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Microsoft Build 2021

Microsoft Teams to let developers create collaborative apps, announced during virtual Microsoft Build 2021

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Microsoft revealed a bunch of new updates during the virtual Microsoft Build 2021. These new updates are going to help developers bring real-time, multi-user collaboration for their app offering features like whiteboarding, design, etc. Microsoft has added this series of new updates such that developers can increase user engagement and harness the power of the Teams platform.

The new class of apps has exclusively originated as the solution to the crisis developers faced during the 2020 lockdown. The working scenario changed dramatically as everyone started working remotely and hence a strong purpose of the collaboration was the need of the hour. Microsoft Teams was built for this very reason so that it can enable collaboration creating opportunities for developers to build the next generation of applications.

A Hybrid Workplace

With collaboration being the top priority, Microsoft has added some new features that will help the developers to navigate a new hybrid workplace. The availability of the share stage integration is a new feature that is available in preview. With this new feature, the developers can now build apps and enable a real-time, multi-user collaboration experience. This can be done by extending the main stage of a Teams meeting as the user will get an option to add an app and share it with other attendees. Using this, the developers will experience real-time collaboration which will involve whiteboarding, project boards, design, etc.

Microsoft Build 2021
Image Source: microsoft.com

Developers are also getting a series of new media APIs with resource-specific consent. This will enable real-time audio and video streaming for the developers at the Teams meetings. These new APIs will have added features like transcription, translation, note-taking, insights gathering through their apps, etc.

Microsoft is also adding an extension of the Together Mode coming this summer. This will allow developers to create their own customized meeting scenes for any Teams meeting which they can also share with others. There will be a Scene Designer Tool in the Developer Portal which the developer can use to create custom scenes thus increasing user engagement and making the meetings more fun.

Another feature Microsoft Teams is adding is the availability of the fluid components in private preview. It will allow the developer to send a table or a list as a message. Actions in these items can be taken by everyone in the meeting if they are co-authored by the developer. This reduced redundancy as communication through long chat threads can be minimized as all the changes can be made in the table itself.

The Developer Portal for Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is also enabling automation of meeting related-workflows such as starting and ending of a meeting. The Developer Portal in the Microsoft Teams has been built exclusively for the developers so that they receive a standalone app management console that can be accessed through the web or the Teams. In this portal, the developers can register their apps and configure them within a single or central location. Since Microsoft is adding plenty of new features for the developers, the app might become strong competition for Slack, Zoom, and others.

Other Updates

Apart from the updates in Microsoft Build 2021, the company has also announced support for message extensions in Outlook. This will create a sync between Teams and Outlook as this will allow users to integrate tasks in Teams while emailing someone from Outlook. Additionally, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is also receiving support for Linux graphical user interface (GUI) apps. With this support, any Linux GUI apps can fully run on Windows without setting up a traditional virtual machine.

Upgrades are also made in the Windows search bar to support personalized results from tools such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365. The Windows Terminal 1.9 preview will be also available as announced by Microsoft which also comes with a Quake Mode. The advantage of this mode is users can open a new terminal window in Windows by using a keyboard shortcut from anywhere. In Microsoft Build 2021, an update was also announced for Visual Studio 2019 and support for creating GitHub Actions Workflows directly from the IDE (Gadgets 360).

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft announces the retirement of Internet Explorer as the Future is in Microsoft Edge.

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After more than 25 years, Microsoft is retiring its long-running browser, Internet Explorer, next year. For years, users have avoided using outdated web browsers due to the advent of better alternatives. On June 15, 2022, Microsoft will phase out Internet Explorer.

The Extinction of Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer, which was released in 1995, became the dominant browser for more than a decade because it was bundled with Microsoft’s Windows operating system, which came pre-installed in billions of computers. The browser, on the other hand, began losing ground to Google’s Chrome in the late 2000s and has since been the target of numerous internet memes for its sluggishness. Despite the fact that Microsoft has aggressively promoted its Edge browser to consumers, the company has continued to provide Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 10. One of the primary factors may be that many older enterprise applications and websites only operate with Internet Explorer.

Last year, Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer 11 for the Microsoft Teams web app. Later this year, the company intends to block Internet Explorer from accessing Microsoft 365 services. Microsoft recommends that if you use Internet Explorer, you switch to Microsoft Edge before June 15, 2022, for a quicker and more stable browsing experience. If your company uses Internet Explorer, you may have a large number of legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications that have been built up over time. According to Microsoft, the typical company has 1,678 legacy applications.

Switch to Microsoft Edge Today

According to Statcounter, Google Chrome dominates 65 percent of the sector. Safari, which was developed by Apple and is available on Apple computers and tablets, is the runner-up, with a roughly 19 percent market share as of April of this year.

Internet Explorer and Edge
Image Source: techrepublic.com

To compete more effectively, Microsoft released the Edge browser in 2015, which uses the same technology as Google’s browser. With 3.59 percent and 3.39 percent, respectively, Firefox and Edge are third and fourth. Microsoft advised its web developers to schedule an orderly transition away from Internet Explorer support based on user needs.

Some Exciting Features Of Microsoft Edge

Collections help you to quickly compile information from various websites, arrange it, export it into various folders, or simply return to your work at a later time and pick up right where you left off. Microsoft Edge is the only browser that lets you access your sidebar tabs with a single click. Vertical tabs are expected to appear in the Insider networks in the coming months. The tracking prevention feature in Microsoft Edge is intended to shield you from being monitored by websites you are not specifically visiting, giving you more power over what you see and don’t see. Whether on mobile or desktop, you can choose between three options: Basic, Balanced, or Strict.

Password Monitor is a function that, when activated, notifies you if the credentials you’ve saved to autofill have been found on the dark web. If Microsoft Edge finds a fit with any of your saved usernames and passwords, you will be prompted to take action from inside the browser. You will display a list of all leaked passwords in Settings and be directed to their respective websites to update your password. Microsoft Edge is the only desktop browser that has built-in InPrivate Bing search. As a result, when I browse in InPrivate mode, my searches aren’t associated with me or my account.

Microsoft Edge is the only browser on Windows 10 that allows you to view Netflix in 4K resolution. It is also the only browser on Windows 10 that supports Dolby Audio and Dolby Vision. If you choose to check-in Bing, you can receive reward points as part of the Microsoft Rewards program. You can donate your reward points to a cause of your choosing by activating the new Give Mode tab in your rewards settings. There is no cost to you; simply use Bing to browse. With over 1 million charities to choose from, you can help a cause that is important to you, such as the CDC Foundation and others that are assisting with the COVID response.

How to Get Microsoft Edge?

The new Microsoft Edge is now available for download at Microsoft.com/Edge. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. If you have Windows 10 and do not yet have the latest Microsoft Edge, you can download it today or expect it to arrive on your PC beginning next month as we begin the roll-out. And, whether you download it yourself or wait for it to be sent to your PC, switching is a breeze, with your favorites, passwords, form fill information, and simple settings all transferring to the new Microsoft Edge with a single click.

Windows 10x

Windows Cancels 10x, Launched a New Update for Windows 10 Instead.

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Windows 10 have been one of the most popular OS by Microsoft, and before the pandemic, the company had announced an even better version of the OS, i.e., Windows 10x. But today, Microsoft took it to their official blog and revealed that the company doesn’t have any plans to release the much-anticipated Windows 10x, also known by the codename ‘Santorini’. Rather, it will revamp the existing Windows 10. Microsoft also released a new version of the OS, version 21H1.

The Early Announcement

In 2019, Microsoft had announced that the company will release a new OS, Windows 10x, along with Microsoft’s new dual-screen devices. It was at the time when Microsoft announced its dual-screen foldable laptop, the Surface Neo, in October 2019. The company called Windows 10x, and the dual-screen laptops, its most ambitious projects of all time. But exactly one year ago, the company changed its statement and revealed that it is also planning to release the OS for the single-screen laptops, and those will be the first to get access to Windows 10x. Even during the last announcement, Microsoft had not given any dates on when it will officially launch the OS for any of the devices.

The Cancellation of Windows 10x

Though the company was really excited about the new OS for its lightweight devices, Microsoft today announced that it is has pulled the plug on Windows 10X. The company revealed the information in a blog post that included the announcement of the new update to the existing Windows 10.

In the announcement, Microsoft said that it was intending to launch the 10x technology for a certain group of customers. But in the past two years of exploration and experiments, the company has concluded that 10x can serve a larger group of people, so launching it for only a specific group won’t be fair. So instead of launching a separate OS, windows 10x, the company will be incorporating the key foundational 10X technology into the existing Windows 10 and other products of the company so that all the Windows customers can get benefitted.

Windows 10x
Image Source: storial.in

“Instead of bringing a product called Windows 10X to market in 2021 like we originally intended, we are leveraging learnings from our journey thus far and accelerating the integration of key foundational 10X technology into other parts of Windows and products at the company,” said the head of Windows servicing and delivery, John Cable, in a statement. 

Microsoft also confirmed that it has already started to include some of the 10x features into the Windows products, like the new app container technology has already been integrated into the Microsft products like the Microsoft Defender Application Guard and the Voice Typing.

The New Version 21H1 Update

Microsoft, along with announcing the cancellation of Windows 10x, also announced the rollout of the new version 21H1 update for Windows 10. The company announced the update release in February 2021 and finally launched it in May. Microsoft claimed that the new update is a result of the ongoing work from home situation, and it will provide a better experience for the customers in terms of security, remote access, speed and quality.

According to the blog post, the update won’t be available right away, and the company is trying to help the customers to get the most out of it, so it is going to offer a reliable download to them. The update’s preview build was already available for the Windows Insider Program, and after the positive feedback from the community, the update is finally out for the customers.

How to Get the Update

The company has announced the new update for the devices running the Windows 10 version 2004 and further. The users can go to their Windows settings and select “Windows Update” under “Update & Security”. Here they have to select “Check for Updates”. The screen will show the “Download and install” option, and then, after clicking on that option, the update will download onto the computer. The update is similar to a monthly Windows update, and you can directly start updating the OS by running the downloaded file. According to the company, the update will run faster on Windows 10, version 2004, and version 20H2.

Nuance

Microsoft makes $20 billion bets on Nuance a company pioneering speech AI

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On 12th April 2021, Microsoft and Nuance made the announcement of their joint venture as the former company is acquiring the AI firm for $56.00 per share. This implies that Microsoft paid $19.7 billion in an all-cash transaction which is inclusive of Nuance’s net debt. Nuance is a very trusted company when it comes to healthcare and enterprise AI. The current CEO of Nuance will retain his position and will be working under Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of Cloud & AI in Microsoft. Microsoft is aiming to close the deal this year.

What is Nuance?

Nuance is a famous company currently pioneering in conversational AI and cloud-based ambient clinical intelligence for healthcare providers. Healthcare is a very crucial and sensitive sector as it deals with the human body and mind and not just equipment. So, providing quality AI-based solutions to the healthcare sector is a difficult task that Nuance has been conquering. Some of the products of Nuance are Dragon Ambient eXperience, Dragon Medical One, and PowerScribe One. All these products are leading clinical speech recognition software that is built on Microsoft Azure. 

Nuance
Image Source: variety.com

Nuance builds its products to work with the core healthcare systems like long-standing relationships with Electronic Health Records (EHRs). This helps to reduce the burden of clinical documentation so that the healthcare workers provide better service to the patients. Nuance’s products are in high demand as it is used by 77 percent of the total hospitals in the US. Apart from the healthcare unit, Nuance also builds AI-based solutions for Interactive Voice Response (IVR), virtual assistant, biometric system, etc.

Why did Microsoft acquire Nuance?

Microsoft has been providing unique cloud offerings to a very diverse customer base. The company has significantly invested and partnered with companies that open new scopes for Microsoft in new areas. One of the new sectors Microsoft is offering is healthcare as the company introduced Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare last year. This new product by Microsoft addresses the needs of the healthcare industry as it is transforming very fast. The acquisition makes it clear that Microsoft is planning to offer better solutions in the healthcare industry with the help of AI.

The company announced a partnership with Nuance back in 2019 which turned out to be very successful. This time both the companies together are planning to augment Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare with Nuance’s solution. Also, Nuance’s expertise and relationship with EHR system providers will be advantageous for Microsoft as it will empower healthcare workers in an improved way. Microsoft is planning to do this by harnessing the power of ambient clinical intelligence and other cloud services of the company.

Moreover, the acquisition of Nuance will double the total addressable market of Microsoft in the healthcare space which in the figure is approximately $500 billion. Both the companies will also strongly commit to data privacy, security, and compliance. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft has said that Nuance provides the AI layer in the solutions it provides to the healthcare sector and it is significantly pioneering the real-world application of enterprise AI.

Harnessing the Power of AI

Currently, AI is the most important and widely used technology that is useful in any sector especially healthcare. Microsoft with Nuance is planning to provide advanced AI solutions to the healthcare sector and medical professionals so that they can make better decisions and more meaningful connections. Since Nuance also provides advanced AI-based solutions in other fields, in the future this will come together with Microsoft’s Cloud including Azure, Teams, and Dynamics 365. 

Over the past few years, demand for conversational AI solutions in the healthcare space has significantly increased and Nuance is responding to those needs effectively. But, the room for growth of Nuance is much broader and so is the demand for products it is making. With the help of Microsoft, Nuance can scale globally and try to offer more affordable solutions to people across the world. Microsoft is the right platform through which Nuance will be able to channel its expertise more effectively while Microsoft expands its market at the same time. The deal with Nuance is a very strategic decision that will make Microsoft a very eminent company providing healthcare solutions to the world. 

Google

Microsoft and Google are openly feuding amidst hacks, competition inquiries

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The rivalry between Microsoft and Google is getting exposed in front of the public as both of them are trying to throw each other off the grid. Microsoft and Google are two of the biggest tech giants across the globe and competition between them are getting intense with time. The daily lives of common people in this digital era depend greatly on both of these company’s services.

When you are leading on the market, there are high chances of getting on the wrong side of companies you are trying to outrun. The same goes for American multinational companies, Microsoft and Alphabet Inc’s Google. Tension has been simmering between these two parties has grown due to the existing rivalry and has been unusually exposed to the public eye. The main reason for this sudden increase in tension is that the executives from both companies have been put on the defensive over competing crises (Reuters).

Problems faced by Google and Microsoft

Since both Google and Microsoft are multinational tech giants, both of their infrastructures are expected to top standards, especially on security terms. But, in the last few months, we have seen how Microsoft’s security system was compromised and recently the exchange email system was also hacked by alleged Chinese hackers. There has been more than one cyber attack on Microsoft in less than six months. Microsoft, for these cyber attacks, is facing regular scrutiny, and if continues people using Microsoft’s products will start feeling exposed. Big companies like Microsoft have data of millions of customers and thus if networks of such companies are hacked, the sensitive information of many people is jeopardized.

Google
Image Source: financialexpress.com

The first attack on Microsoft’s cloud server was allegedly the same Russian hackers who comprised the SolarWinds Corp and broke into more than one client’s server. The investigation also showed that these hackers might have accessed data from government agencies as well. Moreover, this hacking incident was one of the biggest cyberattacks ever witnessed by these tech firms. And, the second attack on Microsoft’s email server took place at the beginning of March 2021 and was committed allegedly by Chinese hackers to which Beijing declined.

On the other hand, Google is thrashed by bipartisan complaints and journalism ire for its role in gutting the media industry’s advertising revenue. Between October 2020 and December 2020, Google has faced three government antitrust lawsuits which claimed that Google was illegally maintaining a monopoly in general search and search advertising through anticompetitive conduct and contracts (CNBC). Apart from this, Google was also one of the company’s that was forced to make paid deals with local Australian media for content publishing. The Australian government enforced this law on huge tech giants who have massive power in the media industry.

The Blame game

On the hearing of last Friday at a House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, shot fire at Google. Brad Smith said to the representatives that the media organizations are being forced to “use Google’s tools, operate on Google’s ad exchanges, contribute data to Google’s operations, and pay Google money,” according to excerpts of his testimony published by Axios (Reuters). Google didn’t take it lightly and fired back saying that Microsoft has found a newfound interest in attacking Google which is coming from the SolarWinds attack when the latter allowed many big customers to be hacked due to major vulnerabilities of Microsoft. Some of these customers also include government agencies, police agencies, NATO, hospitals, etc.

Microsoft

The Microsoft E-Mail hack is costing several organizations including European Union Banking Regulator

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Recently, the email system of Microsoft has been compromised due to a cyber-attack which is allegedly caused by a Chinese group. Several organizations have fallen victim to the hack of the Microsoft email system. One of the prime European Union financial regulators, the European Banking Authority has also suffered damage due to the chain of attacks.

Microsoft mentioned in a statement that the company thinks the attack is caused by a state-sponsored Chinese group operating out of China. This alleged Chinese group was trying to exploit some of the flaws in its Exchange email services that were previously not known. According to Microsoft, the main intention of this group is to steal sensitive data from various business and government organizations. Microsoft believes that so far then thousands of users have already been under attack.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has confirmed this attack on Sunday and also the organization is taking its email system offline as a precautionary measure. An organization of this importance suffers a huge casualty due to such cyber attacks. The investigation has already started in close corporation with many forensic experts, its ICT provider, and “other relevant entities.”

Microsoft E-Mail Hack

The hackers have infiltrated the user’s system using Microsoft’s email system. Currently, more than 20,000 US organizations have been compromised. Before this latest attack, there was another major attack last December where the system of SolarWinds Corp was compromised. But, it was believed that the attack in December was carried out by Russian hackers and now the blame has shifted to Chinese hackers. While investigating the latest cyberattack, it has been found out that the hack has left channels for remote access spread among credit unions, town governments, and small businesses (The Indian Express).

Microsoft

Apart from the US organization, many European and Asian organizations have also fallen victim to these attacks. Though Microsoft has issued emergency patches, the hacks don’t seem to get affected. The situation seems to be getting out of control from the big multinational tech giant. Microsoft previously thought that the attackers are targeting only some limited users. But, the hike in the numbers of victims has made the company take the help of government agencies and other security companies to protect its customers.

In response to those who are under attack, Microsoft mentioned that “impacted customers should contact our support teams for additional help and resources” (The Indian Express). Last Friday, Microsoft witnessed that only 10% of the affected customers have installed the patches issued by Microsoft. The numbers are still rising.

Warning, accusations, and declining

Last Friday, Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary mentioned that the vulnerabilities that were investigated in Microsoft’s Exchange Server were quite significant and that it could have a far-reaching impact. There has already been quite a high figure in the victim’s list and nobody still knows how many more to go. Blaming the hacker’s group is sponsored by China, the nation has declined and said that China is not behind this series of events.

The EBA which was also attacked mentioned that they might have accessed personal data. So, EBA advises on taking possible mitigation measures if that is what it takes. The security experts think that either China has changed the tactics of its attacks or there might be a second group that is committing this high-scale network infiltration and data theft.

Microsoft has urged all its customers to install the patch at the earliest. Since the attackers are entering from the back door, it is likely they will attack any unpatched system. Microsoft believes that the SolarWinds attacks and this latest attack are in no way connected. But, the company also first thought that the hackers are attacking specific targets which are now keeping to expand. So, the entire situation is becoming very unpredictable with every passing day.