Microsoft
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X could Face Supply Shortage
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X could be in short supply over the next few months – according to Xbox CFO, Tim Stuart. He believes that “we’ll continue to see supply shortages as we head into the post-holiday quarter, so Microsoft’s Q3, calendar Q1”. “We’re gonna have more demand than we do supply, and I’ll apologize in advance to people for that,” says Xbox Cheif, Phil Spencer. “I think we’re gonna live in that world for a few months that we’re going to have a lot more demand than we do supply.” This comes just after Microsoft announced that it’s local South African distributors could receive their Series X stock later than expected. “Due to some unforeseen logistical challenges, some stores in South Africa may receive their stock of the Series X | S on day of launch or possib...
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S Bring Spatial Audio to the Forefront of Gaming
With the Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S releasing today and the Sony PlayStation 5 joining it in less than 48 hours, gamers are preparing to sink hundreds — if not thousands — of hours into the new hardware over the next handful of years. But while most of the headlines will focus on the 4K visuals, significantly increased framerates, and effectively nonexistent loading times, one of the major upgrades for audiophiles out there is the improvement in spatial audio — or 3D sound, as most marketing teams are phrasing it. In layman’s terms, what that means is effectively the next step up in tying sound sources to specific locations and directions. Although you may not get the full experience without a home theater “surround sound” kind of setup or a good pair of headphones (Astro’s new A...
HHW Gaming: PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X Both Getting Solid Reviews From Critics
Source: Microsoft / Sony The next-generation of gaming is here. Now it’s time to see what the critics say about Sony and Microsoft’s new video game consoles. Our resident gamer already shared his two-cents on the Xbox Series X, pointing out that it successfully closes the gap between PC and console gaming once Thursday’s (Nov.5) embargo lifted. Friday (Nov. 6) was the PS5’s turn, and the reviews are pouring in. When it comes to both consoles, the consensus is very positive, with reviewers giving their honest opinions on why both the Xbox Series X and PS5 are solid entries into the next generation of gaming. We know many gamers have already made up their minds when it comes to picking which console they want to use to embark on their next-gen gaming journey, but there are still some people ...
HHW Gaming Review: Microsoft Is Closing The Gap Between PC & Console Gaming With The Xbox Series X
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz It’s almost time to level-up (pun intended) to the next level of gaming, and Microsoft will be the first company to release its next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series S|X. I got the opportunity to play with the Series X ahead of its launch, and now it’s time to share my experience with the console. I must admit, I do a lot of my gaming on PS4, and I rarely gave my Xbox One S any attention, so it was like being in a foreign land for me once I powered up the Xbox Series X.BUT, once I pressed the power button, it didn’t take long for me to realize what kind of gaming experience that Micorosft is offering gamers who choose to game on consoles. The company is a mission bridging the gap between PC and console gaming. [embedded content] Design and Hardware Sour...
Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft Report Double Digit Growth while Apple “Plunges”
Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft revenue grew by 35%, 17% and 13% respectively during the first nine months of 2020. On the other hand, Alphabet’s (Google) revenue increased by 9% and Apple’s revenue was up by 4% during the same period. According to the research data analyzed and published by Comprar Acciones, Apple was the only one to post a revenue decline. The three tech giants (Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook) generated a cumulative $152 billion in Q3 2020. Apple Revenue Plunges by 20.7% in Q3 Due to iPhone 12 Delays During Q3 2020, Apple’s revenue totaled $64.7 billion, marking a growth rate of 1% year-over-year (YoY). iPad revenue increased by 46% YoY in that period. Mac revenue grew by 28% and services revenue soared by 16.3%. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_65c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left;...
Microsoft Launches the Surface Go 2 in South Africa
Microsoft has announced that it plans on expanding its Surface device range in South Africa with the introduction of the Surface Go 2 for both commercial and consumer customers. The device will be available for consumers in retail from Incredible Connection stores and Vodacom from 22 October. “We’re excited to expand our Surface family with the addition of Surface Go 2 – our smallest and lightest two-in-one laptop. Its compact design and the versatility of a touchscreen and keyboard will appeal to businesses, schools, students and families,” says Vithesh Reddy, Consumer and Channel Marketing Director at Microsoft South Africa. The Surface Go 2 is expected to bring a more affordable and portable two-in-one device to the Surface line. It can handle everyday tasks; from jotting down idea...
Microsoft Outlook Down Worldwide
Sourced from Wikimedia Microsoft’s Outlook has suffered a global outage impacting web, desktop, and mobile email services. According to The Verge, the disruption began at 2AM ET and ‘users are currently unable to access their email, and Outlook.com is failing to load’. Microsoft has since confirmed the outage, saying that it is currently investigating the issue. “We’ve received reports of users experiencing issues accessing their Exchange Online accounts via Outlook on the Web,” reads an official tweet. “We’ve collected additional data from the affected infrastructures to determine impact to our Exchange online protocols.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_551.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_551.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “Additionally, we’ve identified this issue to be affectin...
Microsoft 365 Suffers Worldwide Outage
Microsoft has confirmed that a number of its cloud services – including Teams, Outlook, and Office 365 – suffered an outage. “We’re investigating an issue affecting access to multiple Microsoft 365 services. We’re working to identify the full impact and will provide more information shortly,” reads an official tweet. The tech company revealed that the outage could have been caused by a recent update – which it has now reverted. “We’ve identified a recent change that appears to be the source of the issue. We’re rolling back the change to mitigate impact.” /* custom css */ .tdi_3_852.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_852.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “We have confirmed via our monitoring that the majority of services have recovered for most customers,” reports Micro...
HHW Gaming: Xbox Series X & Series S Preorder Details & Where You Can Buy One
Source: Microsoft / Xbox The day Microsoft has been hyping is now here, today (Sept.22) is the preorder day for its next-gen consoles. It’s Microsoft’s turn to get gamers hype, and the company hopes it will avoid the same confusion and let down Sony experienced when retailers jumped the gun and began dropping preorder links. Sony has since apologized and promised to release more consoles in the coming days. Meanwhile, Microsoft has been strategically making moves and laying out the details for its big day. Microsoft has also dropped the big news of its purchase of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Studios, hoping it will lure gamers on the fence when it comes to picking a next-gen console. So that means Microsoft now owns A-list game franchises like Doom, Fallout, Skyrim, Prey,...
Microsoft Xbox Series X Now Available for Pre-order
Attention all gamers! The Microsoft Xbox Series X (due to launch on 10 November) is officially available for pre-order. The company says, “Xbox Series X will be our fastest, most powerful console ever and set a new bar for performance, speed and compatibility, allowing you to bring your gaming legacy, thousands of games from three generations and more forward with you.” “As we enter a new generation of gaming, we see a future where you’re instantly absorbed in your games – where worlds are even more lifelike, immersive, responsive and surprising – and where you are at the centre of your gaming experience. With the new Xbox Series X, we will realize that vision.” The latest Xbox is quite literally the boxiest yet – it comes in a clean, rectangular build that can be placed vertically or hori...
HHW Gaming: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Now Available Via The Galaxy Store
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz The future of gaming has officially launched… on Samsung’s flagship smartphone, that is. On Tuesday (Sept.15), Microsoft’s cloud gaming service Xbox Game Pass Ultimate officially exited the beta mode and is now available in the Samsung Galaxy store. The new service allows gamers to play 100 games on either their Samsung Galaxy Note20, Note20 Ultra, or Galaxy Tab S7. Samsung also announced it will be offering consumers an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Bundle when they purchase a Galaxy Note20 (or qualifying Samsung Galaxy device) as well as the MOGA Bluetooth Controller. Consumers will get a 3-month subscription, but you will have to move fast because Samsung is only offering the bundle for a limited time. Source: Samsung Mobile / Microsoft We got a chance ...
ByteDance Rejects Microsoft’s TikTok Bid
Sourced from Gadgets 360. Microsoft has confirmed that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has rejected its bid to acquire the video-sharing platform – the acquisition would allow Microsoft to own and operate the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The tech giant revealed that it would have made ‘significant changes’ to the way that ByteDance and TikTok deal with security, privacy and online safety – something that it believes would have been good for American users. In a statement, Microsoft says, “ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft. We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users while protecting national security interests. To do this, we would have made significant chan...
