➀ Phil Spencer confirmed that 4 of Xbox's first-party titles would be coming to other platforms; ➁ Reports suggest exclusive Xbox console games will be the exception rather than the rule; ➂ Microsoft's 'Project Latitude' content strategy is believed to be the cause of this change.
Recent #Microsoft news in the semiconductor industry
➀ As more sites and services require login accounts, users are overwhelmed with managing multiple passwords, leading to poor choices like reusing passwords. ➁ Microsoft is promoting passkeys as a replacement for passwords and has been working to integrate this authentication method into its services. ➂ The company aims to make passkeys the default method of account authentication, simplifying user management and enhancing security.
➀ Microsoft has unveiled Phi-4, a small AI model with impressive mathematical reasoning capabilities; ➁ Phi-4 outperforms larger models and even beats heavyweights like Claude Sonnet 3.5, GPT 4o, and Google Gemini Pro 1.5 in math competition problems; ➂ Microsoft's advancements in developing Phi-4, including the use of high-quality synthetic data sets and innovative post-training methods, push the frontier of size vs quality.
➀ Windows 11 on Arm runs on selected Android smartphones but experiences rapid heating and significant battery drain; ➁ Despite performance issues, it can perform certain tasks and run older games; ➂ The experience is facilitated by Windows on Arm development focused on Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, with limitations due to incomplete driver support.
➀ Microsoft has clarified that it is not training AI on user's Word and Excel data; ➁ The confusion arose from social media posts claiming Microsoft was scraping user data; ➂ Microsoft emphasizes that the optional setting for data sharing has been on by default since 2019, and users can adjust their settings at any time.
➀ Microsoft temporarily halts the Windows 11 24H2 update on PCs with select Ubisoft games; ➁ The issue is causing frequent freezing and black screen glitches in modern Assassin's Creed, Star Wars, and Avatar titles; ➂ Users are advised to avoid manual updates and wait for a fix from Microsoft and Ubisoft.
➀ Microsoft has released its controversial Windows 11 Recall feature in preview for Copilot+ PC owners; ➁ The feature is intended to help users 'recall' what they say on their screens by searching locally saved and analyzed snapshots of their desktop; ➂ Recall has faced criticism for security and privacy concerns, leading to its delayed release.
➀ Microsoft has added more server capacity to improve player accessibility in MSFS 2024, but the access issues persist; ➁ The troubled launch has led to many players being unable to play the game or even install it; ➂ Microsoft acknowledges the problem but has not provided a roadmap for when full functionality will be restored.
➀ Microsoft showcased the Azure HBv5 at SC24, featuring the AMD MI300C chip; ➁ The MI300C combines Zen 4 cores with HBM3 memory, offering significant performance gains over Intel's Xeon MAX 9480; ➂ The system is designed for HPC workloads and utilizes a 4-socket design.
➀ Microsoft is notifying Mail and Calendar app users to switch to free web-based Outlook; ➁ The app will stop working after December 31, 2024; ➂ Users are encouraged to migrate by the end of 2024 for seamless transition.
➀ Microsoft is experimenting with cross-laminated timber (CLT) for new data centers in Northern Virginia to reduce its carbon footprint. ➁ The company estimates that using wood in its data centers will cut its carbon footprint by 35% compared to steel construction. ➂ Greenhouse emissions are reduced by 65% when CLT replaces precast concrete.
➀ HP's servers are experiencing a surge in sales due to the adoption of NVIDIA's 'world's strongest AI chip', the GB200;
➁ Major cloud service providers like Microsoft and Meta are actively introducing GB200 and expanding their purchases of the higher-end NVL72 cabinets;
➂ Foxconn, as the exclusive supplier of GB200 and NVL72 cabinets, is seeing a flood of orders and a significant boost in server business.
1. Microsoft shares have declined 2.62% due to AI competition and Copilot's inconsistent performance, leading to a downgrade to a strong sell. 2. Customer dissatisfaction with Copilot's reliability and value threatens Microsoft's AI-driven growth, casting doubt on future earnings and market position. 3. Microsoft's high valuation metrics, coupled with slowing EPS growth and substantial Capex needs, suggest shares are overvalued and face a potential 26.19% downside.
➀ Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discusses the growth of the gaming division, Xbox, emphasizing the importance of exclusive game content for growth; ➁ Nadella's statement seems disconnected given Xbox's recent trend of bringing more exclusives to other platforms; ➂ The article raises questions about the internal strategy and messaging at Microsoft.
➀ The annual STEAM 2024 event returned to Thorpe Park, hosted by ACS International Schools and partners including Microsoft and Surrey Police. ➁ Over 10,000 students, 1,000 teachers, and 60 industry partners participated in workshops and activities. ➂ Graeme Lawrie, partnerships director at ACS International Schools, emphasized the importance of such events for developing essential workplace skills and fostering connections between industry and education.
➀ Microsoft's Cobalt 100 Arm CPUs are now generally available in Azure cloud;
➁ The processors power three instance types: Dpsv6, Dplsv6, and Epsv6;
➂ Dpsv6 and Dplsv6 are for general-purpose computing, while Epsv6 is for memory-optimized workloads;
➃ Performance improvements over previous generations of Azure Arm-based VMs are noted;
➄ The VMs are available in various regions and are expected to expand to more locations in 2024.
➀ Microsoft is focusing on improving its xCloud game streaming service; ➁ The service is set to receive updates including direct-to-cloud controllers, improved streaming visual quality, and additional cloud gaming features; ➂ The move comes as Microsoft seems to be stepping back from console sales in some regions.
➀ Microsoft Azure's CTO suggests that the distribution of AI training is necessary as datacenters reach power grid limits; ➁ The rapid expansion of generative AI models requires more powerful hardware, pushing the limits of current datacenter infrastructure; ➂ Microsoft is investing in energy infrastructure and considering connecting multiple datacenters for advanced AI model training.
➀ The Xbox Partner Preview is scheduled for October 17th at 1PM ET, featuring new game trailers and updates; ➁ The event will showcase games like Alan Wake 2, Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers; ➂ Microsoft's Game Pass service and recent acquisitions of game studios will be highlighted, with an emphasis on the Xbox and PC platforms.
➀ The early technical alpha of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 uses up to 180 Mb/s of internet bandwidth during gameplay; ➁ The game's data demands are around 81GB per hour at high LOD settings; ➂ Concerns about the impact on home internet plans and data caps.