The provided source material details announcements made at Microsoft's Build 2019 developer conference, focusing on corporate and technological developments rather than consumer-focused free samples, promotional offers, or product trials. The information is drawn from a single CNET article summarising the event. Based exclusively on this data, the following summary outlines the key announcements and their potential indirect relevance to UK consumers interested in technology and software.
The Microsoft Build 2019 conference, held over two days in Seattle, coincided with Google's own developer conference. The event typically features updates on Microsoft's projects, including the Cortana voice assistant, the Azure cloud computing platform, and Windows software. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's keynote speech centred on the integration of Microsoft's technology across various sectors and environments.
A significant portion of Nadella's address was dedicated to the concept of pervasive computing. He stated, "Every place -- whether it's our homes, our offices, factories, stadiums; every industry, from oil and gas to retail to agriculture, to financial services; everything from connected cars to connected refrigerators to smart surgical tools to smart copy machines -- are all being driven by software." He further emphasised that "Computing is getting embedded in the world." This strategy reflects Microsoft's ongoing effort, under Nadella's leadership since 2014, to reposition itself from a competitor to a trusted partner for a wide range of industries.
Several product and software announcements were made during the conference:
Microsoft Edge Browser Developments: Microsoft announced plans to bring its new Edge browser, which is based on the same Chromium code that powers Google's Chrome, to the Mac operating system. Additionally, the company debuted an "Internet Explorer mode" for the Edge browser. This mode is designed to allow users to access legacy or older web applications that were originally built for Internet Explorer directly within the modern Edge browser, potentially improving compatibility for business users and those accessing specific older web services.
HoloLens 2 and Spatial Application: A notable demonstration involved the HoloLens 2, Microsoft's mixed reality headset. The "Spatial" application for HoloLens 2 was showcased, with the stated goal of bringing "Avengers-like holograms" to conference rooms. This indicates a push towards collaborative, holographic visualisations in professional settings. However, the source also notes that a separate, large-scale HoloLens 2 demonstration, referred to as the "Apollo demo," suffered a "failure to launch," highlighting the technical challenges still present in cutting-edge mixed reality demonstrations.
Minecraft and Augmented Reality: Microsoft teased a new project that is described as a "Minecraft take on Pokemon Go." This suggests the company is exploring the development of an augmented reality (AR) mobile game that leverages the popular Minecraft franchise, similar to the location-based gameplay mechanics of Pokemon Go. No further details on this project were provided in the source material.
Corporate Strategy and Ecosystem Integration: The conference underscored Microsoft's broader strategy of embedding its technology across diverse environments. Nadella's speech highlighted the company's focus on making its software the foundation for a wide array of connected devices and services, from industrial machinery to consumer appliances. This aligns with the company's existing integration of its Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) into various workflows.
The source material does not contain any information regarding free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes related to Microsoft or any other brands. The article is a summary of a technology conference focused on software, developer tools, and enterprise strategy, with no direct connection to consumer freebies or sample programmes.
Conclusion
The provided source material, a CNET article summarising Microsoft Build 2019, offers no information relevant to free samples, promotional offers, or consumer product trials. The content is exclusively focused on corporate announcements, software updates, and developer-focused technology demonstrations. UK consumers seeking free samples or trials will not find actionable information in this source. The key takeaways from the conference are Microsoft's strategic push towards ubiquitous computing, the launch of Edge for Mac and Internet Explorer mode, a demonstration of the HoloLens 2's Spatial application, and a teaser for a potential Minecraft-based AR game.