Microsoft (MSFT) News

Mixer co-founders depart as Microsoft’s game streaming service battles Amazon’s Twitch

by Nat Levy on October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 at 5:33 amComment

Mixer has lost both of its co-founders as the Microsoft-owned streaming service looks to mount a challenge to the incumbent power in the market: Amazon’s Twitch. Matt Salsamendi, who co-founded… Read More

Microsoft and GitHub workers protest ICE contracts in latest demonstration of employee activism

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 10, 2019October 10, 2019 at 4:35 pm 2 Comments

Microsoft employees are showing solidarity with workers at GitHub, a subsidiary of the company, who want their employer to cancel contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s the latest demonstration… Read More

Universal blood test from Microsoft and Adaptive is a Google-sized data challenge

by James Thorne on October 9, 2019October 9, 2019 at 7:46 amComment

A novel effort from Microsoft and Adaptive Biotechnologies to diagnose multiple diseases from a single blood test is a data challenge on the scale of Google search. “Google categorized the… Read More

Microsoft’s Brad Smith cites Boeing crisis as cautionary tale for intelligent machines, calls for AI kill switch

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 8, 2019October 9, 2019 at 1:20 pm 5 Comments

For decades, sci-fi movies have predicted a future in which humans lose control of intelligent machines and chaos ensues. Those apocalyptic portrayals of artificial intelligence may seem like a distant… Read More

Republican Senators call Huawei a ‘real and urgent’ threat in new letter to Microsoft exec

by Nat Levy on October 8, 2019October 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm 2 Comments

A group of Republican Senators said Huawei presents a “real and urgent” security threat in a letter to Microsoft President Brad Smith after he publicly called for more evidence behind… Read More

Video

New petition implores Microsoft to make foldable Surface Duo a true Windows phone

by Nat Levy on October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 at 5:30 am 3 Comments

The new Microsoft Surface Duo — the surprising foldable device powered by Android that marks the tech giant’s return to the smartphone market — is not quite Microsoft enough for… Read More

A former Microsoft security expert reviews Brad Smith’s ‘Tools and Weapons’ book

by Christopher Budd on October 6, 2019October 5, 2019 at 8:12 amComment

Brad Smith makes one hell of a convincing argument. How else can you explain the following from Bill Gates’ foreword to his book, “Tools & Weapons: The Promise and the… Read More

Iranian hacker group attacked email accounts tied to a US presidential candidate, Microsoft says

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 at 12:55 pmComment

A hacker group with ties to the Iranian government attacked 241 Microsoft email accounts “associated with a U.S. presidential campaign, current and former U.S. government officials, journalists covering global politics… Read More

Podcast

Microsoft’s new era unfolds: Tech giant looks to take the lead in new category of computing

by Todd Bishop on October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 at 6:45 amComment

Microsoft is back in the smartphone business with the unveiling of its new Surface Duo dual-screen folding device this week. It’s a fascinating story all on its own, as the… Read More

Microsoft donates $223K to finish Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail feasibility study by 2020

by Monica Nickelsburg on October 3, 2019October 3, 2019 at 1:12 pmComment

Microsoft is determined to turn the Pacific Northwest into a connected innovation mega-region akin to Silicon Valley, starting with better transportation between the biggest cities in the area. The Redmond,… Read More

Video

Microsoft unveils ‘Surface Neo’ hybrid folio laptop, and ‘Surface Duo’ dual-screen Android device

by Todd Bishop on October 2, 2019October 4, 2019 at 8:21 am 9 Comments

Wow, what the heck is this? Here’s everything Microsoft announced at its big Surface event, including a foldable smartphone That was our first reaction to Microsoft’s unveiling of its new… Read More

Video

Microsoft unveils Surface Earbuds for $249, taking on Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and others

by Taylor Soper on October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 at 9:22 am 2 Comments

Microsoft is the latest tech giant to roll out wireless earbuds. The company unveiled the Surface Earbuds at its big Surface devices event in New York City. See the all-new… Read More

Video

Here’s everything Microsoft announced at its big Surface event, including a foldable smartphone

by Nat Levy on October 2, 2019October 3, 2019 at 11:11 amComment

Microsoft on Wednesday introduced its next generation of hardware devices, with a pair of foldable, dual-screen devices headlining the event, in addition to refreshes of the company’s top gadgets. After… Read More

Video

Microsoft will use AI to supercharge Novartis’ giant drug-development engine

by James Thorne on October 1, 2019October 1, 2019 at 1:15 pm1 Comment

Microsoft has reached a deal with pharmaceutical giant Novartis that aims to bring the power of artificial intelligence to drug discovery. “AI is perhaps the most transformational technology of our… Read More

Video

Why Microsoft won’t unplug government agencies despite opposition to Trump policies

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 at 4:43 pm 2 Comments

A new wave of employee activism is forcing tech companies to rethink — and in several cases cancel — contracts with the federal government because of some of President Donald… Read More

Ahead of big Microsoft Surface event, leaks point to plans for device strategy and refreshed gadgets

by Nat Levy on September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 at 6:58 amComment

With just a couple days to go before the big Microsoft Surface event in New York City, the leaks are starting to pile up. Microsoft observer WalkingCat posted several images… Read More

Photos

Flight Simulator is back, and it’s real: Microsoft uses cloud to help classic franchise soar again

by Alan Boyle on September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 at 12:02 am 5 Comments

RENTON, Wash. — Thanks to Microsoft’s hyper-realistic new version of Flight Simulator, I now know what it’s like to fly a Cessna 72SP Skyhawk airplane over my neighborhood … then… Read More

Minecraft Earth early access rollout begins in October

by Nat Levy on September 29, 2019September 29, 2019 at 11:02 am1 Comment

Microsoft will begin releasing the highly anticipated augmented reality mobile game Minecraft Earth in October, following several months of beta testing. Like the smash hit Pokémon Go, Minecraft Earth layers… Read More

GeekWire Calendar Picks: AI and faith, a LEGO convention, advice for hardware startups, and more

by Nicole Tanner on September 27, 2019September 27, 2019 at 5:58 amComment

– Advances in artificial intelligence raise new questions about the future of humanity. But what will AI mean for faith? And how could faith shape AI? Queen Anne Lutheran Church… Read More

Tech industry continues push to shape federal facial recognition laws

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 at 10:06 amComment

Tech companies developing facial recognition software want to write the rules that will govern the controversial technology. A coalition of trade groups representing the tech industry sent a letter Thursday… Read More

Google Assistant can now control Xbox consoles in new voice integration between tech giants

by Nat Levy on September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 at 6:59 amComment

The Google Assistant is coming to Xbox, the latest example of Microsoft adding more voice control to its flagship gaming console outside of its digital assistant Cortana. Microsoft is kicking… Read More

Microsoft reveals first affordable housing investment of $500M initiative

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 at 6:23 am 10 Comments

Microsoft announced the first loan it will grant as part of its $500 million affordable housing initiative Thursday, seven months after launching the program. The software giant will provide a… Read More

LinkedIn to address inequality with new push to close ‘networking gap’ for users

by Nat Levy on September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 at 7:46 am 3 Comments

LinkedIn wants to reduce inequality among its member base by taking on the so-called “networking gap” — advantages some people have based on who they know — with a new… Read More

Microsoft vows to keep fighting gag orders on U.S. government surveillance of customers despite legal setback

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 25, 2019September 25, 2019 at 4:04 pmComment

For years, Microsoft has been going to bat with the government over gag orders that prevent the cloud provider from notifying customers when law enforcement seizes their data. Despite a… Read More

Microsoft to begin public trials of Project xCloud game streaming service in October

by Nat Levy on September 24, 2019September 25, 2019 at 5:52 amComment

Microsoft’s highly anticipated Project xCloud game streaming service, which lets users play high-powered Xbox games like Halo on their smartphones, will be available to the public for the first time… Read More

Windows 10 reaches 900M devices as Microsoft inches closer to 1 billion milestone

by Taylor Soper on September 24, 2019September 24, 2019 at 10:03 amComment

Microsoft is closing in on a big milestone for Windows 10. The company announced that there are now more than 900 million devices running Windows 10, up from 800 million… Read More

Video

Watch Microsoft’s original Redmond buildings vanish from above in new time-lapse video

by Kurt Schlosser on September 23, 2019September 23, 2019 at 3:01 pmComment

The modernization of Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus might appear to be in the earliest stages when viewed from the ground. But a new time-lapse video shot from above provides a… Read More

Microsoft-backed counter terrorism group spins out as independent organization

by Monica Nickelsburg on September 23, 2019September 24, 2019 at 7:59 am1 Comment

It’s been six months since a gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand and live-streamed the attack on Facebook, ushering in a new age of technology-enabled terrorism.… Read More

Video

Microsoft helps retailers battle Amazon with new AI and IoT tools for Dynamics 365

by Nat Levy on September 23, 2019September 24, 2019 at 4:22 amComment

Microsoft is doubling down on retail, and it wants to be the first place companies turn to beef up their tech offerings to compete with Amazon. Today, Microsoft unveiled several… Read More

Microsoft shakes up board, nominating GlaxoSmithKline CEO as two longtime directors depart

by James Thorne on September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 at 2:46 pmComment

Microsoft announced big changes to its board of directors today. Two longtime members of the board — Charles Noski and Helmut Panke — are stepping down from positions they have… Read More

Microsoft

Mixer co-founders depart as Microsoft’s game streaming service battles Amazon’s Twitch

Microsoft and GitHub workers protest ICE contracts in latest demonstration of employee activism

Microsoft’s Brad Smith cites Boeing crisis as cautionary tale for intelligent machines, calls for AI kill switch

Republican Senators call Huawei a ‘real and urgent’ threat in new letter to Microsoft exec

New petition implores Microsoft to make foldable Surface Duo a true Windows phone

A former Microsoft security expert reviews Brad Smith’s ‘Tools and Weapons’ book

Iranian hacker group attacked email accounts tied to a US presidential candidate, Microsoft says

Microsoft’s new era unfolds: Tech giant looks to take the lead in new category of computing

Microsoft donates $223K to finish Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail feasibility study by 2020

Microsoft unveils ‘Surface Neo’ hybrid folio laptop, and ‘Surface Duo’ dual-screen Android device

Microsoft unveils Surface Earbuds for $249, taking on Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and others

Here’s everything Microsoft announced at its big Surface event, including a foldable smartphone

Why Microsoft won’t unplug government agencies despite opposition to Trump policies

Ahead of big Microsoft Surface event, leaks point to plans for device strategy and refreshed gadgets

Flight Simulator is back, and it’s real: Microsoft uses cloud to help classic franchise soar again

Minecraft Earth early access rollout begins in October

GeekWire Calendar Picks: AI and faith, a LEGO convention, advice for hardware startups, and more

Tech industry continues push to shape federal facial recognition laws

Google Assistant can now control Xbox consoles in new voice integration between tech giants

Microsoft reveals first affordable housing investment of $500M initiative

LinkedIn to address inequality with new push to close ‘networking gap’ for users

Microsoft vows to keep fighting gag orders on U.S. government surveillance of customers despite legal setback

Microsoft to begin public trials of Project xCloud game streaming service in October

Windows 10 reaches 900M devices as Microsoft inches closer to 1 billion milestone

Watch Microsoft’s original Redmond buildings vanish from above in new time-lapse video

Microsoft helps retailers battle Amazon with new AI and IoT tools for Dynamics 365

Microsoft shakes up board, nominating GlaxoSmithKline CEO as two longtime directors depart

Black Women Founders Creating Change Through Tech

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