‘Best of Disney’ comes to Xbox 360
June 19, 2013
Disney Interactive launches app delivering new and original digital video to homes in the U.S. Featuring original Web series, classic animated shorts, clips from Disney shows and the latest Disney movie trailers, the new app lets users access the best Disney content from across the Web.
Steve Ballmer recognized as a top 100 ‘STEM CEO’
June 18, 2013
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has been recognized by STEMconnector as one of the top 100 “STEM CEOs.” STEMconnector helps its members design, implement and measure STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) strategies.
Tap into your inner creator with Socl and BLINK
June 18, 2013
Two big pieces of news out of Microsoft Research today. First, FUSE Labs, creator of Socl (pronounced “social”), released four new ways for people to express and share ideas on the Web. Also, BLINK, a project from Microsoft Research Redmond, released a pair of apps that blur the borders between video and photography.
‘Gears of War: Judgment’ players can continue the fight with The Lost Relics
June 18, 2013
Xbox has released some sneak preview screen shots of The Lost Relics, a new map pack for “Gears of War: Judgment” available today for VIP Season Pass holders (it will arrive on June 25 for all other game owners). The Lost Relics features four new multi-player maps, new weapons and armor skins, and a new mode called Breakthrough, which is a sort of capture-the-flag game where one team tries to move a flag while the other team tries to stop them.
Be among the first to catch a sneak peek of ’The Awesomes’
June 18, 2013
A full week before anyone else, on July 25 Xbox Live community members will get an exclusive sneak peek of one of the most anticipated new TV shows of the summer: Hulu’s original animated comedy, “The Awesomes.” Created by Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker of “Saturday Night Live” fame, “The Awesomes” revolves around the desired revival of “America’s oldest superhero team.”
Jimmy Fallon takes Xbox One for a spin
June 18, 2013
On the June 17 “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” show, Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios, took the stage to show off Xbox One and go head to head with host Fallon playing “Killer Instinct” from Xbox One’s launch lineup. As you can see in the video, it was a spirited match.
Microsoft Advertising unveils new ad prototypes at Cannes Lions 2013
June 18, 2013
Last year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Microsoft Advertising kicked off a partnership with select creative agencies to explore Windows 8 as a new canvas for digital advertising. Today, with Cannes Lions 2013 in full swing, Microsoft Advertising execs Jennifer Creegan and Stephen Kim announced the availability of a new Windows 8 ad format called Ad Pano, as well as several more ad prototypes, all developed as part of the partnership.
YouthSpark Challenge for Change finalists revealed
June 17, 2013
Today, we announced the 20 finalists for the YouthSpark Challenge for Change. Now, it’s up you to help select the five winners who will go on a volunteer trip in Kenya this summer. Starting today through June 24, you can vote once per day for the project that you think most deserving. Watch videos of each finalist and cast your vote today!
Fortune 500 or Indy 500? Businesses racing to the cloud
June 17, 2013
Fortune 500 businesses are moving to the cloud at an Indy 500 clip -- more than 50 percent of Fortune 500 companies are already using Windows Azure. In the last year, Windows Azure has more than doubled its customer base and is seeing an average of 1,000 new customers a day.
Xbox 360 stays atop the U.S. console market
June 17, 2013
Xbox 360 maintained its position as the top console in the U.S. last month, selling more units than any other platform, according to new data from The NPD Group. May marked the 29th consecutive month that Xbox 360 was the best-selling console in the U.S.
Windows Azure updates let developers build mobile apps with serious cloud power
June 17, 2013
Attention developers -- Microsoft released some Windows Azure updates to make it significantly easier to develop mobile applications that use the cloud. If you’re jazzed by phrases such as “Custom API Support,” “Git Source Control Support,” and “Android Broadcast Push Notification Support,” you’ll want to check out Scott Guthrie’s blog.
National Small Business Week events deliver tips on how to succeed
June 17, 2013
This week Microsoft is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week, and cities across the nation are holding events to show their support of the nation’s entrepreneurs. Today on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash., local business leaders and small-business owners will lead informational sessions and workshops designed to give entrepreneurs an edge.
New film series 'On the Whiteboard' explores intersection between technology and culture
June 17, 2013
Ever wonder where those familiar chimes and beeps that signal you’ve got a new text message or e-mail waiting on your smartphone come from? Well, now you can find out. In the first episode of Microsoft’s new film series “On the Whiteboard,” Editor Pamela Woon chats with two-time Oscar winner Randy Thom about the (often underestimated) importance of sound in human-technology interactions.
Cannes ya dig it? Welcome to #CannesLions 2013
June 17, 2013
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity kicked off Sunday, commencing the seven days each year in which the advertising industry gathers to learn from the best and celebrate innovative marketing.
Use Skype video messaging to catch up whenever, wherever
June 17, 2013
Want to say goodnight to your kids while traveling, but you’ll be up in the air or in a distant time zone? Or say “Happy birthday” to someone whose schedule doesn’t jibe with yours? Or share your daughter’s first steps with a grandparent who is away? For all these times and more, a great solution is video messaging, which today came out of preview as a free, full-fledged feature in Skype.
Want to know what’s cool in the Windows Store? Ask a 13-year-old!
June 17, 2013
Windows Experience Blog writer David S. occasionally checks in with his 13-year-old daughter to get the low down on the coolest apps and games in the Windows Store. His daughter’s list is an eclectic mix of challenging brain teasers, imaginative role-playing games and arcade-style action games such as Samurai vs. Zombies Defense.
LL COOL J and Bing celebrate Father’s Day in NYC
June 14, 2013
On June 11 hip-hop legend LL COOL J partnered with Bing to celebrate dads everywhere at the Bing It On Father’s Day Challenge. The father of four helped showcase Bing’s skills at a special event at New York’s Standard Hotel.
Personalize your Surface with cool accessories
June 14, 2013
Do you get a lot of questions about your Surface while you’re out and about, especially clicking in and using a Touch or Type cover? You’re likely to turn even more heads with accessories that personalize your Surface experience via a variety of colors and textures.
Scale matters: Windows Azure, Windows Stores & Xbox One
June 14, 2013
Frank Shaw reflects on Microsoft's new strategic partnership with Best Buy to create Windows Stores within 500 U.S. Best Buys, Office 365 Home Premium hitting the 1 million subscriptions mark in a little more than 100 days, the Xbox One’s online connection that provides for "infinite scalability," a new ad conveying "Windows Everywhere," and more.
Your comment could win you a special Mountain Dew & Doritos Xbox One promotional package
June 14, 2013
This fall, Mountain Dew and Doritos will give gaming fans an opportunity to get their hands on special commemorative Xbox One consoles through what PepsiCo bills the biggest gaming promotion in brand history. To celebrate the partnership and a new generation of gaming, Xbox Live’s Major Nelson has a couple of deluxe Dew/Doritos/Xbox One commemorative kits, complete with limited edition Dew and Doritos products. To enter, leave a comment on this Major Nelson blog post and tell him which Xbox One game you are most excited about.
Office Mobile for iPhone now available for Office 365 subscribers
June 14, 2013
Today Microsoft released Office Mobile for iPhone, available free of charge from the Apple App Store for Office 365 Home Premium and Office 365 ProPlus subscribers. Similar to the free Office Mobile for Windows Phone that ships with every handset, the iPhone app enables great Office content viewing and on-the-go content editing capabilities.
Share your Dad’s best – or worst – joke
June 14, 2013
Does your Dad think he’s funny? Face it, they all do. Whether your pop’s puns and other funnies make you laugh or groan, you can help make his Father’s Day by sharing one of his jokes on Skype’s Facebook page, along with a photo of the two of you.
Watch the E3 trailer for futuristic combat game ‘Titanfall’
June 13, 2013
“Titanfall” delivers fast-paced, near-future warfare that gives you the freedom to fight your way as both elite assault pilots and agile, mech battle-suited Titans. The “Titanfall” experience combines heart-pounding multiplayer action with heroic moments from traditional campaign mode.
‘Halo Xbox One’ Teaser from E3
June 13, 2013
“Halo Xbox One” (the game’s working title) will continue the Halo franchise on Xbox One, beginning in 2014.
‘Quantum Break’ blurs the line between gaming and TV
June 13, 2013
From Remedy Entertainment, the creators of “Alan Wake” and “Max Payne,” comes a revolutionary entertainment experience that blurs the line between gaming and TV – “Quantum Break.” It integrates drama and gameplay into a single, seamless, uniquely immersive experience.
See how Xbox One integrates DVR, Twitch and more
June 13, 2013
Check out this presentation by Marc Whitten, Ashton Williams and Torin Rettig at Xbox Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Media Briefing. The demo includes Xbox One’s new features and partnerships such as Game DVR, Project Upload, Twitch and SmartMatch.
Lucas, Spielberg, and Xbox’s Don Mattrick talk technology in entertainment
June 13, 2013
Storytelling and imagination know no limits. So say filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business President Don Mattrick, who participated in a panel on the future of entertainment at the University of Southern California (USC) on June 12.
More powerful and more flexible: The new Achievements system in Xbox One
June 13, 2013
Back in 2005, Xbox introduced Xbox Live Achievements, a metagame in which the cumulative score (Gamerscore) – spanned across games on every Xbox Live platform. Playing games is already fun, of course, but as any gamer knows, achievements add an extra layer of discovery, exploration and accomplishment that reinforces gameplay enjoyment. With Xbox One, we’re breaking the mold again, and will be offering consumers actual tangible benefits from the Achievements system.
Windows Server 2012 Essentials Update is available now
June 13, 2013
Fans of Windows Server 2’s Essentials can take solace – your update is here. The folks over at Windows Server announced today that the Update Rollup 2 for Windows Server 2012 Essentials is now available for download from Microsoft Update.
Windows Embedded Compact 2013 arrives to help businesses capitalize on Internet of Things
June 13, 2013
Microsoft today announced the general availability of Windows Embedded Compact 2013. Optimized for building small-footprint industry devices, the new offering includes powerful tools and capabilities — including new support for Visual Studio 2012 — that extend the experience of Windows and help businesses capitalize on the Internet of Things, where physical objects around us are interconnected by a network.
Fore! ‘Fairway Solitaire’ for Windows Phone 8 now available
June 13, 2013
If you’re looking for an unusual combination of golf and solitaire, then “Fairway Solitaire” is the game for you. Created by Big Fish Games, the new edition of “Fairway Solitaire” for Windows Phone 8 features more than 350 hand-crafted courses — including 18 new ones you won’t find on any other phone.
Bigger worlds! See the announce trailer for ‘Minecraft: Xbox One Edition’
June 13, 2013
See the trailer for a glimpse of how “Minecraft: Xbox One Edition” will deliver the Minecraft experience to the new generation of Xbox. Building off the hugely successful “Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition,” the upcoming edition will give players larger maps for bigger adventures, expanded multiplayer features, and enhancements powered by the new platform.
Microsoft and Best Buy team up to create the Windows Store only at Best Buy
June 13, 2013
Looking to purchase a Surface Pro or Windows Phone 8 device, but you want to actually hold it in your hands before laying down your hard-earned cash? Well, it just got easier to demo one of the many awesome Microsoft devices through a new strategic partnership announced today that will create the Windows Store only at Best Buy, a comprehensive store-within-a-store in 500 Best Buy locations across the United States and more than 100 Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada.