Microsoft hasn't posted one of its documentary-style Productivity Future videos for a while now -- not since 2015, I believe. But that doesn't mean the company has stopped'envisioning' what might be next for Office and the workplace. In a new Microsoft .Future podcast episode, called How AI will make meetings less painful, Microsoft drops some hints about some of the latest future concepts that ultimately may inspire its coming products and services, including Cortana. The podcast (which is audio only) mentions that Director of Office Envisioning Anton Andrews and team have "re-envisioned everything -- from what you should expect from a dry erase board, to what you might expect from the floor." Andrews said during the podcast that Microsoft sees the floor people stand on as a potential communications tool, but he didn't elaborate on how/when/if the company may provide more on what that means.

Waking up your PC from sleep is as easy as tapping the touchscreen, moving the mouse or pressing a button on the keyboard -- but if you have a Microsoft Surface Studio, it just got even easier. As long as you have the Windows 10 Creator Update and the latest patch, all you have to do is say the assistant's keywords: "Hey Cortana." Until now, the wake phrase would only turn the screen on while it was fullly powered up -- but the new update allows the user to call the machine out of a lower power sleep mode, making it easier to use Cortana as an in-home voice assistant for casual searches.

Technological innovations can be so deceptively smart that they become boring. There's only so much talk about innovation causing another marketing transformation or a piece of technology breaking barriers and disrupting the status quo before that feeling of wonder goes away. But there's always a story that can be told--and, as a marketer for a tech enterprise, it's your task to recapture that sense of awe. Imagine this scenario: Despite your best efforts, engagement for your company's digital publication has fallen--much to your horror. Time on page has shrunk.

The device is designed to cater to artists and creative professionals. It comes with a starting price of $2,999. In terms of looks, it feels similar to the iMac, since it comes with a large desktop and a detached keyboard and mouse. How does the Surface Studio fare in comparison to the iMac? The Surface Studio comes in both Intel Core i5 and i7 versions, while the iMac comes with just an i5 option.

Microsoft shares surged 5% in early trading Friday,and passed a high set in 1999, helped by enthusiasm for progress in its cloud business. SAN FRANCISCO -- To hear him tell it, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is out to do more than just sell products. Time to stop gobbling it down and to start cranking it out. "The last 10 years have seen a lot of innovation indexed largely toward content consumption," Nadella tells USA TODAY. "But the next 10 will be indexed toward content generation. It'll be about what we can create."