‘Angry Birds Star Wars’ update delivers new levels, character and boss fight
July 16, 2013
Fans of “Angry Birds Star Wars” now have a Windows Phone 8 update that will enhance their rebel birds’ pursuit of the Empire’s evil Pigtroopers. Those familiar with the “Star Wars” universe might recognize some of the storyline from “The Empire Strikes Back,” in the introduction of a new character, Lando Bird, who joins the rebellion – after betraying his old friend Han Solo.
Kinect connects sign-language users with their computers
July 16, 2013
At the 2013 Microsoft Research Faculty Summit, which brought more than 400 elite academics to Redmond, some are sharing innovative projects including the Sign Language Recognition and Translation with Kinect project. This collaboration between researchers from Microsoft Research Asia and colleagues from the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) explores how Kinect’s body-tracking abilities can be applied to the problem of sign-language recognition.
Download ‘Assassin’s Creed II’ free today (if you're an Xbox Live Gold member)
July 16, 2013
Today, Ubisoft’s critically-acclaimed game “Assassin’s Creed II” is available as a free download* as part of Xbox Live’s “Games with Gold” line-up. Xbox Live Gold members worldwide can simply download the game directly from their Xbox 360 console, or get it from the Marketplace and it will automatically download to their Xbox next time they log on. The game normally sells for $19.99 and is available free for a limited time.
‘On the Whiteboard’ goes deep inside Microsoft’s Reliability Lab
July 16, 2013
In the latest episode of “On the Whiteboard,” Editor Pamela Woon goes inside Microsoft’s top secret Reliability Lab, where our products undergo dozens of tests to help ensure what our customers receive is sturdy, strong and resilient. In the video above, the Surface tablet is one of the Reliability Lab’s latest victims.
Watch the full Bill Gates keynote from Microsoft Research Faculty Summit 2013
July 15, 2013
Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates returned to the Redmond campus Monday, speaking to a packed house of academics at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit. His presence turned some of the world’s top university instructors into eager students who asked Gates about everything from online education to intellectual property to robotics.
Bill Gates talks about problem-solving, teaching and learning in a digital age
July 15, 2013
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates spoke about problem-solving, teaching, and learning in a digital age during his keynote speech at today’s Microsoft Research Faculty Summit. Gates says thanks to technology, the world is doing a better job of getting problems and needs in front of those who can solve and meet them.
Bill Gates on the ‘golden age of computer science’
July 15, 2013
In his keynote speech at the 2013 Microsoft Research Faculty Summit today, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said we are in a “golden age of computer science” and that the progress we’ll make in the next five to ten years will be unbelievable.
Bill Gates discusses ways to help students succeed in higher education
July 15, 2013
During his keynote speech at today’s Microsoft Research Faculty Summit, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates discussed some of the challenges helping students stay on track and complete their higher education goals. Digital tools can make a difference, he said, providing ways to monitor students’ progress toward career goals and even trigger a counselor to contact students who are falling behind.
Button, button, who’s got the button? With Skype, you do
July 15, 2013
Not since Commissioner Gordon flashed the Bat Signal skyward has it been so easy to make important business calls. Businesses using Skype can now add a (free) button to the company website. Whether on a computer or mobile device, customers can reach you directly with a single click of the button.
Grab your virtual cleats and play ‘FIFA 13’ on Windows Phone 8
July 15, 2013
Soccer fans around the world follow the tournaments and teams in FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) and especially the World Cup, with deep devotion. Now, “FIFA 13” arrives on Windows Phone 8, exclusively for Nokia Lumia devices.
Fueling the future at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit
July 15, 2013
This morning at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates addressed how computing contributes to improving our world. In the Microsoft Research Connections Blog, Harold Javid, general chairman of the Faculty Summit, gives more background on the Faculty Fellowship program.
Nearly half of developers skip security practices, study shows
July 15, 2013
A Trust in Computing survey released by Microsoft revealed that 44 percent of developers don’t use a secure application program or process in developing their applications. Security development practices are easy to adopt, and Microsoft provides free, downloadable tools and guidance on its Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) website.
Use animations to make your Windows Phone 8 apps shine
July 12, 2013
One of the more amazing design aspects of the Windows Phone operating system is the use of motion design. It’s part of what makes Windows Phones feel alive. But animation is about more than just making things move – motion entertains, provides cues toward interaction, makes transitions feel faster, and adds personality and elegance to your apps. In short, animation helps you look like a pro.
Sign the kids up for a YouthSpark Summer Camp at a Microsoft Store today
July 12, 2013
School’s been out for a little more than three weeks now. You’ve taken the kids to the zoo, to the beach, the park and the mall. You’ve arranged play dates galore. Still searching for an activity to help the kids use up their seemingly boundless amounts of energy? Consider bringing them to a YouthSpark Summer Camp.
A new ‘Remedy’ for finding reliable, patient-friendly search results
July 12, 2013
Admit it, when you’re feeling under the weather, and you’re not sure what’s wrong, you probably reach for a search engine before calling your doctor. Now, Microsoft Research’s Dan Morris and a team of researchers at Columbia University have developed Remedy – a prototype search system that cuts through Internet clutter and helps people find relevant results.
Hello, and welcome to Moviefone on Windows Phone 8!
July 12, 2013
Free app is now on Windows Phone 8 and not only can you easily find movie theaters and showtimes, you can also get directions to those theaters, read movie news about your favorite celebrities and watch movie trailers.
Congratulations to the winners of the Third Annual STEM Video Game Challenge
July 11, 2013
This is the third year in a row that Microsoft has supported the STEM Video Game Challenge, a competition that "aims to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among students in grades 5-12 by tapping into their enthusiasm for playing and making video games," according to the Microsoft Citizenship Blog.
Q&A: Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore and Nokia’s Kevin Shields discuss the collaboration behind the Lumia 1020
July 11, 2013
Earlier this week, Windows Phone Blog Editor Michael Stroh had the chance to sit down and talk with Nokia’s Kevin Shields and Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore, two corporate vice presidents at the forefront of the joint smartphone effort. During their talk, Shields and Belfiore covered a wide range of topics, including the role Windows Phone played in the development of the Lumia 1020’s impressive 41-megapixel camera.
Become a Zoo Tycoon on Xbox this holiday season
July 11, 2013
Zoo Tycoon, a wildly (see what we did there?) popular game franchise, will be available this fall for the first time on both Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. Jorg Neumann, studio manager with Microsoft Studios, shared some of the latest developments in the title in an interview with Xbox Wire.
Winners of Microsoft Imagine Cup 2013 announced
July 11, 2013
Think of it as the world’s coolest science fair. Each year, tech-savvy students from around the world compete in Microsoft Imagine Cup to outdo one another with innovative apps, games and other tech projects. Today, winning projects were announced in the contest’s three main categories: Innovation, Games and World Citizenship. Additional prizes were awarded for product-specific challenges as well as a few special honors. All in all, more than $1 million worth of cash and prizes have been distributed during this year’s competition.
Taking care of business with Xbox One
July 10, 2013
Marques Lyons, a Microsoft Xbox MVP, said along with a computer and a phone, small-business owners may find value in one additional device: The Xbox One. “What is being positioned as an excellent entertainment device can be just as enticing for you and your small business,” Lyons writes on the Microsoft Small Business blog. “In fact, it's entirely justifiable to make the Xbox One a business expense.”
Choose between ‘Order and Chaos’ on Windows Phone 8
July 10, 2013
When you want to escape the real world, heroic fantasy worlds hold a strong appeal, and with “Order and Chaos,” Windows Phone 8 users can create characters that can engage in an environment teeming with a complex array of skills, equipment and quests.
InRelease now a part of Microsoft
July 10, 2013
Microsoft has completed its acquisition of InRelease, a release management product built specifically for Team Foundation Server by InCycle Software.