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Microsoft built Halo 5's weapons 'from scratch' for Xbox One
Halo 5: Guardians' soundtrack isn't the only aspect of the game's audio that got an overhaul -- the developers at 343 Industries had to reimagine what the Xbox One exclusive's weapons sound like, too. Because of the sheer amount of sounds happening at once during firefights, 343 had to figure out some creative ways to keep the aural calamity in check. It's quite a bit different in scale from 343's last outing, 2012's Halo 4, where there was a handful of characters on screen simultaneously, as opposed to 40 or 50 in the forthcoming sequel. "We have many more sounds and the mixing is a very challenging situation," 343 Industries audio director Sotaro Tojima said in a recent interview. "We're establishing pretty much all the weapon sounds from scratch again for Xbox One."
The 'Halo 5: Guardians' soundtrack gives fans what they want
When Microsoft's in-house Halo studio 343 Industries took the franchise over from creator Bungie, it made a bold statement by abandoning longtime composer Marty O'Donnell's iconic score for one mostly written by Neil Davidge of the English trip-hop group Massive Attack. Think of it like Disney replacing John Williams' iconic Star Wars score with something by Randy Newman and you're about halfway there. His changes were drastic, eschewing established musical tropes for something simultaneously foreign and familiar, leaving no sacred cows behind. It was a ballsy move, and at the time 343's freshman bravado made a statement about how it would handle the franchise moving forward. But something happened in the three-year gap between then and now: 343 released Halo: The Master Chief Collection to disastrous technical results. How broken that game was (and in some cases still is) had an effect on the development team, and likely killed some of its confidence.
ASUS may make its own version of Microsoft's HoloLens glasses
Microsoft might not be the only one making a holographic augmented reality headset in the near future. ASUS has revealed to CNET that it's talking to Microsoft about making a version of HoloLens. The firm is "still evaluating" what these glasses would look like, so you shouldn't expect to wear Republic of Gamers-branded eyewear any time soon. However, Microsoft is quick to note it's trying to "create a category" with HoloLens -- it wants to see a full-fledged holographic display ecosystem, not just its own gear. Don't be surprised if the technology (eventually) hits the mainstream through ASUS and a slew of other familiar Windows hardware makers.
Microsoft wants you to stick with Windows 10's default apps
If you don't like how difficult it is to change your default web browser in Windows 10... well, you may be particularly upset in the near future. A leaked Windows 10 preview release now gives you a prompt whenever you're trying to switch away from a default Microsoft app, such as the Edge browser. You're asked to give the stock app "a shot," and the most prominent option is to stick with the Microsoft option -- not exactly subtle. It's not certain that this will reach the public Insider Preview program, but it's evident that the company is at least toying with the idea.
Microsoft's 1TB Surface Book will cost you a hefty $3,199
Microsoft talked about the Surface Book having up to a 1TB solid-state drive when it announced the laptop/tablet hybrid, but you couldn't actually buy it on launch -- 512GB was as good as it got. Well, that extra-capacious model is now available for pre-order... and to no one's surprise, it won't come cheap. This ultimate configuration (which also includes a Core i7, 16GB of RAM and dedicated graphics) will cost you an eye-watering $3,199, which makes the $2,699 512GB model suddenly seem like a bargain. Not that there's a rush to buy the 1TB version right away. This and most other Surface Book models won't ship for another 7 to 8 weeks thanks to brisk demand, so you might as well think it over before you drain your bank account.
Here's how 'Halo 5: Guardians' multiplayer rankings work
Halo 5: Guardians is almost upon us, and once the campaign credits roll (or the game itself finishes installing on your Xbox One, depending on your style) you might be curious how multiplayer ranking works. Wonder no more because it's similar to League of Legends according to a post on Halo Waypoint. Your starting placement in matchmade Arena games is determined by how you fare in your first ten games. That "Competitive Skill Rating" breaks down into seven categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Onyx and Champion. The post stresses that the only way to increase your rank after those initial ten matches are set is by winning.
Researchers build a cheap camera that sees what we can't
Normally, our eyes can see things better than our cameras, which is why those smartphone shots of a full moon at night are so bad. Hyperspectral imaging is a way to fix that, since it can capture parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, like near-infra-red light, that humans are incapable of seeing. Unfortunately, these cameras are hideously expensive, so you're more likely to find one on a military satellite than in Best Buy. Thankfully, a team made up of members from the University of Washington and Microsoft Research think that they've been able to create a hyperspectral camera smartphone accessory that would cost just $50. It's not just useful for improving your Instagrams, either, since these devices can tell you if fruit has gone bad, peer into your body and even find mineral deposits underground.
Your PC may update to Windows 10 if you don't pay attention
Microsoft really, really wants you on Windows 10. We noticed last month that it was downloading the optional Windows 10 updater whether you asked for it (and had space for it) or not. Now it's actually pre-ticking the update box, as Ars Technica reports. That means if you're not watching closely and just hit "OK" to the latest updates, Windows Update will go ahead and install the whole shebang -- all 3GB to 6GB of it -- on your PC. While it's a worthy upgrade, there are myriad reasons that folks may not want to do that just yet, including privacy changes and the lack of a free DVD player.
'PC Does What?' commercials take you right to the danger zone
That "PC Does What?" ad campaign from the likes of Dell, HP, Intel, Lenovo and Microsoft isn't a rumor anymore. As Business Insider notes, each of the five spots highlights a different aspect of modern Windows PCs including their svelte designs, gaming prowess and convertible configurations. The series of 30 second ads will start airing October 19th, but if you're the impatient type you can hop past the break and see them embedded below. [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Microsoft's 'Device Night' lets you go hands-on with its new products
Microsoft has a handful of new devices and wants you to experience them as soon as possible. Similar to what it is doing with HoloLens, the company's taking recently announced products like its Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Lumia 950 XL and second-gen Microsoft Band on a tour across the US and Canada. But unlike the mixed reality headset's event, this one will be open to the general public, not only developers. Aside from being able to try out the hardware, Microsoft's also going to have Q&A sessions, giveaways and, of course, food and drinks. The 2015 Device Night kicks off in Boston and San Francisco on October 19th, followed by cities including Philadelphia, Vancouver, Dallas, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Chicago. You'll need to register before attending, which you can do right here.
Skype gets shareable conversation links for easy invites
Need to invite someone to join a Skype session? Well, that task just got a lot easier. The video-chatting app added a new feature that lets you invite folks to join a conversation with a shareable link. All you have to do is nab the URL, send it to the person and they can click it to join. What's more, the invitee doesn't need a Skype account to do so. Clicking on a shared link can employ Skype on the web as a guest, but it'll still offer access to messaging and both video and voice calls. If you're familiar with sharing links to Dropbox or OneDrive files, you have an idea of how this works. It sounds like a simple addition, but it's sure to save time, and allow people who aren't using the app to easily participate as needed.
Microsoft's Transparency Hub tracks surveillance requests
Microsoft has released transparency figures for the first half of the year and launched a new site to keep all the reports in once place. The Transparency Hub is very similar to Google's Transparency Site, and brings together law enforcement demands and national security orders. It's also the first time Microsoft is showing requests to remove content, both by governments and via Europe's 'right to be forgotten' laws. Redmond is also using the hub to show how it's resisting efforts by governments and police to get at customer data to the full extent of laws, both in the US and abroad.
PC industry unites to convince you that it's still relevant
It's no secret that the PC industry is hurting. Sales are down, in no small part because the PC itself isn't as important as it used to be -- why get a basic computer when your phone is frequently good enough? However, that isn't stopping some heavyweights in the field from making a bid for relevancy. Recode understands that Dell, HP, Intel, Lenovo and Microsoft are uniting for a "PC Does What?" ad campaign that shows what newer computers can do. It'll reportedly run in China and the US, and it'll likely include a "sizable" marketing blitz. Don't be shocked if you see ads plastered all over the web and TV.
Windows 10 now does Windows within Windows within Windows
Call it Windows Inception. Microsoft has revealed that the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview supports nested virtualization, which lets you launch a virtual machine within another virtual machine -- yes, you can run Windows inside of Windows inside of Windows. The trick is a new feature that supports hardware-based virtualization within a primary virtual machine, providing for that one extra layer. There are limits, of course. Features like dynamic memory won't work, and nesting currently requires an Intel processor with VT-x support (most chips from the past several years will do). So long as everything lines up, though, you too can create a hall of mirrors effect on your PC -- even if it doesn't serve much of a practical purpose for most people.
Even Windows 10 is vulnerable to a big Internet Explorer security flaw
Just because Internet Explorer sits on the sidelines in Windows 10 doesn't mean you're safe from IE-specific exploits. Microsoft has released a patch for a "critical" flaw in the browser that lets attackers remotely control just about any semi-recent version of Windows, ranging from Vista to 10, just by serving you a maliciously-coded web page. The likelihood of running into an exploit is slim if you prefer to use Edge or a third-party browser, but you'll probably want to get the fix regardless... just in case you feel nostalgic enough to click on that blue E.
Windows 10 Preview tests Skype integration, activation fix
Microsoft has bundled the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build with a number of major (but still experimental) features, including Skype integration. If you're an Insider on the "fast" ring, you'll notice that the messenger's capabilities are now integrated with the native Messaging, Phone and Skype video apps for the platform. You'll also be able to reply to message notifications right from the action center. More importantly, if you're having trouble activating the free Windows 10 upgrade, this build fixes that up. Simply install this particular Preview release and use a Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 product key.
Cortana is available on Xbox One, if you know the right tricks
Microsoft won't officially bring its Cortana voice assistant to the Xbox One until 2016, and it's not even supposed to be available if you're using the console's interface preview. However, that isn't stopping you from trying it ahead of schedule. Gamers have discovered that you can access Cortana in the latest preview simply by visiting the settings menu, going up and mashing the A button multiple times. It doesn't offer the full range of Xbox commands just yet, but you can access any information that's already available in Cortana on other platforms, like your calendar. Think of this as a cheat code for the operating system -- you're getting a peek at something that most preview users won't see for weeks.
Windows 10 didn't stop PC sales from dropping this summer
Windows 10 may have breathed new life into your PC, but it didn't do anything to juice PC sales this summer. Both Gartner and IDC estimate that computer sales dropped several points year-over-year (between 7.7 and 10.8 percent) in the third quarter, right when the new Windows arrived. That's one of the steeper drops in recent memory, in fact. Not that it comes as a complete surprise. As the analyst firms explain, Microsoft's fast-tracked release left many PC makers shipping existing systems with Windows 10, which weren't going to drive demand as much as brand new models. You're not going to buy a months-old laptop just because it's running new software, are you? The big question is whether or not the wave of new Windows 10 PCs launching this fall will make a difference -- if there's still a sharp decline, the industry is really in trouble.
Shovel Knight is delayed by a fortnight
Shovel Knight was supposed to come out next week -- the operative phrase there being "supposed to". However SK's developer, Yacht Club Games, announced on Friday that the retail release for the game's 3DS, Wii U, PS4, and PC (Europe-only) versions will be delayed by two weeks until October 30th in Europe and November 4th in North America.
Microsoft's taking HoloLens on tour to woo developers
Microsoft has already said its mixed reality headset, HoloLens, will be reaching developers early next year. But while we wait for that to happen, the company plans to take it on tour across the US and Canada, in an event that's going to give developers the chance to try the device firsthand. They'll also be able to meet members of the HoloLens team and learn how to create holographic experiences, which is a smart way to lure in any dev who's thinking about paying the $3,000 for a test unit. The live demo trip begins October 13th in Seattle, followed by Toronto, Salt Lake City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Atlanta and, lastly, Austin. To register, as well as find out the exact dates for each city, check out the event's dedicated site.
