Tag: Microsoft

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Microsoft’s new Office UI is rolling out now

Microsoft started rolling out its new Office user interface (UI) to Office 365 and Office 2021 users on Windows.

The Redmond, Washington-based company started testing the new UI in the summer. Primarily, the updated look brings Office apps in-line with Windows 11 with a more rounded look to buttons and the ‘ribbon’ bar. Additionally, the new UI features matching colours throughout — blue for Word, green for Excel, etc.

Image credit: Microsoft

Another significant addition is that Office apps will now match your Windows theme settings. In other words, the new UI will swap between light and dark mode based on Windows settings, no need for users to mess with Office’s theme settings (or set up automated switching processes).

If you have Office 365 or Office 2021, you can toggle the new UI on or off using the ‘Coming Soon’ megaphone icon in the top-right corner. You may also get a pop-up letting you know about the new look — I received one on my desktop and on my laptop after launching Word and opening a document. Microsoft says that it enabled the new look automatically for about 50 percent of ‘current channel subscribers,’ but the change should be live for everyone.

GIF credit: Microsoft

Overall, most of the changes appear to be subtle. Most of them are visual, with (at least as far as I can tell) little change to functionality. That said, Microsoft previously teased more dramatic Office UI changes, which will likely hit the web versions of the apps first (Microsoft likes to test big new features there).

You can learn more about the refreshed Office UI here.

Source: Microsoft Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

20 percent of Xbox Cloud Gaming players exclusively use touch controls

Microsoft has revealed to The Verge that 20 percent of people who use Xbox Cloud Gaming exclusively play games with touch controls.

Cloud Gaming, a perk of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, allows games to be streamed to mobile devices, consoles and PCs. While Xbox controllers are universally supported, developers have the option of enabling “touch controls” in their games to give players a virtual gamepad. More than 100 Cloud Gaming titles support touch controls as of last month.

What’s more, Microsoft told The Verge that 30 percent of players of the following games exclusively use touch controls:

  • Dragon’s Quest XI
  • Football Manager 2022 Xbox Edition
  • Hades
  • Minecraft Dungeons
  • New Super Lucky’s Tale
  • Scarlet Nexus
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

According to Microsoft, Xbox Cloud Gaming titles with touch controls have seen an average of double the usage. More information on touch controls can be found here.

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft Edge prompt calls Google Chrome a browser that’s ‘so 2008’

You know that annoying prompt to install Chrome that shows up whenever you access a Google service with a non-Chrome browser? Well, Microsoft decided that was a great idea.

The company’s actually not terrible Edge browser will now show a pop-up prompting users to keep using Edge when they try to download Google Chrome. Neowin originally spotted the pop-ups and The Verge was able to confirm them. They definitely show up on Windows 11 and some reports indicate the prompts appear on Windows 10 too. I haven’t been able to trigger one yet on my Windows 11 PC and it isn’t clear if Edge will show the pop-up for other browsers.

Now, there are a few main differences between the Google and Edge prompts. For one, Google’s prompt is rendered as part of Google’s websites like Search and Gmail, while the Edge prompt appears to be part of the browser UI.

However, both prompts look very similar.

Microsoft Edge’s new prompt discouraging people from using Chrome | Image credit: Neowin

Another major difference is that Google’s prompt has an option to dismiss it, while Edge only shows one button to continue using Edge. I’d say this gives some points to Google, but only barely — the Google prompt perpetually ignores that I’ve declined the offer to use Chrome.

Google’s prompt to use Chrome that appears on the company’s websites | Image credit: Neowin

The final difference is that Edge seems to cycle through various prompts, all of which smack of that classic corporation-trying-to-be-witty-and-failing vibe. Here are some of the variations spotted so far:

  • “Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft.”
  • “‘I hate saving money,’ said no one ever. Microsoft Edge is the best browser for online shopping.”
    “That browser is so 2008! Do you know what’s new? Microsoft Edge.”

These new prompts are Microsoft’s latest effort to get people to use its Edge browser. They build on other behaviours, such as messing with Windows’ default browser settings (and making it harder to change those settings in Windows 11), putting prompts in Bing search, warnings in Windows’ settings that Edge is safer than other options and more.

What’s particularly frustrating about this is the new Chromium-based Edge is actually a pretty good browser and, in many ways, I prefer it over alternatives. It’s certainly not a perfect browser, but Edge offers excellent performance on Windows machines and unique features that set it apart from competitors. Maybe if Microsoft marketed Edge on those merits rather than using scummy and annoying tactics, more people would be willing to give it a shot.

Source: Neowin, The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox is opening up its console feature testing program to more people

Xbox is making its Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead feature testing rings available to more people.

To gain access to the invite-only club, Microsoft is now inviting gamers to complete a survey to potentially be considered.

This survey will be accessible to Xbox Insiders (regardless of ring or length of time as an Insider) in the Xbox Insider Hub. From there, select ‘Activities,’ go to ‘Available’ and scroll down to ‘Joining new rings.’ This will bring up the survey.

Those who complete the survey and are ultimately chosen will be notified via a notice on their Xbox console. Xbox says it doesn’t share specific information on how it selects testers, but a “variety of factors like high-quality submitted feedback, quest/survey participation, and playing games” are considered.

Typically, Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead testers will receive early access to upcoming features before those in other Insider rings.

Source: Xbox

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Mobile Syrup

Check out Microsoft’s Minesweeper-themed ugly holiday sweater

Have you ever wanted a Minesweeper ugly holiday sweater? Probably not, right?

Thanks to the Xbox Gear Shop, what was likely never your dream is now a reality. The surprisingly detailed holiday sweater features a Minesweeper level shaped like a Christmas tree, with mines taking on the role of snowflakes and classic Windows minimize and expand buttons.

Of course, there’s also the classic Windows logo in the top left corner of the front of the sweater.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has released an ugly holiday-themed sweater either. For example, last, the company dropped a holiday sweater based on MS Paint.

In Canada, the ugly Minesweeper holiday sweater costs $97.95, though as of right now, it’s currently sold out in all sizes.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Microsoft Via: Windows Central 

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Mobile Syrup

Check out Microsoft’s Minesweeper-themed ugly holiday sweater

Have you ever wanted a Minesweeper ugly holiday sweater? Probably not, right?

Thanks to the Xbox Gear Shop, what was likely never your dream is now a reality. The surprisingly detailed holiday sweater features a Minesweeper level shaped like a Christmas tree, with mines taking on the role of snowflakes and classic Windows minimize and expand buttons.

Of course, there’s also the classic Windows logo in the top left corner of the front of the sweater.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has released an ugly holiday-themed sweater either. For example, last, the company dropped a holiday sweater based on MS Paint.

In Canada, the ugly Minesweeper holiday sweater costs $97.95, though as of right now, it’s currently sold out in all sizes.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Microsoft Via: Windows Central 

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox app will soon support sharing of gameplay clips through public links

If you’ve used the Xbox app to share gameplay footage, you’ll be aware that the process isn’t very intuitive.

For example, in the iOS app, I need to download the clip to my iPhone 13 Pro first and then share it through social media. Thankfully, it looks like that will change.

According to a recent tweet from Microsoft’s Larry Hryb (Major Nelson), users will soon be able to create publically sharable links directly in the Xbox mobile app. These links will then be located in a new ‘trending content’ section that features other public links shared by players on your friends list. You can also take these public links and share them on a social media platform like Twitter or Facebook.

The feed itself will be very TikTok-like, allowing users to scroll through content and like, comment and share videos.

These new features are currently being tested with a small number of users but will roll out to everyone soon, according to Hryb.

As someone who often shares Halo Infinite clips on Twitter, I’m hoping that the ability to share public links makes that process a little more seamless and intuitive.

Source: @majornelson

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Xbox app will soon support sharing of gameplay clips through public links

If you’ve used the Xbox app to share gameplay footage, you’ll be aware that the process isn’t very intuitive.

For example, in the iOS app, I need to download the clip to my iPhone 13 Pro first and then share it through social media. Thankfully, it looks like that will change.

According to a recent tweet from Microsoft’s Larry Hryb (Major Nelson), users will soon be able to create publically sharable links directly in the Xbox mobile app. These links will then be located in a new ‘trending content’ section that features other public links shared by players on your friends list. You can also take these public links and share them on a social media platform like Twitter or Facebook.

The feed itself will be very TikTok-like, allowing users to scroll through content and like, comment and share videos.

These new features are currently being tested with a small number of users but will roll out to everyone soon, according to Hryb.

As someone who often shares Halo Infinite clips on Twitter, I’m hoping that the ability to share public links makes that process a little more seamless and intuitive.

Source: @majornelson

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Microsoft Teams Essentials offers expanded meeting limits for small businesses

Microsoft now has a stand-alone Teams offering aimed at small-midsize businesses (SMBs).

Dubbed ‘Teams Essentials,’ the new product packs in a few new features designed specifically for SMBs alongside the typical slate of Teams features.

That includes extended meeting times sizes, with a 30-hour time limit and a 300 person limit. Teams Essentials also offers twice the amount of free Teams cloud storage: 10GB.

Beyond that, Teams Essentials offers the same features as regular Teams. That includes calendar integration with Outlook or Google, group chat templates, easy invitations, and much more.

It’s also worth noting that regular customers looking to use Teams for personal use can unlock the expanded meeting capabilities with a Microsoft 365 Family or 365 Personal subscriptions instead of getting the business-oriented Teams Essentials.

Microsoft says it will sell Teams Essentials direct to customers as well as through cloud partners. You can learn more about Teams Essentials here.

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘Clarity Boost’ for better streams on Microsoft Edge

Xbox Cloud Gaming now offers crisper, less blurry pictures on Microsoft’s Edge browser through a feature called Clarity Boost.

In a blog post, Microsoft noted that Clarity Boost “uses a set of client-side scaling improvements to improve the visual quality of the video stream.”

Refer to the image below from the Canadian-made Gears 5 for an idea of how Clarity Boost looks in action:

Xbox Cloud Gaming Clarity Boost

For now, Clarity Boost is only available on Microsoft Edge Canary, but the company says the feature will come to all Edge users sometime in 2022.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with a $16.99 CAD/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription alongside Game Pass for Console and PC, Xbox Live Gold and EA Play. The service launched on Xbox consoles earlier this month and is also available on Android and iOS (via browsers).

Source: Xbox