Local news from Microsoft in Boston

Microsoft Imagine Cup – Student Innovation in Boston

msboston1 — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:42:00 GMT

Once again, Microsoft's flagship student technology competition, Imagine Cup, is bringing together student innovators from around the world. And this year, Microsoft is re-imagining the competition to be a springboard for budding entrepreneurs as much as it is a student technology competition. The U.S. Imagine Cup Finals will be run as a Demo Day, where the top 10 U.S. teams will pitch their solutions to investors, entrepreneurs, and technology professionals for a chance to win cash prizes in the competition categories of Games, Innovation, and World Citizenship.

This year Boston University provided a great example of collaboration and creativity that embodies the true spirit of an Imagine Cup finalist. Team Pitch created an easy and efficient way to access and share calendar meetings and documents using Windows 8 and a Windows Azure backend server. Working with their Boston University professor and the Microsoft team at the Cambridge office, the team created a secure system for creating meetings, in which documents of any file type can be quickly and easily shared with all meeting members.

Leading up to this year’s U.S. Imagine Cup Finals Demo Day, Microsoft has hosted a set of programs to help student teams create successful businesses, including a virtual accelerator and a Startup Boot Camp in Silicon Valley.

During Demo Day, Microsoft will also unveil the U.S. National Team traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia, to represent the U.S. at the Worldwide Imagine Cup Finals on July 8-11.

The event will also be streamed live via: https://www.facebook.com/usimaginecup, so be sure to track Team Pitch's progress throughout the Demo Day.

To learn more about the competition, please visit the official Imagine Cup website at: http://www.imaginecup.com or visit the virtual pressroom at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/events/imaginecup/Default.aspx.

Microsoft Boston Hosts CyberSummit and Announces Upcoming Summer Camps

msboston1 — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:42:00 GMT

Recently, Microsoft Boston sponsored the Annual Boys and Girls Club CyberSummit. This year’s event drew nearly 100 Boys and Girls Club members, ages 10-18 from various Boston communities, who attended a technology night at One Cambridge Center’s new Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in the heart of Kendall Square.

CyberSummit is a two-day experience that exposes members of Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, as well as outside community-based organizations, to different technologies in a fun, social and non-competitive way.

The event at the MTC included a “Digital Arts Smarts” session, a deep dive on all the ways Kinect technology can be leveraged, and an MTC Envisioning Center demonstration that showcased the ways in which different technologies work together to create the most effective working environments and relationships.

Microsoft has been sponsoring the CyberSummit since 2009, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.

Other great activities supported by Microsoft include summer camps hosted by the Boston and Natick retail store locations. The summer camps are offered to kids between the ages of 8-14, and cover fun and engaging topics in technology. Below is a snapshot of our upcoming offerings:

Storyteller Studio

Wednesdays 4 – 6 p.m., July 3rd - 24th

In the Storyteller Studio, campers can sharpen up skills in spinning yarns and telling tales. They’ll learn how to create an exciting story in Word with illustrations they draw and paint themselves using Fresh Paint. They’ll hunt for treasure using Bing and keep their loot (and plans for the future) in OneNote. Campers will also use Excel to tell stories with numbers and create a puzzle for friends. Through PowerPoint, participants will create adventures for fellow campers – will their choices lead to victory or disaster? And on the last day, in Publisher, they’ll write and illustrate the tale, “What I Did at Camp” to summarize their experiences.

App Builder

Wednesdays 4 – 6 p.m., August 7th – 28th

App Builder will take campers through a journey on how to create an App. Check back for more information and curriculum details on June 1st.

Interested in registering your camper?

For the Boston store location, visit http://microsoftstore.com/boston

To sign up for events at the Natick location, email licasill@microsoft.com

Hope to see you this summer!

2013 Microsoft Imagine Cup U.S. Finalists Announced

msboston1 — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:36:00 GMT

The world’s coolest student technology competition just announced who is making it to the next round! Microsoft just unveiled the 10 teams who will compete in the 11^th annual Imagine Cup U.S. Finals Demo Day on May 13 in Silicon Valley.

Each of the top teams will pitch their business to investors, as well as members of the press and the startup community. Prizes will be presented to the best teams in the categories of Games, Innovation and World Citizenship.

The list of finalists include:

Team Pitch, from Boston University, who developed an online system for creating and managing meetings using Windows 8 and Windows Azure.

Lost Spectrum, University of Houston/ University of Texas

Chroma Tales: The team developed a fast-paced 2D action game on Windows Phone 8 where each level lasts approximately five seconds. Each player’s mission is to restore color to the world.

Kinect PT, University of Virginia

Vitrunetics: The team built an application that allows doctors to administer and receive real-time feedback on physical therapy exercises that are performed by patients at home using Microsoft’s Xbox with Kinect.

Team DePauwsome, DePauw University

WeAssist: The team developed a Windows Phone 8 app that allows a user to share their location and share a message in an emergency. WeAssist also has an optional location tracking service called WeFind, which runs in the background and uploads the user’s location history to the cloud.

Team SwagFace, Rice University

FaceFun: The team developed an innovative facial recognition game for Windows Phone 8, where players mimic amusing, famous and funny faces using their smartphone and win points.

Team Poli`ahu, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Help Me Help: The team developed an application that aides the community in times of need by utilizing the smartphone’s camera and location capabilities to get images and locations of hazards as they are introduced.

The Miracle Workers, Harvard University/ Winona State University

Cloud Monitor: The team developed a baby monitor app for Windows Phone 8 that tracks respiration, heartbeat and body movement of an infant. In case of an emergency, the application sends an alert to parents on their smartphone. Parents are also
able to check the live streaming of baby's vital signs in on their phone.

Gigaloth, University of Colorado

Produce Wars: The team developed an "Angry Birds" style physics game evolved with dynamic platform and puzzle elements for young children.

Project SAM, University of Chicago

Project SAM: The team developed a mobile application that streamlines a health clinic’s inventory and provides real-time updates to suppliers via text.

Skyline Studios, University of Houston

Zipline Hero: The team developed a puzzle-action platform game where the player uses the touch screen input to rescue animals.

The team that will represent the U.S. at the Worldwide finals in St. Petersburg, Russia July 8-11, will also be unveiled at the U.S. Finals.

Please continue to follow the U.S. Imagine Cup finalists via the official Facebook page, which will include live streaming throughout the competition.

Can’t make it to the ballpark to see the Red Sox? Download the MLB.TV app on Windows 8

msboston1 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:23:40 GMT

Grilled hot dogs, the smell of fresh roasted peanuts, and that glorious crack of a Louisville slugger hitting the ball out of the park- baseball season is upon us! Between work and busy schedules, it’s not always easy to make it to the ballpark to relish the baseball experience. Never fear, Microsoft has you covered with the new MLB.TV app, which is now available on Windows 8.

With MLB.TV on Windows 8, MLB.TV Premium subscribers have access to every out-of-market MLB game LIVE or on demand in HD. Subscribers can watch either the home or away broadcast feed as well as several different audio-only streams of games. You can view player stats and match-ups from MLB.com and get the latest scores from games delivered right to your Start screen via live tile! Not an MLB.TV Premium subscriber? Don’t worry, you can still enjoy all the latest game scores and watch the MLB.TV Free Game of the Day.

Be sure to download MLB.TV on Windows 8 today from the Windows Store today!

Freeing your files means freeing yourself

msboston1 — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:46:49 GMT

We’ve all thought it – “I could be so much more productive if I were (insert cool place i.e., local coffee shop, mall, park bench, my living room in fuzzy slippers) instead of handcuffed to my desk or in the midst of yet another meeting.”

Fret not. Microsoft has an app for that, and it’s in the new Office. It’s called Skydrive, this pretty cool video tells you all you need to know. Even better, it’s all free for students for an entire 3 months using SkyDrive.

SkyDrive allows you to work with others across platforms, devices, and Office versions to write papers, prepare presentations, create spreadsheets, and take notes. Multiple people in different places can work on the same document, at the same time. Share only what you want and set the rest to remain private.

SkyDrive is perfect for working together with classmates, co-workers and friends. Just visit SkyDrive.com to share any file with anyone you choose. Your friends can use free Office Web Apps to view the document and make quick edits—even if they don’t have Office installed.

And best yet, gone are the days of unformatted bullets and mixed up fonts. Office Web Apps are designed to preserve your document’s formatting, which means your friends will be able to view the work you share just the way you intended. They’ll also be able to make changes without messing up the overall look.

Download Office 365 and SkyDrive today. Spring is here. Free yourself.

Boston Hosts Signature DigiGirlz Event in Honor of Women’s History Month

msboston1 — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:35:00 GMT

Earlier this month, Microsoft’s DigiGirlz Boston chapter hosted its annual signature event for teen girls to show them that IT is more than just punching code; there are many exciting career opportunities in the world of technology today. DigiGirlz brings together female students grades 8 through 12 to help break down the stereotype associated with technology, educate them about exciting career opportunities in technology and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops.

This year’s workshops focused on using technology to design a product, learning Windows development, a tour of Boston’s very own Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) and an “unplugged” view of computer science. The girls also participated in a device showcase and “Create a New Device” session to apply what they learned throughout the day.

The event was attended by more than 100 students from 13 different schools located around the greater Boston area, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

To learn more about Microsoft’s DigiGirlz program, future events and how you can get involved, please click here.

Boston Startup Makes Physical Therapy More Fun with Kinect

msboston1 — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:46:17 GMT

Let’s be honest, few people enjoy physical therapy. And without the prodding of a therapist at your home instructing you to bend, stretch and repeat, as required to heal your injury, few people are motivated enough to correctly complete the assigned exercises.

Enter Home TeamTherapy, a Boston-based startup aiming to make home therapy more fun and effective using Kinect, a motion sensing input device by Microsoft. With the Kinect application, all you need is a PC and a Kinect sensor and you’re on your way to better health.

The Home Team app allows patients to communicate with their therapist and keep track of their progress – streamlining a process that was previously only possible with frequent phone calls, emails and office visits. Kinect also helps you correct your form through subtle guidance.

Co-founder Jason Fu told Mashable that he wants therapists and doctors to be able to use Home Team's tools for free. The product is currently in beta testing and patients can opt into the tools for a monthly subscription fee of around $20.

The product was recently featured on an episode of the Doctors where Dr. Andrew Ordon gave it a test run. Watch the video here. At Microsoft Boston, we are excited to feature local innovations such as this one on our blog!

To learn more about the power of Xbox+Kinect, click here.

Software price looks too good to be true? It probably is

msboston1 — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:39:32 GMT

“I hate finding good deals,” – said No One Ever. Even if the bargain-priced shirt has loose stitch, or the recently-reduced loaf of bread is near the end of its prime, you’re saving money, and who doesn't love saving a buck or two? Of course, some products are safe bets for a bargain basement deal, but software for your PC isn't one of them. Illegal software may save you money at purchase, but it exposes everything on your computer to cyber-threats like identity theft, data loss and system crashes.

To learn more about software piracy, Microsoft and IDC recently surveyed more than 2,000 consumers and found that people will waste $22 billion and 1.5 billion hours dealing with security issues from counterfeit software in 2013. Also, 1 in 3 PCs with counterfeit software will be infected by malware in 2013. Think of what’s housed on your computer and what could potentially be stolen: personal photos and videos, confidential documents and passwords – all of that information and more is potentially up for grabs when you install pirated software.

So how can you tell if the software you purchase is legit or not? Microsoft’s www.howtotell.com website walks you through the indicators of properly licensed products including the correct labels, packaging, hardware embossing and more for both PCs and Xbox so you can buy with confidence.

Remember, if the software deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Keep your personal information and PC/home network safe by using genuine software products.

Win a Trip to the NCAA Finals by Demoing MSN for Windows 8

msboston1 — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:56:55 GMT

Live for NCAA basketball? Who doesn't! MSN for Windows 8, with its totally re-imaged interface, is the perfect resource for fans to stay up-to-date with the latest scores and schedules throughout the tournament season, without having to click through multiple websites.

If you haven’t tried MSN for Windows 8, take a break from March Madness and head to the Microsoft store in The Shops at Prudential Center, where a retail store associate will guide you through the new interface including its interactive touch features and design elements. Visit a store before March 24 and you’ll receive a voucher for $25 off a purchase of $75 or more and have the chance to win a trip to the basketball championships in Atlanta this April. Not able to make it into the store? You can still enter for a chance to win here.

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, check out the new MSN to get the latest on the topics that interest you the most, including news, entertainment, money, sports, health, living and more. For more information on the new MSN for Windows 8 experience, visit http://allnew.msn.com.

Turn Big Data Into Big Insights

msboston1 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:06:14 GMT

This is the ‘golden era’ of insight. The world holds twice as many bytes of data as there are liters in the ocean, and with the right technology tools, we are now able to replace hunches with insight and action.

Think comparing utility costs with meteorological data to spot trends and inefficiencies. Or compare ambulance GPS information with hospital records on patient outcomes to determine the correlation between response time and survival. This is all currently possible.

Big data isn’t new. But in the past, high costs and technology limitations have constrained access to data storage infrastructure and the tools needed to handle a large amount of data. This is finally starting to change, and with sensors, GPS devices, mobile phones, and social media data, we have a steady stream of data just waiting to be examined and used to help improve our lives.

The availability of tools to help organizations use information in new ways is expanding, and Microsoft is helping people harvest the enormous benefits of big data. This is where the potential for true innovation lies.

Learn more about the big data explosion and how it’s changing the world around us here.