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For reference, analysts expected $1.21 per share and revenue of $32.72 billion. The company’s revenue surprised analysts to the tune of a billion while comparing comparably to last year’s $30.1 and $1.14. Xbox is Down, but Surface is Up Even so, there were some notable shifts in revenue distribution this year. That 64% Azure growth is significant, for example, but not near the 73% and 75% of this year’s previous quarters....

However, a recent FCC filing, as found by Windows Latest, suggests Microsoft’s Apple AirPods rival will launch soon. In the filing, the Surface Earbuds are highlighted in several angles, including measurement details. While the filing was submitted by Microsoft on Jan. 22, 2020, the FCC did not publish until March 30. When the FCC makes a file public, it often means a product is ready for launch. You may remember Microsoft originally planned for the Surface Earbuds to launch last year....

This is based on a recent Microsoft patent that describes a screen that can swivel on its hinge. It uses a two-point hinge mechanism that provides stabilization. Windows Central reports this patent is different to so many we see. Usually a patent is for a far away feature that many never even be developed. However, this latest patent seems to be for a device that is imminent. In fact, the report points to a source who claims Microsoft is preparing a new laptop with a non-detachable display....

New data presented by market research firm ETR shows Microsoft Teams is leading Slack in market use and growing faster. Slack’s market share has remain relatively static and adoption rates are decreasing. At the same time, Teams is increasing its share and has higher adoption rates. One major contributor to Microsoft Teams’ success was it is included within Office 365. Tens of millions of users subscribe to Office 365 and each of them received Teams when it launched....

It is worth noting, Linux users can already use Microsoft Teams through the web version. However, Windows Central found a thread on the Microsoft Teams UserVoice page where engineer Alex hinted at expansion to Linux. While not speaking about Microsoft’s desire to bring Teams to more platforms and Linux specifically, he said “stay tuned for more information soon”. It’s important to know the thread was originally created in 2016, but Alex’s response was published last month....

“Get a first look at the SDK to enable game developers to connect players across platforms,” says the description. Under a previous ‘takeaway’ section, the company described the SDK in more detail. It says Xbox Live will soon have a reach of 2B devices across Xbox, Switch, Android, iOS, and Windows 10. The SDK will let developers easily connect players across those platforms. The idea is to remove the need for in-house multi-platform solutions, which can be costly and difficult to develop....

Gaming is becoming increasingly a digital experience, with users purchasing titles exclusively through digital storefronts. Services like the Microsoft Store provide access to a catalog of games and apps, and customers often only see the results. However, under the surface, a lot of work goes into developing a coherent and functional store. Today, Microsoft announced it is migrating the whole Xbox storefront across platforms from its Azure Service Fabric to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)....

Normally the update process if relatively straightforward for users. Usually a prompt is set when an update is available, or some vendors will download the update in the background for later. Apple does this with its iOS devices. Microsoft wants to leverage its artificial intelligence research to make Windows update more efficient. In a blog post today, the company has explained how it opened AI integration in udpates through the Fall Creators Update....

Notably, this version introduces the Node Material Editor, a way of visualizing shader creation that users of Blender and other 3D rendering software will be familiar with. The system is designed to make it far easier for anyone without an understanding of low-level code, enabling basically anyone to create shader networks. On top of this, the rendering engine now supports Native Preview, letting any developer take their code and turn it into a native application....

In terms of the new page title abilities, Microsoft announced this month SharePoint Online will get new options. Users can choose between “four layouts, two alignment choices, text badges above the title, the ability to change the displayed author, and show or hide the published date.” Microsoft says the new features will enhance page control in the following ways: Customize title region | control what the title region of each page looks like (layout, alignment, title, date)....

John Cable, director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, says that Microsoft is now taking steps to ensure all users are up to date. He says users running older Windows 10 versions will start receiving prompts to upgrade to the latest version. These prompts will tell users to review their privacy settings to be able to upgrade to Creators Update through Windows Update. However, to clarify what this means, this is not a prompt for the feature update....

References to a ‘Journal’ app, as well as ‘left and right’ pages made an appearance, suggesting a dual screen device in the works. “This is the accessibility title for the journal application which consists of a left and right page for content creation,” said a description of the app. Though some point out Journal could be a different name for Whiteboard, WalkingCat points out their fundamentally different descriptions. Whiteboard is described by Microsoft as a “single large canvas” with a chrome toolbar at the bottom....

This will be Microsoft basically ending Windows 10 Creators Update in preview. The company will then turn its attention to Redstone 3, the next feature update due later in the year. For the Creators Update, Microsoft is finalizing the release candidate which will come to Windows Insiders next week. This will be the final preview release before Microsoft makes Windows 10 Creators Update generally available. Over the last couple of weeks, Insider preview builds have rolled out at a rapid pace....

The Windows 10 OS Fundamentals Director of Program Management opened the floor to a Q&A session after announcing the Windows Insider Program for Business. He was asked: “What’s the direction for the [Windows 10] Mobile component of the Insider Program?” He replied: “We’ve been flighting Mobile builds now for– actually, since the November Update in 2015. We do not plan to change that, or to stop that. And you’ll see – today, we are still flighting Mobile builds, subject to quality, subject to those release promotion criteria, and we fully expect to keep doing that beyond the release of the Creators Update....

The company says the Windows 10 Team Creators Update is built on extensive customer feedback. It will allow the Surface Hub to be an even more potent work tool for teams and organizations. Available in two sizes (84-inch and 55-inch), the Surface Hub provides a large touch screen computer. It is designed to give businesses a teamwork solution with Microsoft-based services. The device comes with Full HD or Quad HD resolution, while Intel 4th generation i5 and i7 chipsets backed with 8GB of RAM is available....

As mentioned, the Ice Age series is an enduring favorite that spans adults (young when the first movie came out) and kids. The franchise also expands beyond the movies to toys, TV shows, and games. In other words, the Minecraft Ice Age DLC may be late in the history of the franchise, but it is still relevant. From the creators at 4j Studios, this DLC Overworld brings an Ice Age scene and tons of characters from the franchise....

The discovery is thanks to users on the Digital Life forums, who noted several downloads for Windows 10 ARM64 build 16281. Full File List Despite the files’ availability, you won’t be able to install them like a regular ISO. They utilize the Unified Update Platform, so users will have to combine all the files manually to create a proper release. There are already quite a few referencing ARM64, but here are the most notable ones:...

This tool is currently running through the Firefox Test Pilot, a program that allows users to test features before release. It is unclear whether the extension will be released in time for Firefox 63. However, there is certainly enough to time to finalize it before the October launch. Called Advance, the extension is available for everyone today. It is an intelligent tool that analyses the content on the current browser page to recommend what the user may want to “read next”....

Mimecast says its Threat Center software found the bug used in the world by a group of hackers of apparent Serbian origin. The combination allows for the malware to go undetected, leaving the user completely unaware their system is compromised. “Our detection engines spotted an attacker group, which seems to originate from Serbia, using specially-crafted Microsoft Word documents to take advantage of how Microsoft Word handles Integer Overflow errors in the OLE file format,” said Mimecast’s Meni Farjon....