Microsoft Office for Mac gets 64-bit support for better performance
Microsoft announced in April that it would make the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit for Office 2016 for Mac. Well, the time has come. The update is rolling out to those who are running Microsoft’s productivity suite on OS X. Apple’s desktop operating system has been 64-bit for a while now, but Windows still allows users to to choose between 32- and 64-bit versions. With this latest update, Office 2016 for Mac is making the permanent switch to 64-bit support which Microsoft says will boost performance and allow for new features.
This new update makes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote 64-bit for anyone running Retail, Office 365 Consumer, Office 365 Commercial, and Volume License installations of the software. What’s more, the August release (version 15.25) will arrive just like any other update to the apps. You’ll receive a notification on your desktop about the new version just like you do for other releases. If you don’t see that message, you download the 64-bit update manually from the source link below. As 9to5Mac notes, this new version has been available to Office Insider beta testers, but this is the first time 64-bit software has been available to all users.
Microsoft does warn Office for Mac users that the switch to 64-bit software could affect third-party add-ins for the apps. Those companies have had a few months to make the necessary changes, but if you rely on any of those extras, you may want to double check before installing. If you’ve yet to make the leap, Office 365 for Mac costs $70 per year or you can make a one-time purchase of Office 2016 for Mac that’s priced at $150.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: Microsoft
HoloLens’ 24-core chip makes vivid AR possible
Microsoft has revealed more details about its HoloLens headset at the Hot Chips conference in Cupertino. The augmented reality (AR) device marries video games with the real world, so it needs to calculate your location, head position and gestures extremely rapidly. We now know more about the so-called holographic processing unit (HPU) that does that — the 24-core chip has near-supercomputer levels of performance, performing a trillion operations per second.
The 28-nanometer process “Tensilica” chip, built by TSMC, has 65 million logic gates, 8MB of ultra-fast static RAM (SRAM) and 1GB of DDR3 RAM, all crammed into a 12mm x 12mm (half-inch square) package. It’s designed to process input from the inertial chip, environment cameras, depth camera and other sensors. By speeding up calculations 200 times over software alone, it provides ready-to-use position data to the headset’s main Intel “Cherry Trail” CPU, freeing it to run apps and games.
If you live in the US or Canada and have $3,000 between your couch cushions, you can actually buy a HoloLens developer model. If not, we tested it recently and found it fun, immersive and not nearly as disorienting (or nausea-inducing) as a VR headset. It’s very hard to say how much the final product will cost, considering that it has a highly custom chip on board. We’ll likely have to wait a while to find out, though, as there’s no indication yet on when the retail version will arrive.
Source: The Register
The Xbox Onesie is equal parts comedy and tragedy
For the folks who take their couch potato-ing very seriously, Microsoft has something up its rollable sleeves for you. It’s called the Xbox Onesie, and, as you might expect, it’s an adult-sized pair of zip-up pajamas packed to the seams with purpose-built, Xbox-themed accoutrement. We’re talking oversized pockets for gamepads and remotes, an arm pouch for your phone and a giant hood that shouldn’t interfere with even the bulkiest of headphones. That’s in addition to “forearm grips to prevent slipping on those ‘edge of your seat’ moments” and the option to have your Gamertag embroidered on the getup. There is a catch, though.
The Xbox Onesie is an Australia-only item for now, and even then, if and when it’ll go on sale isn’t clear. The items you see in this post were created to commemorate a regional study regarding media consumption. A Microsoft spokesperson tells us that availability details about the limited edition attire will be ready “soon.” Oh, and the Onesie is available in white, and, unlike the One S itself, black. Sure, the whole thing looks super comfortable (and follows the Xbox One S’ stylings pretty closely), but don’t you already have a Snuggie collecting dust in your closet?
Source: Sunshine Coast Daily
Microsoft inks a patent and software deal with Lenovo
Microsoft is dipping its fingers into the coffers of yet another Android device manufacturer. The company has just announced a partnership with Lenovo, which will put its apps in the Chinese’s manufacturer’s Android phones. It also includes a patent cross-licensing deal that covers Lenovo’s — and Motorola’s — devices’ giving it right to use some of Microsoft’s intellectual properties. According to Redmond, its new partner has agreed to preload Office, OneDrive and Skype on select Android phones. It didn’t specify which models are getting those apps, but company exec Nick Parker mentioned that they’ll be loaded onto the company’s “premium devices.”
Lenovo is the latest addition to the list of Android manufacturers sending money straight to Redmond. Microsoft started negotiating with hardware makers in 2010 after openly accusing Google of infringing on its software patents to make Android. It struck deals with numerous companies since then, including HTC, Samsung and even obscure phonemakers not active in the US.
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft app helps you coordinate with fellow shift workers
Sure, the office crowd has chat apps like Slack and HipChat to coordinate what they’re doing, but what if you’re a shift worker who needs to swap hours? Microsoft (which already has GroupMe and Skype for Business, we’d add) might help. It’s testing Project Sonoma, a currently closed-access app for Android and iOS that helps shift workers keep track of the daily grind. You can see shifts, request swaps and chat with teammates either one-on-one or in groups. If you’ve ever wanted someone to cover your stint while you’re out at the dentist’s, this could be your app of choice.
Microsoft hasn’t said if or when it plans to release Project Sonoma to everyone. You can sign up for a waiting list if you want to get in. We’ve asked it about what’s happening and will let you know what it says. With that said, it won’t be surprising if you can try it soon. Our friends at TechCrunch suspect that Microsoft bought the developers of a very similar app, Shiftr — while Microsoft has plenty of experiments (such as its Garage projects), it likely wants to translate an acquisition to a widely available product.
Via: TechCrunch, MSPowerUser
Source: App Store, Google Play, Project Sonoma
The best tech for college freshmen
Starting college is expensive. In addition to, you know, the tuition, you and the parentals will probably be making a large shopping trip to buy all manner of sweaters, snacks and extra-long twin sheets to round out your dorm room. And that’s not counting all the gear you’ll need to actually get work done. In addition to a few laptop recommendations (the XPS 13 is our reigning favorite), we have suggestions on things like cloud storage, backpacks and peripherals like travel mice and backup batteries. Check out the gallery below for all our first-year picks (think of it as a college starter kit), and be sure to read the rest of Engadget’s back-to-school guide here.
Source: Engadget’s 2016 Back-to-School Guide
Microsoft’s latest acquisition hints at AI scheduling in Office
Hate the song and dance involved in finding just the right time to hold a meeting? Microsoft does too. It’s acquiring Genee, whose centerpiece is an AI-powered virtual assistant that helps you schedule events in sync with your itinerary. Email both a client and Genee while you’re arranging a lunch meeting, for instance, and it’ll let your contact know when you can make it. Just what Genee will do isn’t clear, but it’ll “accelerate intelligent experiences” in Office 365 — as elsewhere, Microsoft wants to make AI a key part of your workday.
It’s not so hot news if you’re one of Genee’s users. The company’s founders note that the Genee service will shut down on September 1st. Your existing appointments will stay put, but you can’t create new ones or get reminders after that date. The move isn’t shocking, but we wouldn’t count on Genee’s integrations with Gmail or iCloud surviving the transition to Microsoft.
Source: Official Microsoft Blog, Genee
Microsoft will fix Surface Pro 3 battery issues through software
Microsoft was right about its hunch that Surface Pro 3 battery degradation was a software problem. The company reports that it has ruled out hardware as a cause for the shrinking battery capacity, and that it’s working on a patch that should bring your Windows tablet back to normal. You’ll get the fix as soon as it passes testing, Microsoft says. In the meantime, it’s advising against asking for a hardware replacement.
The news isn’t pleasing everyone. Surface Pro 3 owners have complained of paying steep replacement fees ($450 or more) to get new models that they’re now learning aren’t necessary. Also, some are worried that their slate’s battery will be all but useless before the patch is ready, forcing them to pay for a replacement. Will these users get compensation for their troubles? We’ve asked Microsoft what it will do, and we’ll let you know what it has to say.
Via: Panos Panay (Twitter)
Source: Microsoft Community
Six futuristic data storage technologies
By Cat DiStasio
Digital technology is taking over the world, and scientists are hard at work finding better ways to store data — lots of it and for long periods of time. Scientists are exploring new materials for data storage as well as new methods for printing data on their chosen medium. While some companies are storing data on the ocean floor, other imagineers look upward, dreaming of giant storage skyscrapers. With so many different innovations happening in such a short period of time, the race is on to unlock the keys to near-limitless data storage potential.
5D Glass Data Disc
Data storage in five dimensions, embedded in nanostructures within glass discs, could inspire the next wave in record-keeping. A research team at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Center (ORC) created a prototype the size of a quarter that can hold 360 terabytes of data and withstand extreme heat up to 190°C (374°F). The team believes their invention could be used to store data for up to 13.8 billion years (the age of the universe, FTW) because, unlike CDs and DVDs which hold their data on the surface and are prone to scratches, the 5D glass discs protect that information within their structure, safe from bumps and scrapes.
Underwater data centers
It’s no surprise that Microsoft has tons of data to keep secure, and last year the tech giant started experimenting with putting the “cloud” deep under water. Project Natick enclosed data servers in a huge watertight capsule and sunk them beneath the waves in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington. After a two-month test period, the 38,000-pound steel container was brought back to the surface, where its contents — a data center with the computing power of 300 desktop PCs — were nice and dry. Learning that the concept works may lead Microsoft to someday install more underwater data centers, but for now it has no firm plans.
Iceland’s proposed data skyscraper
Still in the concept phase, this epic data-storing skyscraper was designed to be located in Iceland. The building would act as a giant cylindrical motherboard with a hollow center, allowing for plenty of natural air flow to keep the data servers cool — which shouldn’t be too big of a problem in a chilly place like Iceland. The country’s renewable energy infrastructure also means the tower could be powered by 100 percent clean energy. The design concept won third place in the 2016 eVolo Skyscraper competition, although there’s no telling if it will ever become a reality.
Hitachi’s Quartz Glass Disc
Electronics leader Hitachi produced another version of 5D glass data storage in 2012. Using binary code, researchers packed 40 megabytes of data into a one-square-inch piece of quartz glass (the type beakers are made from). At barely two millimeters thick, each square can hold the same amount of data as a CD and endure temps up to 1,832°F as well as run-ins with chemicals and water. The data can be retrieved with an optical microscope and, just like the glass panes we are all accustomed to, is perfectly transparent no matter how much data is etched into it.
Floating cantilever for low-energy devices
An international research team based in South Korea and Scotland developed a proof of concept for a new type of data storage that relies on a floating cantilever for small gadgets like cell phones and MP3 players. The self-propelled cantilever reacts to electrical currents within the device to convert this electrical information into binary code, and it’s both faster and more energy-efficient than existing technologies. Although the tech hasn’t made its way into consumer electronics yet, there’s still potential for the breakthrough to lead to more efficient data storage down the road.
Abandoned mines as data centers
While many researchers are hard at work developing new data storage devices, others are looking for better locations to put servers. Some say the answer is right beneath our feet, so to speak. Abandoned limestone mines across the country could be retrofitted into the perfect locations for underground data centers. An efficient data storage center will have a consistent cool temperature and humidity level — two requirements that lead to massive energy use above the ground. Deep inside a mine, however, the conditions are just right. At least one architectural firm, Callison, has already converted a former mine site to an underground data center somewhere in the Northeast United States, but the exact location is top secret. Talk about secure data storage.
How did Microsoft fare at Gamescom this year?
Microsoft has a ton of Xbox exclusives in the pipeline. Gears of War 4, ReCore, Dead Rising 4, Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 — the list goes on. Here at Gamescom, we’ve been speaking to the developers behind each title, listening to their pitches and, in some instances, going hands-on. So what impressed us and what didn’t? I took 10 minutes with Engadget Senior Editor Aaron Souppouris to break it all down. (Hint: I really liked Scalebound…)
We’re live all week from Cologne, Germany for Gamescom 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
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