A few days ago, Microsoft pushed a rather significant update to the Skype Preview app for Fast Ring Insiders. That release saw the addition of web and microphone setup, preview a webpage before you click it, quotes, and unread message marker.
Now, version 1.9.249 is available up from the previous 11.9.239 and with it come a few minor revisions.
Silly season for new phones and gadgets is on us — it feels like we can't go a week without a major release as the calendar races into the holidays. There are a bunch of new phones out there and we wanted to get an idea about what's important to you in a phone and in a cellular carrier. Thus, this survey.
We get a little detailed, but that's because we want to suss out what it is that drives your decisions in purchasing a new phone or picking a new carrier. These are expensive and long-term choices, and your answers will help to influence what we write. This survey is your chance to help guide and inform how we approach answering your most important technology questions for years to come!
And because we love you, one random respondent to this survey will win $600 to buy the new phone of your dreams — or to pay for the next several months of your mobile service!
Hit up the survey below (or click here to open in a new window); it should take about 10-15 minutes to complete.
The Alcatel Idol 4S coming to T-Mobile (US) on November 10 is quickly garnering interest as more information leaks out. Besides the street date and price for the phone we can also now share the pre-installed VR apps and full specs.
Like the Android Idol 4S, the Windows 10 Mobile variant has a focus on VR. Alcatel makes the shipping box for the Idol 4S double as the VR headset, which is a great twofer. (You can watch the unboxing of the Android version below to get an idea of what to expect).
Sitting down with the people who make Sway!
Microsoft flew me and about sixteen or seventeen other folks to the Redmond campus for an Interaction Day to talk about Sway. As a Microsoft enthusiast, this was a great experience, and I'd like to take this opportunity to share my story with you faithful readers and fellow enthusiasts.
For starters, this trip was part of the Signal program. Signal is a project initiated by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella that's designed to connect Microsoft with their customers. It is meant to help Microsoft find out how customers are using their products and to get feedback on what customers may want. Rather than relying on hypothetical scenarios, this project also allows Microsoft to solve real problems by interacting with and understanding real customers. The program is founded on Microsoft's customer obsession ethos.
To be clear, I was not chosen for this session because I am a writer for Windows Central. The invitation was based entirely on my personal activity and passion as a Sway user.
To be completely candid I had no idea that the Signal program even existed. Early this month I received a survey from the Sway team which indicated that they recognized my activity and that the survey was sent to a select group of individuals. I completed the survey and gave it little further thought.
Microsoft recently released a fresh batch of firmware and UEFI updates for October, and now we have more detail on what those updates contain.
This week on the Windows Central Podcast: We talk Microsoft's New York city event, Surface Book i7, Surface Studio, Windows 10 Creators Update and a whole lot more.
Microsoft spent last week unveiling a whole batch of new Surface devices, including an all-in-one PC called the Surface Studio, a revised Surface Book i7 with 30% more battery life, a Surface Dial accessory, Surface keyboards and mouse, and a whole lot more. It's all here on this weeks podcast.
Boost your Xbox One audio!
Microsoft brought voice communication to the mainstream on home gaming consoles. The Xbox 360 headset almost became part of the console's image, and partying up with your friends to communicate over voice chat is now a standard console feature.
As such, there's a flood of Xbox One headsets on the market — and since the latest versions of the Xbox One controller support 3.5 mm jacks you can use practically any headset with an in-line mic to communicate over Xbox Live.
While the basic $10 single-piece headset might suffice for many, even the most casual gamer will benefit from picking up a dedicated headset. Here are some of the best headsets designed for use with the Xbox One.
Turtle Beach's Elite Pro Tournament is the best headset available for Xbox One for a number of reasons. At this point, I've personally tested the vast majority of the major players in the Xbox One headset space, and I always come back to the Elite Pro Tournament.
Intel has yet to officially announce the company's desktop line-up of Core i5 and Core i7 processors, but that hasn't halted the latest information from revealing more details about the upcoming chips. Or more specifically, as reported by AnandTech, the i5 and i7 7000 series.
Why does Microsoft continue with Windows 10 Mobile and ARM? We now finally have an answer.
Windows 10 Mobile is one of the most interesting – and to some baffling – aspects of Microsoft's software strategy. With 1% market share and no consumer flagship story to sell, Microsoft's continued development of the OS seems bizarre to outsiders. This situation isn't lost on ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.
Foley recently peppered Microsoft Executive Vice President of Windows and Devices Terry Myerson with a barrage of strategy questions. Mobile, of course, was asked about: specifically why even bother?
The Microsoft Surface Book, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive, is the best laptop you can buy between $1500 and $2000.
When you spend this much on a laptop, you expect it to do many things. The Microsoft Surface Book has performance hardware that matches many desktop machines, and the 13.5-inch touch display is a pleasure to use with the Surface Pen. Use the Surface Book as a tablet for drawing or watching movies, and attach it to the keyboard and touchpad when you need to get down to business. Intel Core i5 configurations come in under $2000.
Bottom line: If you want the best laptop between $1500 and $2000, go with the 2-in-1 Microsoft Surface Book.
Right now you can grab yourself a copy of Grand Theft Auto V for the Xbox One for just $30 at Amazon. The game ships within a month or two, but for this price, the wait is worth it. Building upon the previous generations of the game, Grand Theft Auto V adds some new gameplay mechanics, upgraded graphics and more.
Not sure if this is a game for you? From our review:
Never before seen in a Grand Theft Auto game, GTA V now has a first-person mode that encompasses each and everything you can do in the game. Shooting, driving, walking, riding a bike, and the, ahem, experiences with the ladies of the night. All of these can be experienced through the eyes of Franklin, Trevor, or Michael.
The new perspective adds an entirely new dimension to the game. Big shootouts feel more natural in first-person mode, while driving becomes more difficult than ever. It seems to be easier to dodge traffic and pull off wicked drifts, but visibility is beyond poor.
Keep in mind you will have to wait a month or two to receive the game, but if you have the time to wait you can score a great deal on it.
Although Microsoft did not mention Alcatel's forthcoming Idol 4S for T-Mobile (US), we know the phone is coming. A few weeks ago, we leaked the spec sheet and details about the powerhouse phone and we can now add release date and pricing.
We can now confirm that the Idols 4S launches with T-Mobile (US) on Thursday, November 10. While the phone will be offered in retail, web, care, and telesales the phone can be bought outright for $469.99.
Gears of War 4 is finally here, and this is everything you need to know about Horde Mode 3.0, the game's multiplayer PvE component.
Gears of War is set in a violent world where humanity fights tooth and nail for its survival. A brand new threat, known only as The Swarm has emerged, and they look set to finish off humanity for good.
Gears of War 4 features a fully co-operative campaign following JD Fenix and his squad. Gears of War 4 also sees the return of PvP multiplayer, which is gearing up to be even more brutal than previous installments. For those of us who enjoy co-operative PvE however, The Coalition has revived Horde mode once again for Gears of War 4, and it's better than ever.
Xbox gamers on select mobile carriers can now take advantage of operator billing on the Xbox Store, Microsoft has announced.
If you're feeling festively frightful, and looking for some games to make you soil yourself this Halloween, put that torch away, friend, and look no further.
Games are capable of making us feel a wide range of emotions and the games on this list will make you feel panic, fear, dread, and eternal thanks that it's not really real. We've compiled a list of some of the most terrifying games available to play on Xbox this Halloween. Turn off your lights, turn the sound up high and bring a towel for your sweaty brow; you're in for a bumpy night.
Seagate has introduced a new 512GB solid state drive (SSD) for the Xbox One, aiming to provide gamers with some extra speedy storage for their games.
Don't miss your last chance to enter!
This week's Windows Store deals focus on the scary side of Halloween. Shop Shocktober in the Windows Store, then come back here and enter to win your share of $2000 in Windows Store gift cards to spend on apps, games, music, movies, TV shows and more! Today is the last day to get entered to win!! Keep reading for details and to get entered!
If you're planning on picking up a new Surface Book with Performance Base and want some extra protection for your new toy, Urban Armor Gear (UAG) has introduced a new rugged case worth checking out.
The final episode of this year's episodic Hitman game is now available.
The season finale for Hitman 2016 is here, taking Agent 47 to Hokkaido in Japan for a climatic finish. IO Interactive say that the first season's final mission, dubbed "Situs Inversus" is the "culmination" of everything players have learned throughout the first season's previous episodes.
While the Microsoft paid plenty of attention to the new high-end Surface Book with Performance Base introduced at its recent Windows 10 October event, the company has also introduced a new configuration for the original Surface Book.
Minecraft appeals to all crowds thanks to being able to play however you want. Here's how to do pretty much everything in your world of blocks!
What started as the brainchild of lone developer Marcus Persson, Minecraft took the world by storm thanks to its open-ended design. Minecraft and its parent company, Mojang, were acquired by Microsoft in 2014.
Minecraft's survival mode lets you explore an infinite world, mine blocks of resources, craft tools and devices, and ultimately build whatever is in your head. Want to just experience unbridled creativity? Jump into creative mode, where all blocks are immediately available to build with.
The original Java version for PC has been expanded over the years to mobile and console, creating true cross-platform support. There is also a partnership with Telltale Games churning out episodic, story-driven gameplay for anyone who needs a solid objective to work toward.
This ultimate guide aims to answer all your questions about the Windows 10 Edition of Minecraft. Don't have Minecraft yet? It's never too late!
No game is ever-released in a complete bug-free state, and Civilization VI is no exception. That said, we've not come across any game-breaking issues in our playing — it's actually pretty good on the stability front — but we have been exposed to reports, and we'll bundle a few that appear to be affecting a handful of players, just in case you've come across them yourselves.
Here are the upcoming releases for the week of October 31, 2016.
Another week of Xbox One releases is on the horizon, with yet another wave of big releases. Despite shooter fans having been treated to a fair share of titles over the past month, this week looks to continue the trend.
Among this week's biggest releases is Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which also ships alongside the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. Hitman also receives its final installment this week, taking Agent 47 to Hokkaido, Japan. Here's a breakdown of all the releases over the coming week!
The latest entry to the Call of Duty series drops this week, blasting the series forward into the far reaches of outer space. With a full-fledged campaign, multiplayer and zombies mode, the game brings together the most successful aspects of recent Call of Duty titles.
Stickman Basketball 2017 delivers fast-paced take on basketball to the Windows Store. Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, the game has single and multiplayer modes, hundreds of basketball teams to choose from and four difficulty levels.
Graphics are colorful with lively animations. Controls are laid out simplistically to let you concentrate on the game at hand, and there are plenty of bonus items to unlock (ball styles, dunk techniques, etc.). Stickman Basketball is currently priced at $1.99 in the Windows Store and all in all, it is a slam dunk of a time waster.
It's tough to find work these days that doesn't require some pretty impressive computer skills. We're not just talking about proficiency with some basic office software or keyboarding skills, either; some of the most in-demand IT jobs require you to be an expert in security, Cloud software, Linux,networking, and more. How on Earth do you get these under your belt? When do you have the time to study, or the money for tuition?
The online education experts at iCollege have the solution you've been hoping for with the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle. By studying online, at your own pace, and at a much lower cost than you'd expect, you'll get all the training you'll need to pass the professional certification IT exams that will finally get you the job you've been wanting, or move your IT career to the next level.
The Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle is available right now through Windows Central Digital Offers for only $79, a 96% savings on an eight course bundle that would normally cost you over $2300! Over a 12 month period, you'll learn from the very best and cover all of the essential IT topics, including:
Right now you can save $150 on the 128GB Surface Pro 4 at Best Buy, dropping the price down to just $850. It comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display paired with an Intel Core m3 processor, 128GB of internal storage, and 4GB of RAM. You can always add an extra SD card if you need more storage, and the Surface Pro 4 comes with the Alcantara Signature Type Cover so you can easily crank out lengthy emails and documents while on the go.
This $150 savings won't last long, so if you are interested you will want to act quickly! Will you be picking one up? Let us know in the comments!
