Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Yesterday we released the preview of a new FREE app called Microsoft To-Do, designed to deliver a smarter, more personal and intuitive way to help people stay organized and get the most out of every day.

Powered by Office 365 integration and an intelligent algorithm to help users prioritize tasks & keep track of todos, it is the first step on our journey to simplify task management and help you achieve more.

This app will replace Wunderlist, as it is written by the Wunderlist development team.  It is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and the Web.

HOW DO I IMPORT MY OTHER TODO LISTS?
If you want to bring along your old tasks, uncompleted tasks or even your older, completed tasks for the record, Microsoft To-Do will automatically import the tasks you may have added to your Outlook or Hotmail account—you’ll see those in your core To-Do list when you first log in (and your Microsoft To-Dos will sync back to Outlook automatically).

You can then import tasks from Wunderlist and to-doist. To do that, go to import.to-do.microsoft.com or tap your name in Microsoft To-Do and select Import.

A shortened URL version of the Import site/tool is available below:
http://aka.ms/todoimport

DOWNLOAD:

• iPhone/iPad:
  http://aka.ms/todoiphone
• Android:
  http://aka.ms/todoandroid
• Windows 10/Windows 10 Mobile: (UWP)
  http://aka.ms/todowin
• Web:
  http://aka.ms/todoweb
• MacOS:
  <coming soon>

FEEDBACK:

1. In-app Contact form
2. UserVoice: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=841742
3. Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/todohelp
4. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/microsofttodo

In case you hadn’t heard, the Microsoft Stores are selling the Samsung Galaxy S8, “Microsoft Edition” as of today.

This is an Android-based smartphone that is repurposed with Microsoft technologies, (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Cortana, Bing, etc.) some which come out of the box, some of which are installed when a WiFi connection is first initiated from the phone – to get the latest release, of course.

WHY WOULD I BUY THIS FROM A MICROSOFT STORE?
The cost of the device from a carrier or the Microsoft Store is the same however, as a Microsoft technology user, there are 3 good reasons to get the device from the Microsoft Store as opposed from a carrier:

1. APPS SUPPORT
   If you need support or training on any of the Microsoft components installed or configured on the device – especially if you connect to your company’s corporate infrastructure (Think Office 365, Outlook sync, OneNote sync, SharePoint authentication, OneDrive connectivity, Skype for Business connectivity, etc.) , the Microsoft Store will specifically trained on them and be able to help you.  No guessing or hunting and pecking from folks that don’t know the technology first hand.
2. DEVICE SUPPORT
   If you need “Microsoft Store quality” assistance with the device itself, the store will be trained to support you.  Samsung has very few Samsung-branded brick & mortar stores and has been at the mercy of BestBuy or Cellular Carriers for device support and realistically, the sales folks there – particularly the carriers – really have no interest in supporting devices.
   Connecting the Samsung Galaxy S8 with your Windows laptop, for example, might be something you’ll need help with.
3. “MICROSOFT COMPLETE” WARRANTY
   My assumption is that Microsoft Complete will be available for this phone just like any other piece of hardware sold.  Easy swapping for a new device, for any reason… if you have Complete on your Galaxy S8. (Verify that this is the case with the Product Advisor)

For an overview of what the device is, please review one of the MANY articles on the topic below.

• WINDOWSCENTRAL: Samsung Galaxy S8 ‘Microsoft Edition:’ Everything you need to know
  http://www.windowscentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s8-microsoft-edition-everything-you-need-know
• ZDNET: Microsoft touts Microsoft-customized edition of Samsung Galaxy S8
  http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-touts-microsoft-customized-edition-of-samsung-galaxy-s8/
• TECHREPUBLIC: Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition reveals Microsoft’s true business strategy
  http://www.techrepublic.com/article/samsung-galaxy-s8-microsoft-edition-reveals-microsofts-true-business-strategy/
  • ENGADGET: Microsoft has its own version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (updated)
    https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/30/samsung-galaxy-s8-microsoft-edition/
  • PCWORLD: The Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition is infused with Microsoft apps
    http://www.pcworld.com/article/3186749/mobile/the-samsung-galaxy-s8-microsoft-edition-is-infused-with-microsoft-apps.html

The Microsoft Build developer conference takes place in Seattle on May 10–12, but no matter where you are, join us for live-streamed keynotes, announcements, technical sessions, and more as it happens.

Learn more about how Windows helps you engage your users, keep their information safe, and reach them in more places – RSVP now using your Microsoft account to participate remotely in Microsoft Build.

This will allow you to:

• Watch the keynote live (Save the date!)
• Vote for the first-ever Windows Developer Awards (Voting closes 4/27!)
• Ninja Cat of the Year
• App Creator of the Year
• Game Creator of the Year
• Reality Mixer of the Year
• Core Maker of the Year
• View select sessions and access your session content quickly
• Create and share collections of Microsoft Build content
• Discuss what you’ve seen and heard with your fellow devs

Register below & save the date on your calendar:

• SIGN UP:
  https://developer.microsoft.com/aad?action=signin&returnPath=https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/projects/events/build/optin?returnUrl=/en-us/windows/projects/events/build/2017/awards
• SAVE THE DATE:
  May 10–12
  https://prodbdk.blob.core.windows.net/prodbdk/prod/site/docs/MicrosoftBuild2017.ics?v=636283943443705265

We’ve recently released Office 365 Threat Intelligence, a solution that leverages the billions of signals that Microsoft receives about threats to Office 365 as well as other cloud & software solutions to proactively notify Office 365 administrators of threats & attacks that may impact them.

It also provides visuals that help Office 365 administrators understand what threats are most relevant to them – specific to their Office 365 environment & identify where in their tenant, there may be a potential risk.

Lastly, it provides detailed dossiers on known threats to educate Office 365 administrators as well as proactive prevention & remediation solutions to address threats when they are detected.

Office 365 Threat Intelligence is available as a separately subscribed solution or available as part of Office 365 E5.

Here is the original announcement around the general availability of Office 365 Threat Intelligence:

• BLOG: Announcing the release of Threat Intelligence and Advanced Data Governance, plus significant updates to Advanced Threat Protection
  https://blogs.office.com/2017/04/04/announcing-the-release-of-threat-intelligence-and-advanced-data-governance-plus-significant-updates-to-advanced-threat-protection/

Here’s an infographic that we produced that provides some insight into what value Office 365 Threat Intelligence provides.

• DOWNLOAD: Office 365 Threat Intelligence Infographic
  https://info.microsoft.com/rs/157-GQE-382/images/MS_ThreatIntelligence_infographic.pdf

Now you can actually build your own “EASY button”.  Physical buttons are available to trigger Microsoft Flow workflows, featuring:

• “PHYSICAL BUTTONS” FOR FLOW
  Flows can now be triggered directly from physical buttons from companies like Flic by Shortcut Labs, and Bttn by The Button Corporation.

Here’s some use cases from the announcement post:

Need a simple way to order more inventory in a production floor? Push the button. It will create a PO with approval in your CRM.

Need a simple way to call Tech support in a conference room? Push the button. It will dispatch a mail to your support team, or open a support ticket in your system.

Need a simple way to track your consulting work hours for various companies? Push the button. It will log your hours and location in an Excel file or a Google sheet.

Need an effortless way to keep track of product sales at a customer touch point? Push the button. It will update a dedicated Sharepoint list.

For more information on these, visit:

• BLOG: Connecting Flow to the real world – Flows can now be triggered directly from physical buttons
  https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/physical-buttons/

Register for the 2017 Microsoft Data Summit & see special guest speakers Freakonomics authors Stephen Dubner & Steven Levitt’s data-packed keynote on June 13!

• DATES:
  June 12 – 13, 2017
• LOCATION:
  Washington State Convention Center
  705 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
• REGISTRATION:
  Microsoft Data Insights Summit 2017
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/datainsightssummit/default.aspx

Microsoft announced plans to acquire Charles Simonyi’s company, “Intentional Software” – a company chartered with building software for “productivity scenarios” leveraging Charles’ innovations in intentional programming.

EXAMPLE: HEALTHCARE
What this means in English is, (I think) the company picks a problem field – say the healthcare industry – then creates an actual programming environment from the ground up that is specific to that industry by working with experts in that field – maybe in this case, doctors or surgeons.  Then they describe the solution to a problem using that programming environment, as presented within an 4th Gen Programming interface. This interface is basically a abstracted graphical representation that’s designed to be easy to understand & “code free”.  A compiler creates the resulting program by using this description.

A WORD ON CHARLES SIMONYI
Charles Simonyi, for those of you who aren’t aware of who he is, is a fascinating man – I met him once while I was in Redmond. 

For the old school IT set, he was one of the researchers “back in the day” at the famed Xerox PARC (the creators of Ethernet, WYSIWYG interfaces, the laser printer, and many other modern inventions.  Famously, this is the place where Steve Jobs “liberated” the Macintosh’s user interface from) who was a founding innovator in Object Oriented Programming.  He left Xerox to join Microsoft in it’s early years and is most famously cited as the creator of Hungarian Notation, a developer programming convention that is used to this day.

“This acquisition will build on the work we’re already doing to deliver the tools necessary to be productive in an information-rich world. Intentional Software’s technology and talent will enhance our existing capabilities and strengthen our ability to add new tools and services to Microsoft’s robust productivity offering. We’re excited about the company’s work on productivity applications, especially given our focus of putting people at the center of experiences and our continued effort to reimagine collaboration.”

Read Microsoft Exec VP Rajesh Jha’s announcement on the Microsoft blog here:

• Microsoft to acquire Intentional Software to expand future productivity capabilities
  https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2017/04/18/microsoft-acquire-intentional-software-expand-future-productivity-capabilities/#gJZdd1b5bezERvmz.99

Read Intentional Software CEO Charles Simonyi’s announcement here:

• Charles Simonyi, Founder, Chairman, and CTO
  http://www.intentional.com/charles-simonyi/

[taken from the Cortana Intelligence & Machine Learning blog]

We are excited to announce that registration for the Microsoft AI Immersion Workshop is now open to all developers. The Workshop is being held on Tuesday, May 9^th, at the W Hotel in Seattle. This is a free in-person event, but capacity is limited – so register now to reserve your spot.

This is a unique opportunity for developers interested in creating the next generation of intelligent apps, including enterprise-grade solutions, using the very latest AI and Machine Learning techniques. You’ll learn how to build solutions from scratch. Seasoned software engineers and data scientists from Microsoft – people who are building some of the world’s most advanced AI and ML technologies – will run these hands-on tutorials. Several presenters are also active contributors to this blog, as you’ll see from the presenter names next to the session abstracts below.

The Workshop will kick off with a keynote talk that will cover the breadth and depth of Microsoft’s AI investments and offerings. That will be followed by your choice of five deep technical tutorial sessions, which will run for much of the day, from 11:00 AM through 5:00 PM. These tutorials will focus on hands-on activities and projects, so attendees are expected to bring their own laptops, and also check our event website for any pre-requisite software or subscriptions they might need, to make the most of the day.

…

To see the full agenda, visit:

• BLOG: Free AI Immersion Workshop on May 9th in Seattle – Register Now!
  https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/machinelearning/2017/04/03/free-ai-immersion-workshop-on-may-9th-in-seattle-register-now/

To register for this event:

• REGISTRATION: AI Immersion Workshop – W Seattle Hotel, Seattle, WA, May 9th, 2017
  https://aiimmersion.eventcore.com/

Windows 10, version 1703 introduces a new tool, MBR2GPT, that enables you to convert a disk from Master Boot Record (MBR) to GUID Partition Table (GPT) partition style, without modifying or deleting data on the disk, as part of a migration from BIOS to UEFI.

Watch this demo to see the MBR2GPT tool in action:

Windows Program Manager, Desmond Lee, demonstrates the new MBR2GPT disk conversion tool that’s part of Windows 10 Creators Update. This is a comprehensive yet concise overview that explains how you can safely and non-destructively convert a Windows 10 machine from legacy BIOS to UEFI disk partitioning; and how you can automate the conversion as part of your in-place upgrade process from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Importantly, unlike wipe and load methods, all of this can be achieved without having to move your data off the disk. To learn more please also check out: http://aka.ms/mbr2gpt

QUESTIONS:
Have a question about Windows 10? Ask the experts on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Windows-10/ct-p/Windows10