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A patent filed by Microsoft for a “Sound Reducing Directional Input Stick” shows a new design for the standard Xbox controller that looks to soften the controller’s noise level. The patented change adds a “damping ring” on the sides of the analog stick’s shaft, with the ring compressing when it connects with the side of the stick’s cavity on the controller. The soft compressable material used on the damping ring would look to reduce the noise level on the controller by adding a protective layer between the plastic on the shaft and the controller shell....

Meanwhile, Sony has taken an active interest in remote access and streaming as well, with its PlayStation TV device allowing PS4 owners to use their console remotely. Sony have also experimented with PlayStation Now, a promising idea plagued by some nagging issues, particularly the out of control rental costs. Given the industry-wide shift, it was obvious that Microsoft would also make a move towards streaming in some form; after all, with Windows and Xbox two of the biggest names in tech and gaming, surely it would be a match made in heaven....

Through this feature, the artificial intelligence for NPC enemies in Shadow of Mordor was able to learn from the player and their actions. Essentially, any Uruk the player battles is tracked by the game highlighting those who survive or even manage to kill the player. From there, they grow stronger from it, getting promoted higher in the ranks, and more difficult to kill. Uruks that are killed by the players could also return, remembering the player’s prior actions and changed based on how the player took them out previously....

Jim Minick, Michigan’s director of football operations, was arrested by police in Pittsfield Township on Saturday morning around 2:30 a.m., according to myfoxdetroit.com. MORE: Big Ten coach rankings | 2015-16 Bowl Projections | Football returning to UAB? Police responding to a call about a single-car crash discovered Minick’s 2015 GMC Yukon in a ditch. Minick, who was not injured in the crash, told police he swerved to avoid another car, which fled the scene....

“These are a couple of the areas that I think would be the lowest-risk areas that we might start to engage,” the Democrat said during an interview with Politico Monday morning. Whitmer, who has been under fire from Republicans for her strict stay-at-home order, will further outline steps for reopening the state’s economy this week. She anticipated that Michigan could enter the next “low-risk” category of recovery in the coming days if hospitalization rates continue to drop and COVID-19 testing goes up....

Vitale couldn’t handle a short pass midway through the third quarter and watched the ball bounce off his hands. However, Ross couldn’t help himself and cracked Vitale in the facemask with the crown of his helmet. MORE: Top 25 updates: Michigan, Clemson winning big | Top Michigan Wolverines of all time Ross will miss the rest of the Northwestern game, which likely won’t mean much in the blowout, but his absence could be costly next Saturday against the Spartans....

On Thursday, reporter Victor Williams of Detroit’s WDIV news station was discussing a new skatepark that’s going to open up in town and had a little fun with it. In the clip, Williams skates with ease while still talking to his colleagues back in the studio, Karen Drew and Jason Colthorp. “As far as Chandler Skatepark, they’ll be done in about 10 days or so,” Williams said as he skated up and down each ramp....

The second-year Wolverines coach was handed a double technical and ejected after appearing to talk at the Maryland bench, including Terrapins coach Mark Turgeon. The incident occurred with 10:44 left in the second half, with Michigan up 57-47 at the time; Turgeon was also assessed a technical, but was allowed to stay in the game. Video shows Howard appearing to talk toward Maryland’s bench, causing a Terrapin player to approach the coach....

Hoke’s uneven tenure enters a pivotal fourth year, one that features road trips to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State. Regardless of temperature, Michigan is at a crossroads. It’s about finding a middle ground between the changes Rich Rodriguez tried to bring to Ann Arbor and the traditional style Lloyd Carr banked on from 1995-2007. MORE: 30 rivalries, hot or cold? | Top rematches in 2014 | Bowl projections...

Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf told WXMI-TV that he was not directly involved with the investigation but was surprised that charges had been filed against brothers William and Michael Null, two of the individuals who allegedly contributed to the plot. “I was shocked. I did not see this coming for those guys,” Leaf said. He added that the Null brothers should not be convicted in the media before they are found guilty in court and questioned whether they were actually involved in a plan to kidnap Whitmer....

But while MSU has dominated on the gridiron and hardwood in the past couple of years, it’s still light-years behind its rival when it comes to commanding top-dollar from apparel companies. MORE: SN’s top 25 | Spartans-Ducks tops national non-con slate | Ranking every college coach Michigan State signed a 10-year, $34 million dollar deal with Nike last July, according to The Detroit News. The Oregon-based merchandiser earlier this month signed an 11-year, $122 million deal with Michigan that could end up being worth as much as $169 million over 16 years....

“Our culture must change and improve,” Brian Mosallam, one of eight people on the university’s board of trustees, said in a release. “We must admit failure when it happens. We must say sorry when we do wrong. We must hold ourselves accountable for what happens on this campus.” One of Mosallam’s proposals calls for an independent, internal review of the Nassar matter to begin immediately. Nassar, a former doctor who treated Michigan State athletes and U....

Justin Kucera, 28, a former social studies teacher and varsity baseball coach at Walled Lake Western High School in Walled Lake, Michigan, wrote on Twitter: “I’m done being silent. @realDonaldTrump is our president. Don’t @ me.” His tweet, posted July 6, has received more than 10,000 likes and nearly 2,000 replies. The Detroit News reported that Kucera responded to one of those replies with a now-deleted tweet that read, “Liberals suck man....

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the world’s oceans, but scientists have generally assumed that once plastics enter the marine environment it stays there. However, in a study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers led by Steve Allen and Deonie Allen, from the University of Strathclyde, U.K., suggest some plastic particles could be leaving the sea and entering the atmosphere. There are two main sources of microplastics—generally defined as tiny pieces of plastic measuring less than 0....

The key to continuing the franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and lead developer 343, will be to ensure fans step into the shoes of Master Chief again, as they feel it might not have been the best idea for Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach to not feature the franchise poster boy. In chatting with Official Xbox Magazine, Microsoft Games Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer spoke about their goals with the upcoming Halo titles in appeasing long-time loyal fans and reaching new, younger audiences....

The Windows 11 Slip-Up From Microsoft As reported on Know Techie, the bug appeared in the Windows 11 22H2 Release Preview. These are special builds that are given to volunteers to test before it’s given the go-ahead to release on the main branch. And it’s a good thing it went there first; some Insiders noticed that Windows 10 claimed that their old PC met the system requirements to upgrade to Windows 11, even when they very clearly didn’t....

The revamped Xbox One controllers boast more features than their predecessors, ranging from magnetic sensors in the triggers to individual rumble motors placed in each trigger button. While it still maintains the look and feel of the Xbox 360 edition controller, the technology inside it is vastly different - which is reportedly the reason why the Xbox One won’t recognize older controllers - the other reason being revenue from selling new hardware and accessories....

But despite many agreeing that Microsoft had already reached the pinnacle of good controller design, the Xbox One platform holder is reportedly working on a successor. A leak via Chinese website Baidu suggests that Microsoft is now working on a new Xbox One Elite Controller that will offer even more hardcore-focused features. This updated version of the controller will reportedly offer a USB-C charging port, a button for switching profiles, three-level hair trigger locks, longer key travel for paddles, and Bluetooth support for Windows 10 as well....

Interested parties must be 18 years old, be in an Xbox Live supported region, and follow Xbox on Twitter to enter the contest, which opened at 4:00 p.m. PST yesterday and will run until 7:00 p.m. PST on April 14. Applicants can be entered into the running for this $499 console by retweeting the post with the hashtag “#SonicXboxsweepstakes.” The deal comes after Paramount Pictures released Sonic the Hedgehog digitally, including on Microsoft Movies & TV....

Windows 11’s New Security Measure As reported by PC World, Microsoft is planning to implement a powerful security tool into Windows 11. It’s called “Smart App Control,” and it’ll work in a similar way to Microsoft Edge’s SmartScreen. When you download an app that Smart App Control believes is malicious, it’ll warn you and stop the software from doing damage. It may sound like a regular antivirus, but it’s a bit more advanced than that....