Reuters: Microsoft readying Cortana for Android
As well as bundling their virtual assistant Cortana into Windows 10, the latest report is that it will also be offered as a standalone app for iOS and Android.
Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research, said:
“This kind of technology, which can read and understand email, will play a central role in the next roll out of Cortana, which we are working on now for the fall time frame”.
He did however decline to comment on any plans to take Cortana outside of the Window environment, but Reuters claim that this is exactly Microsoft’s roadmap.
What Microsoft seem to be doing, and this can be seen with their Office products, is capitalise on their software and make it universal across platforms – much how Windows started; it didn’t matter what hardware you were running, Windows worked on top of it. With Windows Phone taking a solid third in the smartphone market and no sign of them competing for second place, Microsoft can change their strategy to make these numbers work in their favour.
So it makes perfect sense for Cortana to come to Android, but the question remains – will anyone use it?
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Report: Microsoft Cortana digital assistant heading to Android
Microsoft’s assistant software may not be as well-known as Google Now or Apple’s Siri, but Cortana – which has been shipping on Windows phones for the past year – will eventually be made available as a standalone application, according to sources familiar with the project. Both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets could be able to make use of Microsoft’s system in the future.
Microsoft is also said to be working on a more advanced version of Cortana, using research from an artificial intelligence project named Einstein. Apparently, the aim is to build upon speech recognition, reading and understanding of emails, and machine learning, in order to become more predictive. Examples given include automatically checking flight status or traffic conditions on before you leave for work. This sounds similar to what Google has been attempting to do with cards for its Now service.
“We’re defining the competitive landscape… of who can provide the most supportive services that make life easier, keep track of things, that complement human memory in a way that helps us get things done,” – Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research and a part of the Einstein project
If true, this wouldn’t be the first time that Microsoft has opened up its software to competing operating systems. The Microsoft Office suite has made its way to Android for free this year, as has an Excel optimized keyboard. For Microsoft, which has a small share of the mobile market, this could be part of a strategy to win back consumers for its operating system and/or software packages, or at least to keep the company relevant for general consumers.
Microsoft reveals more on how Cortana will invade iOS and Android
After Microsoft vaguely confirmed last November that its digital assistant Cortana will be headed to other operating systems, the software giant is finally offering up specifics. Microsoft is now aiming to bring Cortana to iOS and Android devices as a standalone app, Reuters reports. What’s more, the company is also looking to include technology from one of its artificial intelligence research projects, dubbed Einstein. “This kind of technology, which can read and understand email, will play a central role in the next roll out of Cortana, which we are working on now for the fall time frame,” Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research and a member of the Einstein project, told Reuters. We’ve already seen Cortana offer some basic digital assistant functionality on Windows Phones and Windows 10 — it can tell you the weather, dictate messages, and remind you of appointments — but it sounds like it’ll soon get some deeper understanding of how we live and work.
Basically, it sounds like Microsoft is turning Cortana into a more humanized version of Google Now, Google’s digital assistant which anticipates your needs and surfaces information before you even ask for it, and a more capable Siri. It makes sense that Cortana would make its way to other platforms, since Microsoft is making more of an effort to bring great apps and services to other platforms. Heck, it just bought a popular email app and rebranded it as Outlook.
Microsoft is tapping into its work in machine learning, search, and speech recognition to build its smarter version of Cortana, Reuters notes. Let’s just hope it’s enough to make people forget about Clippy, the annoying Microsoft Office assistant infamous for its terrible predictive advice.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Reuters
3D-printed Iron Man gauntlet becomes a kid’s awesome bionic arm
It looks like Iron Man’s arm, but it’s actually a fully-functioning bionic prosthetic for a seven-year-old kid. Electronically wired and capable of moving, it can, for instance, open and close its hand if the user flexes their bicep. The limb was created by Limbitless Solutions, a non-profit made up of engineering students from the University of Central Florida, using donations and money they saved by sacrificing coffee. They specialize in designing 3D-printed limbs for children, because kids will quickly outgrow more expensive bionic limbs. Sure, their creations don’t have the sense of touch and can’t be controlled by thoughts, but kids will definitely appreciate looking like their favorite robot or superhero.
Each limb costs the team around $350 in materials — they use a 3D printer from the university’s lab — and takes them approximately 30 to 50 hours to make. The Iron Man-inspired arm, in particular, was made for a kid named Alex, who also got an Optimus Prime version for Christmas. Alex even got to chitchat with Tony Stark a.k.a. Robert Downey Jr. when he was presented his new arm, and you can watch their meeting below. If you want to support the team and have them print out more cool arms for kids, you can donate via PayPal through their website.
Filed under: Misc, Science, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft Office Tumblr, Marvel, Limbitless Solutions, Office Blogs, 3DHope
JXE Streams: ‘Grand Theft Auto Online,’ heists and you
The best laid plans of crooks and thugs lead us to nothing but loot and hugs! At least that’s what we’re hoping happens when we play the newly released heists in Grand Theft Auto Online on JXE Streams. Nearly 18 months after Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto V, the game’s online multiplayer mode finally has heists, new missions in which you and a crew of other players try to execute multi-tiered virtual crimes. Think Ocean’s Eleven but with markedly less George Clooney and markedly more video game violence. We’ll be playing through the very first of the heists to give an overview of how they work on today’s show.
Tune in to this post, Engadget.com/gaming or Twitch.tv/Joystiq to watch the two-hour stream of Grand Theft Auto Online starting at 3PM ET. Ben Gilbert will lead the operation while Anthony John Agnello lends him both his excellent driving skills and moral support.
Enjoying the streams? Check out the upcoming schedule on Engadget.com/gaming and follow us on Twitch to know when we go live!
[We’re playing a digital copy of Grand Theft Auto Online on an Xbox One streamed through an Elgato Capture HD via OBS at 720p.]
Microsoft teams up with edX to offer free online IT classes
EdX is no stranger to teaming up with tech organizations to offer online courses, and previous partners include the Linux Foundation and even Google. Now, it’s Microsoft’s turn to join forces with the online learning platform. The company says its courses will help you “build innovative applications, services and experiences on the Microsoft platform” and will be taught by MS experts. There are seven choices open for enrollment at the moment, from basic intro to Office 365 APIs to classes that teach programming with C# and the fundamentals of Windows PowerShell. The best thing about them is that they’re free (aside from PowerShell, that is), so they’re a great way to spend your downtime if you’ve always wanted to learn about those topics.
We’ve listed all the courses below with descriptions from edX: check them out soon, since the first few classes will begin as soon as the end of March.
- Programming with C#
C# is a widely-used .NET programming language that is designed to provide a simple yet powerful language for general purpose programming needs. Students will learn the fundamentals of C# supporting cross-platform application development.- Introduction to TypeScript
TypeScript is a new highly-productive superset of JavaScript that is rapidly gaining currency amongst developers who build and maintain large JavaScript applications. In this course, co-authored by Anders Hejlsberg, students will learn language syntax and how to use TypeScript to generate JavaScript for any platform.- Introduction to Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a mobile-first web UI framework originally developed at Twitter that has become a foundational technology for front-end web development. This course will investigate the power of Bootstrap and how to implement it in applications.- Querying with Transact SQL
Transact-SQL is the structured query language for SQL Server. This course will show how to use Transact-SQL to code a range of solutions, ranging from retrieving data from a SQL Server database to implementing transactional programming logic.- Building Cloud Apps with Microsoft Azure
This course takes a patterns-based approach to building real-world cloud solutions on Microsoft Azure. Students will learn the latest tools and technologies in cloud development and study the techniques for cloud-based application design.- Introduction to Office 365 APIs
Office 365 offers the tools users need to get work done anywhere and on any device. In this course, developers will learn how to create robust cross-platform applications using Office 365.- Windows PowerShell Fundamentals
This course provides fundamental knowledge and skills needed to use Windows PowerShell to automate common administrative functions in Windows-based clients and servers. Students will get hands-on practice to replace manual, repetitive, and time-consuming operations with effective, automated solutions in both local and remote scenarios. This course is offered as part of the edX Professional Education series and has a fee associated with it.
[Image credit: Ammentorp Photography/Getty Images]
Source: edX
JXE Streams: Sex, violence and ‘DmC: Devil May Cry’ on PS4
Devil May Cry, in addition to sounding like a scrubbed Pablo Neruda poem, was an evolutionary leap from the clunky 3D action games of the ’90s when it hit the PS2 back in 2001. Capcom’s game delivered a heady blend of The Evil Dead and anime flash, while redefining how free-flowing action felt in a video game. Oh, and it looked cool as hell. When it was announced that 2013’s DmC: Devil May Cry would both reboot the series and come from the drastically different creative culture of the UK rather than Japan, fans balked. How could it possibly live up to the legacy? Now DmC is getting another shot with a PS4 and Xbox One definitive edition which we’re playing on JXE Streams.
Starting at 3PM ET on Engadget.com/gaming, Twitch.tv/Joystiq, and right here in this post, we’re playing a solid two hours of DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition on PlayStation 4. Dig on the improved visuals, faster speed, and the wholly bad ass brawling and platforming that made the game great the first time around. Most of the JXE Streams crew will be hanging out as well so come by and ask questions!
Enjoy the streams? Follow us on Twitch to know whenever we go live and bookmark Engadget.com/gaming to check out our upcoming schedule.
[We’re playing a digital copy of DmC: Devil May Cry on PlayStation 4 streamed through an Elgato Capture HD via OBS at 720p.]
Your Xbox One now takes game screenshots and suggests friends
The long-teased Xbox One March update is finally here, and it’s bringing some features that you may have missed if you’re familiar with the PlayStation 4. You can now take screenshots of whatever you’re doing, whether it’s to brag about your score (through messages or Twitter), set a custom background or save it to OneDrive for posterity. It should also be easier to both find and recognize friends. There’s now a suggested friends list, and you can share your real name if buddies wouldn’t know who you are based on your gamertag alone. Between these and more Xbox-specific updates (such as tile transparency controls and spam reporting), you’ll probably want to upgrade your Xbox as soon as you can — if just so you can rub your victories in your rivals’ faces.
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Source: Major Nelson
President Obama launches new training program for tech jobs
America is suffering from a lack of tech-savvy workers, and that’s one of the reasons that wages are stagnant. It’s enough of an issue that President Obama is launching TechHire, a program designed to get citizens into well-paid jobs in the technology sector. In short, the scheme is a way to increase STEM knowledge, connect workers to opportunities and break down the barriers between giving people a chance.
The first part of TechHire involves connecting companies and districts, which will work together to connect skilled workers to jobs they may not have found. In addition, those companies will launch “fast track” programs to help train people whilst on the job. Second, a new federal fund of $100 million will be put in place to bankroll new training opportunities for low-skilled workers. This process will also look to empower people with child care responsibilities, non-English speakers and those with disabilities.
The third element of the plan is to get private companies to run “coding bootcamps” to women, veterans and minorities. Rather than expecting employees to study for a four-year degree, these bootcamps would be run across a few months and help people get their foot on the ladder of a new job. The program has already been trialled in communities like Louisville, NYC and Delaware, and now 21 communities are getting involved. The plan has support from some big names in the tech world, including Microsoft, Cisco and LinkedIn — helping the President affirm his commitment to put science and technology at the heart of his plans.
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
Via: Yahoo
Source: White House
Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google team up to support marriage equality
A total of 379 companies, including tech’s biggest names, are trying to convince the Supreme Court to rule in favor of nationwide marriage equality. These corporations, including Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft have filed an amici curiae or a friend-of-the-court brief prior to the high court’s April hearing that will decide the future of same-sex marriage in the US. The court is slated to discuss whether same-sex couples have the constitutional right to get married anywhere in the country. In case that doesn’t pan out, the court will also discuss whether same-sex marriages performed in states where it’s legal must be recognized even in states where it’s not. If you read the filing, you’ll see the companies emphasize repeatedly how marriage equality benefits American businesses.
They listed a number of ways how, such as that it will allow them to offer everyone the same benefits to entice top talent. It can also prevent employees from leaving and moving to states that recognize their marriage. Diversity in the workplace, brought in part by members of the LGBT community, is “crucial to innovation and marketplace success,” the companies’ wrote.
We’ve pasted parts of the filing below that explain their stance in greater detail (emphasis ours):
Some of the states in which amici (the 379 companies) do business make marriage equally available to all of our employees and colleagues; others prohibit marriages between couples of the same sex and refuse to recognize existing same-sex marriages. This dual regime burdens amici. It creates legal uncertainty and imposes unnecessary costs and administrative complexities on employers, and requires differential employer treatment of employees who are similarly situated save for the state where they reside.
State laws that prohibit or decline to recognize marriages between same-sex couples hamper employer efforts to recruit and retain the most talented workforce possible in those states. Our successes depend upon the welfare and morale of all employees, without distinction. The burden imposed by inconsistent and discriminatory state laws of having to administer complicated schemes to account for differential treatment of similarly situated employees breeds unnecessary confusion, tension, and diminished employee morale.
A diverse, inclusive workplace environment increases the total human energy available to the organization. People can bring far more of themselves to their jobs because they are required to suppress far less. Inclusive companies are more open to new ideas and opportunities, while less prone to overconfidence when approaching challenges. Companies that are diverse and inclusive obtain better profits and other outputs, thanks to improved team collaboration and commitment.
Aside from the Big Four, other tech companies in the list include Amazon, Comcast, Cisco, DocuSign, Dropbox, eBay, EA, GE, HP, Intel, Oracle, Qualcomm Incorporated, Symantec, Twitter, Verizon, Xerox and Zynga. There are multi-national corporations from other industries, as well, such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Walt Disney and United Airlines. You can see the full list in the amici curiae document, along with links to the studies the group used to back their arguments.
[Image credit: Shutterstock / govicinity]
Filed under: Misc, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook
Via: The Verge
Source: Morgan Lewis
AIVAnet 