More productivity for all, smarter cities, and Eddie Vedder and Microsoft raise money for rare...

[Guest Aimee Riordan]

October may have left you in a candy-induced haze, but the first week in November comes with opportunities for increased productivity and news of inspirational people, and their actions. Read on!

 

Microsoft Thursday announced new and updated Office apps and experiences for the iPhone and iPad, a preview of Office for Android tablets and the ability for customers using these devices to create and edit Office content without a subscription. “With Office on nearly every device, it’s incredibly important to us that customers have a consistent experience and the ability to do more – anywhere and everywhere,” writes John Case, corporate vice president for Microsoft Office.

 

 

In other notable news, Microsoft announced, Tuesday, a strategic partnership with Dropbox to integrate file sharing services across Microsoft Office on phones, tablets and the Internet. “In our mobile-first and cloud-first world, people need easier ways to create, share and collaborate regardless of their device or platform,” said Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.

 

Also on Tuesday, Kirill Tatarinov, executive vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions Group, announced at Convergence 2014 Europe in Barcelona, Spain, that Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 will be generally available next month. The new release includes advancements in natural user interface and integration with virtual assistant Cortana. Check out other highlights from Microsoft’s premier conference for the business community, here.

 

 

Imagine a place where beacons affixed to neighborhood objects ping information to a headset worn by someone who’s visually impaired to help them navigate an urban environment. This isn’t a city of the future, it’s a London suburb. The technology? Microsoft’s 3D soundscape in partnership with the charity Guide Dogs. The /stories team has the full scoop, in glorious, high-def detail.

 

 

Speaking of glorious high-def, imagine attending a private Eddie Vedder concert with 90 of your colleagues. That was a dream come true for a lucky few Microsoft employees thanks to their generous donation to the EB Research Foundation — the perfect capper to a banner Employee Giving Campaign season.

 

 

If your plans call for travel, and you like art, check out the City Art Search app, a great resource for finding galleries that house your favorite artists’ works and other must-see masterpieces. View the art, then plan to see it with Art Finder, which pinpoints its location on Bing Maps. If you’re more about breaking a sweat than exploring the Baroque period, check out the Microsoft Health app for Windows Phone, Android and iOS, which helps you achieve fitness goals by tracking your heart rate, steps, calorie burn and sleep quality. Pair the app with the new Microsoft Band wearable device.

 

 

This week on the Microsoft Facebook page, we featured Laura Butler, Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft. Laura told us, “If it’s not fun, you’re doing it wrong.”

 

 

Wishing success, whether your weekend calls for having fun, getting more done, getting in shape or helping your fellow man. Join us for more Weekend Reading. Same time. Same place.

 

Posted by Aimee Riordan

Microsoft News Center Staff

 

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