Microsoft to donate $1 billion in cloud services to nonprofits and university researchers

We will donate $1 billion in cloud computing resources over the next 3 years to 70,000 non-profits and NGOs worldwide. - Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft

On the softer side of technology news, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella just announced that Microsoft Philanthropies, with support from MSR and Business Development, will donate $1 billion in Microsoft cloud services to nonprofits and university researchers over the next three years, including serving 70,000 nonprofits with this technology in the same timeframe.

"Philanthropy is a start," Nadella said in a blog post, "but to truly harness the public cloud for public good, businesses, governments and NGOs must come together with a shared vision and relentless passion to improve the human condition and drive new growth equally."

Source: Microsoft

HP launches series of education focused PC's and services

HP's announced new PCs and software solutions designed for education feared to support students, teachers and communities. The new solutions and programs include: HP Education Edition notebooks, HP School Pack Software 2.0, HP Sprout Pro by HP and Microsoft’s Reinvent the Classroom Program.

The new Windows 10 Education Edition Notebooks that are built tough to withstand the rigours of daily academic use and designed for learning.

Click to read more ...

Rogers getting ready to broadcast first 4K hockey game on January 23rd

4K content is coming to Canada this Saturday thanks to Rogers, which will be pioneering the technology via a Hockey Night in Canada telecast produced by Sportsnet and available to Rogers customers using the NextBox 4K on Channel 999.

The game is on Saturday, January 23 at 7 p.m. (EST), and will see longtime rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the Montreal Canadiens, live at the Air Canada Centre. Of course, to enjoy the game in all its glory, viewers will need to have subscribed to the Rogers NextBox service as well as have a compatible 4K TV.

Click to read more ...

Dell Venue 8 Pro is updated for Windows 10

Looks like the HP Envy 8 Note is getting some steep competition from Dell in the 8-inch Windows 10 notebook space. Dell just announced an update to its Venue 8 Pro tablet from two years ago, this one goes by the name Dell Venue 8 Pro 5000 Series (64GB) and it starts at US $449.99.

Powered by a Quad Core, 2.24GHz Intel Atom processor, the Dell has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage plus microSD card expansion. This has a USB type-C port for I/O and power but the Dell Stylus is sold separately and there's no accessory keyboard mentioned although there's a Dell Dock which could make it possibly run Continuum. No idea when this is coming to Canada and what price it will get, but I'm happy to see more variety come to the Windows mini tablet space.

Source: Dell via Thurrott.com