New plug-in allows Outlook users to join Google Hangouts
Google has released a new plug-in for users of Google Apps that allows them to use Google Hangouts for video conference calls from within Microsoft Outlook.
Users of the email client can now initiate or join a Hangout directly from Outlook if they have a Google Apps account.
Simply download the Hangouts plug-in for Outlook on your Windows machine and you’ll then see a new icon in both Outlook Mail and Calendar that will allow you to participate in Hangouts.
Head on over to this link to download the plug-in now.
The post New plug-in allows Outlook users to join Google Hangouts appeared first on AndroidGuys.
‘Destiny’ runs at a higher resolution on Xbox One thanks to Kinect changes
It looks like Microsoft’s decision to let game developers access system resources previously reserved for Kinect features is already paying dividends. Bungie says that the resulting performance boost will let Destiny run on the Xbox One at a higher 1080p resolution while maintaining 30 frames per second; in short, it’s now as sharp-looking as the PS4 edition. Xbox head Phil Spencer also tells Major Nelson that the anything-goes shooter Sunset Overdrive will take advantage of the loosened requirements.
Whether or not you think the crisper visuals actually matter, they suggest that there’s an end in sight to the constant debates over lower resolutions in some Xbox One games, such as Titanfall and Watch Dogs. Cross-platform titles that don’t need the Xbox’s Kinect support now stand a better chance of looking the same on modern systems. That’s good news for Microsoft, which is still struggling to overtake Sony in console sales, but it’s particularly heartening for gamers — you can focus on enjoying good games instead of worrying that you got a raw deal.
After @xboxp3 interview I’ve been asking devs about impact of new Xbox sdk on perf. Bungie says it will get Destiny to 1080p/30fps on XB1.
– Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) June 10, 2014
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Via: Eurogamer
Source: Geoff Keighley (Twitter), Major Nelson
Microsoft resists US government demand to seize offshore emails
Microsoft has filed a court challenge to a US government demand that it hand over emails from its data center in Ireland. That appears to be the first time a US corporation has opposed such an order, and Microsoft has been backed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and an amicus brief from Verizon. The US prosecutor heading the drug case in question said that if the objection succeeds, tech companies like Microsoft could stymie domestic cases by merely storing data overseas. However, experts say the suspect was likely abroad when he sent the emails in question — making the legal situation murkier.
According to the NYT, the case could signal the start of US tech firms like Microsoft and Google taking a stand against heavy-handed US investigative techniques. Their business prospects outside the US have dipped considerably since the Edward Snowden revelations, which showed them to be largely complicit in (possibly illegal) US surveillance overseas. That submissiveness has possibly cost the US tech industry hundreds of billions of dollars in sales in Europe, China and elsewhere, according to some estimates. Though they’ve built more server farms abroad to satisfy local authorities, the case has raised alarm bells in the European Parliament — which is not thrilled about Microsoft handing private data to US authorities. The hearing is scheduled for next month, and looks to be just the beginning of a Big Tech vs. US government battle over privacy — and money, of course.
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
Via: WSJ
Source: US District Court
Xbox at E3 2014: an interview with the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer
Yesterday wasn’t the first time Phil Spencer took an E3 stage for Microsoft to talk Xbox, but it was his first time as the head of Microsoft’s Xbox division. After taking over for Marc Whitten back in March, Spencer’s been on a charm offensive. His focus was clear at yesterday’s show: games, all games. Forget about last year’s coming out for Xbox One as an “entertainment” platform — yesterday’s focus was all games, all the time. The 90-minute show was divided cleanly in half between games coming this year and games arriving in 2015 and beyond. It was, in short, an impressive display of the Xbox One’s gaming prowess over anything else. “I want the content to be the star,” Spencer told us.
So, that aside, we wanted him to give us more on the other stuff that the Xbox One does: media streaming, voice control, Windows 8 and television. And hey, what’s Microsoft doing to compete with Sony’s Project Morpheus VR headset, not to mention the Oculus Rift?
First things first, how is Microsoft responding to the likes of Oculus’ Rift and Sony’s Project Morpheus?
“I look at VR as an interesting technology. I’m watching what’s going on out there; I don’t really think it’s a mainstream technology yet today. The nice thing at Microsoft and Xbox is we’ve remained invested in experimenting with a lot of what’s out there, whether it’s voice, or motion. Right now I’d say we have our skunkworks stuff that we’re working through, but right now we’re watching how the VR space evolves to see if it ends up as a mainstream consumer scenario.”
Skunkworks, eh? It sounds like Microsoft’s R&D department has something going on with VR, though it sounds more exploratory than anything else. And what about Xbox 360 gaming on Xbox One — could an emulator be on the way? Spencer got verbose:
“So, not to geek out on it, Xbox 360 is obviously a Power PC-based architecture. We’ve got an x86 architecture on Xbox One, which makes the translation a little more challenging. The interesting thing — the Xbox 360 has an amazing content catalog, one of the largest catalogs ever created. When I think about that content, I don’t want that content to just waste away. I want it to be content people can play for many years; there are a lot of different ways for us to enable that. It’s something that I’m sitting down with the team and we’re brainstorming on. We don’t really have a plan yet that I can communicate in a way, but I can say I want to make sure that that content is stuff people can play. I think that’s an important part of investing in an online, connected community, is that the content I acquire and I’m playing is something I can carry forward with me. Right now there isn’t a plan, just to be clear to people. But it’s something that we have conversations about.”
Check out the full interview above for all of Spencer’s answers, including much more about Windows 8 apps on Xbox One and the future of Kinect.
Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Engadget Daily: the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Tesla opens Supercharger patents and more!
Today, we dive into day one of the Electronic Entertainment Expo and pore over a load of new games like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Forza Horizon 2, learn about Tesla’s plan to expand the EV market and ponder the applications of an Arduino-equipped hoodie that can send text messages. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
What you need to know about the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)
Earlier today, we joined thousands of developers, publishers and video game fanatics in Los Angeles, California for one of the biggest industry trade shows in the world: the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Read on for everything you need to know about this gigantic three-day event.
All the games from Microsoft’s E3 event
Xbox’s Graeme Boyd told us to expect plenty of games during day one of E3, and that’s just what we got. Continue reading for a complete rundown of the announced titles, including new additions to the Call of Duty, Forza and Halo franchises.
Tesla will open up its Supercharger patents to boost electric car adoption
We knew Elon Musk was up to something, but now we know exactly what the hints were about. In a bold effort to set an industry standard and boost electric car adoption, Tesla Motors will share designs for its Supercharger system with other EV manufacturers.
This smart hoodie lets you message friends on the sly
What you’re looking at is the combination of a cellular-equipped Arduino board and a regular ole’ hoodie. What does it do? This garment let’s the wearer send messages by simply rolling up a sleeve.
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Filed under: Misc
Microsoft’s next big Windows Phone may use Kinect-like motion gestures
Yes, the Lumia 930 and 1520 are fine Windows Phones, but where’s the sequel to the fan favorite, the 1020? Apparently, it’s coming — and it’s bringing a clever control scheme along for the ride. Sources for both WPCentral and The Verge claim that Microsoft’s future Lumia hardware, nicknamed McLaren, will incorporate both a giant camera and “3D Touch” that uses motion gestures (some of them Kinect-like) to control the phone without poking at the screen. We’ve seen some of the rumored concepts elsewhere; you can cover the phone to mute it, or bring it to your ear to answer. Others, however, are unique. McLaren will reportedly react to your grip, and will let you see features ‘hidden’ inside a Live Tile (such as messaging in the Facebook app) by making a tapping motion that doesn’t touch the glass.
If WPCentral‘s leak is accurate, McLaren will show up in November alongside a few third-party apps that use 3D Touch. For many, though, the big news may simply be widespread availability. While Nokia previously shot itself in the foot by regularly agreeing to US’ carriers demands for exclusives, that might not happen on Microsoft’s watch. Both WPCentral and @evleaks hear that McLaren will be available on multiple American networks — few people would have to switch providers just to get the Windows Phone du jour.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Sony’s next update for Playroom will bring custom AR broadcast sets
Sony’s odd augmented reality demo / broadcasting tool Playroom is getting some new features. At its E3 2014 event, Sony announced the PlayStation app will be updated with custom broadcast sets, just in time for the addition of YouTube. That could help your trip to broadcast stardom, unless you choose to take a slightly less savory approach to content, which helped get the app banned from Twitch.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Skype’s redesigned iPhone app is all about sharing things faster
Skype has been lavishing attention on its Android and Windows Phone messaging apps as of late, but it’s now time for the iPhone client to get a makeover — and it’s one of the company’s biggest overhauls in recent memory. The new software brings a much fresher-looking interface that’s both in step with other platforms (chiefly Windows Phone) and lets you accomplish many common tasks faster. You can now start group chats right from the hub, and you don’t have to wait until someone hops online to send a message.
There are a lot of subtler tweaks that should go a long way toward improving the experience, too. The app’s overall performance is up to five times faster, and it’s much better at syncing message statuses as you move from device to device. So what’s the catch? Simply put, the app isn’t ready yet; Skype is launching the new iPhone version in about a week. Until it’s available, you’ll just have to make do with the teaser video below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Microsoft
Source: Skype
Ubisoft’s ‘Shape Up’ uses the Xbox One camera to try to make fitness fun
“Fitness is boring,” says Ubisoft’s Charles Huteau at the company’s E3 press event. He’s right, it is: there’s a whole industry growing around our attempt to make exercise fun. Hutaeu, however, thinks the answer lies on the Xbox One. “Your workout will finally become an epic game.” The name of that game is Shape Up, an Xbox One exclusive fitness title that leverages Kinect 2.0′s higher resolution camera. It sounds old hat, we know – but Hutaeu put his body where his mouth was, standing in front of the sensor and scanning his body into the game. He pulled up a mini-game called “Piano Step” and within moments, the presenter was competing against a pre-recorded version of himself in a modernized version of Dance Dance Revolution.
The mini-game is brightly colored and musical, but asynchronous self-competition is just the first step. Hutaeu brought out a colleague, and the two immediately dropped to the floor, kicking off an impromptu push-up competition. On screen, the two presenters are pitted against each other in a Street Fighter-esque arena while the game stacks virtual weights (well, statues and trucks) on their back. It’s hilarious and over the top, but it’s also a good showcase of what developers can do with the new Kinect’s lower latency. Of course, you’ll have to buy Microsoft’s more expensive Xbox One configuration to use it.
Bioware teases next installment of ‘Mass Effect’ and new, unnamed title at E3
Prepare for a huge tease Mass Effect fans: Bioware showed off some “conceptual footage” of the game’s next installment at Electronic Arts’ E3 event. While we didn’t get much in the way of actual gameplay footage, Bioware did go on at length about how fan feedback has helped to shape the new title under development at its Montreal Studio. The developers also hinted that the game would give players the opportunity to “pick a planet, fly there and see what to discover.” Though no release date was given.
Beyond a new Mass Effect, Bioware’s Edmonton studio’s also working on a brand-new IP. And it showed off even more concept designs to back that up. Again, we don’t have much more to go on for the title aside from Bioware’s focus on creating a fully fleshed out fictional world. Expect to hear more on that title later this year.
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