‘Minecraft’ tops 100 million sales
The Minecraft juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down. Today, developer Mojang announced that the block-building phenomenon has passed 100 million sales across all platforms, including PC, Mac, consoles and mobile. Since the beginning of the year, roughly 53,000 copies have been sold each day around the world. The game keeps people hooked too — more than 40 million people boot up a Minecraft world each month and tinker around with a blocky axe, shovel and sword. Apart from Tetris, few games have come anywhere close to hitting the 100 million mark.
Much of that success can be attributed to the game’s open structure and limitless potential. Players can build anything they imagine, provided its outward-facing geometry is made up of simple, colorful blocks. The focus on creativity is why so many players, young and old, have been drawn to the game and continue to play years after its release. Mojang has supported the game with a steady stream of updates that have added new mechanics, creatures and materials. The game’s flexibility has also made it a smash-hit in the classroom, teaching art, geology, coding and other subjects.
When Microsoft acquired Mojang almost two years ago, many wondered what it had planned for the game. A sequel? Some kind of exclusivity to Xbox, PC and Windows Phone? In fact, none of that has panned out. Minecraft is available on more than platforms than ever before, and there’s been no word of a ‘Minecraft 2.’ Instead, we’ve had a HoloLens version of the game, a spin-off adventure series by Telltale Games and an acquisition of MinecraftEdu, which will soon result in a new, education-focused version of Minecraft. Soon, there will be a version just for China too.
Minecraft’s popularity shows no sign of waning. The game’s strength isn’t a finite story or tremendous graphics — because of this, it has a seemingly timeless appeal that catches new children as they grow old enough to play it. As long as that continues, Minecraft will continue to sell in extraordinary numbers.
Source: Mojang
Windows Hello fully opens up to non-Microsoft devices
Soon you’ll have even more options to log onto Windows 10 quickly and securely. Microsoft just announced that it’s opening up the Windows Hello Companion Device Framework to other companies, which means their devices will let you hop into Windows just as easily as Microsoft’s Band. On stage at Computex today, a Microsoft representative used the Nymi band, an authentication wearable for the workplace, to log into her computer. You can also expect to see things like ID cards, phones and potentially other wearables working together with Windows Hello.
We’ve already seen Windows Hello-compatible facial recognition cameras from Tobii, but today’s news goes even further. Microsoft says the Windows Hello framework supports enterprise-grade two-factor authentication, so perhaps it’s something your employer will eventually support.
Microsoft gets into VR by letting others build HoloLens gear
HoloLens will eventually get some siblings — but most of them won’t be coming from Microsoft. At Computex today, Microsoft announced that it’s opening up the Windows Holographic platform to third parties, which they can use to build their own virtual and augmented reality devices. Yes, that’s right — Windows Holographic won’t just be about the AR experiences we’ve seen in HoloLens, it’ll also power full-fledged VR hardware. Microsoft is calling this mixture of AR and VR “mixed reality.”
The news isn’t entirely surprising, as Microsoft has historically been known for expanding its platforms with the help of other companies. It shows the versatility of the HoloLens concept: Microsoft’s current device makes for some cool demos, but it’s not exactly something meant for regular people just yet.
A consumer HoloLens “may come from us, or it may come from a partner, and either way that’s fantastic,” said Microsoft’s Terry Myerson, executive vice president of its Windows and Devices Group. Myerson likens HoloLens to Microsoft’s Surface — a concept that will inspire other companies to create similar devices. The Surface had a rough start, but it’s evolved into surprisingly compelling hardware, and now just about every PC maker is trying to get in on that action.
To give us a sense of what a world full of HoloLens devices could look like, Microsoft played a short video during its Computex keynote. It featured a young designer who used a HoloLens headset to design an event space virtually. Eventually, she reached out to colleagues remotely, one using an HTC Vive and another using a HoloLens headset of his own, to collaborate on the project in real time. All of them also had a friendly AI helper (which looks a lot like Cortana’s cute Chinese version), who chatted with them in virtual space.
When I asked about how the HTC Vive was running HoloLens, Myerson said diplomatically that “we’re working directly with HTC” on a product based on Windows Holographic. Myerson didn’t have any details to share about further HoloLens updates, or when we’ll see devices from third parties. Microsoft is also working with Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, Acer, ASUS, Dell, Falcon Northwest, HP, Lenovo, MSI and others on the Windows Holographic platform. We’ll eventually end up seeing HoloLens accessories and other components from these companies, in addition to full-fledged headsets.
Xiaomi bundles Microsoft Office and Skype with its devices
It’s no secret that Xiaomi plans to go global, and its execs are hoping that the company’s expanding partnership with Microsoft could help them reach that goal. The Chinese manufacturer has announced that starting in September, its Android devices will come pre-installed with Skype and Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook). Further, it has revealed that it agreed to purchase 1,500 patents from Microsoft, including ones on cloud computing and voice communication. Xiaomi Senior VP Wang Xiang told Reuters that acquiring those patents is “an important step forward to support [the company’s] expansion internationally.”
As The Wall Street Journal noted, the company is collecting intellectual property en masse to beef up its portfolio in an effort to enter new markets. Xiaomi joined forces with Microsoft last year to launch a Windows 10 version of the Mi Pad 2. Not to mention, Mi’s cloud service is powered by Microsoft Azure. The manufacturer says it will be pre-loading Microsoft’s apps on the Mi 5, Mi Max, Mi 4s, and even its more affordable phones, the Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3, though the exact list of pre-installed software may vary by device and location.
Source: Microsoft, Reuters
Microsoft releases first update for Windows Holographic
It’s taken a long time to get real Windows 10 applications up and running on Hololens. The headset finally shipped to developers last March, and now the Windows Holographic dev kit has received its first update, adding several features like multitasking and the ability to rotate 3D models. These are the kind of interaction options that are important to the platform’s survival.
Some of the features are straightforward, like keeping up to three apps running at once and adding Bluetooth mouse support. But most of the update fleshes out the user’s ability to interact with apps, like being able to rotate holograms, adding new voice commands and resizing flat app windows. The rest are small additions and bug fixes, but as Microsoft’s update announcement video notes, some of the features were added based on feedback.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Microsoft Devices blog
Xbox One price drops to $299 ahead of E3
If Microsoft is hoping to quell rumors of new Xbox hardware at E3, it isn’t doing the greatest job. The company has permanently cut the prices of Xbox One consoles by $50 across the board, lowering the base price to $299 — even some of the nicer multi-game 1TB bundles now sell for $319. These are tremendousprices, of course, but they’re coming just a couple of weeks before E3. While this could just be an attempt to goose sales during the historically quiet summer, it’s only going to fuel talk of a possible smaller 2TB system that would become the new flagship. The price drop is great if you’re looking for the most affordable Xbox One possible, but it’s otherwise worth holding off a little while… especially if you want to see what Sony brings to the table.
Via: Polygon
Source: Xbox.com
Mojang bans brands from building Minecraft promo maps and mods
Mojang’s putting its blocky foot down when it comes to brands and Minecraft. In an open letter to the community on its site, Owen Hill, the company’s director of creative communications, laid out new guidelines specifically directed at companies, ad agencies and any other non-gamer entities looking to capitalize on Minecraft’s massive user community.
For an idea of just how vast that base is, consider that, in 2014, creator Markus “Notch” Persson revealed that the PC version had over 100 million registered users. It’s understandable that a pool of users that large would prove a tempting lure for brands that want to market their wholly unrelated wares to the community. But no more — according to the new building promotion guidelines, it’s no longer permissible to build servers or maps to “promote unrelated products in playable form.” So what does that translate to? Well, you can say goodbye to awkward promotions like the giant, working cellphone CaptainSparklez made on behalf of Verizon, or Disney commissioning a map of Tomorrowland to promote its film of the same name. All that said, if you’re a mega fan and you do these sorts of things on your own time and dime, well, that’s just fine by Mojang.
Source: Mojang
Europe enlists tech companies to help end online hate speech
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft have signed up to stop the spread of hate speech online. The group have committed to a European Commission (EC) code of conduct that ensures their respective platforms “do not offer opportunities for illegal online hate speech to spread virally.”
As the quote suggests, many EU member states have stipulations in their freedom of speech laws that make, for example, expressions of hate based on race, skin color, nationality, religious belief or sexual orientation illegal. A quick search of your social media platform of choice will tell you that all of these expressions are commonplace.
The code of conduct isn’t legally binding, but it does include public commitments that Facebook et al. will try to stick to. They’ll need to ban hate speech in their community guidelines for the region, and implement “clear and effective processes to review notifications regarding illegal hate speech.” Dedicated teams in each company will review potentially offensive content against their own community guidelines and relevant national laws, targeting the removal (or regional disabling, if appropriate) of illegal hate speech in less than 24 hours.
The code should standardize companies on a simple reporting process for online hate speech that will hopefully be more effective than those currently in operation. This process will be there for the public, but also for governmental bodies to act as “trusted reporters.” There will also be some crossover between the companies and law enforcement agencies in the region. The EC wants such agencies to be familiar with the reporting process, for obvious reasons. A two-way dialog will help police know how to remove illegal content, and could also see something like a death threat for delaying a game be actioned on more swiftly by local police.
In addition to adhering to the new reporting guidelines, the companies will share their methods with one another and other social media companies not signed up to the code of conduct. This, it’s hoped, will help spread “best practices” beyond the four companies directly involved. They’ve also committed to raise awareness of the new rules and reporting processes, support educational programs in the field and promote “independent counter-narratives” to hateful rhetoric and prejudice.
The EC, for its part, will be working with the companies to aid them in meeting the code of conduct, and will also be promoting its efforts in an effort to get other companies to sign up.
Source: European Commission
Microsoft has its own venture capitalism division
Microsoft has started its own venture capital division. The new group is called Microsoft Ventures, and it will focus on early-stage startup investments. Confusingly, Microsoft Ventures was already the name of a startup accelerator initiative at Microsoft, and that group is being rebranded as “Microsoft Accelerator” — one of the problems with having a massive, 41-year-old company is running out of names, apparently.
In an article announcing the change, Nagraj Kashyap, the corporate vice president of the new Microsoft Ventures, says that while the company has done a lot of investment in the past, it’s not been focused on early stage, instead investing alongside commercial deals. The new division will be more like Google Ventures, which takes risks on young companies for a potentially huge return.
One company that Microsoft invested in early was Facebook, which it pumped $250 million into back in 2007. But that was an investment in preferred stock at a $15 billion valuation, and more about ad sales than venture capitalism.
The new division will have an initial presence in San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and Tel Aviv, Israel. “… We were not a part of the early industry conversations on disruptive technology trends,” said Kashyap, but “with a formalized venture fund, Microsoft now has a seat at the table.” Expect to see Microsoft to invest in more companies at a nascent stage, especially those focused on those that complement the company’s existing products and services, and those focused on machine learning and security.
While the announcement talks a good talk, it’s not clear how much this is a rebrand and reorganization versus a real effort to step up investment. Kashyap said that the division is “not aiming to hit a specific number of investments annually,” but “in the coming days and weeks ahead and beyond, you will see us showing up as an investor in companies that complement these spaces and those that aim to disrupt how business is done today.”
Source: Microsoft
The best PC gaming controller
By Kimber Streams
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
After putting in 15 hours of research and testing—in addition to hundreds of hours gaming on controllers in years past—and enlisting the help of an experienced panel of gamers, we found that the Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller (yes, the one that comes with the PlayStation 4) is the best gaming controller to use with your computer. In fact, we concluded that all the best PC controllers are console controllers. But a gaming controller is a highly personal object, and your preferences may differ based on your hand size, gaming style, and operating system. If you already own a controller that you love, you probably don’t need to buy a new one.
Who should get this
Not every PC game is best played with a keyboard and mouse. If you’d rather sit back and play some of your games with a controller instead, you should consider one of our picks. But if you already own an Xbox 360, an Xbox One, or a PlayStation 4, and you’re happy with the controller that came with it, you probably don’t need to buy a different one.
How we picked
All the gaming controllers we tested for this guide. Photo: Kimber Streams
A great controller must be comfortable to hold for long periods of time, have a good grip to prevent your hands from sliding off even if they get sweaty, and it ought to be a reasonable weight. Although people have individual preferences, a controller’s buttons and triggers all need to be responsive and accurate: They need to do what you tell them to do, when you tell them to do it. But comfort and ergonomics aren’t everything; a controller also needs to play nice with your computer.
We looked at 22 controllers from major manufacturers such as Logitech, Mad Catz, Microsoft, Nvidia, Razer, Sony, SteelSeries, and Valve, plus a few other controllers from lesser-known manufacturers that are popular on Amazon. We ruled out those with poor user reviews and others that cost way more than controllers with similar features. That left us with 11 controllers to test with the help of five people with varying hand sizes and comfort preferences.
Our pick
The Sony DualShock 4 is the most comfortable controller for most hands. Photo: Kevin Purdy
The Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller is the most comfortable controller for average-size hands. All of its analog sticks, buttons, and triggers are easy to reach and work well, which isn’t the case for several other models, including the Xbox One controller and Steam Controller. The DualShock 4 works over Bluetooth or with a Micro-USB cable (not included; you can get a great Micro-USB for about a dollar). Plus, its touchpad can simulate a mouse cursor, a feature no other good controller has.
Currently priced less than $50, the DualShock 4 can work both wired and wirelessly—unlike the Xbox One controller, which needs a dongle to work wirelessly on a PC, making it more expensive than the DualShock 4. But the DualShock 4 requires a bit of effort (and software like DS4Windows) to set up on Windows, it won’t work for most games on OS X, and it’s a bit small for large hands.
Runner-up with an easier setup
If you have large hands (unlike me), the Xbox One controller might be more comfortable than the DualShock 4. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you want a controller that’s easier to set up on Windows and will also work on OS X, or if you have large hands, or if you simply prefer Xbox-style controllers, you should get the Xbox One controller bundled with a wireless adapter. The Xbox One’s greatest advantage over the DualShock 4 is ease of setup. In Windows, the drivers automatically install when you plug in the controller. On OS X, the process is about as complicated as setting up the DualShock 4 on Windows—you just need the 360Controller software.
This controller lacks a touchpad, though, and the shoulder buttons are awkwardly placed. Many people prefer the DualShock 4’s triggers and analog sticks, too. The Xbox One controller also costs more to use wirelessly. If you don’t need wireless and want to save some money, buy it bundled with a Micro-USB cable instead.
Inexpensive and well-loved
The Xbox 360 controller’s body is narrower than the Xbox One controller’s, so it’s easier for small and medium-size hands to grip. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you don’t want to spend more than $35 on a controller, you should get the wired Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, the go-to controller for PC gamers for many years. The Xbox 360 controller is a bit smaller and lighter than the Xbox One controller, and its more compact size makes the buttons and analog sticks a little easier to reach for people with smaller hands and shorter thumbs.
All the buttons (including the shoulder bumpers) are well-placed and easy for hands of all sizes to reach, but this controller isn’t without its flaws. It can’t work wirelessly—Microsoft sells a wireless version, but that controller plus the required adapter cost about the same as the wireless Xbox One controller and adapter. And the D-pad is horrendous.
Fancy but pricey
The Elite is about the same size as the Xbox One controller, but its soft surface and textured grip make it more comfortable to hold. Photo: Kevin Purdy
If you play a lot of games on your PC that require a controller and you don’t mind spending $150 for a fantastic one, the Xbox Elite is the best option available. The Elite is an upgrade over our other picks in just about every way, with better, customizable controls, four additional paddles on the back, and easier setup than the DualShock 4. Every single member of our testing panel loved it—and I bought one myself—but for most people it isn’t worth three times the price of the DualShock 4.
About the Steam Controller
The Steam Controller feels hollow and cheap, and it’s large and awkward to hold. Photo: Kevin Purdy
The Steam Controller is the only controller that bridges the gap between games with controller support and games better played on a mouse and keyboard. It has touchpads in place of a D-pad and right analog stick; these components offer haptic feedback that you can configure to mimic the movement and feeling of either a mouse or an analog stick. Its dual-stage triggers and back buttons are designed to give you more control and customization than traditional console controllers provide.
Despite this, the Steam Controller isn’t a great controller. Its plasticky body feels cheap and hollow; it has an awkward, large shape, with difficult-to-reach buttons and controls; and because it’s so different from standard gaming controllers, it requires a substantial learning curve. Until Valve releases better hardware, we can’t recommend it for most people.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
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