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Submission + - Chrome Canary Adds @aimode Shortcut to Launch AI Features From Address Bar (windowsreport.com)

John Nautu writes: A recent update to Chrome Canary quietly added an @aimode shortcut that lets users trigger AI-powered search directly from the address bar. This appears to be part of a broader effort to integrate Google's AI Mode—similar to Gemini—more deeply into Chrome. So far, signs of AI Mode have also appeared on the New Tab Page. A breakdown of the change and how it works was posted on WindowsReport.

Submission + - Apple Could Soon Launch NFC Watch Bands That Auto-Personalize Your Watch (macobserver.com)

John Nautu writes: Apple is advancing wearable tech with a newly granted patentfor NFC-enabled watch bands that personalize the Apple Watch experience. These bands contain NFC tags that fit into a dedicated recess on the watch, where a coil powers them wirelessly. Depending on the band used, features may vary—basic bands could change interface colors, while premium bands might unlock exclusive watch faces or functions. The patent refines ideas from a 2023 filing and emphasizes specific engineering improvements. This innovation opens doors to modular hardware, such as health sensors or add-ons. Apple could also license the tech to third-party manufacturers, suggesting a future where watch bands enhance both the style and functionality of the Apple Watch.

Submission + - Microsoft could update Copilot to detect upcoming natural disasters. Here's how (windowsreport.com)

John Nautu writes: Microsoft is working on a new project that involves sound recognition tech to detect natural disasters. Not only that, but the same tech can analyze and process sound to determine unusual noises like crying babies, glass breaking, coughing, or breathing difficulties.

We could see and use this tech in a future Copilot version.

Submission + - Microsoft's Q4 earnings and are through the roof (windowsreport.com)

John Nautu writes: Microsoft released their Q4 earnings an it’s all good news. The giant registered amazing growth on all departments, increasing its share price by one third.

Here’s what Ryan Duguid, Chief Evangelist at Nintex(largest global partner of SharePoint and a Microsoft partner of the year) declared:

Microsoft has repeatedly beaten Wall Street’s expectations this year – its share price is up by one-third – and its latest results only reinforce this trend.

As he confirms, it seems like Azure had a big part to play in all this:

Azure is a powerful differentiator, and it continues to gain market share. One key to Microsoft’s success with the cloud platform has been its embrace of openness and customer choice in tech stacks, and creating a common data model underneath everything.

It was a record fiscal year for Microsoft, and the numbers exceeded all expectations:

Revenue was $33.7 billion and increased 12%
Operating income was $12.4 billion and increased 20%
Net income was $13.2 billion GAAP and $10.6 billion non-GAAP, and increased 49% and 21%, respectively
Diluted earnings per share was $1.71 GAAP and $1.37 non-GAAP, and increased 50% and 21%, respectively
GAAP results include a $2.6 billion net income tax benefit explained in the Non-GAAP Definition section below
Of course, Microsoft’s partnership with many industry leading companies also played a role in the constant development and improvement of their products.

Despite Azure leading the way, Office 365, Windows, and Microsoft Teams also contributed to the growth:

Microsoft is also seeing strong contributions from Office 365, and of course continuing strength in its original cash cow, Windows. It also has had a great year with Teams and has shown real momentum. Teams now claims 13 million users, 30% more than Slack

Ryan Duguid also confirmed that Microsoft is already planning some big things for next year, with AI and productivity software leading the way:

In 2020, we expect to see Microsoft double down in three key areas to further differentiate from the leading tech giants: AI and ML (across the entire platform), data (infinitely expandable, cost-effective, and supportive of ODI), and modern workplace (productivity software)

Also, Microsoft spent $16.87 billion on research and development in 2019, significantly more than the $14.73 billion spent in 2018.

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