windows

Windows 10 Tip: How to enable Focus Assist in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update Most of us spend between 3-6 hours – each day – on screens. Much of this time is spent on social media, where the constant stream of distractions across our myriad of devices makes it hard to focus. With the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, we’re introducing Focus Assist to help you stay in the zone. Focus Assist helps you get more done by easily blocking notifications, sounds, and alerts to create distraction-free work times. This is helpful if you’re giving a presentation or trying to focus on a paper, you can use Focus Assist to block interruptions or distractions. How it works: Work the way you want. Focus assist gives you the flexibility to choose when to block interruptions. Turn on Focus assist whenever [ more… ]

10 cool tech deals for moms and grads this month May is a month of celebration. Whether it’s for students approaching graduation or the mothers who give us endless love, support and guidance in life, we honor loved ones with gifts that will bring a smile to their face. Whether you are shopping for the perfect gift for Mom or a new laptop for your college-bound freshman, be sure to check out the great deals at Microsoft Store and other partner retailers this month! Save $300 on Surface Laptop devices starting on 5/12-5/14 in the US and PR. Surface Laptop Save up to $225 on select Windows Mixed Reality Headsets today through 5/16 in the US and PR. HP Windows Mixed Reality headset Save up to $50 on select Fitbit Wearables, like the Fitbit Ionic, today through 5/12 in the [ more… ]

Early preview of Visual Studio support for Windows 10 on ARM development Today, we are pleased to announce that Visual Studio 15.8 Preview 1 contains an early preview of the SDK and tools to allow you to create your own 64-bit ARM (ARM64) apps. These tools answer the requests of many eager developers, and the development made possible with these tools represents the next step in the evolution of the Always Connected PC running Windows 10 on ARM. Earlier this year, our partners released the first Always Connected PCs powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processors. These Always Connected PCs are thin, light, fast, and designed with instant-on 4G LTE connectivity and unprecedented battery life – now measured in days and weeks, not hours. Thanks to an x86 emulation layer, these Always Connected PCs also allow customers to tap into the wide [ more… ]

How to create accessible apps and immersive game experiences with new eye tracking APIs Last year in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, we introduced Eye Control, an experience that allows customers to control Windows using only their eyes. We continue to design with individuals like Steve Gleason in mind, and always challenge ourselves to build products that create positive change. We understand, however, that fulfilling our mission statement – “to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more” – goes beyond the product alone. It starts with something more foundational: building a platform to empower all developers to create products and experiences that can help improve people’s lives and make a positive impact. Today, we are excited to share the next step in our eye tracking journey. In addition to sharing improvements to Eye Control and [ more… ]