security cameras, all managed through Meraki’s web-based dashboard interface.</p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://www.citrix.com/blogs/2018/03/15/xenmobile-unified-endpoint-management-adds-google-chrome-enterprise-support/">Citrix XenMobile</a></b> provides device and application management for comprehensive mobile security, and pairs well with <a href="https://blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/webinar-series-delivering-virtual-apps-and-desktops-chromebooks/">other recent Citrix integrations</a>.</p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://securityintelligence.com/news/chrome-os-finds-a-seat-at-the-unified-endpoint-management-table/">IBM MaaS360</a></b> with Watson delivers a cognitive approach to unified endpoint management, enabling the management of endpoints, end users and everything in between.</p></li><li><p><b><a href="https://blogs.manageengine.com/desktop-mobile/mobile-device-manager-plus/2018/03/15/got-chromebooks-mobile-device-manager-plus-now-supports.html">ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus</a></b> (a division of <b>Zoho Corp</b>) is a unified endpoint management console for configuring, managing and securing mobile devices, desktops and apps.</p></li></ul><p>With these partnerships in place, enterprises can pick the solution that fits their business best.</p><p><b>Helping enterprises manage Chrome OS alongside legacy infrastructure with more Active Directory enhancements</b></p><p>Building on our <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/introducing-chrome-enterprise/">initial integration</a> with Active Directory last August, we’ve added a number of enhancements to help admins <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/7497916">manage Chrome OS alongside legacy infrastructure</a>. Administrators can now configure managed extensions directly through Group Policy Objects. Users can authenticate to Kerberos and NTLMv2 endpoints on their local network directly from Chrome OS. We’re also expanding our support for common enterprise Active Directory setups like multiple domain scenarios. And we’ve improved our <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6321820">existing certificate enrollment flows</a> with Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS).</p><p><b>Continuing to deepen and expand management capabilities in Chrome Browser and Chrome OS</b><br/></p><p>The less time IT has to spend on mundane, manual tasks means more time to focus on business critical projects. That’s why Chrome Enterprise was designed to give IT admins the ability to grant, manage and adjust user permissions at scale, with fewer repetitive tasks. Chrome Enterprise already lets admins fine tune more than 200 security policies and grant secure, authorized employee access to online resources, and we’re continuing to add additional controls to help. In recent months, we’ve added the following controls to help admins:</p><p><br/></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/2657289#block">Per-permission extension blacklisting</a> lets admins restrict access to extensions based on the permissions required, for example, extensions that require the use of a webcam. This allows admins to now authorize an employee’s access to more extensions in the Google Chrome Web Store but maintain fine-grained admin controls across web properties.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/1375678#restrictversion">Sign-ins can be disabled</a> from an outdated OS to help administrators comply with security policies that dictate how many versions behind their users are allowed to run on.</p></li><li><p>Admins can ensure that only managed devices can connect to their single sign-on servers by gating that access with <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6080885#userdevicecerts">device-wide certificates</a>. These certificates effectively attest to the Chrome endpoint’s managed state.</p></li><li><p>Newly added support for automatic forced re-enrollment will now allow a Chrome device that has been wiped or recovered to re-enroll into the corporate domain without requiring administrator credentials. This will help ensure corporate devices remain enrolled without requiring any admin intervention.</p></li></ul><p>With Chrome Enterprise, our focus is not only on Chrome OS, but how businesses use Chrome Browser across all their platforms. Last December we announced <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/security-enhancements-and-more-enterprise-chrome-browser-customers/">a number of security enhancements</a> for Chrome Browser with the aim to help enterprises stay safe. We’ve now added a policy that allows IT to <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/?p=force_browser_signin">require users to sign-in to Chrome Browser</a>, ensuring security policies are applied to browsing sessions across platforms. And in the coming months, we’ll be adding enterprise reporting capabilities in Chrome Browser that give IT admins access to data about installed extensions, status of configured policies, telemetry data and much more. With this information, IT can better understand security status of each endpoint under their control.</p><p><b>Continually managing vulnerabilities to help businesses stay protected</b><br/></p><p>All of today’s announcements help admins stay on top of their organization’s security, and these features are in addition to the benefits admins already get with Chrome Enterprise.</p><p>For example, keeping hardware up to date is one of the easiest ways IT admins can keep endpoints secure, yet it can also be one of the most time-intensive tasks in an admin’s day. That’s why we built Chrome OS so that it <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/connected-workspaces/how-automatic-chrome-os-updates-bolster-security-ease-and-simplicity/">automatically deploys security updates</a> to ensure all devices run the latest version of Chrome OS. Chrome Browser prevents exposure to phishing and malware, and if threats are detected on third-party apps, admins can uninstall apps remotely with managed Google Play.</p><p>The proactive protection, control, and endpoint management advantages offered by Chrome Enterprise are why companies such as Sanmina Corporation are deploying Chrome across their businesses.</p><p>“As a multinational manufacturing and supply chain company that makes everything from the electronics in your car to mission critical systems for aerospace and medical products, security is of the utmost importance to us,” said Manesh Patel, CIO of Sanmina. “Deploying Chrome OS and G Suite in our facilities all over the world has allowed us to transform our workforce and collaborate securely in the cloud. It gives us peace of mind to know that our data is secure, and allows us to focus on building world-class products."</p><p><b>More to come</b></p><p>In the coming weeks there’ll be additional blog posts that offer deeper looks into what these enhancements can mean for businesses. In the meantime, you can learn more about security in Chrome Enterprise <a href="https://enterprise.google.com/chrome/chrome-enterprise/">on our website</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/fimVpJ7M-hk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogAndroid Wear, it’s time for a new namehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/gDOu3Akkv8s/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Android Wear was founded on the belief that wearable technology should be for everyone, no matter what style you wear on your wrist or what <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/android-wear/android-wear-now-works-with-iphones/">phone</a> you have in your pocket. Since then, we’ve partnered with top <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/android-wear/android-wear-20-watches-fall/">watch and electronics brands</a> to create more than 50 watches to help you manage your fitness, connect with the people who matter most, and show you the information you care about. The best part: We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible with wearables and there’s even more exciting work ahead.</p><p>As our technology and partnerships have evolved, so have our users. In 2017, one out of three new Android Wear watch owners also used an iPhone. So as the watch industry gears up for another <a href="https://www.baselworld.com/en-US.aspx">Baselworld</a> next week, we’re announcing a new name that better reflects our technology, vision, and most important of all—the people who wear our watches. We’re now Wear OS by Google, a wearables operating system for everyone. <br/></p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Wear OS, by Google logo lockup" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/WBG_Lockup_Blog.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>You’ll begin to see the new name on your watch and phone app over the next few weeks.<br/></p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/gDOu3Akkv8s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:45:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:45:00 -0000The Official Google BlogCelebrate the Sea of Thieves launch at your local Microsoft Store
https://www.onmsft.com/news/celebrate-the-sea-of-thieves-launch-at-your-local-microsoft-store
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:05:15 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SoT-Image-hero.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SoT-Image-hero.jpg 940w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SoT-Image-hero-250x140.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SoT-Image-hero-768x431.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />To celebrate the Sea of Thieves' worldwide release on March 20, Microsoft is inviting fans to visit their local Microsoft retail store to have some pirate fun.Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:05:15 +0000On MSFTApple Music for Android updated with crash fix, playback reliability improvements
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-music-android-update-2/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:38:45 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/apple-music-android-wp-2.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000" /></div><p>Apple Music for Android has received its second app update of the month — an uncommon occurrence for the rarely updated Apple Music client.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-music-android-update-2/#more-524328" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:38:45 +00009to5MacAndroid’s head of security claims platform now as secure as iOS – if not more so …
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/android-security-versus-ios/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:26:57 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/android.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500" /></div><p><a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/android/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Android’s</a> head of security has claimed that Google’s mobile operating system is now as secure as iOS – if not more so …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/android-security-versus-ios/#more-524319" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:26:57 +00009to5MacKorean report says Samsung working on true Face ID competitor for Galaxy S10
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/samsung-face-id-competitor/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:56:59 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/galaxy-s10.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000" /></div><p>Samsung launched a smartphone with face-recognition ahead of Apple, but its <a href="https://9to5google.com/2017/03/31/samsung-galaxy-s8-facial-recognition-security-questioned/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">efforts to date</a> have been <a href="https://9to5google.com/2017/09/05/samsung-galaxy-note-8-face-recognition-fail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">far from impressive</a> as they are only 2D. Even the <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/01/intelligent-scan-versus-face-id/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest Samsung iteration</a> can be fooled by both photos and videos, but that may be set to change …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/samsung-face-id-competitor/#more-524309" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:56:59 +00009to5MacApple Pay promo offering up free jukebox credits for bars & restaurants with TouchTunes
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-pay-free-touchtunes-credit/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:44:30 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/apple-pay-spring-break.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1437" /></div><p>Apple is continuing to promote its mobile payment service through special promotions with partners, and this week’s <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/apple-pay/">Apple Pay</a> deal offers up free jukebox credit in bars and restaurants with TouchTunes.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-pay-free-touchtunes-credit/#more-524308" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:44:30 +00009to5MacAfter The Ring horror scene, developer creates AR version of Street Fighter II [Video]
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/ar-games-street-fighter-2/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:07:16 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/street-fighter-ii.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000" /></div><p>Developer Abhishek Singh is certainly having fun with <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/arkit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARKit</a> at present. <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/13/the-ring-arkit-unity-demo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shortly after</a> creating a creepy <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/augmented-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">augmented reality</a> scene from the horror movie The Ring, he has now created an AR version of the classic arcade game Street Fighter II …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/ar-games-street-fighter-2/#more-524304" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:07:16 +00009to5MacIntroducing “wheelchair accessible” routes in transit navigationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/8Sm1mA8jNAM/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Google Maps was built to help people navigate and explore the world, providing directions, worldwide, to people traveling by car, bicycle or on foot. But in city centers, buses and trains are often the best way to get around, which presents a challenge for people who use wheelchairs or with other mobility needs. Information about which stations and routes are wheelchair friendly isn’t always readily available or easy to find. To make public transit work for everyone, today we’re introducing “wheelchair accessible” routes in transit navigation to make getting around easier for those with mobility needs.</p></div></div><div class="block-video"><div class="article-module article-video "><figure><a class="h-c-video h-c-video--marquee" data-glue-modal-disabled-on-mobile="true" data-glue-modal-trigger="uni-modal-ehyhFyKXwjc-" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=ehyhFyKXwjc"><div class="article-video__aspect-image" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GEO_London_Accessibility_STILL_06.max-1000x1000.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">Adam, Lucy, Omari and Meridyth shared their experience using public transportation.</span></div><svg class="h-c-video__play h-c-icon h-c-icon--color-white" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-youtube-icon"></use></svg></a></figure></div><div class="h-c-modal--video" data-glue-modal="uni-modal-ehyhFyKXwjc-" data-glue-modal-close-label="Close Dialog"><a class="glue-yt-video" data-glue-yt-video-autoplay="true" data-glue-yt-video-height="99%" data-glue-yt-video-vid="ehyhFyKXwjc" data-glue-yt-video-width="100%" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=ehyhFyKXwjc" ng-cloak=""></a></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>To access the “wheelchair accessible” routes, type your desired destination into Google Maps. Tap “Directions” then select the public transportation icon. Then tap “Options” and under the Routes section, you’ll find “wheelchair accessible” as a new route type. When you select this option, Google Maps will show you a list of possible routes that take mobility needs into consideration. Starting today, this feature is rolling out in major metropolitan transit centers around the world, starting with London, New York, Tokyo, Mexico City, Boston, and Sydney. We're looking forward to working with additional transit agencies in the coming months to bring more wheelchair accessible routes to Google Maps.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Access" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/original_images/ACCESS_3_1.gif"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>In addition to making public transportation more accessible, people around the world have been helping us <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/maps/building-map-everyone/">add accessibility information</a> to Google Maps. Last September, <a href="https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/News-Updates/How-Local-Guides-can-help-millions-in-September/ba-p/432069">Local Guides</a> from around the world gathered at 200 global meet-ups to answer accessibility questions—like whether a place has a step-free entrance or an accessible restroom—for more than 12 million places. Additionally, we’ve been busy capturing and updating<a href="https://www.google.com/streetview/#global-airports-transit-stations/hamad-international-airport-qatar">Street View imagery of transit stations</a> and city centers so people can preview a place or transit station ahead of time.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Tokyo" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Tokyo_Station_.max-1000x1000.png"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text"><a href="https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@35.6822427,139.7662756,2a,75y,103.82h,98.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ss3HBM9DHjbK9wPPOMQ-FJA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">Tokyo Station</a></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p> </p><p>We built this feature to make life easier for people who use wheelchairs, but accessible routes are also helpful if you’re on crutches or pushing a stroller. With the help of transit agencies around the globe and people like you who <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/maps/better-world-wheels-google-maps/">contribute local knowledge</a>, we’re making progress toward a more accessible world for everyone.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/8Sm1mA8jNAM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:00:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 13:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogSafari hack allows control of Touch Bar; remote desktop bug provides inadvertent admin access
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/pwn2own-mac/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:37:59 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/img_0994.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000" /></div><p>A security researcher has successfully exploited a Safari vulnerability to take control of the <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/touch-bar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Touch Bar</a> on a MacBook Pro. Samuel Groß demonstrated the exploit at the first day of this year’s <a href="https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/blog/2018/3/14/welcome-to-pwn2own-2018-the-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pwn2Own</a> ethical hacking conference …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/pwn2own-mac/#more-524301" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:37:59 +00009to5MacApple seeks regulatory approval for Shazam acquisition; decision expected on April 23
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-shazam-regulators/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:10:43 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/shazam.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500" /></div><p>Apple last year confirmed <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/08/apple-shazam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a rumor</a> that it was <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/11/apple-buying-shazam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buying Shazam</a>, but that plan stumbled last month when European antitrust regulators said that they were <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/02/06/apple-shazam-antitrust-probe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launching an investigation</a> into the deal.</p>
<p>Apple yesterday sought formal approval of the deal, and the European Commission said today that it will make a decision by April 23 – though not necessarily a final one …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-shazam-regulators/#more-524295" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:10:43 +00009to5MacCombined sales of nine Taiwanese Apple suppliers fell to a two-year low last month
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-suppliers-financials/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:35:56 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/taipei.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500" /></div><p>The combined sales of nine Apple suppliers in Taiwan fell 4.8% in February, a two-year low. Taiwanese tech companies as a whole saw their first year-on-year decline for 15 months.</p>
<p>The poor performance is being blamed in part on ‘lackluster <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/iphone-x/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iPhone X</a> demand’ …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/apple-suppliers-financials/#more-524292" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:35:56 +00009to5MaciPhone supplier Wistron accused of using ‘unauthorized components’ in iPhone 8 Plus production
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/wistron-unauthorized-components-denial/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:59:47 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/iphone-8-plus-ifixit.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500" /></div><p>Chinese news site <a href="http://ctee.com.tw" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commercial Times</em></a> has claimed that iPhone supplier <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/wistron/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wistron</a> was caught using ‘unauthorized components’ in its production of the iPhone 8 Plus in <a href="https://9to5mac.com/guides/china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a>.</p>
<p>The report says that Apple ordered the company to halt production when the issue came to light, with assembly suspended for two weeks …</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/wistron-unauthorized-components-denial/#more-524287" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:59:47 +00009to5MacXbox One’s Superhot is now free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers
https://www.onmsft.com/news/xbox-ones-superhot-is-now-free-for-xbox-live-gold-subscribers
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:12:57 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SuperHot-1031x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Superhot on Xbox One" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SuperHot-1031x580.jpg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SuperHot-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SuperHot-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />The Xbox One video game, Superhot, is now available to claim for free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers as part of the monthly Games With Gold campaign. Superhot is a stylized first-person shooter that receive praise from critics and gamers alike when it launched in 2016. Here’s its official game description. Time moves only when […]Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:12:57 +0000On MSFTHelping 1 million Europeans find a job or grow their business by 2020http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/zTTIHZ2Qppk/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>The world is undergoing a digital transformation, offering enormous opportunities for growth, innovation and jobs. However, digital skills and tools can still seem out of reach to many.</p><br/><p>That’s why we’re renewing our commitment to the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-skills-jobs-coalition">EU Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition</a>, with a new pledge to help 1 million Europeans find a job or grow their business by 2020. This commitment goes beyond our <a href="https://europe.googleblog.com/2015/02/google-is-growth-engine-for-european.html">previous pledge</a> to help people develop digital skills to ensure that we support trainees as they put those skills to use in building careers and businesses.</p><br/><p>We’ve now trained 3 million Europeans, and more than 2 million people in Africa, in digital skills. This is our “Grow with Google” project, launched in 2015 and localized with expert partners in each country to maximize relevance and results. Our digital skills work, a reflection of the talents of people we have trained, was recognised by the European Commission <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/four-outstanding-projects-winners-european-digital-skills-award-2016">in 2016</a> and<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/commissioner-gabriel-launches-first-digital-opportunity-traineeships-and-hands-out-digital">2017</a>.</p><br/><p>But does digital skills training really translate into economic impact and improved prospects for those people who invest their time? To answer that question, we launched an independent research starting in 2016, and asked Grow with Google trainees about the impact they saw on their career or business 14 weeks after their training.</p><br/>The research shows that following Grow with Google training, so far over 190,000 Europeans have found a job or started a business—like <a href="https://growthengine.withgoogle.com/intl/en-eu/story/4770882824175616">Ildikó</a> in Hungary, a mother of two who learned how to code and now manages her own business from home. More than half a million European businesses have grown their business through new customers or revenue, like <a href="https://growthengine.withgoogle.com/intl/en-eu/story/4729929841246208">Ntina</a> from Greece, who during the recession opened up a hotel business which now welcomes people from all over the word. And 32,000 small and medium sized businesses have taken on more staff, such as <a href="https://growthengine.withgoogle.com/intl/en-eu/story/6345673553215488">Mark & Anders</a>from Denmark who have grown from two to 30 people in the last year.</div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="grow with google europe pledge" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Blog_post_images_6n6Jxsr.max-1000x1000.png"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Our new <a href="http://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/gwg_impact.pdf">Grow with Google Impact Report</a> gathers together stories of people such as Ildikó, Ntina, Mark and Anders who have found a job or grown their business. Going forward, we will work with our research Partner Ipsos to measure impact and we’ll publish quarterly updates showing how new skills can translate into opportunities for business owners and job seekers alike.</p><br/><p>Grow with Google aims to help everyone in Europe get access to training and products to grow their skills, career, or business, and we’ll continue to partner with governments, city councils, universities, private-sector businesses and nonprofits through the support of Google.org to achieve this. In Italy, <a href="http://www.crescereindigitale.it/">Crescere in Digitale</a>, a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Chamber of Commerce, will activate 5,000 more internships for young unemployed people at SMBs by 2020, which can lead to full-time employment for people like <a href="https://twitter.com/minlavoro/status/968816905166426114">Cristina</a> at <a href="https://growthengine.withgoogle.com/intl/en-eu/story/5376991024906240">Lux Made-In</a>, a traditional jewellery store. In Spain, we just launched a digital skills <a href="https://www.eoi.es/es/cursos/26013/curso-de-transformacion-digital-para-el-empleo-ambito-nacional">employment program</a> with the Government and in Germany, we continue to work with Fraunhofer IAIS on their Open Roberta program, teaching <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/grow-with-google/helping-young-women-overcome-hurdles-learning-computer-science/">young women</a> how to code.</p><p>Today anyone with a smartphone and an idea can be an entrepreneur, reach customers around the globe, can hire, grow and export. Technology is the toolkit for a world of opportunities—and Grow with Google is about helping everyone put those tools to work.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/zTTIHZ2Qppk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000The Official Google Blog[Updated] Shadow of the Tomb Raider video game release date & trailer leaked
https://www.onmsft.com/news/shadow-of-the-tomb-raider-video-game-release-date-trailer-leaked
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:53:52 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RiseoftheTombRaider-1031x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Rise of the Tomb Raider's Lara Craft" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RiseoftheTombRaider-1031x580.jpg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RiseoftheTombRaider-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RiseoftheTombRaider-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />The upcoming Xbox One Tomb Raider video game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which has yet to be given an official reveal though was confirmed to exist after it leaked, has just had its name, description, and release date leaked via source code on the official Tomb Raider website. The website updated this week (likely […]Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:53:52 +0000On MSFTLogitech’s new G560 gaming speakers bring RGB immersion to your desktop
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/logitechs-new-g560-gaming-speakers/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:01:22 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/logitech_g560_pc_gaming_speaker.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>Logitech has today announced its RGB venture into a more immersive desktop gaming environment. The new <a href="https://bit.ly/2FJNGOa">G560 PC Gaming Speakers</a> are the company’s first with LIGHTSYNC technology. The software works with the satellite speaker’s RGB lighting syncs your music, movies, and games to create a more immersive experience.</p>
<p> <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/15/logitechs-new-g560-gaming-speakers/#more-524270" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 07:01:22 +00009to5MaceGPU progress report: macOS 10.13.4 beta 5 continues adding polish and stability
https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/14/egpu-progress-report-macos-10-13-4-beta-5-stability/
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 03:31:42 +0000<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/radeon-rx-vega-64-egpu.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p>As Apple gets closer to its self-imposed spring 2018 deadline for officially adding external GPU support to macOS, each beta seems to increase the stability of external GPU connections. We recently put the fifth and latest version of the <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/12/macos-10-13-4-beta-5/">macOS 10.13.4 beta</a> to the test. Using a Mantiz Venus external GPU box plus a Radeon RX Vega 64, we performed the usual round of benchmark tests and general usage to see how things are shaping up. <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/14/egpu-progress-report-macos-10-13-4-beta-5-stability/#more-524237" class="more-link">more…</a></p>
Thu, 15 Mar 2018 03:31:42 +00009to5MacPinkoi: Sharing love for local craft in a global marketplacehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/gTpJ3StbZNo/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><i>Pinkoi’s founders (from left to right): Mike Lee, Maibelle Lin and Peter Yen.</i></p><p><i><br/></i></p><p><i>Editor’s note: As part of our series of interviews with people across the Asia-Pacific who use the internet as a tool to connect, create and grow, we spoke with Peter Yen, the CEO of Pinkoi, Asia’s leading online marketplace for original design and art products. Peter founded Pinkoi seven years ago along with Mike Lee, Pinkoi’s Chief Technology Officer and Maibelle Lin, Pinkoi’s Chief Product Officer. From a staff of three, Pinkoi has grown to a business of 82 employees serving more than two million customers in 88 countries. The platform is now home to more than 50,000 artisans and designers.</i></p><p><b><br/></b></p><p><b>Why did you start Pinkoi?</b></p><p>My wife loves craft fairs and vintage markets. That’s where I first connected with artisans and designers. They produce great original products, but are often unsure about how to promote them or connect with their customers. I also thought that the designer community lacked an online space to share their creative and business experiences.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Pinkoi_designers" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pinkoi_designers_MvrwvxR.max-1000x1000.png"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text"><p><i>Some of the 50,000 designers and artisans on Pinkoi.</i></p></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>How did you meet your two co-founders Mike and Maibelle?</b> </p><p>It was the internet that brought us together. When I got the idea for Pinkoi, I researched developer blogs extensively and that is how I came across Mike. We chatted and exchanged ideas for the business on Gmail and Hangouts. We connected to Mai through a mutual friend who introduced us online.<br/></p><br/><p>With the help of the internet, we gradually conceived and developed the idea for Pinkoi, although we did not live in the same place at the time. Although we are all tech geeks at heart, we also shared a common passion for design and helping the designer community. Our passion resulted in us becoming not just business partners, but also good friends!</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Pinkoi_products" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Pinkoi_products.max-1000x1000.png"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text"><i>A few of the 980,000 items for sale on Pinkoi.</i></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>What impact do you think the Internet has had on your business?</b></p><p>The internet is the reason why a platform like Pinkoi can work. Pinkoi gives anyone in the world easy access to our designers’ quality products. We think beautiful design is a universal language and should be shared. It’s not just our business, but also the livelihoods of all our designers. With the Internet, our designers have the opportunity of making a living while pursuing their passions. Most designers are hobbyists when they join Pinkoi, but quite a few become full-time entrepreneurs after receiving training from us. <br/></p><p><br/>In particular, Google is like our oxygen and our business wouldn’t survive without it. Our online business relies on Google’s solutions. We use Google Analytics to understand performance across all acquisition channels and to gain insights into what people are searching for. We also have the ability to advertise to relevant segments of the population with Google Adwords. GSuite and Google Calendar are the backbone of our daily communications.</p><p><br/></p><br/><p><b>What’s the best part about working with artists and designers from around the world on Pinkoi? </b></p><p>It’s really empowering to know that you can have a positive impact on livelihoods and lives, even across borders. Our designers also pay that positive impact forward to their customers. Many of them have told us about online customers finding them at offline events to express their appreciation for products they bought on Pinkoi. Pinkoi isn’t just an online marketplace for transactions, it’s a platform to connect real people across the world. </p></div></div><div class="block-image_carousel"><div class="h-c-page article-module"><div class="article-module glue-pagination h-c-carousel h-c-carousel--simple h-c-carousel--dark ng-cloak" data-glue-pagination-config="{cyclical: true}"><div class="h-c-carousel__wrap"><ul class="glue-carousel ng-cloak" data-glue-carousel-options="{pointerTypes: ['touch', 'mouse'], jump: true}"><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Co-Founder_2F_CEO_Peter_Yen.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">Pinkoi_CEO</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text"><b>Peter, CEO of Pinkoi</b>: Early on my engineering career, my goal was to become a software architect. I didn’t think entrepreneurship was in the cards for me. However, I was inspired by many colleagues at Yahoo who left to start their own companies. Like Maibelle, it definitely took some persuading before my family members began to support my decision. They did not believe that an engineer like me could run a business or connect effectively with the designer community.</div></figcaption></figure></li><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Co-Founder_2F_CPO_Maibelle_Lin.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">Pinkoi_CPO</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>Maibelle, Chief Product Officer of Pinkoi</b>: Growing up I wanted to be a diplomat or fashion designer, so I didn’t know I was going onto the entrepreneur path until I was already on it. Both of my parents hold 9-to-5 jobs and they wanted me to continue my day job as a user experience designer in Silicon Valley. But they eventually supported my decision after I convinced them of my passion for Pinkoi.</p><br/><p>Time, or the lack of it, is my biggest challenge. I became a new mom this year and the time I’m able to spend with my family has become more precious than ever. I had to learn how to prioritize and become comfortable with making tough decisions. I think motherhood has made me a better manager and entrepreneur!</p><p><br/></p></div></figcaption></figure></li><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Co-Founder_2F_CTO_Mike_Lee.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">Pinkoi_CTO</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>Mike, Chief Technology Officer of Pinkoi</b>: Since college I’ve thought about launching my own business and started to learn coding online. I opened a shaved ice dessert shop which was my first try at running my own business. However, the hours were long and the business model wasn’t scalable. At that time I began looking into web startups and then Peter coincidentally found me via my developer blog.</p><br/><p>As an entrepreneur, I appreciate having the opportunity to face new challenges and problems from our designer community and customers everyday. Since Pinkoi is an international platform, it forces me to think globally whenever I’m applying a new tech strategy so I can better consider the needs of designers and customers worldwide.</p><p><br/></p></div></figcaption></figure></li></ul><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate glue-pagination-previous" data-glue-pagination-label="Previous" data-glue-pagination-update-model="false"><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate-wrap"><svg class="h-c-icon h-c-icon--keyboard-arrow-left" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-keyboard-arrow-right"></use></svg></div></div><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate glue-pagination-next" data-glue-pagination-label="Next" data-glue-pagination-update-model="false"><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate-wrap"><svg class="h-c-icon h-c-icon--keyboard-arrow-right" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-keyboard-arrow-right"></use></svg></div></div></div><div class="h-c-carousel__navigation"><div class="glue-pagination-page-list"></div></div></div></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/gTpJ3StbZNo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Thu, 15 Mar 2018 02:00:00 -0000Thu, 15 Mar 2018 02:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogOpen sourcing Resonance Audiohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/RcxIEG5iW0A/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Spatial audio adds to your sense of presence when you’re in VR or AR, making it feel and sound, like you’re surrounded by a virtual or augmented world. And regardless of the display hardware you’re using, spatial audio makes it possible to hear sounds coming from all around you.</p><p>Resonance Audio, our spatial audio SDK <a href="https://developers.googleblog.com/2017/11/resonance-audio-multi-platform-spatial.html">launched last year</a>, enables developers to create more realistic VR and AR experiences on mobile and desktop. We’ve seen a number of exciting experiences emerge across a variety of platforms using our SDK. Recent examples include apps like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=688XEeK80GQ">Pixar’s Coco VR</a> for Gear VR, Disney’s <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disney.mirage_goo">Star WarsTM: Jedi Challenges</a> AR app for Android and iOS, and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runawayplay.fluttervr.daydream&hl=en">Runaway’s Flutter VR</a> for Daydream, which all used Resonance Audio technology.</p><p>To accelerate adoption of immersive audio technology and strengthen the developer community around it, we’re opening Resonance Audio to a community-driven development model. By creating an open source spatial audio project optimized for mobile and desktop computing, any platform or software development tool provider can easily integrate with Resonance Audio. More cross-platform and tooling support means more distribution opportunities for content creators, without the worry of investing in costly porting projects.</p><h2>What’s included in the open source project</h2><p>As part of our open source project, we’re providing a reference implementation of YouTube’s Ambisonic-based spatial audio decoder, compatible with the same Ambisonics format (Ambix ACN/SN3D) used by others in the industry. Using our reference implementation, developers can easily render Ambisonic content in their VR media and other applications, while benefiting from Ambisonics open source, royalty-free model. The project also includes encoding, sound field manipulation and decoding techniques, as well as head related transfer functions (HRTFs) that we’ve used to achieve rich spatial audio that scales across a wide spectrum of device types and platforms. Lastly, we’re making our entire library of highly optimized DSP classes and functions, open to all. This includes resamplers, convolvers, filters, delay lines and other DSP capabilities. Additionally, developers can now use Resonance Audio’s brand new Spectral Reverb, an efficient, high quality, constant complexity reverb effect, in their own projects.</p><p>We’ve open sourced Resonance Audio as a standalone library and associated engine plugins, VST plugin, tutorials, and examples with the Apache 2.0 license. This means Resonance Audio is yours, so you’re free to use Resonance Audio in your projects, no matter where you work. And if you see something you’d like to improve, submit a GitHub pull request to be reviewed by the Resonance Audio project committers. While the engine plugins for Unity, Unreal, FMOD, and Wwise will remain open source, going forward they will be maintained by project committers from our partners, Unity, Epic, Firelight Technologies, and Audiokinetic, respectively.</p><p>If you’re interested in learning more about Resonance Audio, check out the documentation on our <a href="https://developers.google.com/resonance-audio/">developer site</a>. If you want to get more involved, visit <a href="https://github.com/resonance-audio">our GitHub</a> to access the source code, build the project, download the latest release, or even start contributing. We’re looking forward to building the future of immersive audio with all of you.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/RcxIEG5iW0A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Wed, 14 Mar 2018 21:00:00 -0000Wed, 14 Mar 2018 21:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogOver 50 Sega Genesis video games coming to Xbox One in May
https://www.onmsft.com/news/over-50-sega-genesis-video-games-coming-to-xbox-one-in-may
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:23:14 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-21.17.47-1040x580.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-21.17.47-1040x580.png 1040w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-21.17.47-250x139.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-21.17.47-768x428.png 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-21.17.47.png 1330w" sizes="(max-width: 1040px) 100vw, 1040px" />The Sega Genesis Collection should launch on the Xbox One on May 29th, but we don't know much beyond that.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:23:14 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft’s redesigned Outlook.com webmail starts rolling out to all users
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsofts-redesigned-outlook-com-webmail-starts-rolling-out-to-all-users
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:13:07 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Outlook-features-1.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Outlook-features-1.png 900w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Outlook-features-1-250x131.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Outlook-features-1-768x401.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Millions of people enrolled to help shape the experience, and today the new Outlook design will finally be exiting the preview stage and roll out to all Outlook.com users.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:13:07 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft’s Movies & TV service could join Disney’s Movies Anywhere after all
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsofts-movies-tv-service-could-join-disneys-movies-anywhere-after-all
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 19:27:57 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-20.12.00-1050x502.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-20.12.00-1050x502.png 1050w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-20.12.00-250x119.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-20.12.00-768x367.png 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-20.12.00.png 1256w" sizes="(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px" />Microsoft is in talks with Disney to make its Movies & TV service compatible with Movies Anywhere, Disney's cross-platform digital locker. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 19:27:57 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft loses one: Airbus to shift 130k staffers from Office to Google G Suite
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-loses-one-airbus-to-shift-130k-staffers-from-office-to-google-g-suite
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 18:55:11 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/About-Airbus-employees-1031x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/About-Airbus-employees-1031x580.jpg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/About-Airbus-employees-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/About-Airbus-employees-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/About-Airbus-employees.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />European aeronautical giant Airbus is reportedly moving away from the Microsoft Office environment to adopt Google G Suite. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 18:55:11 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft Teams iOS app updated with new calling features, three new languages and more
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-teams-ios-app-updated-with-new-calling-features-three-new-languages-and-more
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:28:42 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-18.17.37-897x580.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-18.17.37-897x580.png 897w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-18.17.37-100x66.png 100w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-18.17.37-250x162.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-18.17.37-768x497.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" />The Microsoft Teams app for iOS now lets you turn off video during a meeting to save battery life, but there are also several new features for those of you who use the app to make external phone calls.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:28:42 +0000On MSFTPreview of Power BI for Windows Mixed Reality now available, and it looks pretty cool
https://www.onmsft.com/news/preview-of-power-bi-for-windows-mixed-reality-now-available-and-it-looks-pretty-cool
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:26:03 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/7f35c53a-d199-4829-afbf-000ed7a9412b.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/7f35c53a-d199-4829-afbf-000ed7a9412b.jpg 1024w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/7f35c53a-d199-4829-afbf-000ed7a9412b-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/7f35c53a-d199-4829-afbf-000ed7a9412b-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The app is based on the UWP Power Bi application and comes with some cool capabilities that show the power of both HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:26:03 +0000On MSFTThe She Word: how Emily Hanley shares her passion for computer sciencehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/knztbc1nfXA/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><i><b>Editor’s Note:</b> The She Word is a Keyword series all about dynamic and creative women at Google. Last week, the <a href="https://grow.google/">Grow with Google</a> tour—which brings workshops, one-on-one coaching, and hands-on demos to cities across the U.S.—<a href="https://blog.google/topics/grow-with-google/grow-google-comes-lansing/">stopped in Lansing, Michigan</a>. Emily Hanley, one of our very own software engineers and a Michigan native, taught introductory coding classes at the event. We spoke to her about returning to her hometown to teach, exposing more kids to computer science, and how her Google Home helps her have more dance parties with her kids.</i></p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph_with_image"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid uni-paragraph-wrap"><div class="uni-paragraph h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--8 h-c-grid__col-m--6 h-c-grid__col-l--6 h-c-grid__col--offset-2 h-c-grid__col-m--offset-3 h-c-grid__col-l--offset-3"><figure class="article-image--wrap-small "><img alt="Emily Hanley.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Emily_Hanley.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure><div class="rich-text"><p><b>What was your biggest takeaway from Grow with Google in Lansing?</b><br/>It was inspiring to see so many people excited about the opportunity to not only interact with Google products, but to try out programming.</p><p><b>What was one memorable moment of the day?</b><br/>Seeing the “ah ha” moments when people realized they had actually written code and produced something on their own. The classrooms were packed all day long, and it was so neat to interact with people who realized the potential of what they had just learned to do. People shared their stories of how they were already using technology in their fields, and this class helped them think about how they could do even more.<br/></p><p><b>Lansing Grow with Google event was close to where you grew up.</b><b>What was it like to go back to your hometown?</b><br/>It’s amazing to see the investment in towns like Lansing, and to witness the revitalization that’s happening. People are bringing new ideas and technology to industries that have existed in Michigan for decades.<br/></p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="GoogleGrow_EmilyHanley.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GoogleGrow_EmilyHanley.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>How did you get your start at Google?</b><br/>I started as an intern in 2007 and have been here ever since—you could say I’ve grown up with Google.<br/></p><p><b>How do you explain your job at a dinner party?</b><br/>I’m a software engineer—I speak the language of computers. I work on the Chrome browser and make sure that other engineers who write code for Chrome don’t make it slower.<br/></p><p><b>What advice do you have for girls who want to be engineers?</b><br/>Don’t be afraid to dig in. Sometimes that means failing, but failure is a natural discovery that helps you figure out what you’re good at. Always ask the question that’s on your mind—chances are half the room is thinking the same thing, and more importantly, it’s how you grow. <br/></p><p><b>Tell us about your path to computer science.</b><br/>I didn’t learn about computers until college. I was more into physics and chemistry, and computers seemed like a black box. That’s part of why I’m so passionate about computer science education—if I can pass on what I’ve learned to the next generation, they can make something even bigger. They’ll do it tenfold.<br/></p><p>When kids are exposed to CS at a young age, it becomes a crucial tool for them. It’s not just a platform for playing games. And you can use CS no matter what your passion is. If it’s fashion or journalism or something else, CS can be a part of it. <br/></p><p><b>Who has helped you along your journey?</b><br/>My mom always told me there’s never a dream too big. She was always an advocate and a dreamer. Whenever I’ve felt intimidated, or had less technical experience that others in the room, I thought, “Dang it, I’ll work harder and find the next door to bang down.” My mom taught me that. <br/></p><p><b>How do you pass that advice onto your own (five!) kids?</b><br/>The biggest thing I want to give all my children is confidence in themselves and their abilities to pursue their passion (I always say “pursue your passion, not a paycheck”). So often people internalize criticisms and roadblocks as indications they aren't good enough to keep going on that path, instead of seeing those roadblocks as opportunities to grow.<br/></p><p><b>What role does technology play in your family life?</b><br/>I have five kids under the age of 7. I try to make technology part of our everyday life, but not the main focus of it. We utilize our Google Home for things like dance parties and measurements when cooking. We use Google for school projects, printing coloring sheets and buying birthday presents. We take tons of photos and make Google Photobooks from our phones so we can have them on our coffee table. I want them to use technology as a tool to aid in their lives, but I don't want it to replace human connections.<br/></p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/knztbc1nfXA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogID@Xbox introduces 18 new indie games
https://www.onmsft.com/news/idxbox-introduces-18-new-indie-games
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:59:40 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GDC-2018-IDXbox-Games-Large-1.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GDC-2018-IDXbox-Games-Large-1.png 940w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GDC-2018-IDXbox-Games-Large-1-250x141.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GDC-2018-IDXbox-Games-Large-1-768x434.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />The annual Game Developer Conference is coming up, and ahead of the moment, Microsoft is announcing 18 new ID@ Xbox titles will be coming soon. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:59:40 +0000On MSFTNew Xbox Live Avatars will “ship when they’re ready,” says Xbox’s Mike Ybarra
https://www.onmsft.com/news/new-xbox-live-avatars-will-ship-when-theyre-ready-says-xboxs-mike-ybarra
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:37:15 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-13-at-19.33.59-1033x580.png" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-13-at-19.33.59-1033x580.png 1033w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-13-at-19.33.59-250x140.png 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Screen-Shot-2017-11-13-at-19.33.59-768x431.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1033px) 100vw, 1033px" /> Xbox’s Mike Ybarra has just dismissed recent reports saying that the redesigned Xbox Live avatars would arrive in April, adding that “they’ll ship when they’re ready.”Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:37:15 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft and 21ViaNet extend cloud services partnership in China
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-and-21vianet-extend-cloud-services-partnership-in-china
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:27:02 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Capture-6.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Azure Servers" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Capture-6.jpg 826w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Capture-6-250x155.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Capture-6-768x477.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px" />Microsoft today announced they have agreed with the leading Chinese data center services provider, 21Vianet, to extend their cloud services partnership. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:27:02 +0000On MSFTWindows 10 Sticky Notes app gets a design revamp & faster loading for all users
https://www.onmsft.com/news/windows-10-sticky-notes-app-gets-a-design-revamp-faster-loading-for-all-users
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:03:31 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/stickynotes-1031x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Windows 10 Sticky Notes" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/stickynotes-1031x580.jpg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/stickynotes-250x141.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/stickynotes-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />After a period of testing with Windows Insiders, Microsoft has finally rolled out an update for the Sticky Notes app on Windows 10 to all users. This version 2.1 update brings a design revamp, faster loading times, and much more.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:03:31 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft expands HoloLens Readiness Program in Europe
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-expands-hololens-readiness-program-in-europe
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:46:22 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MSHoloLens_Paccar_8_LowResPreview-1024x640-928x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MSHoloLens_Paccar_8_LowResPreview-1024x640-928x580.jpg 928w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MSHoloLens_Paccar_8_LowResPreview-1024x640-250x156.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MSHoloLens_Paccar_8_LowResPreview-1024x640-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MSHoloLens_Paccar_8_LowResPreview-1024x640.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" />Following the release of HoloLens in several new markets last year, Microsoft is adding six new Europe-focused agency partners to HoloLens Agency Readiness Partner Program today.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:46:22 +0000On MSFTPoll: Microsoft shows renewed interest in Rewards, do you use it?
https://www.onmsft.com/news/poll-microsoft-shows-renewed-interest-in-rewards-do-you-use-it
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:25:22 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_3829-870x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_3829-870x580.jpg 870w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_3829-100x66.jpg 100w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_3829-248x165.jpg 248w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_3829-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px" />Microsoft is obviously showing a renewed interest in their Rewards program, and we'd like to know if you use it! Vote below and let us know. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:25:22 +0000On MSFTExperimenting with Light Fieldshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/utbBQqfTvGQ/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>We’ve always believed in the power of virtual reality to take you places. That’s why we created <a href="https://edu.google.com/expeditions/">Expeditions</a>, to transport people around the world to hundreds of amazing, hard-to-reach or impossible-to-visit places. It’s why we launched <a href="https://vr.google.com/jump/">Jump</a>, which lets professional creators film beautiful scenes in stereoscopic 360 VR video, and it’s why we’re introducing <a href="https://vr.google.com/vr180/">VR180</a>, a new format for anyone—even those unfamiliar with VR technology—to capture life’s special moments.</p><p>But to create the most realistic sense of presence, what we show in VR needs to be as close as possible to what you’d see if you were really there. When you’re actually in a place, the world reacts to you as you move your head around: light bounces off surfaces in different ways and you see things from different perspectives. To help create this more realistic sense of presence in VR, we’ve been experimenting with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_field">Light fields</a>.<br/></p><p>Light fields are a set of advanced capture, stitching, and rendering algorithms. Much more work needs to be done, but they create still captures that give you an extremely high-quality sense of presence by producing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_perception#Monocular_cues">motion parallax</a> and extremely realistic textures and lighting. To demonstrate the potential of this technology, we’re releasing “Welcome to Light Fields,” <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/771310/Welcome_To_Light_Fields/">a free app available on Steam VR</a> for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Let’s take a look at how it works.<br/></p><p></p><h2>Capturing and processing a light field</h2>With light fields, nearby objects seem near to you—as you move your head, they appear to shift a lot. Far-away objects shift less and light reflects off objects differently, so you get a strong cue that you’re in a 3D space. And when viewed through a VR headset that supports positional tracking, light fields can enable some truly amazing VR experiences based on footage captured in the real world.<br/><p></p><p>This is possible because a light field records all the different rays of light coming into a volume of space. To record them, we modified a GoPro Odyssey Jump camera, bending it into a vertical arc of 16 cameras mounted on a rotating platform.<br/></p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="ShuttleOddityLoop_Compressed_15fps.gif" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/original_images/ShuttleOddityLoop_Compressed_15fps.gif"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text"><b>Left:</b> A time lapse video of recording a spherical light field on the flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery.<br/><b>Right:</b> Light field rendering allows us to synthesize new views of the scene anywhere within the spherical volume by sampling and interpolating the rays of light recorded by the cameras on the rig.</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>It takes about a minute for the camera rig to swing around and record about a thousand outward-facing viewpoints on a 70cm sphere. This gives us a two-foot wide diameter volume of light rays, which determines the size of the headspace that users have to lean around in to explore the scenes once they are processed. To render views for the headset, rays of light are sampled from the camera positions on the surface of the sphere to construct novel views as seen from inside the sphere to match how the user moves their head. They’re aligned and compressed in a custom dataset file that’s read by special rendering software we’ve implemented as a plug-in for the Unity game engine.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Light Fields.PNG" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/LF-Thumbs.max-1000x1000.PNG"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p></p><h2>Recording the World with Light Fields</h2>We chose a few special places to try out our light field-recording camera rig. We love the varnished teak and mahogany interiors at the <a href="http://gamblehouse.org/">Gamble House</a> in Pasadena, the fragments of glossy ceramic and shiny mirrors adorning the <a href="http://www.cheripann.com/">Mosaic Tile House</a> in Venice, and the sun-filled stained glass window at <a href="http://lightoftheworldstainedglass.org/">St. Stephen’s Church</a> in Granada Hills. Best of all, the Smithsonian Institute’s <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/">Air and Space Museum</a> and <a href="https://3d.si.edu/">3D Digitization Office</a> gave us access to NASA’s <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/orbiter-space-shuttle-ov-103-discovery">Space Shuttle Discovery</a>, providing an astronaut’s view inside the orbiter’s flight deck which has never been open to the public. And we closed with recording a variety of light fields of people, experimenting with how eye contact can be made to work in a 6-degrees-of-freedom experience.<br/><p></p><p></p><h2>Try “Welcome to Light Fields”</h2>VR video is a promising technology for exploring the world, and while they are still an experiment, light fields show a new level of how convincing virtual reality experiences can be. We hope you enjoy our “Welcome to Light Fields” experience, available now on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/771310/Welcome_To_Light_Fields/">Steam VR</a>. Take the seven-minute Guided Tour to learn more about the technology and the locations, and then take your time exploring the spaces in the Gallery. This is only the beginning, and lots more needs to be done, but we’re excited about this step toward more realistic capture for VR. <br/><p></p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/utbBQqfTvGQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:00:00 -0000Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogAsk all your Sea of Thieves questions to the team during today’s Mixer livestream
https://www.onmsft.com/news/ask-all-your-sea-of-thieves-questions-to-the-team-during-todays-mixer-livestream
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:57:03 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DYMzAs8WAAAJyti.jpg-large-1031x580.jpeg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DYMzAs8WAAAJyti.jpg-large-1031x580.jpeg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DYMzAs8WAAAJyti.jpg-large-250x141.jpeg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DYMzAs8WAAAJyti.jpg-large-768x432.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />If you still have unanswered questions about Rare’s much-anticipated Sea of Thieves game, the developer will answer them this morning during a special live stream from its UK headquarters.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:57:03 +0000On MSFTCelebrate Pi Day with a 31.4% discount on select new Windows 10 PCs at the Microsoft Store
https://www.onmsft.com/news/celebrate-pi-day-with-a-31-4-discount-on-select-new-windows-10-pcs-at-the-microsoft-store
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:49:55 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flagship-Microsoft-Store-1050x566.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flagship-Microsoft-Store-1050x566.jpg 1050w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flagship-Microsoft-Store-250x135.jpg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flagship-Microsoft-Store-768x414.jpg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Flagship-Microsoft-Store.jpg 1198w" sizes="(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px" />To mark the day which celebrates the mathematical constant of Pi (3.14159) Microsoft is continuing their annual tradition of offering sales on select PCsWed, 14 Mar 2018 14:49:55 +0000On MSFTAmazon launches free Games with Prime program for Prime subscribers
https://www.onmsft.com/news/amazon-launches-free-games-with-prime-program-for-prime-subscribers
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:30:14 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1QiqBPg8cgh7koXg4onPGOA-1031x580.jpeg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1QiqBPg8cgh7koXg4onPGOA-1031x580.jpeg 1031w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1QiqBPg8cgh7koXg4onPGOA-250x141.jpeg 250w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1QiqBPg8cgh7koXg4onPGOA-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1QiqBPg8cgh7koXg4onPGOA.jpeg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1031px) 100vw, 1031px" />Amazon announced yesterday the launch of a Free Games with Prime program, which will give a collection of free games to Amazon Prime subscribers every month.Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:30:14 +0000On MSFTMicrosoft shares venue for E3 2018, promises “biggest showing ever”
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-shares-venue-for-e3-2018-promises-biggest-showing-ever
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:21:39 +0000<img src="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ck1hAktWsAAqH4l1-773x580.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Xbox LA e3 2016 entrance" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ck1hAktWsAAqH4l1-773x580.jpg 773w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ck1hAktWsAAqH4l1-220x165.jpg 220w, https://www.onmsft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ck1hAktWsAAqH4l1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px" />Microsoft just made the venue, date, and time for their E3 2018 conference official. The company is promising for the "biggest showing ever" when their E3 kicks off on June 10th at 1 PM PT at the Microsoft Theater in LA. Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:21:39 +0000On MSFTAn advertising ecosystem that works for everyonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/rwduSSnwwU4/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Digital advertising plays an important role in making the web what it is today—a forum where anyone with a good idea and good content can reach an audience and potentially make a living. In order for this ads-supported, free web to work, it needs to be a safe and effective place to learn, create and advertise. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Whether it's a one-off accident or a coordinated action by scammers trying to make money, a negative experience hurts the entire ecosystem. That’s why for the last 15 years, we’ve invested in technology, policies and talent to help us fight issues like ad fraud, malware and content scammers. Last year, we were able to remove more bad actors from our ad ecosystem than ever before, and at a faster rate.</p><h2>We removed 100 bad ads per second</h2><p>In 2017, we took down more than 3.2 billion ads that violated our advertising policies. That’s more than 100 bad ads per second! This means we’re able to block the majority of bad ad experiences, like malvertising and phishing scams, before the scams impact people. We blocked 79 million ads in our network for attempting to send people to malware-laden sites, and removed 400,000 of these unsafe sites last year. And, we removed 66 million “trick-to-click” ads as well as 48 million ads that were attempting to get users to install unwanted software.</p><h2>New technology to better protect advertisers</h2><p>Last year, we removed 320,000 publishers from our ad network for violating our publisher policies, and blacklisted nearly 90,000 websites and 700,000 mobile apps. We also introduced technology that allows us to better protect our advertisers by removing Google ads from individual pages on a website that violate our policies. Last year, we removed <b>2 million pages for policy violations each month</b>. This has been critical in scaling enforcement for policies that prohibit monetization of inappropriate and controversial content. In fact, after expanding our policy against dangerous and derogatory content in April 2017 to cover additional forms of discrimination and intolerance, <b>we removed Google ads from 8,700 pages that violated the expanded policy.</b></p><h2>Fighting deceptive content online</h2><p>Many website owners use our advertising platforms, like AdSense, to run Google ads on their sites and content and make money. We paid $12.6 billion to publishing partners in our ad network last year. But in order to make money from Google ads, you have to play by rules— that means respecting the user experience more than the ads.</p><p>Our publisher policies exist to help us maintain that balance, even as trends change online. For example, in recent years, we’ve seen the rise of scammers trying to take advantage of the growing popularity of online news to make money. We prohibit websites in our ad network from serving ads on misrepresentative content. Essentially this means that you can’t serve ads if you’re pretending to be a legitimate news website based in London when you’re actually a content scammer in a different city. In 2017, we found that a small number of publishers were responsible for the majority of these violations. Of the 11,000 websites we reviewed for potentially violating the misrepresentative content policy, we blocked over 650 of those sites and terminated 90 publishers from our network. </p><p>More frequently, we see violations of our scraping content policy. This type of policy violation occurs when bad actors try to make money as quickly as possible by copying news or content from other sites. In 2017, we blocked over 12,000 websites for “scraping,” duplicating and copying content from other sites, up from 10,000 in 2016.</p><p>Does an ad with the headline “Ellen DeGeneres adopts a baby elephant!” make you want to click on it? You’re not alone. In recent years, scammers have tried to sell diet pills and weight-loss scams by buying ads that look like sensational news headlines but ultimately lead to a website selling something other than news. We suspended more than 7,000 AdWords accounts for tabloid cloaking violations, up from 1,400 in 2016.</p><h2>New policies to tackle emerging threats</h2><p>We’re constantly updating our policies as we see new threats emerge. Last year, we added 28 new advertiser policies and 20 new publisher policies to combat new threats and improve the ads experience online. This year, <a href="https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/7648803">we updated</a> several policies to address ads in unregulated or speculative financial products like binary options, cryptocurrency, foreign exchange markets and contracts for difference (or CFDs). We also updated our gambling ads policies to address new methods of gambling with items that have real-world value (e.g., skins gambling). And we will introduce a new certification process for rehabilitation facilities, allowing legitimate addiction treatment centers to connect with people in need.</p>Our work to protect the ads ecosystem doesn't stop here—it's ongoing. As consumer trends evolve, as our methods to protect the open web get better, so do online scams. Improving the ads experience across the web, whether that's removing harmful ads or intrusive ads, will continue to be a top priority for us.</div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/rwduSSnwwU4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0000Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogGrow with Google comes to Lansinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/1EfwiqwA364/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><i>Editor’s Note: <a href="http://grow.google">Grow with Google</a> offers free tools, trainings and events to help people grow their skills, careers, and businesses. The Grow with Google tour brings workshops, one-on-one coaching, and hands-on demos to cities and towns across the United States. Through a series of Keyword posts, we’ll highlight where we’ve been, but you can find out where we’re headed next on our <a href="http://grow.google/events">site</a>.</i><br/></p><p>Grow with Google can be a homecoming for Googlers like Emily Hanley, who was born and raised near Lansing. As an Ann Arbor-based engineer, Emily had the chance to return to her hometown to lead an introductory coding classes at the event. She explained the importance of introducing computer science to young people, saying, “When kids are exposed to computer science at a young age, it becomes a crucial tool for them. And you can use computer science no matter what your passion is.”</p><p>The fifty Michiganders who attended Emily’s class were among the 1,100 job-seekers, small business owners, developers, educators and students who joined Grow with Google on tour at Lansing Community College in Michigan. With two offices (Ann Arbor and Birmingham-Detroit) and over 600 Googlers in Michigan, we are proud to have been able to bring some home to Lansing to help out with the two-day event.</p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>In addition to hometown Googlers, we were fortunate to work with the local community, including many Lansing-based organizations focused on education and economic development. One of our partners, the Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC), provides after-school and summer programs to build excitement for coursework and careers in STEM fields. As part of our continued efforts in the city, Google announced a $100,000 sponsorship to ITEC to expand their digital skills offerings to even more K-12 students across the region.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_carousel"><div class="h-c-page article-module"><div class="article-module glue-pagination h-c-carousel h-c-carousel--simple h-c-carousel--dark ng-cloak" data-glue-pagination-config="{cyclical: true}"><div class="h-c-carousel__wrap"><ul class="glue-carousel ng-cloak" data-glue-carousel-options="{pointerTypes: ['touch', 'mouse'], jump: true}"><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GoogleGrowFinals-346.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">GoogleGrowFinals-346.jpg</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text"><p>Native Michigander and Google engineer Emily Hanley teaches introductory coding. </p></div></figcaption></figure></li><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GoogleGrowFinals-182.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">GoogleGrowFinals-182.jpg</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text"><p>Ann Arbor-based Googler Taylor Holmes provides one-on-one coaching</p></div></figcaption></figure></li><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GoogleGrowFinals-192.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">GoogleGrowFinals-192.jpg</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text">Small business owners are introduced to Google Primer, an app which provides free, quick lessons in digital marketing.</div></figcaption></figure></li><li class="h-c-carousel__item article-carousel__slide"><figure><div class="article-carousel__slide-img" style="background-image: url(https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/GoogleGrowFinals-257.max-2800x2800.jpg);"><span class="h-u-visually-hidden">GoogleGrowFinals-257.jpg</span></div><figcaption class="article-carousel__caption h-c-copy h-u-mt-std"><div class="rich-text">A young Michigander goes exploring with Expeditions in Google Cardboard</div></figcaption></figure></li></ul><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate glue-pagination-previous" data-glue-pagination-label="Previous" data-glue-pagination-update-model="false"><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate-wrap"><svg class="h-c-icon h-c-icon--keyboard-arrow-left" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-keyboard-arrow-right"></use></svg></div></div><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate glue-pagination-next" data-glue-pagination-label="Next" data-glue-pagination-update-model="false"><div class="h-c-carousel__paginate-wrap"><svg class="h-c-icon h-c-icon--keyboard-arrow-right" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-keyboard-arrow-right"></use></svg></div></div></div><div class="h-c-carousel__navigation"><div class="glue-pagination-page-list"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>The Grow with Google tour will continue in many more cities and towns throughout 2018. Our next stop is Louisville, Kentucky on March 29th. Learn more at <a href="http://g.co/grow/events">g.co/grow/events</a>.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/1EfwiqwA364" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:40:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:40:00 -0000The Official Google BlogWatch live performances at The FADER FORT from SXSW in VR180http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/tF7Jl56lOeg/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>For over 15 years, <a href="http://www.thefader.com/">The FADER</a> has introduced the world to new music artists at The FADER FORT, the global media company's annual live music event at South by Southwest (SXSW). FADER FORT has been the breakout, must-do gig for famous artists including Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Drake and many others. The event gives emerging and global artists an intimate stage to experiment on and allows those in attendance to experience performances up close and personal. But with an intimate experience, only a lucky few are able to make it into the must-see show making it one of the most in demand events at SXSW.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid"><figure class="article-image--medium h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--4 h-c-grid__col--offset-4 "><img alt="announcing-fort-2018.jpg.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/announcing-fort-2018.jpg.0483067509520938.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>To bring The FADER FORT experience to more fans, we partnered with The FADER to livestream performances by Saweetie, Bloc Boy, Valee, Speedy Ortiz, YBN Nahmir and other special guests in VR180 on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFaderTeam">YouTube</a>. No matter where you are, you can watch live on YouTube via your desktop or mobile device, or using Cardboard, Daydream View or PlayStation VR.</p><p>With VR180, those not in attendance at The FADER FORT in Austin will be able to experience three dimensional, 4K video of the show, providing a more immersive experience than a traditional video and making you feel like you are there.</p><p>From March 14-16th, we’ll livestream the the best acts of the day in VR180 and a cutdown of each set—that can be viewed at any time.</p><p>Check out the calendar below, grab your headset and get ready to see some of the best new artists on the scene without ever setting foot in Austin. Visit <a href="http://www.thefader.com/2018/03/13/fader-fort-google-vr180-live-stream">Fader</a>for the full lineup. See you at the Fort!</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/tF7Jl56lOeg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 20:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 20:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogWindows 10 SDK Preview Build 17115 now available
http://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2018/03/13/windows-10-sdk-preview-build-17115-now-available/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 19:00:18 +0000Today, we released a new Windows 10 Preview Build of the SDK to be used in conjunction with Windows 10 Insider Preview (Build 17115 or greater). The Preview SDK Build 17115 contains bug fixes and under development changes to the API surface area. The Preview SDK can be downloaded from developer section on Windows Insider. For feedback and […]Tue, 13 Mar 2018 19:00:18 +0000Windows BlogBringing expressive, performant typography to Microsoft Edge with Variable Fonts
http://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2018/03/13/bringing-expressive-performant-typography-to-microsoft-edge-with-variable-fonts/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:22:57 +0000For years, rich typography has been the envy of many web designers, who long for the typographic variety, texture, and precision available in print media. Now, with the recent innovations of OpenType Variable Fonts―pioneered in collaboration between Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, Google, and others―and new standards allowing for developers to control font variations in CSS, things […]Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:22:57 +0000Windows BlogAnnouncing Project Honolulu Technical Preview 1803 and RSAT Insider Preview for Windows 10
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/13/announcing-project-honolulu-technical-preview-1803-and-rsat-insider-preview-for-windows-10/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:17:58 +0000Hello Windows Insiders! Today we are pleased to release Project Honolulu Technical Preview 1803 to Windows Server Insiders. Also available is the Insider preview package of Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 10 Insider build 17110 or higher. Available Content Project Honolulu Technical Preview 1803 Remote Server Administration Tools Build 17108 What’s New in […]Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:17:58 +0000Windows BlogAnnouncing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17120 for Fast
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/13/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17120-for-fast/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:05:12 +0000Hello Windows Insiders! Today, we are releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17120 (RS4) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. What’s new in Build 17120 Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) Improvements The Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) Team has introduced new improvements for users to have a better experience with our upcoming release. We […]Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:05:12 +0000Windows BlogMarch 2018 Windows security update – Expanding our efforts to protect customers
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/13/march-2018-windows-security-update-expanding-our-efforts-to-protect-customers/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:13 +0000Earlier this month I shared news on Microsoft’s continuing efforts to help protect our customers against the Spectre and Meltdown hardware-based vulnerabilities. Today, we are announcing the expansion of devices covered by Windows security updates by removing the anti-virus compatibility check for Windows 10 devices, expanding the availability of Intel microcode updates in the Microsoft […]Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:13 +0000Windows BlogGoogle Station brings better, faster Wi-Fi to more people in Mexicohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/HJesI51ntyY/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Over the last decade, mobile connectivity has gotten much better—and our data consumption has skyrocketed accordingly. We used to send texts and check webpages on our phones; now we scroll through hundreds of photos and watch high-quality videos.</p><br/><p>In Mexico, the third highest Internet penetration country in Latin America, most people access the web through mobile. But even as data plans are more affordable than ever, people are always looking for ways to enjoy the web without using up their data. And access to information is still a challenge for many.</p><p>To bring better Internet access to people in Mexico, we’re working with Internet service provider Sitwifi to convert their existing hotspots to <a href="http://station.google.com">Google Station</a>, our high-speed public Wi-Fi platform that gives partners an easy set of tools to roll out Wi-Fi hotspots in public places. Starting today, Google Station will be available in 60+ high-traffic venues across Mexico City and nationwide, including airports, shopping malls and public transit stations. We plan to reach 100+ locations before the end of the year. </p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid"><figure class="article-image--medium h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--4 h-c-grid__col--offset-4 "><img alt="google station in mexico" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Screen_Shot_2018-02-14_at_8.21.15_AM.max-1000x1000.png"/></figure></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Mexico is the first country in Latin America to launch Google Station, and the third country globally, after India and Indonesia. Google Station can be found in Mexico City and 44 more cities in the country, so if you’re near one of the locations, go watch a high-quality video (or maybe save some YouTube offline for later)!</p><br/><p>To learn more, see <a href="http://station.google.com">station.google.com</a>.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/HJesI51ntyY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogHelping learners develop the digital skills for their futureshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/29X_PJ2fY2o/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b><i>Editor’s note:</i></b><i> </i>This guest post is authored by Danielle Arnold, a School Media Specialist at Belmar Elementary School in New Jersey and a <a href="https://www.blog.google/topics/education/libraries-across-us-are-ready-code/">Ready to Code</a> librarian. She shared this post, a version of which was originally published <a href="http://www.districtdispatch.org/2018/03/free-online-curriculum-prepares-learners-life-work/">here</a>.</p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>At the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting earlier this month, I spoke about how <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/en/curriculum?utm_source=conference&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">Applied Digital Skills</a>—a new digital literacy program that is part of the <a href="https://grow.google/">Grow with Google</a> initiative—helps me address some of the challenges my learners face. The curriculum uses video-based lessons to help learners create projects with digital applications and is free for everyone. As learners build projects, they practice the new skills they will need for future jobs, as well as other practical skills such as financial literacy, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. The curriculum includes more than 100 hours of lessons that can be used in a library or classroom, independently or in a group.</p><p>As Belmar Elementary School’s school librarian, I’ve been using Applied Digital Skills with fourth through eighth graders. I’m also Belmar’s School Media Specialist, which means that I’m always looking for news ways to support my school’s learners. I’ve used the Applied Digital Skills units to help learners improve in a few areas: <br/></p><p>The <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/applied-digital-skills/en/if-then-adventure-stories/overview.html?utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">If-Then Adventure Stories</a> unit allows my learners to develop interactive projects both independently and in teams. As learners collaborate in shared documents, they work together to solve problems and motivate each other to stay on track. At Belmar Elementary, we also use the <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/applied-digital-skills/en/research-and-develop-a-topic/overview.html?utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">Research and Develop a Topic</a> unit to help learners conduct research more effectively. One seventh grade ELA teacher described how “learners have a hard time deciphering what is important and should be included, and what is not. They have a tough time putting the research into their own words…” In the unit, my learners identify credible sources, evaluate bias of digital information, write about their research, and get feedback.<br/><br/></p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="EDU_Applied Digital Skills.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/EDU_ALA_Digital_Skills.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Many of my colleagues are also using Applied Digital Skills as well, using the curriculum to help our learners <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/college-and-continuing-education/en/use-google-to-get-a-new-job/overview.html?utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">develop resumes, search for jobs</a>, <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/middle-and-high-school/en/plan-an-event/overview.html?utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">plan events</a>, <a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/middle-and-high-school/en/guide-to-an-area/overview.html?utm_campaign=ALA218Blog">explore local history</a> and more. Our technology facilitator at Belmar noted, "Devising real world scenarios that are relevant to the learners while also being able to teach them specific skills is often difficult. I love the format of the lessons and how the learners can follow the prompts and videos to work at their own pace.”<br/></p><p>These are just a few examples of how librarians and educators like me are using the Applied Digital Skills curriculum to offer learners of all ages free, engaging lessons that teach the essential digital skills they’ll need for their futures.<br/></p><p>To start using the curriculum in your own library or school, visit the <a href="https://goo.gl/yE31SV">Applied Digital Skills Getting Started Guide</a>. You can also reach out to the curriculum team at <a href="mailto:AppliedDigitalSkills@google.com">AppliedDigitalSkills@google.com</a> with any questions.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/29X_PJ2fY2o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogWindows 10 Tip: Clear your workspace in two simple steps
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/13/windows-10-tip-clear-your-workspace-in-two-simple-steps/
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:11 +0000Did you know you can easily clear your workspace in two simple steps?Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:11 +0000Windows BlogGet more useful information with captions on Google Imageshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/7GYF7CV2Z9U/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>People around the world use Google Images to find visual information online. Whether you’re searching for ideas for your next baking project, how to tie shoelaces so they stay put, or tips on the proper form for doing a plank, scanning image results can be much more helpful than scanning text. Today, we’re sharing more about new changes to Google Images to provide even better visual discovery with more context on the image results page.<br/></p><p>By adding more context around images, results can become much more useful. Last year we started showing <a href="https://www.blog.google/products/search/new-badges-help-you-discover-and-take-action-image-search/">badges</a> (like “recipe” or “product”) on certain results to aid in the discovery process. Since then, we’ve also added the website’s domain URL for each result to show you where the image is coming from. <br/></p><p>This week we’re adding captions to image results, showing you the title of the web page where each image is published. This extra piece of information gives you more context so you can easily find out what the image is about and whether the website would contain more relevant content for your needs. Here’s how it looks: <br/></p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid"><figure class="article-image--large h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--6 h-c-grid__col--offset-3 "><img alt="Text images" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Text_on_SRP_2.max-1000x1000.png"/></figure></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>In this example, the image results give you visual confirmation that you found the right fruit, but captions make results instantly more useful with additional context. For instance, you can learn that this fruit is called carambola or starfruit, and that it’s popular in China. This also helps you choose the result page to click and explore further.<br/></p><p>This update underscores our ongoing goal to make Google Images an ever more useful tool to discover and explore more information from the web. Image captions are starting to roll out globally this week on the Google app (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox&hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id284815942?mt=8">iOS</a>) and on mobile browsers. <br/></p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/7GYF7CV2Z9U" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogIntroducing the Google Assistant on iPadhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/LodQHwjjGMU/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><a href="https://blog.google/products/assistant/your-assistant-getting-better-on-google-home-and-your-phone/">Last year</a> we brought the Google Assistant to iPhones and today, iPads are joining the party. The Assistant on iPad can do everything the Assistant on your iPhone can do, with the added benefit of a bigger screen that supports both portrait and landscape mode.</p><p>Here are some highlights of how the Assistant can help on your iPad while you’re hanging around the house:<br/></p><ul><li>Set the mood by having the Assistant “dim the lights”<br/></li><li>Cast to your TV by asking the Assistant to “watch the latest news on the living room TV”<br/></li><li>Stay in touch by asking the Assistant to “video call mom” or “text Lauren”<br/></li><li>Keep up with your chores by asking the Assistant to “remind me to take out the recycling at 8 PM”<br/></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Plus, you can stay productive by multitasking on iPad with iOS 11, letting you chat with the Assistant while you play a game, plan a trip or check your calendar.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="Assistant iPad.png" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/Assistant_iPad.max-1000x1000.png"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>The Assistant on iPad is rolling out today and will be available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/LodQHwjjGMU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogMaking music using new sounds generated with machine learninghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/8q229qNz_Gg/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Technology has always played a role in inspiring musicians in new and creative ways. The guitar amp gave rock musicians a new palette of sounds to play with in the form of feedback and distortion. And the sounds generated by synths helped shape the sound of electronic music. But what about new technologies like machine learning models and algorithms? How might they play a role in creating new tools and possibilities for a musician’s creative process? <a href="http://g.co/magenta">Magenta</a>, a research project within Google, is currently exploring answers to these questions.</p><p>Building upon past research in the field of machine learning and music, last year Magenta released <a href="https://magenta.tensorflow.org/nsynth">NSynth</a> (Neural Synthesizer). It’s a machine learning algorithm that uses deep neural networks to learn the characteristics of sounds, and then create a completely new sound based on these characteristics. Rather than combining or blending the sounds, NSynth synthesizes an entirely new sound using the acoustic qualities of the original sounds—so you could get a sound that’s part flute and part sitar all at once.</p><p>Since then, Magenta has continued to experiment with different <a href="https://magenta.tensorflow.org/nsynth-instrument">musical interfaces</a> and tools to make the algorithm more easily accessible and playable. As part of this exploration, Google Creative Lab and Magenta collaborated to create <a href="http://g.co/nsynthsuper">NSynth Super</a>. It’s an open source experimental instrument which gives musicians the ability to explore new sounds generated with the NSynth algorithm.</p></div></div><div class="block-video"><div class="article-module article-video "><figure><a class="h-c-video h-c-video--marquee" data-glue-modal-disabled-on-mobile="true" data-glue-modal-trigger="uni-modal-iTXU9Z0NYoU-" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=iTXU9Z0NYoU"><img alt="Making music using new sounds generated with machine learning" src="//img.youtube.com/vi/iTXU9Z0NYoU/maxresdefault.jpg"/><svg class="h-c-video__play h-c-icon h-c-icon--color-white" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-youtube-icon"></use></svg></a></figure></div><div class="h-c-modal--video" data-glue-modal="uni-modal-iTXU9Z0NYoU-" data-glue-modal-close-label="Close Dialog"><a class="glue-yt-video" data-glue-yt-video-autoplay="true" data-glue-yt-video-height="99%" data-glue-yt-video-vid="iTXU9Z0NYoU" data-glue-yt-video-width="100%" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=iTXU9Z0NYoU" ng-cloak=""></a></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>To create our prototype, we recorded 16 original source sounds across a range of 15 pitches and fed them into the NSynth algorithm. The outputs, over 100,000 new sounds, were then loaded into NSynth Super to precompute the new sounds. Using the dials, musicians can select the source sounds they would like to explore between, and drag their finger across the touchscreen to navigate the new, unique sounds which combine their acoustic qualities. NSynth Super can be played via any MIDI source, like a DAW, sequencer or keyboard.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="03. NSynth-Super-Bathing_2880x1800.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/03._NSynth-Super-Bathing_2880x1800.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Part of the goal of Magenta is to close the gap between artistic creativity and machine learning. It’s why we work with a community of artists, coders and machine learning researchers to learn more about how machine learning tools might empower creators. It’s also why we create everything, including NSynth Super, with open source libraries, including <a href="https://www.tensorflow.org/">TensorFlow</a> and openFrameworks. If you’re maker, musician, or both, all of the source code, schematics, and design templates are available for download on <a href="https://github.com/googlecreativelab/open-nsynth-super-staging">GitHub</a>.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="04. Open-NSynth-Super-Parts-2880x1800.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/04._Open-NSynth-Super-Parts-2880x1800.max-1000x1000.jpg"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>New sounds are powerful. They can inspire musicians in creative and unexpected ways, and sometimes they might go on to define an entirely new musical style or genre. It’s impossible to predict where the new sounds generated by machine learning tools might take a musician, but we're hoping they lead to even more musical experimentation and creativity.</p><br/><p>Learn more about NSynth Super at <a href="http://g.co/nsynthsuper">g.co/nsynthsuper</a>.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/8q229qNz_Gg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0000Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogUnderstanding the inner workings of neural networkshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/IcYeY-mNe7s/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Neural networks are a powerful approach to machine learning, allowing computers to understand images, recognize speech, translate sentences, play Go, and much more. As much as we’re using neural networks in our technology at Google, there’s more to learn about how these systems accomplish these feats. For example, neural networks can learn how to recognize images far more accurately than any program we directly write, but we don’t really know how exactly they decide whether a dog in a picture is a Retriever, a Beagle, or a German Shepherd.</p><p>We’ve been working for several years to better grasp how neural networks operate. Last week we shared new <a href="https://research.googleblog.com/2018/03/the-building-blocks-of-interpretability.html">research</a> on how these techniques come together to give us a deeper understanding of why networks make the decisions they do—but first, let’s take a step back to explain how we got here.</p><p><a href="https://research.googleblog.com/2015/06/inceptionism-going-deeper-into-neural.html">Neural networks consist</a> of a series of “layers,” and their understanding of an image evolves over the course of multiple layers. In 2015, we started a project called <a href="https://research.googleblog.com/2015/06/inceptionism-going-deeper-into-neural.html">DeepDream</a> to get a sense of <a href="https://research.googleblog.com/2015/06/inceptionism-going-deeper-into-neural.html">what neural networks “see” at the different layers. It</a>led to a much larger research project that would not only develop beautiful art, but also shed light on the inner workings of neural networks.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="pasted image 0 (11).png" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/pasted_image_0_11_ljCtPEN.max-1000x1000.png"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text">Outside Google, DeepDream grew into a <a href="https://grayarea.org/event/deepdream-the-art-of-neural-networks/">small art movement</a> producing all sorts of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbQh1I_uvjo">amazing things</a>.</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Last year, we shared new work on this subject, showing how techniques building on DeepDream—and lots of excellent research from our colleagues around the world—can help us explore how neural networks <a href="https://distill.pub/2017/feature-visualization/">build up their understanding of images</a>. We showed that neural networks build on previous layers to detect more sophisticated ideas and eventually reach complex conclusions. For instance, early layers detect edges and textures of images, but later layers progress to detecting parts of objects.<br/></p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="pasted image 0 (12).png" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/pasted_image_0_12_Wpq3264.max-1000x1000.png"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption h-c-page"><div class="rich-text">The neural network first detects edges, then textures, patterns, parts, and objects.</div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>Last week we released another milestone in our research: an exploration of how different techniques for understanding neural networks fit together into a bigger picture.</p><p>This work, which <a href="https://distill.pub/2018/building-blocks/">we've published</a> in the online journal Distill, explores how different techniques allow us to “stand in the middle of a neural network” and see how decisions made at an individual point influence a final output. For instance, we can see how a network detects a “floppy ear,” and then that increases the probability that the image will be labeled as a Labrador Retriever or Beagle.</p><p>In one example, we explore which neurons activate in response to different inputs—a kind of “MRI for neural networks.” The network has some floppy ear detectors that really like this dog!</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="SemanticDict2-ezgif-crop.gif" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/original_images/SemanticDict2-ezgif-crop.gif"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>We can also see how different neurons in the middle of the network—like those floppy ear detectors—affect the decision to classify an image as a Labrador Retriever or tiger cat.</p></div></div><div class="block-image_full_width"><figure class="article-image--full article-module "><img alt="pasted image 0 (13).png" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/pasted_image_0_13.max-1000x1000.png"/></figure></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>If you want to learn more, check out our <a href="https://distill.pub/2018/building-blocks/">interactive paper</a>, published in <a href="https://distill.pub/">Distill</a>. We’ve also open sourced our neural net visualization library, <a href="https://github.com/tensorflow/lucid">Lucid</a>, so you can make these visualizations, too.</p></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/IcYeY-mNe7s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:45:00 -0000Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:45:00 -0000The Official Google BlogOne Shining AI Moment: when machine learning meets your brackethttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/sUXczI3V6g0/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p>The stats. The uniforms. Sheer wild guesses. Everyone has a strategy for making their picks for the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. But this year there’s a new play in the book: machine learning.</p><br/><p>Google Cloud has teamed up with the NCAA to host a <a href="https://cloud.google.com/blog/big-data/2018/02/google-cloud-and-ncaa-team-up-for-a-unique-march-madness-competition-hosted-on-kaggle">competition</a> on <a href="https://www.kaggle.com/competitions">Kaggle</a>, the world's largest online community of data scientists, challenging participants to build and train machine learning models to forecast the games’ outcomes. Kaggle has hosted contests for the tournament in the past, but this year’s competition is taking things to the next round with a new <a href="https://bigquery.cloud.google.com/dataset/bigquery-public-data:ncaa_basketball">data set</a> that contains every play-by-play moment in men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball since 2009—more than 40 million plays.</p><br/><p>The submission deadline for the competition is this Thursday, prior to the start of the tournament. Submissions will be scored by <a href="https://www.kaggle.com/c/mens-machine-learning-competition-2018#evaluation">log loss</a>, a common way of measuring accuracy of machine learning models. A total of $100,000 will be awarded across both the men’s and women’s competitions for the best performing applications of machine learning (which probably outdoes whatever happens in your office pool). And because the competition is based on ML models, not basketball know-how, it’s anyone’s game to win. Talk about a Cinderella story.</p><br/>The massive data set being used in this competition represents just one area where Google Cloud is <a href="https://blog.google/topics/google-cloud/ncaa-teams-google-cloud/">teaming up with the NCAA</a> as their official public cloud provider. The NCAA is also in the process of migrating 80+ years of data across 24 sports to Google Cloud Platform (GCP), using Google tools to power analyses of teams and players. But for the data scientists and machine learning enthusiasts participating in the Kaggle competition, the fun is already underway. May the best model survive, advance and take home the championship!</div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/sUXczI3V6g0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogThe She Word: Winnie Lam, helping Google do the right thing for the planethttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/g6q6tcYjn3w/<html><head></head><body><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><i>Editor’s Note: The She Word is a Keyword series all about dynamic and creative women at Google. <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/leading-tech-companies-unite-to-stop-online-wildlife-traffickers">This week</a>, Google and the World Wildlife Fund announced the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/global-coalition-to-end-wildlife-trafficking-online">Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online</a>. We sat down with Winnie Lam, who works on our environmental sustainability team, to learn more about this effort and what it means to be the “Captain of Earthly Elements” (her actual title) at Google.</i></p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph_with_image"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid uni-paragraph-wrap"><div class="uni-paragraph h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--8 h-c-grid__col-m--6 h-c-grid__col-l--6 h-c-grid__col--offset-2 h-c-grid__col-m--offset-3 h-c-grid__col-l--offset-3"><figure class="article-image--wrap-small "><img alt="IMG_50961.jpeg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/IMG_50961.max-1000x1000.jpeg"/></figure><div class="rich-text"><p><b>How do you explain your job at a dinner party?</b><b><br/></b>I’m responsible for environmental sustainability for Google data centers. My team’s job is to help Google do the right thing for the planet.</p><p><b>Have you always been interested in sustainability?</b><b><br/></b>My dad’s first business was a car junkyard—he’d buy the cars that didn’t work and sell the parts. The concept of “reuse and recycle” was part of everything he did, and a big part of my upbringing. My whole family now works in that business.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>Tell us about the years-long journey to the formation of the Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online.</b><b><br/></b>In 2012, I led an effort to ban the sale of ivory through Google ads and Google Shopping. I'm not an expert on the ivory issue, so I sought help from World Wildlife Fund, and we dreamed of getting other tech companies to ban ivory and illegal wildlife products. This vision started taking shape at an inaugural meeting with WWF and major tech companies to stop wildlife trafficking online. And now 21 companies across North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa have joined the fight against wildlife trafficking.</p></div></div><div class="block-video"><div class="article-module article-video "><figure><a class="h-c-video h-c-video--marquee" data-glue-modal-disabled-on-mobile="true" data-glue-modal-trigger="uni-modal-DzZCItD9a5M-" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=DzZCItD9a5M"><img alt="How One Googler Stopped People From Selling Ivory" src="//img.youtube.com/vi/DzZCItD9a5M/maxresdefault.jpg"/><svg class="h-c-video__play h-c-icon h-c-icon--color-white" role="img"><use xlink:href="#mi-youtube-icon"></use></svg></a><figcaption class="article-video__caption h-c-page"><p>Learn more about Winnie's efforts to ban the sale of ivory through Google ads and Google Shopping</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="h-c-modal--video" data-glue-modal="uni-modal-DzZCItD9a5M-" data-glue-modal-close-label="Close Dialog"><a class="glue-yt-video" data-glue-yt-video-autoplay="true" data-glue-yt-video-height="99%" data-glue-yt-video-vid="DzZCItD9a5M" data-glue-yt-video-width="100%" href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=DzZCItD9a5M" ng-cloak=""></a></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>How’d you come up with your job title?</b><b><br/></b>I gave myself the title “Captain of Earthly Elements,” because in my job, I work with the four classic elements: earth, water, air and fire.</p><p><b>You’ve been at Google for 13 years! What has kept you here?</b><b><br/></b>I’ve had many roles over 13 years—from site reliability engineering to product management for our ads products to my current role. I’ve been very lucky that I can align personal and professional goals in the same job, and I’ve had several 20 percent projects (side projects that Googlers can dedicate part of their time to) that involve one of my biggest passions, animals. The effort to ban ivory started as a 20 percent project, actually.</p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph_with_image"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid uni-paragraph-wrap"><div class="uni-paragraph h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--8 h-c-grid__col-m--6 h-c-grid__col-l--6 h-c-grid__col--offset-2 h-c-grid__col-m--offset-3 h-c-grid__col-l--offset-3"><figure class="article-image--wrap-small "><img alt="w.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/w.max-1000x1000.jpg"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption "><div class="rich-text">Winnie's handmade Halloween costume</div></figcaption></figure><div class="rich-text"><p><b>Wow, what started as a 20 percent project is now a global coalition. Can you tell us about any other fun 20 percent projects?</b><b><br/></b>For a few years, I recruited Googlers to go on a trip to Belize to measure the turtle population, along with scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society—that was a fun one.</p><p><b>What other things do you do in your free time?</b><b><br/></b>I’m an artist and a musician. When I bought my house, I couldn’t find any furniture that I liked, so I decided to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/09/06/fashion/20070906IKEA_index/s/20070906IKEA_slide9.html">design my own</a>. Now the environment is inspiration for my art—a couple of years ago when California was in an extreme drought, I dressed up as an artificial lawn for Halloween (handmade costume!). Couldn’t turn down the opportunity to make that statement.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="block-paragraph"><div class="rich-text"><p><b>What’s one habit that makes you successful?</b><b><br/></b>I keep my eyes on the outcome, and always look for something in common with people. Not everyone cares about the environment as much as I do, but I can find common ground. For example, energy efficiency saves money, which can appeal to someone who works in finance, even if the environment isn’t a top priority for them.</p><p><b>What advice do you have for women starting out in their careers?</b><b><br/></b>There’s no career path—you invent it, it’s in your hands. Figure out what demand there is for the thing you’re passionate about, and how your skills and network can be used.</p></div></div><div class="block-paragraph_with_image"><div class="article-module h-c-page"><div class="h-c-grid uni-paragraph-wrap"><div class="uni-paragraph h-c-grid__col h-c-grid__col--8 h-c-grid__col-m--6 h-c-grid__col-l--6 h-c-grid__col--offset-2 h-c-grid__col-m--offset-3 h-c-grid__col-l--offset-3"><figure class="article-image--wrap-medium "><img alt="IMG_20111001_153734.jpg" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod/images/IMG_20111001_153734.max-1000x1000.jpg"/><figcaption class="article-image__caption "><div class="rich-text">Winnie and Jane Goodall</div></figcaption></figure><div class="rich-text"><p><b>Who has been a strong female influence in your life?<br/></b>I’ve had many mentors along the way. I grew up going to an all-girls school, so female influences were everywhere in my life. Women as leaders were the norm. I once met Jane Goodall at a conference and had 60-second conversation with her about my idea to approach chefs in San Francisco, and ask them to stop serving bluefin tuna at their restaurant. She looked at me and said, "That's the only way to do it." She gave me confidence and validation to keep going, and I haven't stopped since.</p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~4/g6q6tcYjn3w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Fri, 09 Mar 2018 19:00:00 -0000Fri, 09 Mar 2018 19:00:00 -0000The Official Google BlogHow mixed reality is changing the game for healthcare, from performing live surgeries to delivering ultrasounds in 3D
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/08/how-mixed-reality-is-changing-the-game-for-healthcare-from-performing-live-surgeries-to-delivering-ultrasounds-in-3d/
Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:00:26 +00002018 is already proving to be a transformative year for doctors and healthcare organizations through mixed realityThu, 08 Mar 2018 17:00:26 +0000Windows BlogWindows 10 in S Mode coming soon to all editions of Windows 10
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/07/windows-10-s-mode-coming-soon-editions-windows-10/
Thu, 08 Mar 2018 01:13:21 +0000Some of you may have seen a discussion around our plans for Windows 10 S on Twitter today, and given some additional questions I’ve received, I thought it might be helpful to share more about our plans with Windows 10 S. Last year we introduced Windows 10 S – an effort to provide a Windows […]Thu, 08 Mar 2018 01:13:21 +0000Windows BlogPreview the latest Windows Mixed Reality features coming this spring
http://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/07/preview-latest-windows-mixed-reality-features-coming-spring/
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:34:15 +0000Hello Windows Insiders! We’re excited to offer our Fast ring insiders a sneak peek at the latest features coming this spring to Windows Mixed Reality! Our favorite new updates in Insider Preview Build 17115 include: A brand-new environment. In October we mentioned that the Cliff House was the first of many environments you’ll be able […]Wed, 07 Mar 2018 19:34:15 +0000Windows BlogWe’ve moved! Find us at the new Microsoft Edge Dev Blog
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/05/08/weve-moved-find-us-at-the-new-microsoft-edge-dev-blog/
Fri, 08 May 2015 15:40:19 +0000As we announced last week, with the reveal of Microsoft Edge we are archiving the IEBlog. Future posts for both Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer will take place at our new home on Windows Blogs, the Microsoft Edge Dev Blog. We've redirected the RSS feed for the IEBlog to point to our new home. If...Fri, 08 May 2015 15:40:19 +0000IEBlogMicrosoft Edge is the browser for Windows 10
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/29/microsoft-edge-is-the-browser-for-windows-10/
Wed, 29 Apr 2015 11:30:00 +0000This morning, Joe Belfiore took to the stage at Build 2015 to share more about the next chapter in our story for Windows 10, including revealing more about “Project Spartan,” our new default browser for Windows. We’re excited to share Joe’s announcement that Project Spartan’s official name is Microsoft Edge. You’ll see this name coming...Wed, 29 Apr 2015 11:30:00 +0000IEBlogAnnouncing improvements to Enterprise Mode and Enterprise Site Discovery
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/23/announcing-improvements-to-enterprise-mode-and-enterprise-site-discovery/
Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:31:57 +0000As we continue to hear feedback from our customers, we are making investments in tools and features that help our customers get to Internet Explorer 11 before the January 12, 2016 support deadline. We encourage all of our customers to stay up-to-date on the latest version and to leverage features such as Enterprise Mode and...Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:31:57 +0000IEBlogApril 2015 security updates for Internet Explorer
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/14/april-2015-security-updates-for-internet-explorer/
Tue, 14 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-032 (3038314)This critical security update resolves vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. For more information, please see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-032. Security Update for Flash Player (3049508) This security update for Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer 10 and 11 on supported editions of Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 and Windows...Tue, 14 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000IEBlogAnnouncing the 2015 “Project Spartan” Web Summit, May 5th and 6th in Mountain View, CA
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/13/announcing-the-2015-project-spartan-web-summit-may-5th-and-6th-in-mountain-view-ca/
Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:59:00 +0000In March, the Project Spartan team hosted a small, by-invitation workshop at our Silicon Valley campus with developers attending from popular sites and frameworks based around the Silicon Valley area. This was an invaluable opportunity for us to share our plans and meet face to face with developers that build with the Web platform. We...Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:59:00 +0000IEBlogProject Spartan now available in the Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/10/project-spartan-now-available-in-the-windows-10-technical-preview-for-phones/
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:06:00 +0000As Gabe just announced on the Windows Blog, the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview build for phones is now available. With it, we are delighted to announce that Project Spartan for Windows phones is available to preview in this build. It's been just over a week since Project Spartan was available in the last desktop...Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:06:00 +0000IEBlogIntroducing the IE Diagnostics Adapter for third party developer tools
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/04/02/introducing-the-ie-diagnostics-adapter-for-third-party-developer-tools/
Thu, 02 Apr 2015 11:00:03 +0000For several releases, Internet Explorer has had diagnostic tools that help developers debug visual issues, find JavaScript bugs, and profile Web sites. These tools have shipped both in the browser as the F12 Developer Tools as well as in Visual Studio. In the interest of making the modern Web "just work" for everyone, today we're...Thu, 02 Apr 2015 11:00:03 +0000IEBlog"Project Spartan" in the Windows Technical Preview build 10049
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/03/30/project-spartan-in-the-windows-technical-preview-build-10049/
Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:30:00 +0000Today we’re excited to announce the availability of a new build for Windows Insiders with the first preview of “Project Spartan,” the new browser for Windows 10. You can learn more in Joe Belfiore’s blog post, “Introducing Project Spartan: The New Browser Built for Windows 10." This build does not yet include all the changes...Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:30:00 +0000IEBlogUpdates from the “Project Spartan” Developer Workshop
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/03/24/updates-from-the-project-spartan-developer-workshop/
Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:00:13 +0000Today we’re excited to host some of our top web site partners, enterprise developers and web framework authors at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus for a "Project Spartan" developer workshop to get an early look at Windows 10’s new default browsing experience as it rapidly approaches a public preview. This is another step in our...Tue, 24 Mar 2015 11:00:13 +0000IEBlogPartnering with Adobe on new contributions to our web platform
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ie/2015/03/23/partnering-with-adobe-on-new-contributions-to-our-web-platform/
Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:00:11 +0000In recent releases, we’ve talked often about our goal to bring the team and technologies behind our web platform closer to the community of developers and other vendors who are also working to move the Web forward. This has been a driving motivation behind our emphasis on providing better developer tools, resources for cross-browser testing,...Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:00:11 +0000IEBlog