Here is a look inside the 500 acres Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington

Here is a look inside the 500 acres Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington

The Microsoft campus is located in the Seattle suburb of Redmond, Washington in the United States of America. It covers a land area size of over 500 acres. It has over 100 office buildings and a lake. As a city on its own, it has amenities such as a shopping mall, sports fields and a transport system. All to make the working life of its employees easy and amazing.

Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington

Interesting things at the Microsoft Headquarters:

There is a hallway where high-fives are mandatory.
There is no building 7.
Microsoft visitor centre or building 92, takes you on a journey through the past, present and future of the company. It is also an experiential centre just like any Microsoft store and you can see and have a hands-on with Microsoft products.
Over 50,000 employees work across the campus.

Take a tour inside the massive Microsoft campus

Microsoft is currently building modern workspaces that are ecologically and environmentally friendly. It is modernizing the workplace to enhance productivity and collaboration, the employee experience and support its cultural transformation with these spaces. Microsoft plans to be carbon negative by 2030.

Check out its plan for a modernized Redmond campus of the future.

Ever been to the Microsoft campus in Redmond or any other campus? Tell us what you saw or think. Also, check out Microsoft’s futuristic Israel campus.

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos in the ecosystem.

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Here are some tips on how to pass your Microsoft Excel interview test

Here are some tips on how to pass your Microsoft Excel interview test

Microsoft Excel test interview

Are you are about to take a Microsoft Excel interview test or assessment and want to make sure you have all the basics covered? Or do you need a quick refresher course to get you ready to ace your Microsoft Excel test? Here are a few videos below from some amazing teachers that will help you prove your functional knowledge of Excel.

Each video covers something unique or different so kindly check their descriptions to make sure you find what meets your needs. You can also check out excel practice online. A platform that allows you to learn and practice excel functions and tools at any level. All the best with your test and interview.

7 key questions asked as part of the Microsoft Excel interview test with Vadim Mikhailenko

Learn how to to make an entire row bold or italic in excel.
Make rows with different background colours and calculate a total for either a quarter or year.
Sort out data from smallest to largest and group data based on categories. Other things include inserting a chart into a worksheet and forecasting revenue.

Top frequently asked MS Excel interview questions and answers in any Excel Job Interview test with My E-Lesson

This video covers topics such as Vlookup Formula in Excel, making charts in Excel. Using Pivot Table in Excel, how to remove duplicates in Excel and Protecting Sheets in Excel. It also expounds on tracking, data and simple calculations.

5 Excel interview questions you need to get right with Leila Gharani

Leila is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). She explains Excel VLOOKUP function and limitations, how absolute reference in Excel differ from relative cell reference? Other topics covered are;
What is a PivotTable and why should you use it?
What is conditional formatting?
When would you use the IF Function or a Nested IF in Excel?

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First look and hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360

First look and hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360

Samsung announces the new Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 computing devices at Galaxy Unpacked April event. The new Galaxy Book personal computers (PCs) are designed to be more like your smartphone. Giving you performance on the go, ultra-vivid display and seamless integration with your other devices.

Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, says the Galaxy books are as thin as a smartphone and ultra-light. Well, not all that thin and light. The 13″ Galaxy Pro Book weighs 0.87kgs whilst the 13″ Galaxy Book Pro 360 with Wi-Fi weighs 1.04kg. He also notes you’ll get a flawless integration experience between Android and Windows.

Samsung says the new line of Galaxy Book will launch on May 14th in select markets. Galaxy Book Pro will start at $999 and the Galaxy Book Pro 360 at $1199.

Check out the device specifications as well as the device hands-on below.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 specifications

Galaxy Book Pro 360​ 13Galaxy Book Pro 360 15
Dimensions302.5 x 202.0 x 11.5 mm354.85 x 227.97 x 11.9 mm
Weight​Wi-Fi : 1.04kg5G : 1.10kg1.39kg
OSWindows 10 Home/ProWindows 10 Home/Pro
Display​13.3-inch Super AMOLED, FHD ​(1920 x 1080)​15.6-inch Super AMOLED, FHD​ ​(1920 x 1080)
CPU​11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (i7/i5/i3)​11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (i7/i5/i3)​
Graphic​Intel® Iris® Xe graphics (i7, i5)Intel® UHD Graphics (i3)Intel® Iris® Xe graphics (i7, i5)Intel® UHD Graphics (i3)
Connectivity5G,Wi-Fi 6E Ready, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2Bluetooth v5.1Wi-Fi 6E Ready, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2,Bluetooth v5.1
Color​Mystic Navy, Mystic Silver, Mystic Bronze ​Mystic Navy, Mystic Silver, Mystic Bronze ​​
Memory8GB, 16GB (LPDDR4x)8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x)
StorageUp to 1TB (NVMe SSD)Up to 1TB (NVMe SSD)
Camera/Mic720p HD / Dual Array Mic720p HD / Dual Array Mic
AudioSound by AKG, Dolby Atmos®Sound by AKG, Dolby Atmos®
KeyboardPro KeyboardPro Keyboard
S PenIn-boxIn-box
Battery​63Wh (Typical)68Wh​ (Typical)
Adaptor​65W USB Type-C Fast Charger65W USB Type-C Fast Charger
AuthenticationFingerprint​ on Power KeyFingerprint​ on Power Key
PortsThunderbolt™ 4 (1), USB Type-C (2), 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD, nano SIM39Thunderbolt™ 4 (1), USB Type-C (2), 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD

Galaxy Book Pro specifications

Galaxy Book Pro 13Galaxy Book Pro 15
Dimensions304.4 x 199.8 x 11.2 mmINT : 355.4 x 225.8 x 11.7 mmEXT : 355.4 x 225.8 x 13.3mm
Weight​Wi-Fi : 0.87kgLTE : 0.88kgINT : 1.05kgEXT : 1.15kg
OSWindows 10 Home/ProWindows 10 Home/Pro
Display​13.3-inch AMOLED, FHD ​(1920 x 1080)15.6-inch AMOLED, FHD ​(1920 x 1080)
CPU​11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (i7/i5/i3)​11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (i5/i7/i3)​
Graphic​Intel® Iris® Xe graphics (i7, i5)Intel® UHD Graphics (i3)Intel® Iris® Xe graphics (i7, i5)Intel® UHD Graphics (i3),NVIDIA® GeForce® MX450
ConnectivityLTE,Wi-Fi 6E Ready, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2,Bluetooth v5.1Wi-Fi 6E Ready, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2,Bluetooth v5.1
Color​Mystic Blue, Mystic Silver, Mystic Pink Gold ​Mystic Blue, Mystic Silver, Mystic Pink Gold ​
Memory8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x)8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x)
StorageUp to 1TB (NVMe SSD)Up to 1TB (NVMe SSD)
Camera/Mic720p HD / Dual Array Mic720p HD / Dual Array Mic
AudioSound by AKG, Dolby Atmos®Sound by AKG, Dolby Atmos®
KeyboardPro KeyboardPro Keyboard
Battery​63Wh (Typical)68Wh​ (Typical)
Adaptor​65W USB Type-C Fast Charger65W USB Type-C Fast Charger
AuthenticationFingerprint​ on Power KeyFingerprint​ on Power Key
PortsThunderbolt™ 4 (1), USB Type-C (1), USB 3.2 (1) 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD, nano SIMThunderbolt™ 4 (1), USB Type-C (1), USB 3.2 (1), HDMI(1), 3.5pi Headphone/Mic, MicroSD

Here is a first look and hand-on of the newly announced Samsung devices.

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Microsoft brings three new Azure Specialization courses to Coursera

Microsoft brings three new Azure Specialization courses to Coursera

Coursera is collaborating with Microsoft to bring opportunities for skilling in Azure to its 80 million learners. The partnership will see Coursera offer three Microsoft Azure Specialization courses on its platform.

Launching immediately is Azure Fundamentals which gives learners a foundational understanding of Azure cloud services. It also gives basic knowledge to build cloud solutions and helps prepare for the AZ-900 exam certification. This will be followed with Azure AI Fundamentals and Azure Data Fundamentals courses in May.

The AI Fundamentals will teach learners about artificial intelligence (AI) topics, like machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and conversational AI. While Data Fundamentals will dive deep into the roles and tasks involved in using Azure to store, process, manage and analyze data.

Leaners who complete and pass all courses in a specialization will receive a voucher for 50% off the certification exams. Microsoft is offering scholarships to 600 eligible Women in Cloud members to all three Specializations and their respective certifications.

Click to enroll and find out more on the Azure Specialization courses on Coursera.

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Here is what you should know about Microsoft Build 2021 May digital event

Here is what you should know about Microsoft Build 2021 May digital event

Microsoft Build 2021 digital event keynote

Registration for Microsoft Build 2021 is opened and it will be a completely free digital-only event. It will be in the form of a 48 hour long virtual interactive experience available across all the time zones. Microsoft’s developer-focused event will start from 3 PM GMT, 6 PM EAT, 5 PM SAT, May 25th to 27th 2021.

Like last year, Microsoft notes registration for Build is free but to get access to the full interactive content you’ll need to register. However, sessions covered on the hero video such as the keynotes will not require you to be registered. Event attendees will be able to customize 48 hours of continuous content to get their digital event experience. The event will have both live segments such as the keynotes, live technical sessions and Q&A. As well as already recorded content sessions.

Whether you are a student or an experienced app developer, you will gain action-ready skills specific to what you do through immersive experiences, engaging with community, and one-on-one guidance from Microsoft engineers.

To enjoy a total conference experience Microsoft advises you to register as most sessions will require you to sign in. Registration will give you the ability to schedule your viewing events or sessions. And to access the connection zone, one-to-one consultations with an expert, and other community and networking sessions.

Featured speakers for Build include Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, Amanda Silver, CVP Products, Developer tools, Donovan Brown, and Scott Guthrie EVP, Cloud and AI Group. Others speakers are Scott Hanselman, Kayla Cinnamon, Rajesh Jha, Kevin Scott, Anna Hoffman, Dona Sarkar, Christina Warren and more.

Click here to register and visit the Microsoft Build 2021 digital event page for more details.

Imagine Cup finals @ Microsoft Build 2021

Build 2021 will also host the finals of the 2021 Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship. Where Team REWEBA from Kenya alongside three other teams across the globe will present and showcase their solutions for a chance to win the competition.

What to expect?

  • Keynotes: Headlines and announcements delivered by executives
  • Technical/Breakout Sessions: More in-depth coverage of keynote content
  • Ask the Experts: Sessions with experts in cloud, desktop, mobile, and web development for guidance specific to your project or interests. 
  • Humans of IT: Discover the intersection between humanity and tech through inspirational stories about humans who use tech for good.
  • Table TopicsGather the community for live discussion on camera, and in chat! Get inspired by community experts, learn best practices, and discover helpful resources with other attendees.
  • Local Connections: Opportunity to engage with attendees on a local level. Dedicated time for local leadership to deliver an experience to help attendees find developers and experts with similar interests within their region.
  • Student Activities: Content covers key topics to help you get started across a variety of Microsoft technologies, job roles, and interests.
  • Learn Live: Guided online with a subject matter expert to walk and talk through Microsoft Learn modules​.
  • Partner Sessions: Connect with Microsoft Partners in either an Ask the Expert or Table Topics session
  • Product Roundtables: Two-way discussions between product teams and customers
  • Cloud Skills Challenge: Complete preset collections of online learning modules for a chance to win prizes.
  • One-on-One Consultations: One-on-One Consultations will provide Microsoft Build attendees a unique opportunity to connect with a Microsoft professional to discuss specific questions and solutions. Sessions are 45 minutes long and provide the only one-on-one setting at the conference.

Like previous Microsoft Build events stay tuned and we will bring you the keynote livestream and announcements from the event.

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Team Bloom wins Microsoft Game of Learners virtual hackathon

Team Bloom wins Microsoft Game of Learners virtual hackathon

Microsoft Game of Learners

After weeks of gruelling teamwork, Microsoft announces team Bloom as winners of the second season of its Africa Development Center (ADC) Game of Learners Virtual Hackathon. Team kaizen came in second place and Team Tulearn came in third to complete the winning three teams.

Season 2 of the Microsoft ADC Game of Learners virtual hackathon competition involved 60 undergraduate students from Nigeria and Kenya. With the teams taking on the challenge of solving the education accessibility problems in Africa using technology. The 12 teams had a diversity and gender balance of 30 females and males.

Team Bloom led by Bethany Jepchumba from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, designed the winning solution Bloom-Learn.

Microsoft Hackathon Game of learners Africa

The solution features a digital platform with capabilities to link students and teachers across Africa. Teachers are able to upload classes, create one-on-one sessions with students, as well as communicate with students on each course via a chat forum. Students can use a booking session to connect with teachers. Bloom-Learn is built with Microsoft’s Azure App Service, Power platform and Microsoft 365.

The other Team Bloom members include Joy Kathure (Dedan Kimathi University, Kenya), Festus Idowu (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria), Fortune Adekogbe (University of Lagos, Nigeria) and Afandi Indiatsi (Strathmore University, Kenya).

Jack Ngare, Microsoft ADC Kenya Managing Director, notes that Microsoft is committed to supporting these young innovators to develop some of their ideas into viable solutions.

Team Bloom gets the winning trophy and each member will receive a smartphone. They also get one-year Azure credits and one year LinkedIn Learning vouchers. Azure Developer exam voucher, digital certificate, digital badge, a swag bag, and one-on-one mentorship from preferred professionals for winning.

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