Build Day Two - Your Phone and Sets Shine while Outlook gets Powerful

Day two of Build showcased the best of the software side of Microsoft with a greater focus on Microsoft 365 and Office 365.

Microsoft has introduced “Sets” which is basically is a collection of apps you were using that are relevant to each other. For example, Microsoft demoed a Word document that was being published; the document was opened in a tabbed interface. Using new tabs, they were able to open two more tabs with relevant research from Edge as well as an Excel sheet in another tab. When the overall tab was closed and the Excel spreadsheet reopened, it prompted to reopen the other tabs that were opened at the same time with that file earlier.

There was also some more demonstration about “Your Phone”. The mirroring app has access to the notifications, photos, and messages from the open with the ability to in-line reply from the notification window. The app allows complete access between the phone and computer so any pictures, files, et cetera can be placed in the messages section to be sent from the phone will also be able to be used in applications on the PC. The phone and computer will sync together as basically a screen extension for each other making the need to pick up your phone while on your PC pointless.

In addition, Microsoft provided some more in-detail demonstrations of its Timeline feature. From within Cortana, you can view your entire catalog of recently used applications and files to help with continuing from one device to the other. While this would be an incredibly helpful feature, it does require use of Microsoft Launcher on Android and Edge on iOS.

Finally, Microsoft took the curtain off of Outlook features such as in-app payment and invoicing from directly inside of Outlook. Unfortunately, my fascination with Google led me to pay attention to I/O more than Build so I will update you all with more Microsoft news as it comes in.

Comments

In-display sensors or facial scanners: which will take off?

The fingerprint sensor may be moving back to the front...under the screen. Could this be the next big trend in mobile technology (see previous entry about current trend)? Or, will companies move the Apple way and opt for facial recognition for security? With the debut of the iPhone X, Apple shifted away from the fingerprint sensor and debuted FaceID. Utilizing (arguably) some of the most advanced cameras and sensors, the iPhone X negated the need for fingerprint, bio-metric security by using 3D facial recognition to verify identity. In doing so, the home button vanished from the iPhone along with the ability to scan fingerprints. Several months later, at CES, Vivo demoed the first phone using in-display fingerprint scanner technology ; the idea being to remove bezels on the front as well remove the sensor from the back of the body. Prior to CES, many believed that Samsung would be the first to debut the technology, but they were held back by mass-producing and technological restra...

It looks like Xbox will welcome Google Assistant and Alexa to the party

As detailed by multiple sources yesterday, the Xbox may be getting much more friendly with Alexa and Google Assistant. Windows Central reports that upcoming dashboards are showing an option to enable digital assistants including Alexa and Google Assistant; this would mean Xbox users would no longer be locked in to Cortana. Xbox Dashboard shows digital assistants on the way Currently, Cortana is the only digital assistant that works within the Xbox, but the writing has been on the wall for her demise for a long time. With the discontinuation of the Kinect for consumers, her use was possible only through headsets and microphones which I would imagine few people used on the daily basis.As someone that routes their TV through the Xbox to take advantage of the entertainment system aspect of the device, I can assure you that I seldom have access to a microphone. The death of Kinect basically ended voice interaction However, with the introduction of other digital assistant capabi...

I made my home just a little smarter, and it has already made things so much better

WiFi Smart Plugs I have considered trying to make my apartment a little smarter ever since I moved in. Unfortunately, it is not so easy to just start changing things considering I am renting. For instance, I cannot just start ripping outlets and switches out to swap them with smart switches, and I am definitely not going to swap out the refrigerator, stove, or microwave of a place I do not own. So, what did I do? Nothing for the first month. Unfortunately, that desire for a smart home that I have had since I first started renting years ago never went away. So, I did the easiest and cheapest upgrade I could do: I bought some smart plugs to work with my Home Mini. Only two days in, let me just say that I absolutely love it. First off, smart plugs are dirt cheap in terms of smart home tools, and if you spend a lot of time on eBay like I do, it is even cheaper. For less than $20, I got three smart plugs to try out. If you don't know, smart plugs just plug in to the outlet...

HardwYred

Search This Blog