I contacted Microsoft and asked him a simple question: "Am I going crazy?"
I felt the company spokesperson say, "you must be the last to know" before adding: "Did your Bing Translator page suddenly receive a big Microsoft logo?"
You see, very occasionally, I'm swinging to Bing to see what's going on there. And last week, when I clicked on his Bing Translator link, I was confronted with a big "Microsoft Translator" at the top.
I was sure I had not seen that before. Hence my question to Redmond.
"You will not go crazy," the company spokeswoman told me. "There were actually some recent changes in the brand names to clarify that [Bing Translator] was powered by the same technology used in other Translator applications, the API and the live function."
It was soothing to my soul, although another explanation from the spokesperson gave me an idea.
"It's the same Microsoft Translator technology as before," she said, "available via the Bing search engine."
What, because my soul has mischievous parts, told me that someone at Microsoft might start to wonder if the Microsoft brand is not much stronger than Bing.
Does anyone really have a deep and lasting respect for the Bing brand? In one way or another, it seems that the brand name has never been used, in the context of a joke.
This does not mean that the service itself must be ridiculed. However, he suggests that the brand name is not an incitement to passion or excess of respect.
The Microsoft brand, on the other hand, has become much stronger thanks to the administration of Satya Nadella. He earned respect. Especially when the company showed the Surface Studio in 2016 and the offer of Apple certainly made it pale.
While Microsoft was a joke in an Apple ad, it is now the symbol of a booming business that tries new things and even succeeds sometimes.
The funny thing about Bing is that it's not a failed product - at least not as unsuccessful as some might imagine.
Last year, Redmond said his research share in the world was 9%, with a 25% share in the UK, 18% in France and 17% in Canada.
And look at the United States. Microsoft says it has a 33% share here.
Would not it be reasonable to think that it would be a positive step to go all the way with the Microsoft branding and let Bing go down to the nursing home for weird names?
Would not you rather try Microsoft Search than Bing Search?
I asked the question to the spokesperson. Does this little name change with Translator, the forerunner of great things to come?
"We do not currently intend to rename Bing research," she said.
Sunday 18 February 2018
Sunday 11 February 2018
Microsoft's Dying Breath Of Change As Windows 10 Mobile Retirement Confirmed
A small wave of activity this week, Microsoft released an update for the Photos app on Windows 10 Mobile. It appeared on the 'fast ring' of beta updates and test versions for users of Windows 10 Mobile who want to live on the edge of the cut. It is not an important update, but it could be the last tangible change in Windows 10 Mobile.
"It does not involve any of the more interesting features of Windows 10 PCs, such as video editing, but it allows you to ink on top of photos, select filters, etc. The version brings it to 18011.13438.0 on the Fast Ring has also become rather slow for some, especially on devices that are not officially "supported" by Windows 10 Mobile. "
The reason the update struck the app was that it was completely updated. Apart from security updates and bug fixes to core functions that would be needed to maintain guaranteed levels of support for production partners, Microsoft called a halt to new versions of Windows 10 Mobile, with confirmation from Brandon Le Blanc, Senior Program Manager @ Microsoft on Windows Insider Program Team, reported by Zac Bowden:
Whatever plans have changed, it seems that Microsoft is no longer committed to releasing new Insider builds for Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft continues to maintain Windows 10 Mobile with monthly security updates, but beyond that, the platform will no longer receive any love. As such, this means that the Windows 10 Mobile Insider program has more or less come to an end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.
For those of you who stay up-to-date, this means that Windows 10 Mobile has come to a standstill with the Redstone 2 iteration using the Feature2 branch.
Applications for Windows 10 Mobile can be continually updated and those apps that use the UWP (Universal Windows Platform) standard are more than likely up-to-date for some time, but this will be a minor problem because the main software support now at minimum maintenance levels. Although there was hope for new Windows 10 Mobile hardware by the British manufacturer WileyFox in 2018, that company has transferred its European operations to the administration.
The software is slipping, there is a clear lack of hardware champions, and the huge dominance of Android in the mobile space means that the ambitions of Microsoft can best be served by pushing its cloud services to Android and iOS than Windows 10 Mobile live to keep on life support.
"It does not involve any of the more interesting features of Windows 10 PCs, such as video editing, but it allows you to ink on top of photos, select filters, etc. The version brings it to 18011.13438.0 on the Fast Ring has also become rather slow for some, especially on devices that are not officially "supported" by Windows 10 Mobile. "
The reason the update struck the app was that it was completely updated. Apart from security updates and bug fixes to core functions that would be needed to maintain guaranteed levels of support for production partners, Microsoft called a halt to new versions of Windows 10 Mobile, with confirmation from Brandon Le Blanc, Senior Program Manager @ Microsoft on Windows Insider Program Team, reported by Zac Bowden:
Whatever plans have changed, it seems that Microsoft is no longer committed to releasing new Insider builds for Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft continues to maintain Windows 10 Mobile with monthly security updates, but beyond that, the platform will no longer receive any love. As such, this means that the Windows 10 Mobile Insider program has more or less come to an end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.
For those of you who stay up-to-date, this means that Windows 10 Mobile has come to a standstill with the Redstone 2 iteration using the Feature2 branch.
Applications for Windows 10 Mobile can be continually updated and those apps that use the UWP (Universal Windows Platform) standard are more than likely up-to-date for some time, but this will be a minor problem because the main software support now at minimum maintenance levels. Although there was hope for new Windows 10 Mobile hardware by the British manufacturer WileyFox in 2018, that company has transferred its European operations to the administration.
The software is slipping, there is a clear lack of hardware champions, and the huge dominance of Android in the mobile space means that the ambitions of Microsoft can best be served by pushing its cloud services to Android and iOS than Windows 10 Mobile live to keep on life support.
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Microsoft Monday: New Surface Options At Lower Prices, Office 2019 Requires Windows 10, Q2 Results
"Microsoft Monday" is a weekly column that focuses on everything Microsoft does. This week, Microsoft Monday includes details of the second quarter results, the position on "scareware", a big rumor about the acquisition of games, updates for Teams and Office 365 on Apple devices, support for gBETA Detroit and so much more!
Microsoft Reports Second Quarter Sales of $ 28.92 Billion
Last Wednesday, Microsoft released its revenue for the second quarter. Interestingly, Microsoft also announced a $ 13.8 billion one-time charge because of the new tax law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Microsoft donated $ 5 billion to shareholders in share purchases and dividends during the quarter.
Earnings per share for the quarter were $ 0.96 versus $ 0.86 for Wall Street. And sales were $ 28.92 billion versus $ 28.39 billion in Wall Street expectations. While Microsoft has calculated the single cost of $ 13.8 billion, Microsoft has seen a loss of $ 0.82 per share. Net income for the quarter was $ 7.5 billion, up from $ 6.5 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.
Microsoft's Productivity and Business Process division - Microsoft Office, Office 365 and LinkedIn - generated sales growth of 25% ($ 9 billion) compared to the same quarter of 2016. There are now 29.2 million Office 365 subscribers. The Intelligent Cloud division of Microsoft and Azure server software - increased by 15% over the same quarter in 2016. Azure sales more or less doubled compared to the same period a year ago. And Microsoft's personal computer segment - Windows, Surface and Xbox - grew 2% to $ 12.2 billion from the same period a year ago.
Windows business and associated cloud services decreased by 4% due to "the impact of a major deal reached last year". Surface equipment activities increased 1% from the same quarter a year ago. And gaming revenue grew 8% to $ 3.9 billion from the same quarter last year, primarily due to the launch of the Xbox One X console. Microsoft's annual cycle for its activities in the cloud reached $ 20 billion, a significant advance on schedule. Office business revenues increased 10% and Office sales increased 12%. And the Dynamics turnover has increased by 10%. LinkedIn contributed $ 1.3 billion in revenue.
"This quarter's results speak to the differentiated value we bring to customers in our productivity solutions and as a hybrid cloud provider of choice," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "Our investments in the Internet of Things, data services and artificial intelligence in the cloud and the peripheral position allow us to further accelerate our growth."
Microsoft is heavily on "Scareware"
Have you ever seen obscure software using terrifying tactics to click on their ads or buy their product? This software is known as "scareware". Now, Microsoft is taking a firm stance against scareware.
Microsoft antivirus programs such as Windows Defender will begin to remove any applications containing alarming and misleading messages that allow users to perform unnecessary actions as of March 1, according to Lee Mathews, a Forbes employee.
Often, these applications perform fake scans and then show the results, regardless of the state of your computer. And sometimes, the "scareware" will mark your IP address or device type to make users even more frightened. If you provide technical support to family members and friends like me, I'm sure you're aware of the problems caused by scarewares.
Microsoft's small Xbox Wireless Card is available for purchase
Last summer, Microsoft announced that it was going to release a smaller Xbox wireless adapter. However, the launch of the product has been extended until 2018. But now you can buy the small Xbox Wireless Adapter from Microsoft Store in the US for a price of $ 24.99.
According to The Verge, the smallest wireless Xbox adapter is 66% smaller than the original and looks like a small USB key. The adapter supports up to eight controllers at the same time and four common conversation headsets or two stereo headsets. This adapter allows Xbox owners to use older Xbox One controllers and the Xbox One Elite controller on any Windows 10 PC.
Rumor: Microsoft plans major acquisition to help boost Xbox sales
One of the problems that Microsoft wants to solve is that the Xbox One will see fewer console unit sales than the Sony PlayStation 4. One reason is that there is a lack of exclusive exclusive games for the console. To solve this problem, Polygon sources said Microsoft is looking for a major acquisition such as EA, Valve, or PUBG Corp.
Valve is known for building the Steam gaming platform. EA has built a number of prestigious franchises, such as FIFA, Madden and Need For Speed. And PUBG Corp. has made one of the best-selling games over the past year, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
In response to the Polygon, Forbes employee Paul Tassi wrote an article claiming that Microsoft would buy EA for Xbox would be meaningless. "The reason Microsoft is having trouble buying a publisher is that publishers are making more money on the PlayStation platform than on the Microsoft platform," said Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter in an interview with Tassi. "At best, an EA purchase would allow them to capture 60% of net income, and probably a lot less, so it would not be financially profitable, which made sense in 2001 (when Xbox was launched), but for those prices It's hard to justify, remember that more than half of EA's revenues are licensed, so Disney and FIFA may not be happy if the sale of their games is halved. "
Tassi went on to point out that Microsoft could do the same with EA as with Mojang: continue to build games on competitive platforms. "But in this case, why not even bother buying something when it comes to strengthening your exclusive line of games?" Tassi wrote.
Microsoft updates teams and Office 365 for iOS and Mac
Last week, Microsoft announced that it had updated Teams and Office 365 for iOS and Mac apps with several new features. Here is an overview of the new features:
Update for Microsoft Teams
In teams, you can now save interactive application maps in conversations the same way you would add emoji or GIFs. In one click, you can quickly retrieve information from third-party applications such as Trello's tasks. And Microsoft has made it easy to find new applications and services in the new Store functionality because you can search for apps by name or category, such as "Project Management" or "Analytics & BI".
There is a new command field in Microsoft Teams that provides a single access point that integrates your search and command experiences. This allows you to work quickly with applications and team tasks from the command box, as well as search people, files, applications, and messages.
Microsoft Office 365 for iOS and Mac update
Microsoft has added several new features for Office 365 for iOS and Mac, with a focus on collaboration and productivity. Microsoft has added new co-authoring, AutoSave and drag-and-drop features in particular.
Microsoft has made co-authoring widely available in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for iOS and Mac. So when you're working on a Mac, PC, or mobile device, you know who you're working with a document and what's being edited.
Another useful update is AutoSave in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Office 365 Mac subscribers that save documents in OneDrive and SharePoint. All your recent or shared changes are automatically saved to the cloud, so you do not have to worry about clicking the Save button. In addition, you can view and restore the contents of previous versions of the document at any time with the
And Microsoft has added the ability to drag and drop content and files to Office and OneDrive for iOS. Office 365 iPad and iPhone subscribers can drag and drop content into documents, presentations, and spreadsheets from other Office or OneDrive applications. Drag and drop support for iOS allows users to move files to and from OneDrive, as well as other resources such as iMessage and SharePoint.
Other OneDrive Updates for iOS
Some of the other updates that Microsoft has made to OneDrive support the Files application in iOS 11 and allow you to preview more types of files. By supporting the Files app, you can download, access, edit, and save content on OneDrive or SharePoint from any iOS application that supports integration with the Files app. In addition, users can tag their OneDrive and SharePoint files from the Files app. And there are now more than 130 file types available for OneDrive for iOS examples, including Adobe Photoshop and 3D objects.
Other updates
Microsoft has made some additional enhancements in Outlook for iOS and Learning Tools for Mac. Outlook for iOS now uses Microsoft Graph to highlight the results of the best contacts, routes, package shipments, and recent attachments. Microsoft has also improved reading comprehension with Learning Tools for Mac by adding support for Immersive Reader and Read Aloud. These are tools that were previously available in Word for Windows and mobile applications.
Halo Master Chief comes on Nintendo Switch as a DLC Minecraft Pack
The character Halo "Master Chief" has arrived on the Nintendo Switch, but it is simply in the form of a DLC pack for the Switch and Wii U versions of Minecraft. According to GameSpot, the DLC package includes skins for exclusive Xbox games such as Halo, Gears of War and Fable.
Skin Pack 1 was announced last year by developer Minecraft Mojang, which belongs to Microsoft. Mojang also offers a new DLC skin pack with a Moana theme for the Switch and Wii U versions of Minecraft. Both DLC packages are also available on Xbox One, Windows 10 and mobile devices.
Microsoft Reports Second Quarter Sales of $ 28.92 Billion
Last Wednesday, Microsoft released its revenue for the second quarter. Interestingly, Microsoft also announced a $ 13.8 billion one-time charge because of the new tax law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Microsoft donated $ 5 billion to shareholders in share purchases and dividends during the quarter.
Earnings per share for the quarter were $ 0.96 versus $ 0.86 for Wall Street. And sales were $ 28.92 billion versus $ 28.39 billion in Wall Street expectations. While Microsoft has calculated the single cost of $ 13.8 billion, Microsoft has seen a loss of $ 0.82 per share. Net income for the quarter was $ 7.5 billion, up from $ 6.5 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.
Microsoft's Productivity and Business Process division - Microsoft Office, Office 365 and LinkedIn - generated sales growth of 25% ($ 9 billion) compared to the same quarter of 2016. There are now 29.2 million Office 365 subscribers. The Intelligent Cloud division of Microsoft and Azure server software - increased by 15% over the same quarter in 2016. Azure sales more or less doubled compared to the same period a year ago. And Microsoft's personal computer segment - Windows, Surface and Xbox - grew 2% to $ 12.2 billion from the same period a year ago.
Windows business and associated cloud services decreased by 4% due to "the impact of a major deal reached last year". Surface equipment activities increased 1% from the same quarter a year ago. And gaming revenue grew 8% to $ 3.9 billion from the same quarter last year, primarily due to the launch of the Xbox One X console. Microsoft's annual cycle for its activities in the cloud reached $ 20 billion, a significant advance on schedule. Office business revenues increased 10% and Office sales increased 12%. And the Dynamics turnover has increased by 10%. LinkedIn contributed $ 1.3 billion in revenue.
"This quarter's results speak to the differentiated value we bring to customers in our productivity solutions and as a hybrid cloud provider of choice," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "Our investments in the Internet of Things, data services and artificial intelligence in the cloud and the peripheral position allow us to further accelerate our growth."
Microsoft is heavily on "Scareware"
Have you ever seen obscure software using terrifying tactics to click on their ads or buy their product? This software is known as "scareware". Now, Microsoft is taking a firm stance against scareware.
Microsoft antivirus programs such as Windows Defender will begin to remove any applications containing alarming and misleading messages that allow users to perform unnecessary actions as of March 1, according to Lee Mathews, a Forbes employee.
Often, these applications perform fake scans and then show the results, regardless of the state of your computer. And sometimes, the "scareware" will mark your IP address or device type to make users even more frightened. If you provide technical support to family members and friends like me, I'm sure you're aware of the problems caused by scarewares.
Microsoft's small Xbox Wireless Card is available for purchase
Last summer, Microsoft announced that it was going to release a smaller Xbox wireless adapter. However, the launch of the product has been extended until 2018. But now you can buy the small Xbox Wireless Adapter from Microsoft Store in the US for a price of $ 24.99.
According to The Verge, the smallest wireless Xbox adapter is 66% smaller than the original and looks like a small USB key. The adapter supports up to eight controllers at the same time and four common conversation headsets or two stereo headsets. This adapter allows Xbox owners to use older Xbox One controllers and the Xbox One Elite controller on any Windows 10 PC.
Rumor: Microsoft plans major acquisition to help boost Xbox sales
One of the problems that Microsoft wants to solve is that the Xbox One will see fewer console unit sales than the Sony PlayStation 4. One reason is that there is a lack of exclusive exclusive games for the console. To solve this problem, Polygon sources said Microsoft is looking for a major acquisition such as EA, Valve, or PUBG Corp.
Valve is known for building the Steam gaming platform. EA has built a number of prestigious franchises, such as FIFA, Madden and Need For Speed. And PUBG Corp. has made one of the best-selling games over the past year, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
In response to the Polygon, Forbes employee Paul Tassi wrote an article claiming that Microsoft would buy EA for Xbox would be meaningless. "The reason Microsoft is having trouble buying a publisher is that publishers are making more money on the PlayStation platform than on the Microsoft platform," said Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter in an interview with Tassi. "At best, an EA purchase would allow them to capture 60% of net income, and probably a lot less, so it would not be financially profitable, which made sense in 2001 (when Xbox was launched), but for those prices It's hard to justify, remember that more than half of EA's revenues are licensed, so Disney and FIFA may not be happy if the sale of their games is halved. "
Tassi went on to point out that Microsoft could do the same with EA as with Mojang: continue to build games on competitive platforms. "But in this case, why not even bother buying something when it comes to strengthening your exclusive line of games?" Tassi wrote.
Microsoft updates teams and Office 365 for iOS and Mac
Last week, Microsoft announced that it had updated Teams and Office 365 for iOS and Mac apps with several new features. Here is an overview of the new features:
Update for Microsoft Teams
In teams, you can now save interactive application maps in conversations the same way you would add emoji or GIFs. In one click, you can quickly retrieve information from third-party applications such as Trello's tasks. And Microsoft has made it easy to find new applications and services in the new Store functionality because you can search for apps by name or category, such as "Project Management" or "Analytics & BI".
There is a new command field in Microsoft Teams that provides a single access point that integrates your search and command experiences. This allows you to work quickly with applications and team tasks from the command box, as well as search people, files, applications, and messages.
Microsoft Office 365 for iOS and Mac update
Microsoft has added several new features for Office 365 for iOS and Mac, with a focus on collaboration and productivity. Microsoft has added new co-authoring, AutoSave and drag-and-drop features in particular.
Microsoft has made co-authoring widely available in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for iOS and Mac. So when you're working on a Mac, PC, or mobile device, you know who you're working with a document and what's being edited.
Another useful update is AutoSave in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on Office 365 Mac subscribers that save documents in OneDrive and SharePoint. All your recent or shared changes are automatically saved to the cloud, so you do not have to worry about clicking the Save button. In addition, you can view and restore the contents of previous versions of the document at any time with the
And Microsoft has added the ability to drag and drop content and files to Office and OneDrive for iOS. Office 365 iPad and iPhone subscribers can drag and drop content into documents, presentations, and spreadsheets from other Office or OneDrive applications. Drag and drop support for iOS allows users to move files to and from OneDrive, as well as other resources such as iMessage and SharePoint.
Other OneDrive Updates for iOS
Some of the other updates that Microsoft has made to OneDrive support the Files application in iOS 11 and allow you to preview more types of files. By supporting the Files app, you can download, access, edit, and save content on OneDrive or SharePoint from any iOS application that supports integration with the Files app. In addition, users can tag their OneDrive and SharePoint files from the Files app. And there are now more than 130 file types available for OneDrive for iOS examples, including Adobe Photoshop and 3D objects.
Other updates
Microsoft has made some additional enhancements in Outlook for iOS and Learning Tools for Mac. Outlook for iOS now uses Microsoft Graph to highlight the results of the best contacts, routes, package shipments, and recent attachments. Microsoft has also improved reading comprehension with Learning Tools for Mac by adding support for Immersive Reader and Read Aloud. These are tools that were previously available in Word for Windows and mobile applications.
Halo Master Chief comes on Nintendo Switch as a DLC Minecraft Pack
The character Halo "Master Chief" has arrived on the Nintendo Switch, but it is simply in the form of a DLC pack for the Switch and Wii U versions of Minecraft. According to GameSpot, the DLC package includes skins for exclusive Xbox games such as Halo, Gears of War and Fable.
Skin Pack 1 was announced last year by developer Minecraft Mojang, which belongs to Microsoft. Mojang also offers a new DLC skin pack with a Moana theme for the Switch and Wii U versions of Minecraft. Both DLC packages are also available on Xbox One, Windows 10 and mobile devices.
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