In today's episode of the Microsoft Today podcast, we discuss Microsoft's live event at MWC19, including the new HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality device, and the Azure Kinect IoT Edge device. We had a tremendous time covering Microsoft's MWC19 event yesterday. Your reactions on Twitter, are why this episode has morphed so drastically as I began writing it. It's all about the power of the pivot, just ask Excel!

Instead of diving into all of the details about the announcements made today, we are going to do a quick review of what was covered. I believe the technology sand initiatives discussed deserve episodes of their own, and my goal is to give them their own episodes within the next week or two. Seriously, hold me to this - chastise me at @BradGroux on Twitter if I don't do it!

So let's jump in, just be sure to stick around until the end. We have some community kudos to give out, and an inspiring new commercial from Common and Microsoft.

Thank All 5,000 of You!!!

Today I'm thrilled to announce that we have surpassed the 5,000 Twitter follower mark. We've more than doubled our number of followers since the podcast started six weeks ago - it has been a truly amazing ride! My only regret is not starting this endeavor sooner! It has been a blast, and interacting with the thousands and thousands of listeners and technologists has been amazing.

As a thank you for hitting 5,000 followers on Twitter, I will be releasing two bonus podcast episodes this week - so look for those over the next two days (I've begun recording them).

Microsoft at MWC19

Today was a busy day in Barcelona for Microsoft, as they announced more than 10 new products or initiatives spanning the Mixed Reality, cloud services, hardware services, business development and open spectrums. For full details about all of today's announcements, see the official blog post on our site - https://msft.link/MWC19

Microsoft at MWC19 Barcelona

A New Day at Microsoft

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella started off the event by discussing a fundamental shift in the company's philosophy:

"Putting people at the center, instead of the device. For years we have built applications and experiences specifically for given devices. But the interaction model going forward, is with computers and computing, all around us. It is no longer about being device first, it is about putting the human first which includes all of the devices in their lives… to empower every person and every organization on the planet, to achieve more."

He then goes on say that their success, lies in the success of their partners and customers:

"Our success lies in the success of our partners and customers in our ecosystem. This requires that we collectively move from being just passive consumers of technology to active producers of technology. We create technology, so that our customers can create their own technology… today every company is a tech company… not to become dependent on Microsoft, but to become independent of Microsoft…"

This falls very much in line with why I've started this podcast, and why I've discussed the topics that we've discussed thus far. The future is coming, and you can no longer be passive, you must be proactive, and learn to adapt and utilize the technology that is here. Regardless of your role in the workplace.

Mixed Reality is a technology that merges real and virtual worlds to create brand new environments where physical and digital components can interact in real time. It’s “mixed” reality because it encompasses both augmented/virtual reality and the real world via immersive technology, letting you see the real environment overlaid with holographic data from a 3D model.

HoloLens 2

The HoloLens 2 team focused on three key areas when redesigning the new hardware from the ground up:

• Immersion is greatly enhanced by advancements across the board, including in the visual display system, making holograms even more vibrant and realistic




• The field of view for HoloLens 2 has more than doubled


• A new display system that excels at low power


• The new time-of-flight depth sensor and built in AI and semantic understanding allows for interactive holograms


• The eye-tracking sensors makes interacting with holograms more natural


• Now with Windows  Hello iris recognition




• Comfort is enhanced by a more balanced center of gravity, the use of light carbon-fiber material and a new mechanism for donning the device without readjusting




• New vapor chamber technology for improved the thermal management


• Redesigned to allow it to comfortably adjust and fit almost anyone


• Meant to be used for hours on end now, and the new "flip up" allow for easy on-off usage


• All told, they've more than tripled the measured comfort and ergonomics of the device (not sure how this is done)




• Time-to-value is accelerated by Microsoft mixed reality applications like Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, Dynamics 365 Layout and the new Dynamics 365 Guides applications




• There is a business ready ecosystem of mixed reality partners that provide a broad range of offerings built on HoloLens that deliver value across a range of industries and use cases


• A new wave of mixed reality entrepreneurs is also helping to accelerate the growth and availability of Mixed Reality tools and applications


• No longer is there a startup time of 3-6 months for businesses to find value in the Mixed Reality

It was clear from the presentation that HoloLens 2 is much less cumbersome than its predecessor. All the demo wearers looked comfortable wearing it. Kudos to the Microsoft Hardware team!

HoloLens 2 will be available this year at a price of $3,500. Bundles including Dynamics 365 Remote Assist start at $125/month. HoloLens 2 will be initially available in the United States, Japan, China, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand. Customers can preorder HoloLens 2 starting today.

Introducing Microsoft HoloLens 2

Microsoft HoloLens Customization Program

HoloLens is being used in a variety of challenging environments, from construction sites and operating rooms to the International Space Station. HoloLens has passed the basic impact tests from several protective eyewear standards used in North America and Europe.

We're not sure of just what the customization program entails, but you have to think that the HoloLens hardware was designed in a modular way, to make customization easier. Think of HoloLens 2 as a platform, like the Xbox Adaptive controller - and instead of the inclusive design being focused on those with disabilities, instead it is focused on challenging usage cases and/or environment variables.

Of course, with the hardware improvements in HoloLens 2, especially the eye tracking sensors - there are no doubt many usage cases for those with both physical and learning disabilities.

Trimble - Last year announced Trimble Connect for HoloLens along with a new hard hat solution that improves the utility of mixed reality for practical field applications. Today it announced the Trimble XR10 with Microsoft HoloLens 2, a new wearable hard hat device that enables workers in safety-controlled environments to access holographic information on the worksite.

Open Principals

Microsoft believes that for an ecosystem to truly thrive there should be no barriers to innovation or customer choice. Microsoft wants the Mixed Reality space to transition from a "walled garden" to a "communal garden."

"Open to your creativity, open to your ideas, open to your vision…" - Alex Kipman

Microsoft's Core Commitments to Openness of their Mixed Reality Ecosystem

1. Open App Store - Developers will have the freedom to make their own stores


2. Open Web Browsing - Firefox will have a native web browsing experience native on HoloLens Firefox natively)


3. Open Platform - An open API surface area and driver model, including further guidance with OpenXR

Azure Kinect

The Kinect lives, and is now more powerful than ever! The Azure Kinect DK is a developer kit that combines Microsoft's industry-leading AI sensors in a single device.

• At its core is the time-of-flight depth sensor that was developed for HoloLens 2


• A high-def RGB camera


• A 7-microphone circular array

The new hardware will enable development of advanced computer vision and speech solutions with Azure. The Azure Kinect DK is initially available in the U.S. and China, and is available for preorder today at $399.

Dynamics 365 Guides

Dynamics 365 Guides is a new mixed reality app that empowers employees to learn by doing.

• Guides enhances learning with step-by-step instructions that guide employees to the tools and parts they need and how to use them in real work situations


• In additi