Microsoft releases major update in Windows 10 April 2018 Update

Microsoft releases major update in Windows 10 April 2018 Update

Microsoft releases Windows 10’s next major update in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. 

Windows 10 April 2018 Update

The free update focuses on helping you save time finding things you’ve been working on and getting back to it. It also helps reduce distractions so you can keep your focus on what really matters and get things done. All of these new features have been in testing by Windows Insiders worldwide. So if you are an insider you will be familiar with some of these. On the other hand if you aren’t then soon the update will be hitting your PC. 

Microsoft will be rolling this update slowly starting with newer devices first and then older ones. But if you can’t wait and want it now there’s what you can do. The guys over at Windows Central have put together some of the common problems and fixes you might encounter in a post. 

Some of the new features in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update include;

TIMELINE

Returning to past activities in your timeline and continue your recent activities instantly in your timeline.
Select Task View on the taskbar(by start or Cortana) or press Windows logo + Tab keys.
 

NEAR BY SHARING

Share files with people and devices near you, over wifi and Bluetooth easily.
Open Photos and select the picture you want to share. Select share, then select the PC you want to share it to. On the other PC, select Save & Open when the notification appears.
 

SEAMLESS SWITCH

Start browsing the web, writing emails, and using apps on your phone, then continue on your PC, instantly.
Add your phone in Windows settings, Phone. 

FOCUS ASSIST

Do you remember quiet hours from windows mobile? Then you have an idea what Focus assist is. It helps you kind of zone out on every other thing and finish off a project or work. So it hides distractions while you work. 
Turn on focus assist to send notifications directly to action center. Select action center on the taskbar, focus assist.

DICTATION

Microsoft is making speech to text very natural and a thing. Use Windows key + H in a text field in Windows 10 or in an app and start talking. You can now easily take a note with your voice.
On the touch keyboard, select microphone on a physical keyboard, press Windows logo key + H to dictate what’s on your mind.

These are to mention a few. Edge has lots of update. Accessibility updates are also in the mix. Photos, videos, Remix 3D apps have interesting features including 3D and mixed reality.  

Watch how to get the update on your Windows 10 PC

iTunes app finally comes to Microsoft Store

iTunes app finally comes to Microsoft Store

Apple’s iTunes application finally debuts in the Microsoft store after it’s announcement a year ago.

iTunes 

Microsoft’s Build developer 2018 event takes place next week. At this same event a year ago Microsoft made a big announcement; iTunes is coming to Windows Store. However we didn’t see or hear anything till it was released in the store on the 26th of April. This could be good news, might be too late to win over other developers or fans. 

“Now you can download iTunes from Microsoft Store and easily play your favorite music, movies, and more—right from your Windows 10 PC. iTunes is also home to Apple Music, where you can listen ad-free to over 45 million songs and download your favorites to enjoy without using WiFi”.

The app is currently only available for PC’s. It might become available as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app and run across devices. Visit the Microsoft store and download the app, synchronize your stuffs and enjoy. 

How does this announcement resonate with you? Share with us in the comments. 

 

Microsoft is keeping focus on fans and users not competitors

Microsoft is keeping focus on fans and users not competitors

Microsoft is focusing on fans and users not competitors in new cultural change

fans

Microsoft’s chief marketing officer Chris Capossela had a sit down with cheddar and spoke about marketing Microsoft. The conversation also included what millennials thought about Microsoft, Microsoft’s competitors and partners in the tech world.

During the discussion he talked about how CEO, Satya Nadella’s cultural change has brought about growth to the company. He said in embracing open source, Microsoft is driving tremendous Azure growth.

He said “millennials tell us purpose is more important to them than product. So we(Microsoft) have moved from the competitive focus we had in the past”.

Productivity and creativity are things that we really think we do well

On How Microsoft competes with Apple and other tech competitors Chris said; 

“It’s far better to focus on our own fans. The fans will talk about your stuffs. The fans will tell you honestly how to make your own products much better. We’ve moved away from the competitive focus to focusing on the people who use the stuffs.” 

This gives the idea that Microsoft is all in on the fans and users just not in the way they think about it. Fans have been disgruntled on the idea to kill off some products and services they loved. 

Responding to Questions on Microsoft putting their products on competing products he said; 

“It’s part of the cultural change, we need to bring our products to the platforms that our customers are using. Office on the iPad or iPhone, Minecraft on every platform. That is a natural thing for us to do when we put our customers at the center of our work”.

Our goal is really to make fans. They tell you where to take your products. When you focus on your fans great things happen.

Microsoft partners with Trevor Noah Foundation to bring Digital Skills to needy Youths in South Africa

Microsoft partners with Trevor Noah Foundation to bring Digital Skills to needy Youths in South Africa

Microsoft partners with Trevor Noah Foundation to bring digital literacy to under-resourced schools in South Africa 

Trevor Noah Foundation

Trevor Noah interacts with students as they demo the microsoft digital literacy content.

Microsoft has partnered with South African-based Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) to provide digital skills to underprivileged youth in a Johannesburg suburb.

Under the partnership, Microsoft’s philanthropy arm will help incorporate technology into classrooms activities at New Nation School in Vrededorp. The government-owned school caters for orphans and children who find themselves outside of the traditional family structure.

Sensational stand-up comedian Trevor Noah recently founded the TNF which focuses on equipping orphans and vulnerable youths with education, life skills and social capital necessary to pursue further opportunity upon graduating high school. 

Microsoft partners with Trevor Noah Foundation

Trevor Noah speaks at his foundation launch event

“We hope to drive sustainable change that improves the lives of the most vulnerable youth in South Africa” says Mr Noah, who is also author of Born a Crime and host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

Microsoft’s philanthropy arm empowers people around the world by providing digital skills, knowledge and opportunity so they can achieve more. Currently it has donated over $1.4 billion in cash grants and technology, supporting over 200,000 nonprofit organizations around the world.

“My dream for many years has been to help underprivileged children get the education they deserve and with this initiative we’re taking the first steps.” – Trevor Noah 

Microsoft is Trevor Noah Foundation Technology partner  

Microsoft believes economies and societies are being rapidly transformed by technology, making the need for digital skills very essential to the jobs of today and tomorrow.

“One of the greatest challenges we face is ensuring everyone has access to the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
As technology advances, we’re committed to ensuring people aren’t left behind.” – Microsoft 

Microsoft partners with Trevor Noah Foundation

Microsoft President, Brad Smith speaks during panel discussion

Microsoft President, Brad Smith, present at the launch to announce Microsoft’s partnership with the Foundation said;
We’re excited to be here today at this special school to support Trevor as he brings opportunity to South African children. We understand first-hand the important role that technology plays in education and we’re proud to partner with him by bringing digital tools and skills to schools like this.”

Every student deserves a bright future. Microsoft is proud to support the Trevor Noah Foundation as it opens doors for South African youth through skills, technology & great schools. – Brad Smith

The Trevor Noah Foundation will scale up the program after the current pilot across the nation. The foundation also believes that with Microsoft as the Foundation’s technology partner, under-resourced schools will have the opportunity to use technology as a tool to enhance the learning experience in classrooms. Beyond the classroom, digital literacy is a life skill that will continue to add value as the student transitions into further education, or their first job.

Speaking about the partnership Microsoft South Africa MD, Zoaib Hoosen said “A truly inspiring launch and approach. We are excited to be partnering to further drive Microsoft’s ambition to empower South Africa youths with the digital skills required for the modern workplace”

Microsoft’s AppFactory program is Empowering Africa’s young developers with skills and modern technologies

Microsoft’s AppFactory program is Empowering Africa’s young developers with skills and modern technologies

Microsoft 4Afrika Academy dean, Lutz Ziob talks about the Microsoft AppFactory Program.

AppFactory
Lutz Ziob speaks to the media

The idea of the Microsoft 4Afrika AppFactory is to bridge the gap of Africans who understand and use modern technologies and platforms. Making them highly employable with modern developer and digital skills in this era of digital transformation.

Microsoft started with two Microsoft development centers for developers in Africa, in south Africa and Egypt back in 2013. The program currently has 16 AppFactory academies across Africa, located in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Mauritius, Malawi and Ethiopia.
[Update: current count is 19. New academies in Botswana and Pakistan.

Through the AppFactory,
Microsoft 4Afrika is empowering Africa’s young developers
with high-level ICT skills in various industries.

– Amrote Abdella
(Microsoft 4Afrika Regional Director)

Working with Partners

Working with partners across Africa we share what we’ve learned in creating a franchise program in training modern developers. We help them train modern developers who become experienced software engineers. Thereby bridging the huge demand of Africans who understand modern technologies and modern development, cloud computing, secure coding, bots and data analytics.

https://youtu.be/y0d7tETzwLc

There’s a lot of open jobs for people with modern developer skills.
And despite having computer graduates they can’t fill the jobs.
So we created a program to train modern developers
.

– Lutz Ziob
(Dean, Microsoft 4Afrika Academy) 

Doing what Educational Institutions are failing at

Companies out there today need a whole range of digital skills. In the space of creating software and solutions you have to have developer skills. The educational systems today are very challenged to understand modern employment needs and demands.
The quickly moving industry is also typically overwhelming the institutions. I wouldn’t say the educational systems are failing. But they maybe failing graduates today to be employable and a future with the skills they deserve.

What we do with the AppFactory is make them understand the latest tools and platforms like Microsoft Azure. Students learn to build digital solutions in business, finance, healthcare, education, agriculture, tourism and transportation.

We also teach them how to work in a real work environment and soft skills that aren’t being taught. Like Learning how to work collaboratively in a modern environment. How to work in the dynamic of a team, who takes the lead, what it means to stay in a budget, how to engage with a customer, etc.

Excited about what Microsoft is doing with the AppFactory program? Let’s hear from you.