Visit Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces where creative environments meet the latest tech

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Toronto- We got a tour of the new Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces in the heart of toronto's business district to get a better look at the future of the workspace designed to complement the changing landscape in Canada.

The event featured a panel discussion with Microsoft, SteelCase and Ipsos leaders as well as a tour of the facilities designed to improve productivity by fostering creativity as well as collaboration. The Microsoft and SteelCase Creative Spaces merge Microsoft Surface hardware and various solutions with a variety of traditional and innovative meeting and work spaces.

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CES 2018: Google and Amazon assistants heading into a two way race

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

What is evident from this year's International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is that smart assistants are emerging to be the biggest story from the show. Not only has Amazon's Alexa assistant transcended speakers, thermostats and is now comng to PCs and even cars.

Google and its Google Assistant is omniscient in Las Vegas this year. Not only is Google Assistant coming to various third-party headphones it's ramping up the range of functionality with one million actions, which are like Alexa's Skills or, to put it simply, services and apps that they can link to or processes that you can enable.

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Microsoft's foldable phone concept shows hints of a computing future

Microsoft made a name for itself by introducing the 2-in-1 Surface devices, so it stand to reason that the company's new mobile device would have a similar functionality. The above patent illustrations show the 'Andromeda' concept, a truly innovative smartphone that unfolds into a larger device, possibly a tablet.

Microsoft has killed off Windows 10 on phones, or at least has done nothing to sustain that dying promise of mobile Windows. The company's representatives do reference a mobile device that's not a phone bu which has telephony. With Windows on ARM now a nascent reality, can we expect the Surface Phone or Courier device that brings Windows to a smaller convertible form factor.

Two more patents of Microsoft’s foldable mobile device have been published today, and they were first spotted by WalkingCat. Give us a glimpse of what this could look like. A device like this would put Microsoft in a class of its own and could kickstart their presence in 'mobile' while creating something bigger with more functionality if you throw in Continuum and docking functionality.

Source: Thurrott

Microsoft rolls out its Microsoft 365 Business for SMBs

Microsoft is bringing its centralized hub of IT solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses to its customers around the world starting today. Microsoft 365 Business caters to companies with employees of up to 300 people. It has Office 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools as well as device management and security tools that can protect company information across all Windows 10 devices and apps. On top of that, Microsoft announced three new business apps—Microsoft Connections, Microsoft Listings, and Microsoft Invoicing—for Microsoft 365 Business and Office 365 Business Premium for their customers in Canada, the US, and the UK. Microsoft is also introducing its app for firstline workers called Microsoft StaffHub.

The three new apps have been designed to help small businesses acquire new customers, boost revenue, and help speed up billing and receivables. Connections lets you send professional-looking marketing emails. Listings helps you attract new customers by getting the business listed on the likes of Facebook, Google, Bing, and Yelp. And Invoicing provides estimate and invoicing tools to help speed up payment and manage cash flow.