Techhourbuzz

Microsoft is apparently working on a slew of new Surface-branded devices, including the long-awaited foldable Andromeda tablet, a modular Surface Studio Monitor, the all-new Surface Laptop with AMD processor, and a couple of Xbox game consoles. The information has been revealed by tech journalist and author Brad Sams, who has come out with a book titled Beneath a Surface. The book focuses on how Microsoft is rebuilding its hardware division from scratch. It also talks about a number of unreleased products that the Redmond-gaint could be working secretly. Sams claims that Microsoft is already working on a dual-SIM Surface device. The so-called Project Andromeda project is very much alive and the launch could happen towards the end of 2019. Apparently, it will be a compact device that will turn from smartphone size to tablet size. The dual-screen device appears to be similar to that of Samsung's upcoming foldable phone . The writer also claims that Microsoft is not happy with I...

According to a report  from  Thurrot , Microsoft has been working on a new console in the Xbox One family. This cheaper model could play regular Xbox One games, but there would be no Blu-Ray drive. This move would lower the price of the entry-level Xbox One. An Xbox One S officially starts at $299 but you can currently find it for around $250 on Amazon. The disc-less Xbox One could start at $199. Back when Microsoft first  unveiled the Xbox One in 2013, the company wanted to make a big push toward digital games. The original plan was that you would associate your physical games with your Xbox account. After that, you could play the game even without inserting the disc. Microsoft also planned a way to lend a digital game to a friend for 30 days. After some backlash, Microsoft gave up on this plan and switched back to a more traditional system. But it’s been five years, digital games are more popular than ever and internet connections are faster than ever. Micr...

Image/ Microsoft Microsoft has launched a free Windows app that uses machine learning to guess the facial expression you’re making when imitating an emoji. Called  Emoji8 ,  the app gives you a score for how well you recreate the emoji and it’s mostly meant to show off the capabilities of this brand of artificial intelligence in an accessible way. The app serves up an emoji for you to mimic, analyzes the video feed from your computer’s webcam, then tells you your percentage of accuracy. Then oddly, it gives you the option of creating a gif with some of your “craziest facial expressions” to share on Twitter. On Microsoft’s end, Emoji8 is supposed to show how quick and flexible its machine learning prowess is. From a user end, it’s a bit weird to show off how you 90 percent matched a crying emoji to your friends. If you do feel like seeing if you can nail a surprised look according to the app,  Emoji8 is free  in the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft announced Xbox One keyboard and mouse support  back in September, and it’s now arriving on consoles next week. Starting November 14th, Xbox One will support keyboard and mouse in 14 games.  Fortnite  and Warframe  are the biggest names to offer the support at launch, alongside a variety of mainly indie titles. While there are 14 confirmed games, only seven of them will be available during the initial launch of the keyboard and mouse feature. The Rest are Coming Soon. Fortnite, Bomber Crew, Deep Rock Galactic, Strange Brigade, Vermintide 2, War Thunder and X- Morph Defense will get support in November, while Children of Morta, Vigor, Warface, Wargroove, DayZ, Minion Masters and Moonlighter have pledged to add support at some less specific point down the road. It’s up to developers to implement keyboard and mouse support in Xbox One games. Fortnite   in particular will match up keyboard and mouse players with other players using those same inp...