For IT, Microsoft 365 shows what still matters about Windows
You might think of it as a subscription bundle that gets your users Office and Windows, but for the company, Microsoft 365 is really about simplifying how businesses manage PC software.
Stories by Mary Branscombe
How AI could revolutionise project management
Estimation, resource management and KPIs are just a few of the key areas where machine learning and predictive analytics can have a positive impact on project outcomes.
Windows 10: IT wants to manage PCs like phones
Many businesses moving to Windows 10 are managing it differently, with more frequent updates and policies borrowed from mobile.
How HoloLens lets you collaborate in context
Going hands-free and heads-up is good for productivity, but the real-world context that you get with HoloLens can improve collaboration in profound and unexpected ways.
Microsoft to open-source cloud framework behind Halo 4 services
Microsoft plans to open-source the framework that helps developers of cloud services like those behind the popular Halo 4 game.
Microsoft announces features and performance improvements for many Azure services
Microsoft announced updates to many Azure services this week, previewing new services and moving others from preview to general availability as full working versions.
Word Online catching up with Word 2013, at least in some areas
The free Office Online applications still have only a fraction of the capabilities in Office 2013, but an update this week adds some welcome new features -- some of which are actually ahead of the client versions.
Microsoft delivers Office mobile management in Intune update
The updates Microsoft has made to its Intune PC and device management service this week are partly catching up to other MDM systems with features like containers for apps and files, a managed browser and bulk enrollment for iOS devices. But they also add unique options for managing Office apps on iOS and Android.
Windows 10 no 'loss leader' for Microsoft, but making money may rely on services
Microsoft won't talk about what Windows 10 will cost until next year. But it's looking unlikely that it will be completely free, either for users or for PC makers building larger devices, after Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner said that Windows 10 won't be a priced to keep users in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Azure updates and human error caused Visual Studio Online outage
The second of two lengthy outages that hit Visual Studio Online in November was caused by the same kind of issues as the first, Microsoft has just disclosed.
Microsoft Pulse 2.0 polling and analytics service launches in beta
CNN used it for polling during the recent gubernatorial debates in Florida and on the "Magic Wall" on election night; Fox News uses it to follow the mood of the U.S. during the president's State of the Union addresses. Now Microsoft is launching its Bing Pulse real-time polling service as a free self-service beta that anyone can use to get feedback from their audience via phones and tablets during an event.
Why is Microsoft updating Windows PCs for a security bug on the server?
When Microsoft released a critical update for multiple versions of Windows Server this month, it also pushed out a fix for several releases of the Windows client OS, including even the technical preview for Windows 10.
Does Skype for Web mean WebRTC is ready for prime time?
Microsoft's upcoming Skype for Web service will use the new WebRTC standard so it works in all modern browsers -- but not right away: Early users will have to download a plugin that's only available on Mac and Windows.
With Clutter, Microsoft is less cautious about bringing machine learning to the masses
Microsoft's new Clutter feature for cleaning up your inbox automatically is the latest of several tools based on machine learning that the Office team thinks are ready for prime time. In fact, it's the latest of many machine learning tools that researchers at Microsoft have developed over the years. But this time, Microsoft is confident enough to make them broadly available.