It may be time to put away those flip flops and linen whites, but there’s no post-Labor Day blues for Weekend Reading. We’ve got a September that’s already full of sizzle. Check it out.
It’s been an exciting week in Berlin at IFA, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics trade shows, where Microsoft announced additions to the Lumia line of devices, including the ultimate Skype and selfie phones, while Yezz also announced devices with Windows Phone 8.1. And there were tablets, tablets and more tablets, writes Nick Parker, Microsoft’s corporate vice president, original equipment manufacturer division. For more on the latest in devices and PC gaming announcements at IFA, check out Parker’s post.
That slight snap in the air means only one thing: football! After nailing most of the matches during the biggest global soccer event this summer, Bing Predicts is ready to call NFL games, which means virtual assistant Cortana is the secret weapon that could elevate you to pro pigskin oracle.
Also in the category of awesome, Xbox One is coming to 29 new markets this month, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, announced Tuesday. The new markets include: Chile, Colombia, Japan, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and Russia, with Argentina in the works.
Want to know more about the people behind Bing? Check out this profile of Bing Data and Analytics Program Manager Kevin White and find out why red wine and data science make the perfect pairing.
In other news this week, the Willis Independent School District in Texas announced it has chosen ASUS Transformer Book T100 tablets – equipped with Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 – over Chromebooks for its students citing “flexibility, portability and security.” Here here!
Never enough football? The NFL Now app, which boasts a personalized video stream of your favorite teams, players and coaches, as well as breaking news, interviews and feature stories, is now available in the Windows Phone Store and the Windows Store. More mid-century than mid-field? Check out “Time Mysteries 3: The Final Enigma” for Windows and Windows Phone, which brings the timeless story of Esther Ambrose and her family to a stunning conclusion. And because there is life after Labor Day, download the GroupMe app for Windows Phone to connect with friends and coworkers and get the next round of party planning going. Finally, your Windows Phone does more than help you manage your calendar, it can also help you keep track of your medical records and doctor visits with the Microsoft Health Vault.
Here’s hoping there’s still a little sizzle left in your summer. See you back here for more hot news next week.
Posted by Aimee Riordan
Microsoft News Center Staff