See this year's top 5 underrated Microsoft announcements

This was a big year for Microsoft. The HoloLens began shipping to developers, Windows 10 made it through its first year intact (though not without controversy), and the company got into the desktop computer market with a stunning mega-touchscreen. But there were a few key announcements that flew under the radar this year. While they may not have the splash factor of a Surface Studio or HoloLens, these developments have the potential to alter Microsoft and the world for years to come. Microsoft's new bot tools help build conversation partners At its Build developer conference, Microsoft outlined a vision for a conversational computing platform.