GoKawiil
Tech News
Microsoft has officially introduced a disc-to-digital feature that lets Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners convert physical game discs into digital copies by inserting the disc and launching the title. The feature rolls out to Xbox Insiders on August 31, supporting thousands of titles at launch, and unlocks digital perks like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming access.
A leaked spreadsheet obtained by Business Insider compiled self-reported salary data from about 600 Microsoft employees, revealing wide pay ranges by job level. Entry-level engineers reported base pay between $111,000 and $155,500, while senior levels reached up to $245,000 in base salary, and principal or director roles topped out around $280,000 with bonuses as high as $110,000.
Microsoft has confirmed a new Xbox feature that converts physical disc games into digital entitlements tied to the disc itself, allowing ownership to transfer between accounts if the disc changes hands. The feature begins testing with Xbox Insiders on August 31st before a wider rollout, and supports thousands of titles at launch with more to follow as publishers opt in.
Microsoft has begun testing a feature in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26340.9233 that lets users control camera, microphone, and precise location access separately for each desktop application. Previously, these permissions were governed by a single device-wide toggle covering all desktop apps at once. The new controls are accessible via Settings > Privacy & security, with individual switches for each app.
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has published a roughly 6,000-word essay declaring deep concern about artificial intelligence's societal impact, marking a sharp shift from his earlier optimistic stance. He argues the AI transition will be uniquely turbulent compared to past technological shifts and warns society is not adequately preparing for its consequences, while stopping short of offering concrete new solutions.
Ikea has partnered with Microsoft to release Yxstaby, a nine-item collection of gaming-themed furniture marking 25 years of Xbox. The lineup includes a TV stand, laptop stand, side table, lounge chair and toolbox, alongside standout pieces like a tilting stool shaped like a thumbstick, an X-shaped cushion, a decorative platter and a mirrored display box, all designed with neutral Scandinavian tones accented by Xbox's signature green.
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new fee of over $103,000 for H-1B visas, a slight increase from a similar $100,000 fee a federal judge struck down in June after more than 70 employers had already paid it. The same day, the State Department revealed plans to revoke visas for up to 200,000 asylum seekers, described as potentially the largest mass visa revocation in US history. DHS has also signaled it may impose a comparable $100,000 fee on the Optional Practical Training program, which allows international students to work in the US after graduation.
Microsoft's Xbox controllers have evolved gradually since the original console launched in November 2001, but core elements like the asymmetrical stick layout, colored ABXY buttons, and AA battery power have persisted throughout. Key changes included the slimmer Controller S in 2002, wireless connectivity and shoulder buttons with the Xbox 360, and refinements like Impulse Triggers, Bluetooth, and a headphone jack on the Xbox One pad. The newest Xbox Wireless Controller adds a Share button and textured grips as its main updates.
Microsoft has launched a Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary collection featuring limited-edition peripherals in translucent 'OG Green,' matching June's Xbox Series X25 console announcement. The lineup includes Razer's Basilisk V3 Pro mouse, BlackWidow V4 keyboard, and Hammerhead V3 X earbuds, plus an 8BitDo charging dock and a GameSir mobile controller, all available for pre-order now. A Backbone Pro mobile controller is also included as a blind-box item in clear, blue, or orange variants instead of green.
Microsoft has released PowerToys version 0.101.2362.0, introducing a new utility called Window Hopper that lets users cycle only through windows belonging to the currently active app using a configurable Alt+backtick shortcut. The update also brings a compact search-box mode for Command Palette, synced brightness controls across multiple displays via PowerDisplay, Windows-key activation for Shortcut Guide, a new DemoMirror feature for ZoomIt, and a ripple effect for Mouse Highlighter.
Microsoft released Windows 95 on August 24, 1995, an event that drew crowds lining up for the software in a way never repeated for a Microsoft product. The operating system marked a major upgrade over Windows 3.x, introducing true multitasking instead of relying on applications to cooperatively share resources. It also better exploited faster processors, unlike Windows 3.1, which plateaued in performance around 100 MHz regardless of chip.
Jim Cramer said on 'Mad Money' that rising political and community pushback over electricity and water use is slowing the unrestrained buildout of data centers, citing tighter demands from officials in Pennsylvania and Texas. He argued this won't kill the data center trade but will make smaller speculative developers and suppliers like GE Vernova, Micron, Sandisk, Western Digital and Seagate less attractive to investors at premium valuations.