microsoft news

Reviewed on PCBalancing the tones of cutesy papercraft aesthetics and horrifying demonic imagery can hardly be a simple task. Witnessing iocent humans being boiled alive in a cooking pot in a virtua...

Jagged Alliance is a well-known series for those who are deeply in love with the tu-based tactics genre. It’s a franchise, like many, that peaked in the late 90s and has seen its fair share of turmo...

Today, Microsoft is releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17723 (RS5) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring and Build 18204 (19H1) to Windows Insiders who have opted in to Skip Ahead.Going forward...

In early March we reported that the HP Envy X2 has been delayed and that HP has closed pre-orders for the Snapdragon-powered Always Coected PC.Back in December, HP aounced new ENVY x2, their first Snapdragon-based Windows 10 device at Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit. The device became available for pre-order on the 22nd February with a ship date of the 9th Ma...

This week HP Store deals include up to 25% off the amazing HP Z VR Backpack G1 Workstation.Normally a pricy $3,299.00, use coupon codeHPVRDEAL25 to bring the price down to a more palatable$2,474.25.See that deal at HP here.You can now get 25% off on select consumer laptops $599 or more + free shipping using discount code25SPRING18.The deal runs till tomor...

Flying over Hope County on my way to arrest the game’s main antagonist with a U.S. Marshal wasn’t how I expected Far Cry 5 to begin. It sure did lead to a hectic opening mission. Walking into his compound, realizing this was exactly what he had wanted, and seeing the tides tu within a moment was both exhilarating and frightening as I realized just how much...

The new build Windows 10 Preview Insider Build v17112 has been released by Microsoft to the Fast Ring.Rather than new features, the update appears to be bringinga number of fixes, but also known issues, which are enumerated as below:We fixed an issue where selecting a notification after taking a screenshot or game clip opened the Xbox app’s home screen ins...

Microsoft today released Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 17095 to developers. This SDK can be used with Windows 10 Insider Build 17093 or later.And this release includes bug fixes and under development changes to the API surface area. The SDK is supported byVisual Studio 2017 and can work side-by-side with older SDKs.As you might have noticed in the recent SDK preview releases, this release also includes the C++/WinRT headers and cppwinrt compiler (cppwinrt.exe). This compiler comes in handy if you need to consume a third-party WinRT component or if you need to author your own WinRT components with C++/WinRT.The updated Preview SDK can be downloaded here. You can find the list of new API additi...

We first saw evidence of Microsoft’s app-specific preview program with the Photos app, and now it appears Microsoft is rolling out the feature to other core applications, such as the Camera,Alarm and Clock and other apps.The feature means individual Windows 10 Insiders will be invited to test updated versions of the apps and provide feedback, without a wide semi-public rollout program.“You’ll be one of the first to try out new features in the preview version of Camera, and your feedback will shape the future of the app,” the invitation to the Camera Preview reads.The new phase of the program could mean Microsoft can iterateon applications more rapidly and separate from new builds of Windows,...

Microsoft has pushed out a new build of Windows 10 to PC users on the Insider Fast Ring.Build17093 brings the following improvements:Game bar ImprovementsMicrosft has given Game bar a makeover so it’s even easier to find what you’re looking for.Go to your captures, toggle your microphone and camera, and edit the title of your Mixer stream—all from new buttons on Game bar.Quickly check the time using the new clock.Choose a theme—Dark, Light, or your current Windows theme.Game bar settings are easier to use.Diagnostic Data ImprovementsLast week, Microsoftaounced some new privacy tools as part of Data Privacy Daywhich included the Diagnostic Data Viewer that showed up for Windows Insiders inBui...

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has received its 8th patch in Xbox Game Preview today. While it’s not large and just addresses some minor issues, it’s a step towards further improving and balancing different elements of its gameplay.The last patch issued for PUBG in Xbox Game Preview increased damage done to vehicles, and this latest update tweaks that element a bit more. Over on PUBG’s forums, the patch was detailed and states that the developer has revertedback to increased damage if a player is struck by a vehicle. Full patch notes can be read below.GameplayWe received a lot of great feedback following the changes made to vehicle/player damage. We continue to tune and balance this element o...

HP today aounced a couple of new ZBook mobile workstations. HP claims that the new ZBook 14u is the world’s thiest mobile workstation.The ZBook 14u/15u will be highly durable as they passed two additional MIL-STD tests for bench handling and crash hazard shock for unpredictable conditions. HP has made them easily serviceable than previous generations.The ZBook 14u/15u also features a world-facing, noise-cancelling microphone, which removes unwanted sounds when in individual mode or enhances for 360-degree voice pick-up when in conference mode.TheHP ZBook 14u/15umobile workstationsnow come with the popular HP Sure View integrated privacy screen. And they are powered by 8th generation Intel Co...

In addition to theupdated HP EliteBook 800 series anda couple of new ZBook mobile workstations, HP today also aounced theall-new HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 and four new HP 4K displays.The second genHP Thunderbolt Dockoffers power (up to 100W), supports up to two 4K displays. HP says that this is the world’s first Thunderbolt dock featuring an optional audio conferencing module. This module can be used in closed offices, small huddle rooms, or focus rooms through a single cord.This audio conferencing module has one-touch keys to control Skype calls. This dock comes with threeUSB 3.0 ports, an audio jack, aKensingtonlock slot, a gigabit Etheet port, a VGA port, two DisplayPorts, an USB-C DisplayPo...

HP today aounced the updated best-selling HP EliteBook 800 series. First of all, HP is bringing its premium design language previously available on the HP EliteBook 1000 series to EliteBook 800 series. These laptops come with chiseled linear wedge profiles and anodized aluminum covers for sleek and strong build quality. One unique feature which is as part of EliteBook 800 series is the new ultra-bright display that automatically adapts to changing light conditions.The EliteBook 800 series is the world’s first notebooks with a world-facing, noise-cancelling microphone. The new microphone removes unwanted sounds when in individual mode or enhances for 360-degree voice pick-up when in conferenc...

Microsoft today released Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 17083 to developers. This SDK can be used with Windows 10 Insider Build 17083 or later.And this release includes bug fixes and under development changes to the API surface area. There’s new TreeView control, new printing APIs, HDR, screen capture APIs and more. The SDK is supported byVisual Studio 2017 and can work side-by-side with older SDKs.As you might have noticed in the recent SDK preview releases, this release also includes the C++/WinRT headers and cppwinrt compiler (cppwinrt.exe). This compiler comes in handy if you need to consume a third-party WinRT component or if you need to author your own WinRT components with C++/WinRT.The...

The Monster Hunter series began its life on PlayStation, but part of what makes Monster Hunter: World special is that it’s the first main game in the franchise to also release on Xbox. Its title is as straight forward as it gets as the series tasks you with hunting monsters, literally. Because the Xbox One seems to be notorious for lacking Easte RPGs, many players may not be familiar with the series and its quirks. This does hurt its accessibility, however Monster Hunter: World’s strength lies in its depth and gameplay, for better or worse.If you’re new to the series, Monster Hunter: World may feature a steep leaing curve. At first all of its menus and loadouts can be intimidating, and it ta...

Microsoft Edge has often held a *ahem* edge, over Google’s Chrome due to support for smoother scrolling via Windows’ Precision Touchpad support and better battery life.Google has swiftly closed the gap in the latter with improvements to Chrome’s battery management made late last year, and may be on the cusp of eliminating the former advantage as well.XDA Developers has found code from Google in recent Chromium commits indicating impending support for Precision touchpads with patchesfor direct manipulation and pinch to zoom support being worked on this month.It’s not exactly clear when Google will roll out this changes to consumer builds of Chrome, but the advantage to users of premium laptop...

While macOS features a built-in previewer app, users of the more popular Windows OS often have to rely on third-party applications to preview their files in Explorer. I stumbled on QuickLook last week in the Microsoft Store and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered in that regard. Installing QuickLook, the app has no interface to speak of. It works primarily as an extension to File Explorer. If you select a file and press spacebar, you can see a quick preview of what the file is, with the option of opening it in an actionable app. For example, previewing a PDF file will give you the option of opening Microsoft Edge as well. The app features: A fast spacebar-to-preview solution Tons of suppor...

Microsoft today released Windows 10 SDK Preview Build 17069 to developers. This SDK can be used with Windows 10 Insider Build 17074or later. At this stage, it, unfortunately, comes without a changelog, but likely includessupport for C++/WinRT compilers in the Windows SDK as its headline feature. The SDK is supported byVisual Studio 2017 and can work side-by-side with older SDKs. The updated Preview SDK can be downloaded here. Via Neowin ...

A new Preview Alpha build that released for Xbox One Insiders today has added the ability to schedule your themes. This comes shortly after another Alpha build earlier in the week that allowed Insiders to test a Do Not Disturb feature. Preview Alpha build1802.180109-1916 going out today contains both new features and bug fixes, the biggest of which may be the addition of Scheduled Themes, letting people put their light/dark themes on a schedule for them to automatically switch. The changelog from Xbox’s official forums can be read below. NEW FEATURES: • Scheduled Themes You asked—we listened! We’re excited to aounce that we’ve added the ability to put your themes on a schedule. In addition ...