If you’re like me, you use Cortana to regularly add reminders, so you don’t miss anything at work or home. Which is why I’ve asked Cortana to remind me to check out the new voice-activated speaker our partners at Harman Kardon are releasing on Sunday, October 22 – the Harman Kardon Invoke with Cortana. Invoke will be available in-store and online at Microsoft Store, Best Buy, and online at HarmanKardon.com. Invoke comes in two color options, Pearl Silver (White) and Graphite (Black) and retails for $199.95 USD.

With more than 60 years of sound expertise, Harman is renowned for blending rich audio with best-in-class design. Crafted from premium materials, Invoke delivers powerful 360-degree sound from three direct-radiating woofers, three direct-radiating tweeters and two passive radiators. Invoke also features Harman’s Sonique far-field voice recognition technology with seven-microphones, ensuring that Cortana can hear you from any direction. Music services available at launch include Spotify Premium, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and we are working with Pandora to add their service in the near future.

At the heart of Invoke is Cortana, your personal digital assistant, helping you manage the competing demands of work and home so you can focus on what matters most to you. Microsoft has been on a long journey with Cortana, first on Windows 10 PC, then on Android and iOS, as well as embedding the Cortana experience in Skype on Xbox, spanning 148 million active users. We believe that your digital assistant should be available wherever you are, across your devices, and that’s why we are thrilled to bring the Cortana experience to an ambient speaker.

With Cortana on Invoke, you can voice control your music, as well as get answers to questions and connect to your Office 365 information. Invoke utilizes Microsoft’s speech recognition technology for commands and music controls, and integrates Office 365 productivity services so you can do things like, manage your schedule, check your calendar, set reminders, and more. For instance, if I have a partner meeting downtown I could ask Cortana on my Invoke where their office is, and she’d not only tell me but could send the directions to my phone in the Cortana mobile app. Or maybe I remember something I need to do when I get into work – a simple, “Hey Cortana, remind me to finish the budget report when I get to work,” will result in the reminder alerting me when I get to the office.

And it’s not just for work. I could do the same with a time-based reminder, such as, “Hey Cortana, remind me to watch the Knicks game tonight at 7pm,” and this reminder would chime on my Invoke speaker when I’m home.

With Cortana’s intelligence on Invoke, supported by the Bing knowledge graph, you can also hear the latest news and tweets, and get answers to questions; which happens a lot when I’m helping my kids with their homework – like finding out when George Washington was born.

Plus, with Skype on Invoke, you can easily stay connected with hands-free calling to your Skype and phone contacts, as well as local businesses. In addition to Skype to Skype calling, which will always be free, Invoke also features unlimited free outbound calling from the United States to mobile phones and landlines in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

You’ll also be able to control your smart home devices, including those from SmartThings, Nest, Philips Hue, Wink, and Insteon. And with the Cortana Skills Kit announced this past spring, a growing list of partners and developers are creating intelligent, personalized experiences for Cortana, including Capital One, Expedia, Fitbit, OpenTable, and others.

We’re excited to partner with Harman Kardon and bring Cortana to Invoke; adding to Cortana’s cross-device integration across Windows 10 PC, iPhone and Android, so you can stay on top of things wherever you need assistance.

This is an important step forward for Cortana, and we’ll be delivering more productivity features, such as managing your email hands-free (Office 365, Outlook.com and Gmail accounts) coming soon, as well as working with many more music, home automation, and skills partners to integrate their services with Cortana.

Make sure you ask Cortana to set a reminder for Invoke, available on October 22.

*Cortana voice activation works with select music services and home automation providers. Set up requires Cortana app for Windows 10 PC or phone (with the Windows 10 Creators Update), Android or iPhone (requires Android version 4.1.2 or higher, or iPhone 4 with iOS 8.0 or higher). 

Source: Windows Blog
—

Last week we announced that Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection was available for pre-order and coming to Xbox One and Windows Store on October 31.

We recently had the opportunity to have an in-depth chat with Jorg Neumann, Head of Production, Global Publishing, Microsoft Studios to talk in greater detail about the re-imagining of this game.

Tell us about Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection and what is new and different with this version of Zoo Tycoon.

When we initially brought the popular Zoo Tycoon franchise to Xbox 360 and Xbox One in 2013, our goal was to create the most beautiful animals in all of gaming and that is something we believe we absolutely achieved. We are quite proud of that accomplishment.

For this new version, we focused on empowering our fans to do more of what they wanted – specifically the ability to build much larger zoos, increase their control over path construction and enclosure customization. Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection is designed to appeal to traditional Tycoon fans and new players alike, offering the most detailed environments ever seen in the franchise and even more of the most beautiful animals we love, this time from South America and Australia.

Beyond that, we also added ten all-new campaigns in these new regions and we also added another all-new challenge zoo.

 Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection is also by far the prettiest game of the series. On Xbox One X, it features awesome 4K Ultra HD visuals and HDR support. On Xbox One and Xbox One S, the game runs natively at 1080p and features HDR support on Xbox One S. It is also available on compatible Windows 10 PCs.

Lastly, the game features Xbox Play Anywhere, where you can pick up where you left off on another Xbox One device or Windows 10 PC, bringing all your saves, game add-ons and achievements with you.

Are there any new animals in this version?
Absolutely – we love the animals in Zoo Tycoon and added 91 new species (on top of the 100 we originally released in 2013) to give players almost 200 animals total. Thematically, we decided to take all the exotic animals from South America like jaguars, tapirs, and anteaters and from Australia such as kangaroos, koalas and platypuses. It’s awesome to have such a large variety to build zoos with!

Is Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection part of the franchise Microsoft had on the PC?

Yes! Zoo Tycoon was hugely popular on the PC in the early 2000s and first made its debut on Xbox 360 and Xbox One in 2013. Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection is a key milestone for that franchise.

If we look under the hood of this game you’ll agree that this is a true simulation – it was developed initially by Frontier Developments plc, a studio in the UK who are experts in simulation games. We’ve combined the strong foundation of a true simulation game with the most detailed environments ever utilizing intuitive yet powerful controls that will appeal to both Tycoon fans and new players alike.

What’s the overall gameplay mechanics and objectives for the game?

In Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection players have to manage the happiness of both the animals and the guests in their zoos.

Players can attract guests by having exotic and diverse animals in their zoos. How happy these animals are matters greatly to the guests, and players can also affect the number of guests who come to the zoo by setting things like the entrance prices, the concession costs, and numerous other factors to ensure that their zoo visitors are happy.

The true stars of the zoos, however, are the animals. Players need to manage the zoos in such a way that keeps the animals happy. It’s important to keep them appropriately fed, to keep them clean and to ensure that they have appropriate companions in their exhibits. For some of these asks, players can hire appropriate staff like zoo keepers and janitors and even specialized breeders. Given that this is a true simulation, there is a robust in-game economy that drives all of this.

As far as objectives, Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection features 30 campaigns (20 from the original 2013 release, 5 new Australian campaigns and 5 new South American campaigns), 21 challenge zoos, as well as a “sandbox mode” where players can freely build zoos in the game’s 21 unique locations all over the planet without the full economy simulation being active.

Are there any multiplayer features to play together with friends and family?

In this re-imagining of the game, we wanted to make sure that Zoo Tycoon fans can easily connect with each other, which is why we include social features including four-person multiplayer over Xbox Live on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs.

What excites me is about that is that players can join in on the fun to create and manage zoos together, trade animals and communicate with their friends via the ZooNews feature – for example if my zoo has the new birth of a female Maltese tiger, I can trade you one my other animals for your male Maltese tiger so they can breed and expand our tiger exhibit.

Did you consult with any animal experts in making this game?

We worked closely with experts at National Geographic to ensure that our animals were well researched and that the game was a scientifically accurate depiction of the real world. When players interact with the animals, they will see that they have likes and dislikes when it comes to food, habitat and social settings based on real animals. All of these behaviors were modelled after the research and information provided by countless animal experts across the world.

Our game also features the Zoopedia, which gives players a encyclopedia of the latest facts on the 190+ animals we have assembled for Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I can’t wait to get this re-imagined version of the Zoo Tycoon franchise into the hands of “Tycoon” fans as well as new fans. You can pre-order now for $29.99 USD and it launches on October 31 at any major retailer, on Xbox.com, or in the Xbox Store or Windows Store.

See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

Related:
Rev Your Engines for the Renault Sport Formula One Custom Xbox One S Console
Tune in Sunday, October 22 to See the New Xbox One X Commercial
Gigantic’s Season of Souls Update is Now Live on Xbox One and Windows 10

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Pairing the impressive Xbox One S with the equally striking Renault Formula One Team R.S.17 car part, Xbox is excited to announce a one-of-a-kind custom Xbox One S that pairs these two legends together as part of the Microsoft partnership with Renault Sport Formula One Team.

The Xbox One S Renault Sport Formula One sports the team’s sleek yellow and black design, including actual race grade materials, and was made in anticipation of the upcoming Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, October 20-22.

One very fortunate fan will have the chance to win the console by participating in the giveaway opportunity on Xbox’s Twitter page from today through Monday, October 23. Simply follow the official Xbox Twitter account and RT the promotional post including the hashtag #RenaultF1Sweepstakes (click here for official details). Any interested fans who don’t win the custom console can still experience and drive the Renault Sport Formula One team car on the Circuit of Americas track in the all new Forza Motorsport 7.

“With the recent launch of the Formula 1 Esport Series and the growing popularity of this new discipline in the Paddock, the opportunity to increase our footprint in gaming and partner with Xbox on a custom console was an exciting challenge for us, especially knowing it would be released before the highly-anticipated Formula 1 United States Grand Prix,” said Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director of Renault Formula One Team. “We have included design technologies that push the boundaries of manufacturing and we are proud of the result we have achieved. We can’t wait to congratulate the winner of this console.”

The Xbox Renault Sport Formula One Team custom console was created at Renault Sport’s state of the art chassis facility in Oxfordshire, UK. It featuresthe latest 3D printing technologies the team uses to manufacture complex components and has been coated with the same lightweight paint used for the car’s distinctive livery. The console also incorporates a unique car component, the cog for second gear that driver Nico Hülkenberg used in the first six Grand Prix in the 2017 Formula One World Championship.

Forza Motorsport 7 is currently available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title (Xbox One and Windows 10 PC versions included with a single digital purchase at no additional cost) and is releasing on the Xbox One X on November 7 when players will be able to experience it in native 4K and HDR at 60fps.

See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

Related:
Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection Q&A
Tune in Sunday, October 22 to See the New Xbox One X Commercial
Gigantic’s Season of Souls Update is Now Live on Xbox One and Windows 10

Source: Xbox Blog
—

This is truly an exciting time. Not only for Xbox, but for gamers everywhere. With the launch of Xbox One X just a few weeks away on November 7, the world’s most powerful console is positioned to welcome the True 4K gaming era in style and we’re celebrating in a big way with the start of our global “Feel True Power” campaign.

Please join Xbox on Sunday, October 22 at 4 p.m. PT on our official Xbox YouTube channel as we kick off the campaign in the US for an exclusive preview of our global anthem “Feel True Power” TV commercial before it airs on “The Walking Dead” season premiere at 9 p.m. PT, and also during the Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots NFL game on “Sunday Night Football” — kick-off is at 5:30 p.m. PT. You can get a sneak peek at the top of this post.

The global campaign is designed to appeal to all gamers, taking the audience on an emotional roller coaster to elicit emotions like awe, excitement, fear, and passion; a call for gamers to feel the emotions of gaming in a way they may never have felt before. “Feel True Power” represents that the experience isn’t just about what you see, but also what you feel.

Xbox One X is not only the most powerful console we’ve ever created, it’s also the smallest. It includes a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, built-in power supply, and three USB 3.0 ports and can be placed both horizontally or vertically with an optional stand. And as part of the Xbox family of devices, all your Xbox One games will play better on Xbox One X.

Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all the latest news about Xbox One X and pre-order your console today from the Microsoft Store or your favorite retailer.

See the rest of the story on Xbox Wire

Related:
Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection Q&A
Rev Your Engines for the Renault Sport Formula One Custom Xbox One S Console
Gigantic’s Season of Souls Update is Now Live on Xbox One and Windows 10

Source: Xbox Blog
—

Lifecycle management goes to the cloud. For Chitale Dairy, digital transformation helps keep dairy farmers’ most precious livestock healthier and producing at a 10x higher yield, through big data analytics, automated farmer to-do lists and computerized breeding management. This kind of transformation was nearly impossible just a generation ago, and owes itself to a creative and innovative use of technology that helps foster opportunity for the farmers around them. Go behind the scenes of how Chitale Dairy’s ability to monitor, react and predict cow behavior in real time is leading to extraordinary results.

https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/what-we-do/customer-stories/chitaledairy.htm#

Source: Dell YouTube
—

Prepare to Feel True Power. Watch the #XboxOneX TV Commercial at 4 PM Pacific on Sunday October 22. Pre-order now: https://www.xbox.com/xbox-one-x

Source: XBOX YouTube
—

Real Farm is now available on PlayStation® 4!

For more info, visit: https://realfarm.soedesco.com/

Published by SOEDESCO®
Website: https://www.soedesco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Soedesco
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soedesco
Instagram: https://instagram.com/soedesco

About Real Farm
Grow your way to success in Real Farm, the most immersive agricultural sim around. Explore the 4K countryside and make it yours. Start from nothing or take on a working farm. Manage the land, crops, animals and staff, and reap the riches you sow.

Features

• Dive into a huge, open world presented in sumptuous native 4k
• Grow from farm hand to agricultural A-list in Career Mode
• Cultivate the role of an established farmer in Free Mode
• Sow crops, keep livestock or both, buying and selling in a real
time economy
• Plough straight in with pick-up-and-play controls and a
comprehensive tutorial
• Drive and maintain a massive array of farm vehicles and
machinery

Published by SOEDESCO®, Koddeweg 13, 3194 DH, Hoogvliet.

Source: Playstation YouTube
—