Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $26.2 billion
You probably didn’t expect your week to start this way: Microsoft has acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. The company plans to integrate the career-oriented social network into many of its apps and services, including Office, Skype and Cortana. You’d get the details of the person you’re meeting for a business deal, for example, or get help from an expert when you’re working on an Office 365 project. Microsoft is vowing to maintain LinkedIn’s overall independence, including the role of CEO Jeff Weiner, and hopes to close the deal sometime in 2016.
According to Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, LinkedIn is a perfect fit. You need a “connected professional world” to get things done, he says, whether it’s getting help with a spreadsheet or fleshing out details in a customer relations tool like Microsoft’s Dynamics. And while Microsoft is purposefully keeping itself at arm’s length, Nadella sees the potential for revenue through subscriptions and (like it or not) targeted ads.
Suffice it to say that this is a huge move for Microsoft. It’s entering the social networking world in a big way — while LinkedIn isn’t direct competition for Facebook or Twitter, its 433 million members are nothing to sneeze at. The acquisition is also proof positive that Microsoft under Nadella is reducing its dependence on Windows and putting more of an emphasis on cloud services. This is as much about acknowledging a changing computing landscape, where Windows doesn’t necessarily dominate, as it is a bid to become a crucial service provider.
Source: Microsoft (1), (2)
Microsoft’s 4K-capable Xbox One S leaks before E3
Those rumors of Microsoft launching a smaller, more powerful Xbox One at E3? They’re apparently quite real. NeoGAF members have posted multiple images of what they say is the Xbox One S, and the leak points to a huge overhaul for the console. For a start, check out that compact design — the S is much smaller than the gigantic original (40 percent), and its white, patterned case is definitely more eye-catching. The power brick is internal, too.
Also, our sources say that the features mentioned in the leak are on the mark. This system will support both 4K video and High Dynamic Range content, making it a good complement to your brand new TV. You’ll also get that cavernous 2TB hard drive, a “streamlined controller” and a vertical stand for showing off. The big mysteries are the release date and price, although it’s reasonable to presume that the Xbox One S will cost considerably more than the $299 you pay for today’s 500GB model.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: NeoGAF (1), (2)
People are still buying new consoles weeks ahead of E3
Every month, the NPD Group lays out the top-selling hardware and software in the gaming industry, tracking physical sales of everything from Xbox Ones and PlayStation 4s to Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft. There are slow months and busy months, dips in the console market and peaks in the software cycle, but in May 2016, something strange happened. Sales of current-generation consoles (meaning the PS4 and Xbox One, mostly), were “stable” according to the NPD’s Liam Callahan.
This wouldn’t be notable in many other months, but it just so happens that E3 2016 takes place in the middle of June, and rumors are flying about new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft.
There’s little concrete information about what exactly the companies will reveal at E3, but multiple credible reports suggest that we’re going to see a new Xbox One. Plus, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House just this morning confirmed that PlayStation definitely has a new, more powerful console in the works.
The Sony console is codenamed “Neo,” and it will support 4K video and have all-around upgraded guts. Sony doesn’t plan to disenfranchise its 40 million existing PS4 players — developers will be able to patch existing games to work with the Neo’s higher specs, for example.
“It is intended to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4,” House said. “We will be selling both [models] through the life cycle.”
That said, the Neo is set to be a step up from the standard PS4 currently on the market, and it has interesting implications for the future of PlayStation VR, streaming entertainment and AAA games on Sony’s console. The Neo may emerge as Sony’s new standard.
However, House said that the Neo won’t be at E3, despite earlier reports to the contrary.
Keep in mind that House isn’t afraid to set the stage for drama at E3. The weekend before E3 2013, for example, House re-wrote portions of Sony’s script in order to capitalize on the hate flowing toward Microsoft after its announcement of an “always-on” Xbox One. Sony’s E3 MO involves mic drops and surprises. Even with House whispering reassurances in our ears three days before the big show, it’s worthwhile to wait and see what the company actually reveals on Monday.
The same goes for the Xbox One. Microsoft is poised to announce a new, slimmer model with a 2TB hard drive, larger than any of the versions on sale now. This one isn’t confirmed yet, but rumor has it the new console will arrive this year.
Microsoft is also diving into VR in a way that leaves plenty of room for Xbox One hardware upgrades in the near future. Xbox and Oculus have a particularly tight relationship, though a new “slim” console probably wouldn’t support the Rift. Apparently the company is building a second upgraded Xbox One model that will support the Rift, and while we don’t expect to see this at E3, it’ll be beneficial to see what information Microsoft offers at E3.
The PS4 and Xbox One debuted in November 2013. If you’ve waited nearly three years to buy a current-generation console, you might as well give it an extra month to see what new hardware Sony and Microsoft have in store. Sure, the Xbox One and PS4 have recently received widely publicized price cuts to $300 and $350, respectively — but if you’re saving up for a big tech purchase anyway, why not make sure you’re getting the best deal on the greatest gear your budget allows?
The Xbox One, PS4, Neo and any other console at E3 2016 will eventually be outdated and warmly ridiculed in augmented reality chat rooms — much like we now discuss the Atari 2600, Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy and other cutting-edge systems of decades past. Only right now will these consoles be fresh, new and exciting, and all players have the right to get in on the ground floor of nostalgia.
Amid all of the rumors, reports and hints from CEOs, one fact about E3 is clear: We don’t know what will be there. The new consoles, if they’re revealed at E3, may be too expensive for some people’s tastes — and that’s fine. Or the new consoles may not be at the show at all. Waiting until after the press conferences on Monday, June 13th simply ensures everyone will be an informed consumer, rather than someone taking a gamble.
That is, unless you bought a new console in May because you did your research and literally couldn’t wait another day to play the new Uncharted or Doom. If that’s the case, carry on, digital warrior. Carry on.
Play Xbox online for free this weekend
Microsoft has offered its Free Multiplayer Weekends before, but at the end of this week, the promotion will be available to both Xbox One and Xbox 360 together for the first time. In fact, it’s the first time the free trial has been available on Microsoft’s current-gen console. This means that from Thursday to Sunday (June 9-12), you’ll be able to play with your pals online free of charge if you don’t have an active Xbox Live Gold subscription. During that same period, Rocket League for Xbox One will also be free to play, so we hope you didn’t already have plans.
Starting Sunday, all Xbox Live Gold members will be able to play games from the EA Access library for free until June 22nd. That’s usually a $5 monthly or $30 annual fee for titles like Battlefield, Titanfall, Madden NFL 16, FIFA 16, Dead Space and more. If you decide to splurge for a subscription after the trial period is up, you’ll be able to pick up any saved progress from where you left off.
Source: Major Nelson (1), (2)
‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ launches in early access
A new version of Minecraft developed for the classroom is now available in early access. Minecraft: Education Edition was announced back in January alongside Microsoft’s acquisition of MinecraftEdu, a team that had already been tweaking the game for teachers. The replacement is available for free this summer before a per-student pricing model is introduced for the academic year. As a small thank you, Microsoft has promised existing MinecraftEdu customers a year of free access to Education Edition — presumably that will kick in once the early access trial wraps up.
Education Edition has a few advantages over the vanilla version of Minecraft. Right off the bat, up to 30 students can learn and collaborate in the same world, negating the need to set up a private server through a service like Minecraft Realms. Teachers can create non-player characters (NPCs) to create a more guided experience, and equip them with web links so that students can access additional resources. There’s also a chalkboard item for providing instructions and a camera that students can use to take snapshots of their work, building an in-game portfolio along the way.
Microsoft says it’s still working on a bunch of other features that the community has requested. These include a new interface which gives teachers a map (with markers for every student), the ability to teleport users (should they start to mess around or wander off accidentally) and a chat window for managing both private and classroom-wide conversations. Minecraft has already proven itself to be an effective education tool, teaching art, geology and coding — with an official version for school, its potential and successes are almost certain to grow.
Source: Minecraft: Education Edition
LastPass is the first password manager extension on Edge
Microsoft is getting closer to releasing its big Windows 10 update this summer, but Windows Insider beta testers with the latest build have a new element to try out today. That’s because LastPass has officially released its first browser extension for Edge (after it leaked out temporarily a week ago), saying it’s the first password manager extension on the platform. Support for extensions is necessary if Edge will try to snag users from the Chrome or Firefox browsers they’re used to, and after AdBlock, password management is a big one.
Using a password manager makes it easy to create and access unique passwords for all of your accounts and avoid a Zuckerberg-type situation or password reset emails from Netflix. According to LastPass, the Edge extension should have all the usual features users expect, with the ability to autofill login information, generate random passwords, and check their vault for duplicates. If you’re not in the test program, you’ll have to wait a little longer for extensions to arrive on Edge, but password managers like LastPass, 1Password and more are widely available across other browsers and mobile platforms if you want to try them out now.
Source: LastPass Blog
Xbox One won’t get a television DVR feature after all
Back at Gamescom in August, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would be getting a DVR feature for over-the-air TV this year. Well, if you got your hopes up about the add-on, we’ve got some bad news. The company has confirmed to Engadget that the tool is no longer being added to the console. Why the change of heart? Microsoft cites a decision to focus on “new higher fan-requested gaming experiences across Xbox One and Windows 10.” While the company says development is “on hold,” there’s no indication that it will pick the project back up at a later date.
When the DVR tool was announced last year, Microsoft said users would be able to stream recorded content via the SmartGlass app for Android and iOS or the Xbox app on Windows 10. Apps would’ve also offered the ability to schedule recordings while on the go through OneGuide and that the content would be stored on an external hard drive. The addition of the DVR would’ve made the console a more complete TV solution, at least for over-the-air shows. However, it appears the company has turned its focus solely on gaming, and we should hear more about that topic at next week’s E3. Here’s the full statement from Microsoft.
“After careful consideration, we’ve decided to put development of DVR for Over-the-Air TV on hold to focus our attention on launching new, higher fan-requested gaming experiences across Xbox One and Windows 10. We’re always listening to fan feedback and we look forward to bringing more requested experiences on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Xbox Live this year.”
Via: The Verge
Xbox One won’t get a television DVR feature after all
Back at Gamescom in August, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would be getting a DVR feature for over-the-air TV this year. Well, if you got your hopes up about the add-on, we’ve got some bad news. The company has confirmed to Engadget that the tool is no longer being added to the console. Why the change of heart? Microsoft cites a decision to focus on “new higher fan-requested gaming experiences across Xbox One and Windows 10.” While the company says development is “on hold,” there’s no indication that it will pick the project back up at a later date.
When the DVR tool was announced last year, Microsoft said users would be able to stream recorded content via the SmartGlass app for Android and iOS or the Xbox app on Windows 10. Apps would’ve also offered the ability to schedule recordings while on the go through OneGuide and that the content would be stored on an external hard drive. The addition of the DVR would’ve made the console a more complete TV solution, at least for over-the-air shows. However, it appears the company has turned its focus solely on gaming, and we should hear more about that topic at next week’s E3. Here’s the full statement from Microsoft.
“After careful consideration, we’ve decided to put development of DVR for Over-the-Air TV on hold to focus our attention on launching new, higher fan-requested gaming experiences across Xbox One and Windows 10. We’re always listening to fan feedback and we look forward to bringing more requested experiences on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Xbox Live this year.”
Via: The Verge
LastPass is the first password manager extension on Edge
Microsoft is getting closer to releasing its big Windows 10 update this summer, but Windows Insider beta testers with the latest build have a new element to try out today. That’s because LastPass has officially released its first browser extension for Edge (after it leaked out temporarily a week ago), saying it’s the first password manager extension on the platform. Support for extensions is necessary if Edge will try to snag users from the Chrome or Firefox browsers they’re used to, and after AdBlock, password management is a big one.
Using a password manager makes it easy to create and access unique passwords for all of your accounts and avoid a Zuckerberg-type situation or password reset emails from Netflix. According to LastPass, the Edge extension should have all the usual features users expect, with the ability to autofill login information, generate random passwords, and check their vault for duplicates. If you’re not in the test program, you’ll have to wait a little longer for extensions to arrive on Edge, but password managers like LastPass, 1Password and more are widely available across other browsers and mobile platforms if you want to try them out now.
Source: LastPass Blog
Microsoft now offering Surface Membership Plans
Microsoft has quietly introduced a Surface Membership Plan that allows small businesses to keep up with the latest Surface hardware and buy the devices on a monthly payment plan. Starting at $32.99 per month, business users get “the latest Surface devices, accessories, support, and training.” The membership plan includes the current generation Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, and Surface 3, but it also comes with free upgrades when newer models become available.
As Thurrott.com points out, the membership program follows the iPhone Upgrade program that Apple introduced last year. The Surface memberships also include setup, personal training, in-store tech support, an extended service plan and Accidental Damage Protection. The monthly costs vary, depending on the model and whether you stretch out the payments over 18, 24 or 30 months, but the cheapest is a basic Surface Pro 3 for $33 per month over 30 months. The most expensive will run you about $221 per month for a tricked-out Surface Book with a 1TB hard drive, 16 GB RAM, Intel i7 processor and dual GPUs.
That also means, at the end of the installments, you’ll have shelled out about $3,978 for that Surface Book, versus $3,448 for the same machine with just a two-year service plan and no other bundled deals (or $3,199 if you live on the edge and skip the service plan). For the budget Surface 3, the membership plan works out to $990 total over two and a half years, versus $600 for the device with no extras.
One other thing to note here: the plans are meant for business customers and not individuals, although you can still sign up to order only a single device, rather than a whole fleet. Also, in order to be approved for the membership plan, you’ll have to go through Microsoft’s financing partner LiftForward to handle all the monthly payments and credit applications.
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