Thurrott Daily: November 9

Tech tidbits from around the web.

11/9/2016 4:42:59 PM

Learn how to use OneNote

Microsoft is talking up a free online conference devoted to learning and using OneNote.

Join the first-ever online Learn OneNote Conference, where for six days experts from across the globe will showcase their OneNote tips, tricks and best practices. During the conference, 21 speakers will share—via video—how they use OneNote at home, at work and in education. These pre-recorded videos will be released at scheduled times throughout the conference. Register now so you can view the videos at your convenience for free for the duration of the conference. The conference begins November 12 and concludes on November 17.

Organized by OneNote super-fan Jared DeCamp, the Learn Online Conference features 21 expert speakers from all over the world. Speakers will provide in-depth videos on OneNote topics ranging from showing how a deputy district attorney uses OneNote as a replacement for a three-ring binder and a small business owner tracks expenses with OneNote, to how a mother makes her life less chaotic by planning her house remodel in OneNote.

The daily themes are:

Day 1: Getting started with OneNote
Day 2: Powerful OneNote features
Day 3: OneNote for life
Day 4: OneNote for business
Day 5: OneNote for education
Day 6: OneNote for education (continued)

Learn more here.

What’s happening with Microsoft’s Skype messaging everywhere feature?

Mary Jo Foley asks a great question.

The Skype messaging everywhere (SMS Relay) feature is slowly but surely moving ahead, and not just for Windows or Skype Insiders only.

Last week, Microsoft made an updated preview build of the Skype UWP app available to Windows 10 users (not just Windows Insiders). That preview build included the “Messaging Everywhere” (officially christened SMS Relay) in the application. However, the updated Skype PC preview only supports SMS messaging between Windows Phones running Windows 10 Mobile and PCs running Windows 10 — though Microsoft officials confirmed that Microsoft will bring SMS Relay to Android “in the future.”

Microsoft Patents Surface Pen Strap that Doubles as a Charger

Ooh. A new Surface Pen Loop! WinBuzzer reports:

In a new patent filing, Microsoft shows how a small strap for the Surface Pen can connect the accessory to a Windows 10 device and charge the Pen through a USB connection.

The small strap connects to a USB port on a device to hold the Surface Pen in place. While connected in this manner, the wire will provide charge to the Pen while plugged in.

Interesting.

Microsoft explains some new Xbox platform features

Confused about Clubs and Looking for Group? You’re not alone. But Microsoft explains what these new Xbox platform features do.

Clubs and Looking for Group (LFG) on Xbox Live will be launching to the broader community soon on Xbox One and the Xbox app, giving you access to more people to play with and more choice in how you play.

Clubs are gamer-created and managed groups that can help you meet people and grow communities of gamers who love the same things you do. Anyone can join or create a Club, and you’ll probably see a Club for just about anything. It’s a way for gamers to connect and have fun with other people that share the same interests. I think Clubs are important because they create communities that you can go back to again and again to hang out with similar people, which makes your gaming experience even better.

Looking for Group, also known as LFG, helps you quickly find other players that you want to game with. It’s essentially like posting a gaming “want-ad” to the Xbox community. Whether you want to Achievement hunt, play a co-op campaign for Gears of War 4, or do a daily quest, with LFG, you can set the requirements you want to get the right group together. And it works for all Xbox One games, all Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games, and a growing list of top PC games.