Microsoft’s popular Office 365 cloud platform as has a current subscriber base of 38 million users on its Office 365 Personal and Home plan, up form 12.4 million, five years ago. Now the Redmond giant has a plan to further solidify its position with a new wave of features, as Office 365 slowly transitions to Microsoft 365.
A couple of new subscription plans were announced – Microsoft 365 Personal and Family (up to six people). They will be available starting April 21 for $6.99 and $9.99 a month, respectively. The idea is for them to replace the current Office 365 Personal and Home plans. All those users will be moved to the new plans automatically. Plus,
Meanwhile Microsoft is also introducing a plethora of new features. Like the transition to a broader “Microsoft” moniker suggests, these go beyond simple office work in the cloud.
A new Microsoft Family Safety app will be designed as a nifty central hub for all family members to manage things like screen time across various devices, including Xbox consoles, Windows and Android devices. Also, automatic location tracking and potentially sharing will allow for notifications and automatic actions when users leave from or to work, home or school. Microsoft also mentioned a potentially interesting feature that may allow parent to monitor the driving habits of their kids. Probably a lot less cool sound for many teenagers, but welcome for all parents.
Microsoft appears to be tweaking the focus of its Microsoft Teams platform as well, opening it up to a lot more day-to-day non-work-related collaboration. The new home features, that are now in preview as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription allow friends and family members to all connect in a group for chats and video calls, as well as sharing lists, photos and other content. This sounds like a great vacation and activity organizational tool. Microsoft Teams home features will be available to preview this Summer, with general availability to follow later in the year.
Naturally, the new Microsoft 365 subscriptions will be adding some more-traditional office features to the roster, as well. Editor for Word is an advanced proofing tool, users will soon get access to. It can do regular grammar and spellcheck, but also promises to improve your writing style in general with more semantic and high-level suggestions. There will even be a rewrite option, that appears to be able to re-write entire sentences. A similarity checker is also part of the mix, which promises to prevent plagiarism and help students properly cite content.
PowerPoint, within the new Microsoft 365 is getting a feature called Presenter Coach. The name is pretty self-explanatory. It will help you practice delivering a speech around your slides, even monitoring and trying to correct things like stuttering, swearing and monotone speech.
Excel in Microsoft 365 is also going to experience an interesting side-step back into the more practical realms of personal finance. Microsoft has promised to make it a lot easier and accessible for you to track your finances, without too much hassle. Part of this will apparently be achieved by interfacing with bank and credit accounts to automatically import transactions. This new feature will be made available in the US first in the coming months.
Excel is also getting native support for some interesting data types, like food, places and movies. These are sourced through the extensive Wolfram Alpha database, which, in itself, sounds quite impressive. Microsoft 365 insiders should be able to start making columns with Pokemon and similar data types this Spring.
As far as some smaller Microsoft 365 additions go, Outlook is getting the ability to link your work and personal calendars on the web. Subscribers to the platform will also be receiving more than 200 exclusive new document templates, 300 new fonts, 2,800 new icons and access to thousands of images from Getty.
Last, but not least, since this is something even non-Microsoft 365 subscribers will get to enjoy – the Edge browser will be receiving a Password Monitor, which promises to scan through your saved login credentials and check them against know databases of compromised user data. Not unlike what Firefox recently introduced. And finally – side tabs in Edge – for those who prefer this style of organization.
Just to reiterate, the new Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans will be available starting April 21 for $6.99 and $9.99 a month, respectively.
OTTAWA – Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says there is a lot of uncertainty around how artificial intelligence could affect the economy moving forward, including the labour market and price growth.
In a speech in Toronto at the Economics of Artificial Intelligence Conference, the governor said Friday that the central bank is approaching the issue cautiously to get a better understanding of how AI could affect its job of keeping inflation low and stable.
“Be wary of anyone who claims to know where AI will take us. There is too much uncertainty to be confident,” Macklem said in prepared remarks.
“We don’t know how quickly AI will continue to advance. And we don’t know the timing and extent of its economic and social impacts.”
The governor said AI has the potential of increasing labour productivity, which would raise living standards and grow the economy without boosting inflation.
In the short-term, he said investment in AI is adding to demand and could be inflationary.
However, Macklem also highlighted more pessimistic scenarios, where AI could destroy more jobs than it creates or lead to less competition rather than more.
The governor called on academics and businesses to work together to shed more light on the potential effects of AI on the economy.
“When you enter a dark room, you don’t go charging in. You cautiously feel your way around. And you try to find the light switch. That is what we are doing. What we central bankers need is more light,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024.
CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite-based Starlink WiFi service on flights within the next several years.
The airline said Friday the service will be free to passengers.
United said it will begin testing the service early next year and begin offering it on some flights by later in 2025.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The announcement comes as airlines rush to offer more amenities as a way to stand out when passengers pick a carrier for a trip. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane pretty much like being on the ground when it comes to browsing the internet, streaming entertainment and playing games.
“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do on board a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” CEO Scott Kirby said in announcing the deal.
The airline says Starlink will allow passengers to get internet access even over oceans and polar regions where traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or missing.
Sony has made it easy for Canadian consumers to preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada directly from PlayStation’s official website. Here’s how:
Visit the Official Website: Go to direct.playstation.com and navigate to the PS5 Pro section once preorders go live on September 26, 2024.
Create or Log in to Your PlayStation Account: If you don’t have a PlayStation account, you will need to create one. Existing users can simply log in to proceed.
Place Your Preorder: Once logged in, follow the instructions to preorder your PS5 Pro. Ensure you have a valid payment method ready and double-check your shipping information for accuracy.
Preorder Through Major Canadian Retailers
While preordering directly from PlayStation is a popular option, you can also secure your PS5 Pro through trusted Canadian retailers. These retailers are expected to offer preorders on or after September 26:
Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
EB Games (GameStop)
Amazon Canada
The Source
Steps to Preorder via Canadian Retailers:
Visit Retailer Websites: Search for “PlayStation 5 Pro” on the website of your preferred retailer starting on September 26.
Create or Log in to Your Account: If you’re shopping online, having an account with the retailer can speed up the preorder process.
Preorder in Store: For those who prefer in-person shopping, check with local stores regarding availability and preorder policies.
3. Sign Up for Notifications
Many retailers and websites offer the option to sign up for notifications when the preorder goes live. If you’re worried about missing out due to high demand, this can be a useful option.
Visit Retailer Sites: Look for a “Notify Me” or “Email Alerts” option and enter your email to stay informed.
Use PlayStation Alerts: Sign up for notifications directly through Sony to be one of the first to know when preorders are available.
4. Prepare for High Demand
Preordering the PS5 Pro is expected to be competitive, with high demand likely to result in quick sellouts, just as with the initial release of the original PS5. To maximize your chances of securing a preorder:
Act Quickly: Be prepared to place your order as soon as preorders open. Timing is key, as stock can run out within minutes.
Double-Check Payment Information: Ensure your credit card or payment method is ready to go. Any delays during the checkout process could result in losing your spot.
Stay Informed: Monitor PlayStation and retailer websites for updates on restocks or additional preorder windows.
Final Thoughts
The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to take gaming to the next level with its enhanced performance, graphics, and new features. Canadian gamers should be ready to act fast when preorders open on September 26, 2024, to secure their console ahead of the holiday season. Whether you choose to preorder through PlayStation’s official website or your preferred retailer, following the steps outlined above will help ensure a smooth and successful preorder experience.
For more details on the PS5 Pro and to preorder, visit direct.playstation.com or stay tuned to updates from major Canadian retailers.
