Microsoft Surface Duo: foldable smartphone now on sale for RM5,858

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The Microsoft Surface Duo foldable smartphone is finally launched and will be available this September 10! You may recall its initial introduction way back in
October
 during the height when excitement for foldable smartphones was at its peak.

Almost a year on, the tech world has become somewhat disinterested in flexible phones because they have little to no practical value – the Microsoft Surface Duo aims to remedy this with a larger display which lets you use the Microsoft Surface Pen stylus.

Display

The screen here is a double 5.6-inch FHD+ OLED displays with an aspect ratio of 4:3 – meanwhile, the 360-degree hinge lets you fold the device to work like a smartphone or a tablet.

Specs

Under the hood, you have a capable Snapdragon 855 chip that, although is a tad bit outdated, is still capable of running multiple apps on both displays without slowing down – this is vital since the Surface Duo is a productivity smartphone first and foremost. There’s 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Camera

This point is reaffirmed by the presence of a single 11MP lens, which doubles as a selfie camera too. Despite the seemingly pedestrian photography hardware, the software ups the ante with a super-zoom feature that allows for 7x magnification; you can also record 4K videos at 60FPS.

Features

Speaking of software, the phone comes with a host of Microsoft products Office, and OneDrive – on top of that, Microsoft has programmed an algorithm that predicts on which of the two displays you’d like to have the apps on and places them there.

Powering the device is a 3,577mAh with support of 18W of fast charging. Microsoft claims that you can get up to 15.5 hours of video playback time, or 27 hours of talk time – this likely refers to both
displays
 enabled and in use.

Price

The Microsoft will begin selling in the US from
September 10
 for $1,399 (RM5,858). There’s no word on when it’ll arrive in Malaysia yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated when it does.

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Surface Duo: Microsoft’s dual-screen to launch before Galaxy Fold 2

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The
Microsoft Surface Duo
 that was revealed back in October 2019 is going to be released to the market sooner than we expected; its launch date is estimated to be in July so that it’ll arrive before Samsung launches the
Galaxy Fold 2
.

Microsoft Surface Duo

The
Surface Duo
 is a dual-screen Android phone that has a 360-degree hinge that connects two 5.6-inch displays. Despite being described as a phone, the Surface Duo has wider screens than usual phones in both its folded and unfolded states.

The Surface Duo was first said to launch in the holiday of 2020, but if Microsoft wants to beat Samsung to it, then the July launch is inevitable. Even then, Microsoft will not make the phone available immediately; it will take some time before the phone is officially up for purchase, so customers will still have some time to pick between the Surface Duo or the Galaxy Fold 2.

Samsung Unpacked in August 2020

On the other hand, Samsung will be revealing a
few devices
 alongside the Galaxy Fold 2. This includes the Galaxy Note 20 series, the
Galaxy Watch3
, and even a 5G version of the
Galaxy Z Flip
.

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Microsoft Surface event might include a dual-screen Surface device and Windows 10X

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Microsoft Surface event is happening tonight and we’re already expecting several Surface products such as the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 and a Surface 2-in-1 laptop. However, there’s also a dual-screen Surface device that has been rumoured for years yet has never made an appearance.

The highly credible leaker, Evan Blass tweeted that the dual-screen Surface is not only real, but will also be powered by Windows 10X — previously known as Windows Lite. He said that Windows 10X is made for both dual and folding-screen devices and will run desktop applications in containers. Simply put, the applications that aren’t offered on Windows 10X can be run via a virtualised Windows 10 container.

As for the dual-screen Surface, it is codenamed as Centaurus and should be a foldable device that is around the size between a laptop and a tablet. Unfortunately, Blass did not include any picture of the dual-screen Surface in his tweet.

We’re pretty excited for the launch of the new Surface products, but if the dual-screen Surface makes its appearance, that’ll probably be the cherry on top.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Go available to pre-order in Malaysia

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The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is now available to pre-order in Malaysia today from RM2,758, making it one of the more affordable Surface laptops in the country.

The 12.4-inch laptop comes with a PixelSense touchscreen display that has thin borders on the top and sides. It pushes a resolution of 1536x1024p with a 148ppi pixel density. The design of the laptop is minimal with its platinum
metal
finish. The laptop weighs just 1.1KGs and has a thickness of 15.69mm, making it quite a portable device.

Under the hood is an Intel Core i5-1035G1 chipset along with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage. Do note that the top-spec 16GB+256GB model is only available for businesses and not consumers. For consumers, you get up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.

When it comes to battery life, Microsoft claims that you can get up to 13 hours of life on a typical usage. The laptop ships with a 39W charging brick too.

For connectivity, you get 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x Surface Connect port for charging, and one 3.5mm headphone jack. The Surface Laptop Go supports Bluetooth 5.0 as well as
WiFi
 6 connectivity, which is a standard for laptops in 2020.

The device comes with a 720p HD webcam, along with studio mics for your video conferencing needs; while ‘
Omnisonic
 Speakers’ with Dolby Audio support are also present for your media consumption purposes.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go is available via local resellers such as
Harvey Norman
,
All IT
,
TMT
,
PCimage
 (East Malaysia) and more. Visit Microsoft’s website
here
 to learn more about the laptops.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Review: The Essential Windows 10 Laptop

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Bare bones Windows 10 experience placed into a gorgeous and premium looking laptop. The best Windows laptop currently on the market, but it has one major issue that might turn away users from this lovely device.

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Microsoft announced the dual-screen Surface Neo that runs on Windows 10X, coming holiday 2020

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There have been rumours year after year hinting that Microsoft is developing a dual-screen device, but that ends in 2019. The company revealed Surface Neo during its Surface event yesterday, stating that it will only be available in 2020.

The Surface Neo uses the thinnest LCD ever made and it’s only 5.6mm thick. Weighing around 650g, the device is surrounded by Gorilla Glass and sports a 360-degree hinge connecting its dual 9-inch displays. There’s also stylus support for the device, where the stylus can be magnetically attached to the back of the Surface Neo and charges automatically.

Apart from the stylus, Microsoft also has a keyboard that attach to the back of the device magnetically. It can be folded out — positioning it on top of the screen — and also pulled out so that users can enjoy the full experience of the dual-screen device.

The Surface Neo is powered by an Intel Lakefield processor and runs on Windows 10X, a software made to accommodate for dual-screen devices. Users can either use a single app which can be expanded to both screens, or there can be one app on each side. When both screens are being used but users also need to use the keyboard, the app or website opened in the bottom screen (the one occupied by the keyboard) will automatically shift to the top screen, creating a split screen effect. According to the lead engineer Carmen Zlateff, the device will support “all apps” including Microsoft Office.

Microsoft says that the Surface Neo will be coming holiday 2020, and the keyboard and stylus will not be included.

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Patent reveals the Microsoft Surface Pen with an OLED touch bar panel

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If you think a stylus is cool, try a stylus with and OLED touch bar panel because that seems to be Microsoft’s next move for its Surface Pen.

The patent which was recently published and originally filed back in 2017 shows a diagram that portrays the Surface Pen with a rectangular screen along its body. This screen is not just for display; it’s allegedly a touch screen that comes with different functionalities.

Reports are suggesting that the Surface Pen’s touch screen will be especially useful when it comes to Adobe Photoshop, allowing users to change their brushes or stroke styles by tapping on the screen. This will increase efficiency and allow seamless drawing. Of course, we’re expecting the Surface Pen’s touch screen to accommodate for other apps and programs too — we’re just not sure what they are.

Previous rumours also suggested the Surface Pen to come with a scroll wheel, but that’s not seen in this patent. Looks like Microsoft is ready to take their stylus to the next level, but will it be as soon as this year? We’’ll have to wait and see.

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Microsoft Surface Pro 4 : Microsoft does it again

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The past year or so have seen many trying to imitate Microsoft’s Surface formula. From Lenovo to HP to Samsung, everyone is trying to cut themselves a slice of the 2-in-1 pie by creating a small form tablet that can be used as a laptop by attaching a keyboard on to it.

With competition for this particular space in the market heating up, Microsoft needs to show the other players in the market that they are still kings of the 2-in-1 market. If the Surface Pro 4 is anything to go by, I can safely say that Microsoft hasn’t lost its edge yet.

Design

Nothing much has changed for the Surface Pro 4 in terms of looks. The tablet itself still features the same magnesium unibody casing that its previous iterations sport. In terms of size though, the Surface Pro 4 is slightly bigger than the Surface Pro 3. The tablet now comes with a 12.3 inch screen, making it 0.3 inches bigger than its predecessor. Thickness has also been improved upon as the Surface Pro 4 now measures 8.4 mm.

As for the Surface Pen and the Type Cover, they were on the receiving end of some big changes. First, the Surface Pen. The pen has been redesigned, making it feel like a proper pencil. One the side of the Surface Pen is a magnetic strip that allows you to stick the pen itself on the side of the Surface Pro 4. The top of the Surface Pen features an eraser button which, aside from bringing up the eraser, will open up OneNote with a single press.

The Type Cover is where most of the improvements are made. Perhaps the biggest improvement to the Type Cover is the fact that Microsoft has decided to include some spacing between each keys and have them be individually backlit, making it so much easier to keep track of. Apart from that, the Type Cover feels sturdier this time, allowing me to apply more force when typing than I would normally do on the Surface 3’s Type Cover. Lastly, the touchpad on the Type Cover was widen and given a glass coat, making it feel less plasticky than its previous iterations.

Performance

As usual, the Surface Pro 4 comes with various configurations, with the entry level version featuring an Intel Core m3 processor and the highest end coming with a Core i7 chip. For our review unit, the tablet comes with a 6th generation Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on board. For graphics, the Surface Pro 4 comes with a Intel HD Graphics 520.

Screen resolution on the Surface Pro 4 has also been bumped up to 2736 x 1824, and increase from the Surface Pro 3’s 2160 x 1440 resolution.

Usage

After a week of using the Surface Pro 4, I can safely say that Microsoft’s latest version of the 2-in-1 is pretty much what I’ve expected out of it. As a productivity machine, the Surface Pro 4 is almost perfect. The tablet handles multitasking a media playback without any flaws at all. Some light gaming can also be had on the Surface Pro 4 if you want to, as less resource intensive games such as Hearthstone can be run on the highest settings without problems.

In terms of benchmarks, the Surface Pro 4 shows a slight performance increase over the Surface Pro 3, which is pretty much what I was expecting in the first place.

Battery life on the Surface Pro 4 is a bit on the underwhelming side. In a single charge, the Surface Pro 4 can last around six to seven hours on normal usage. When we tested the battery through PCMark 8, the device managed to clock up around 3 hours and 10 minutes, which isn’t too shabby. If videos are more your thing, the Surface Pro 4 can survive for 5 hours or so on a single charge.

The only one gripe that I really have for the Surface Pro 4 is the fact that Microsoft STILL refuses to bundle in the Type Cover with the tablet itself. I’m not sure why Microsoft chooses to not include the Type Cover with the device, but when your competitors are deciding to bundle keyboards with their 2-in-1 offerings, I think it is time to take a leaf out of their books and do so.


Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 now officially launched in Malaysia with Intel Core 10th-Gen CPUs

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The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 are finally available in the country – offering more power and versatility to the 2-in1 and
ultrabook
 lineup.

Starting with the Surface Pro 7, the latest options come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen panel. The newest iteration weighs just 775 grams and is equipped with a built-in kick stand. As usual, you can hook your tablet up to a Microsoft Type Cover, which is sold separately.

Under the hood, you’ll be able to pack your Surace Pro 7 with the latest 10
th
-gen Intel Core i5, or Core i7 CPUs. Pair that with up to 16GB or LPDDR4x RAM and up to a 1TB of SSD storage.

In terms of I/O ports, Microsoft has finally equipped the Surface with a USB C port as well as a USB A port. You’ll get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Type Cover port for your keyboard. The device supports
WiFi
 6 and
Bluetooth
 5.0. Microsoft claims that you can get up to 10.5 hours of battery life on this.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is priced from RM5,499 for the Core i5 + 256GB SSD variant while the Core i7 variants start at RM6,799. Both models are available in Matte Black, a first in the Surface family.

Moving on to the Surface Laptop 3 – this is your more conventional
ultrabook
 as its name suggests. There are two size options to choose from – 13.5-inch and 15-inch. Both sport a touchscreen panel too. The smaller variant weighs just 1.3kgs while the larger model 1.54grams – making both laptops incredibly lightweight.

In terms of hardware, the 13.5-inch models get the newest Intel Core 10
th
-gen processors with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage; meanwhile, the 15-inch variant gets an AMD Ryzen 5 3580U with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage.

Like the Surface Pro 7, these laptops also get similar I/O ports. Microsoft claims that the both
laptop
 variants can last you up to 11.5 hours.

The smaller Surface Laptop 3 gets a starting price of RM4,499 for the smaller models, while the 15-inch device will set you back RM6,799.

You’ll be able to purchase these laptops sometime early January 2020 – visit their website
here
 to learn more about the devices.

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Microsoft Surface Pro is now available on Microsoft’s official Lazada store

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The new Surface Pro and Surface Pro Signature Type Covers are now available in Malaysia through all Microsoft authorised retailers and on their official
Lazada store
. The Surface Pro has been redesigned from the ground up to give consumers more performance and battery life while packing a powerful 7th Gen Intel Core processor which requires no fan for cooling.

The Surface Pro is not only a powerful laptop but it doubles as a creative studio, the 12.3-inch PixelSense touch display supports the new Surface Pen which allows you to create drawings and art that comes to life on the display. To add on to the drawing experience, a new hinge has been installed to tilt the device up to 165 degrees giving the optimal position for writing or drawing. The Type Cover has a key travel distance of 1.3 mm for faster typing and the entire surface of the Type Cover is covered in soft yet durable Alcantara material, giving you comfort for your palms. The Signature type cover will be available in Platinum, Burgundy, and Cobalt Blue to match your style.

Pricing of all the products and accessories:

available
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The thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 Surface laptop is about to enter Malaysia

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The wait is over! Microsoft’s Surface Pro X that was launched back in October 2019 is now coming to Malaysia with the starting price of RM4,599.

The Surface Pro X is the thinnest and lightest 2-in laptop of the Surface family, weighing at only 774g.

It has a 13-inch PixelSense display paired with an anodized aluminum body and a multi-position hinge. With its detachable keyboard, you can use the Surface Pro X as a tablet with its own stylus, the Surface Pro X Slim Pen.

Under the hood, the laptop is powered by Microsoft’s own processor called the SQ1. You can opt for 128GB or 256GB of SSD storage, but it comes with 8GB RAM by default. As the laptop also features LTE support, you can also stay connected to the Internet wherever you go and work online without any difficulties; couple that with 13 hours of battery life, the Surface Pro X is a portable and lasting device.

The Surface Pro X will be available for preorder starting January 9 from all commercial authorized resellers and authorized retailers. The 128GB model will cost you RM4,599 while the higher storage model will cost you RM5,799. You can also get the Surface Pro X Keyboard or Slim Pen for RM639, or the Signature Keyboard with Slim Pen at RM1,219.

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Microsoft Sway Preview is here and here’s our first look

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Time really flies, it’s been only a few months that Microsoft announced Microsoft Sway, a cloud based application that lets you create a unique site for your own stories in an
easy step
 by step method, we find it extremely cool and we could be even using it to create some event stories in the near future. Therefore, we’ve taken a first look at it with our itchy hands.

As of now, Microsoft Sway is still pretty limited in terms of functionality. Granted, you’ll still be able to do things like setting a background, enter text and adding media from OneDrive, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. You can easily add pages a.k.a sections so users will be able to enjoy your story section by section.

Microsoft does offer a few layouts for creating sections, however at this point of time it would be only the standard header and text. If you look at all of those ‘coming soon’ layouts, think about how you can really create a beautiful and elegant story about your recent photo trip or even wedding! I’m absolutely sure that wedding studios will one day resort to Microsoft Sway for creating online wedding albums – fingers crossed.

Thinking of styles and structures? There you go, Microsoft Sway has everything that you need to apply to your story, it looks very similar to PowerPoint so you won’t really need a user guide if you are used to create presentations. Look at that list of structures, despite being limited in numbers, it is still sufficient to create some great stories for your friends and viewers.

Microsoft Sway is a very interesting concept, it actually lets me create my stories very easily when I’m on a photo trip, imagine if I’ve all my photos on OneDrive, uploaded a video to YouTube, or even have my self-tagged Facebook pictures by friends to import into Microsoft Sway all at once, then create that perfect story while being able to embed on my website or share it to social media. Best of all, my Sway will stay forever on OneDrive where I’ll be able to access it all the time and update things as I go, I can even add my friends to have collaboration on that Sway I’m working on, which makes it really sweet. Microsoft Sway is still on preview and you can head on to the source link down below to find out more about it. Meanwhile, check out the Sway that I’ve embedded right above.


Microsoft to acquire SwiftKey

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A report by Financial Times suggests that Microsoft will acquiring yet another Android app, SwiftKey.

The widely popular keyboard app has been downloaded over 10 million times since it came to existence on the Android platform, being a stock Android keyboard replacement with the same features but somewhat better, alongside a variety of themes.

SwiftKey isn’t the first Android app to be bought over by Microsoft, having bought apps such as Sunrise Calendar and Wunderlist to add to their collection. The report claims that SwiftKey will be purchased for $250 million, with the co-founders of SwiftKey pocketing approximately $30 million once the transaction is completed.

The future will be pretty uncertain for SwiftKey enthusiasts out there as it is not known what Microsoft’s next step will be for the popular keyboard app. Possibilities are that Microsoft will leave the app as it is like what Microsoft did (or did not do) to Wunderlist, or to the horror of SwiftKey users, shut down the app and make use of its features and technologies to develop something “new”. Will this news affect your texting in any way? Let us know in the comments section below!

Source:
Phandroid

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Microsoft to cease production of the Surface 3 in December

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With the Surface Pro 4 now out, it was only a matter of time until Microsoft decides to cease support for the Surface 3. While Microsoft hasn’t pulled the trigger on Surface 3 support just yet, the company has confirmed with ZDNet that the Surface 3 will no longer be in production by the end of December.

Discontinuation of the Suface 3 isn’t exactly surprising as the device has been in the market for a year and a half. That said, Microsoft has yet to introduce the successor to the device (i.e. Surface 4) and Microsoft has yet to mention anything about it either. According to ZDNet, one of their sources said that Microsoft has been undecided as to when they would introduce a Surface 3 successor.

Many are speculating that Microsoft would announce a Surface 4 at the same time as the reveal of Windows “Redstone 2”, but seeing as Microsoft won’t be touching on “Redstone 2” until early 2017, it seems highly unlikely that we’ll be hearing about the Surface 4 this year.

In the meantime, Microsoft has warned that stock for the Surface 3 will be limited once production of the device stops, which means that you may not get the model you want at your preferred store after December. So if you’re still on the fence on the Surface 3, you’re going to need to make a decision within the next few months.

Source:
ZDNet

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Microsoft to cut an additional 2,850 job as it exits the smartphone business

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Back in May, Microsoft announced that it will be
laying off 1,850 employees
 as the company moves away from the smartphone market. That isn’t the end of the cut it seems as Microsoft’s annual report that was released on Thursday shows that the company is aiming to cut an additional 2,850 jobs as the company looks to end its smartphone effort, as well as restructure its sales force.

With the addition of 2,850 employees being laid off, Microsoft has essentially released its hold on Nokia, a company that it acquired back in April of 2014 for USD7.2 billion. With Windows phone being unable to break into the smartphone market, with Windows phones accounting for only one percent of the global smartphone market in the first quarter of 2016, it seems that Microsoft has decided to move away from creating smartphones altogether.

Microsoft may be abandoning the hardware market, but that doesn’t mean that the company is leaving the smartphone market altogether. Current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s strategy for the smartphone market has been to make Microsoft’s technology available on both iOS and Android. One such example of this strategy is the release of Pix yesterday for the iOS.

Source:
Bloomberg
,
Recode

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Microsoft to discontinue processor support for older versions of Windows

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If you’ve yet to upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft would like you to know that in 18 months time, the company will no longer be providing processor support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users.

Come July 18, 2017, Microsoft will only be providing support for Skylake processors on a select few approved devices,
the list of which can be found here
. For all other computers running older version of Windows, Microsoft has stated that they will only provide the “most critical” security fixes and only if they don’t “risk the reliability or compatibility” of Windows 7 and 8.1 on other (non-Skylake) systems.

Skylake processors aren’t the only one affected as other next generations processors, such as Intel’s “Kaby Lake”, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 and AMD’s “Bristol Ridge” APUs will not be receiving support on older Windows version. Going forward, the company says that using the latest generation processors will always require the latest generation operating system. In essence, when Microsoft decides to release Windows 11 in the future, processor support for Windows 10 will gradually be discontinued, much like what is currently happening.

Source :
Ars Technica
,
PCWorld

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Microsoft to expand upon Windows 10 accessibility with the Creators Update

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During the Microsoft event that introduced the world to the Surface Studio and the upcoming Creators Update to Windows 10, Microsoft played a little skit that showcases how the company has made Windows 10 accessible to those who have disabilities. Building on that accessibility, Microsoft has outlined a slew of new features that would be making its way into Windows 10 via the Creators Update.

With the Creators Update, Microsoft is making the Narrator feature much more sophisticated. For one, users can now install the Creators Update solely through the use of Narrator. Microsoft has also made it so that the browsing the internet using the Edge browser is much easier as the company has added several new features, including the ability to jump directly to a form element like a check box, text field or button. For Xbox users, Narrator interactions will be possible via the Xbox controller.

In addition to the Narrator upgrades, Microsoft will also be implementing Braille support with the Creators Update. While the feature will still be in its beta stages when the update rolls out, the system will still be able to support braille displays from more than 35 manufacturers, using more than 40 languages and multiple braille variants such as grade 2 contracted braille.

Source:
Microsoft Accessibility Blog

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Microsoft to fix the Surface Pro 3's battery issue via a software update

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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 has been plagued by a battery issue for a while now, with the issue causing it being isolated to what appears to be a software problem. Over the weekend, it appears that the team at Microsoft has confirmed that the battery issue is indeed a software-related one and has nothing to do with hardware. With this confirmation, Microsoft is now working on a software update to fix the issue.

Currently, this software update is being tested internally by Microsoft. Once this particular update has run through the quality assurance process, Microsoft will release the update to the general public. Until then, Microsoft has adviced owners of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 to refrain from replacing the entire unit.

While news of an update that would fix the Surface Pro 3’s battery issue is a good thing, those who have replaced their Surface Pro 3 prior to this announcement are not pleased, as they believe that the replacement that they have bought may have been unnecessary in the first place. Whether or not Microsoft will issue compensations to those who are affected by this issue remains to be seen.

Source:
Engadget
,
Microsoft Community

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Microsoft to give back 15GB of storage space to legacy OneDrive users

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Prior to November, anyone who uses OneDrive was greeted with 15GB of storage space for free, which is generous when you consider that other cloud storage services don’t usually give out that much space for free.

Then, in November,
Microsoft announced that
 they will be shrinking the amount of storage space offered for free customers, going from a generous 15GB to a pitiful 5GB of space. Needless to say, this change has managed to generate quite an uproar.

Now, Microsoft is sort of backtracking on their changes as they’ll be offering the 15GB of free storage, as well as the 15GB of camera roll storage bonus, back to legacy OneDrive users with a catch.

Users who wish to NOT have their storage space cut down
are required to register here
 by January 31st. Should no action be taken by then, your 15GB of storage will be shrunk to 5GB.

Even if you’re not an active OneDrive user, you should still probably register for this offer. After all, a 15GB is still a significant amount of space and it would be wise to have a backup cloud storage option for emergency purposes.

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Microsoft to hold a Windows 10 event on the 26th of October

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We’ve heard rumours for a while now that Microsoft will be doing an event to debut their new Surface-line of products sometime in October. Well, those are no longer rumours as Microsoft has revealed that they will be doing a Windows 10 event at New York City on the 26th of October.

To be clear here, Microsoft did not implicitly reveal the details of the event apart from the saying that they will be showing off “what’s next for Windows 10.” However, an announcement of a new Surface two-in-one is very likely as the Surface Pro 4 first made its debut in October of last year. Apart from the Surface two-in-one,
there is also the rumoured All-in-One version
 of the Surface as well. Currently codenamed Cardinal, this All-in-One will supposedly come in three different sizes.

Another device that may also make an appearance at the Microsoft event is an updated Surface Book, although some reports are saying that the Surface Book 2 will not be made available until 2017. Finally, we have the Surface Phone. Seeing as Microsoft just shuttered its smartphone division not so long ago, it is highly unlikely that the Surface Phone will be a part of the event, although we do expect Microsoft to explain if Windows 10 will still have a presence in the smartphone market.

Source:
Microsoft

event
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Microsoft to port Word Flow keyboard to the iPhone

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Cortana is not the only Microsoft-made feature that will be coming to the iOS as the company is looking to port the Word Flow keyboard from Windows Phones onto the iPhone.

In an e-mail sent to participants
 of the Windows Insider program, Microsoft is currently enquiring if they would like to beta test the feature on the iPhone. Said e-mail has stated that the Word Flow keyboard will be making its way into the App Store eventually, but Microsoft will first be hosting a beta in order to iron out the kinks for Word Flow.

Another interesting thing to note is that Microsoft stated that they will be working to extend Word Flow onto other platforms, meaning that Android support is a real possibility. Whatever the case, it seems that Microsoft is trying to expand its reach outside of its own ecosystem.

Source :
Windows Central

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Microsoft to roll out an update for Windows 10's design with Redstone 3

253

Windows 10 might be getting a minor visual update within the year as
MSPoweruser
 has managed to snag some screenshots of Microsoft’s upcoming UI upgrade for the operating system.

Called Project NEON internally, the UI update builds upon the Microsoft Design Language 2 that first debuted in Windows 8. With this UI update, Microsoft will be bringing back the Aero Glass feature while mixing it up with animations that can be found on the Windows Phone 8 UI.

New to Project NEON is a component called “Acrylic”, a feature that blurs the background, sidebar and navigation of the Windows in order to emphasize the content that instead. These arcrylics will work in tandem with something that Microsoft refers to as the Conscious UI and Connected Animations. For those who are part of the Windows 10 Insider Program, Connected Animations can be previewed in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build via the Groove Music app.

Project NEON is also designed to accommodate interactions in 3D with the HoloLens by highlighting visual elements as you focus on them with either the mouse cursor or your gaze.

So when can you expect Project NEON to be available? Right now, it appears that Microsoft is prepping to roll out the foundation for Project NEON with the Redstone 3 update for Windows 10, which is the update following the Creators Update. Redstone 3 is currently scheduled to be released this year, so if all goes well, Windows 10 may be getting an UI update before the end of the year.

Source:
MSPoweruser

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Microsoft unveils the Nokia 216 and it has a selfie camera with flash

335

Nokia is a name that most of us are hoping to see it appear again as a smartphone, but Microsoft isn’t quite don yet with the Nokia brand just yet though it has stopped producing new Lumia phones. Meet the Nokia 216, a feature phone that has both a front and rear camera, and there’s even a flash on the selfie shooter if you want your selfies to look brighter in low light, which makes me wonder if Microsoft has recently been duped with recent smartphone trends. In terms of specs, the Nokia 216 has a rather standard 2.4″ QVGA resolution display, both of its cameras take VGA resolution photos, while it has Bluetooth 3.0 with SLAM technology, a 3.5mm headphone jack, MicroSD card support and a 1020mAh battery.

The phone runs on Nokia’s feature phone Series 30+ operating system, which will Java apps that can be downloaded via the Opera Mobile Store, users will be able to download a free Gameloft game every month, while you still get access to some Microsoft services such as Bing Search and MSN Weather, the phone however doesn’t have WiFi or 3G onboard so you will have to live with EDGE speeds when using these online services. The Nokia 216 Dual SIM variant will be available on 21 October and can be had for an affordable RM169 price tag, it is available in black, grey and blue colors.

dualsim
nokia
nokia216


Microsoft unveils the Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Studio 2

348

Microsoft had their launch event for new Surface products particularly the Surface Laptop 2 and the Surface Studio 2, keeping the elegance and power that the previous generations product offers with new hardware.

Surface Laptop 2

Most of the changes done to the laptop are in its internals. The base model now comes with 8GB of RAM, and 8th Generation Intel Core processors. It still retains its 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504 screen and starts at 128GB of SSD storage all the way to 1TB of storage. Sadly, as the rumours and leaks are true, there is still no USB Type-C ports, all you get will be a single USB 3.0 and Mini DisplayPort. Microsoft has claimed that the Surface Laptop 2 will offer you up to 14.5 hours of video playback and it now comes in a sleek black colour, other than its regular platinum colour.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 will come in four colours of Black, Platinum, Burgundy and Cobalt Blue. It will start shipping on 16 October 2018 with a starting price of $999.

Surface Studio 2

For the creative mind that needs a big working device, Microsoft has also introduced the Surface Studio 2 which has received an upgrade from its predecessor. It comes with the same 28-inch screen but the company has claimed that the screen is 38 percent brighter and has 22 percent more contrast than the previous Surface Studio. The display supports touch and 4096 levels of pressure via the Surface Pen.

Other than that, the graphics power has been improved by 50 percent thanks to a Nvidia chip which is based on the Pascal architecture. It can also pair up with an Xbox On control for gaming and the Surface dial. Sadly, they are still using the 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor but there is a 2TB SSD inside and 16GB of RAM. They did not mention the launch date but the base model will cost $3499

2
laptop
microsoft
release
surface


Microsoft upgrades Windows 10 upgrade to "recommended" status

309

Previously, Windows 10 has been listed by Microsoft as an “optional” update, meaning that the OS will only be downloaded should the user wants it to. Now, Microsoft has upgraded Windows 10 to a “recommended” update.

What this means is that older Windows version such as Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 will now automatically download Windows 10 data via Windows’ automatic updaes function. While data for Windows 10 will automatically be downloaded, users will still have to personally approve the installation before Windows 10 will be installed on their device.

If you’re on a metered connection and do not wish to download the 6GB file that Windows 10 comes in, the only way you can do so is to disable Windows Automatic Update. “If you are on a metered connection on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, then you have the option of turning off automatic updates. We strongly discourage this in today’s connected world because of the constant risk of internet threats,” says Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices group.

Should you wish to return to your old OS after upgrading to Windows 10, you have 31 days to roll back to their older Windows version.

Source :
The Guardian

microsoft
update
windows10


Microsoft urges Windows 10 users to update their systems in light of vulnerability discovery

390

This is happening too often in between – Microsoft has alerted Windows 10 users of wormable vulnerabilities in their un-patched systems and have compared it to the infamous BlueKeep vulnerability – it was so notorious that has its own Wikipedia page; how crazy is that.

Like BlueKeep, this problem now resides in the Remote Desktop Services function and allows attackers remote injection of malware onto an infected device without the interaction from the user.

The Windows versions infected besides Windows 10 include Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2008, 2012 and 2012 R2. The main concern of course is with Windows 10 it’s the current generation of the Windows OS.

Microsoft said that there are no evidence that the vulnerability are known to any third party, and the new patch will resolve the issue. If you don’t have automatic updates enable on your system, visit this
website
 for a list of patch articles for your device.

remote desktop services
security patch
vulnerability
windows 10
Windows 7


Microsoft users can now sign in to their accounts without passwords

362

Yesterday Microsoft announced that they are supporting standards-based FIDO2 security key devices that can allow users to sign in to their Microsoft accounts without having to key in their passwords.

First and foremost, users will need to update their Windows to make sure that they are using the Windows 10 October 2018 version. Next, users need to set up their Windows Hello and also security key which can be purchased from Microsoft’s partners such as Yubico and Feitian Technologies.

Image credit: Microsoft

For users who have the FIDO 2 devices, they can just use security keys to confirm their identities with biometric or PIN based on the FIDO 2 standard. Besides that, users can use Windows Hello that allows log in through facial recognition or fingerprint sensor which depends on the devices they are using. Another password-less method by Microsoft is the Microsoft Authenticator app which will display a certain number on the device and send a message to the user’s smartphone to match the previous number, and then the user will have to enter their smartphone’s password for authentication, which is somewhat like the two-factor authentication.

Image credit: Microsoft

This will be the easier and quicker way for users to sign in to their Microsoft accounts, not to mention that it will also be a safer option. If this technology continues to expand, soon everyone will be able to sign in to emails and apps without the need of using passwords.

edge
email
FIDO 2
microsoft
Microsoft Authenticator
windows 10
windows hello


Microsoft waves goodbye to Huawei as they decline orders for Windows OS for MateBooks

277

It’s not looking great for Huawei — after the Trump-mandated trade ban that saw the Chinese company lose out on key partners like Intel, Google, Qualcomm and ARM, Huawei looks to set to be dealt another heavy blow as giants Microsoft has been reported to have withdrawn operations with Huawei.

This is detrimental to any plans Huawei have of making a recovery, because this means that their personal computing products such as the Huawei MateBook laptops will be without the Windows operating system.

Image credit: Huawei

Reports from GizChina state that the Microsoft office in Shenzhen has withdrawn cooperative works with Huawei and have stopped accepting orders from the company for operating systems.

Without Android, Huawei claims that they have their own OS, HongMeng, to power their smartphone devices; but with PCs, it’s likely that Huawei will have to opt for Linux, an open-source OS which isn’t quite as popular as Microsoft’s Windows; well, either that or Huawei seize production of their MateBook lineup. Tough times ahead for the Chinese company.

amtebook
huawei
microsoft
operating system
windows


Microsoft will be bringing some of its titles to Steam

323

Microsoft’s E3 is pretty much the company announcing that their games division will be building upon the Microsoft ecosystem as a whole rather than focusing solely on the console market. With numerous titles being announced as Xbox One and Windows 10 compatible, many on the PC side was wondering if wanting to own a Microsoft game would require them to rely on the Windows Store. Well, Phil Spencer has answer that question and it seems that Steam may be an option as well.

Speaking at Giant Bomb’s E3 stream, the head of the Xbox team at Microsoft has stated some Microsoft titles will be making their way to Steam as well. While Microsoft has yet to name specific titles that will be coming to Steam, Spencer promises that Microsoft “will ship games on Steam again.”

It’s not exactly clear as to how Microsoft selling its own titles on Steam would affect the whole ‘Play Anywhere’ system that the Xbox One and Windows 10 has. When you purchase a game off the Windows Store, it isn’t too much of a stretch to imagine that the game will also be registered as bought on the Xbox Live Store. Should the game be purchased on Steam, a client that isn’t integrated into Microsoft’s ecosystem, we imagine that an additional step must be added so you can own the game on either the Windows Store or Xbox Live as well.

Whatever the case, Microsoft’s decision to sell titles on Steam would come as a great relief to those who have suffered through Microsoft’s attempt at empowering PC gaming through the abomination known as Games For Windows Live.

Source:
Ars Technica
,
Gamespot

microsoft
playanywhere
steam
windows10
xbox


Microsoft will be launching the "Surface as a Service" initiative

338

Last month, we’ve mentioned that Microsoft has introduced the Surface Membership Plan, an initiative that allows an individual to lease a Surface tablet. Today, Microsoft is launching yet another Surface leasing plan, but unlike the Surface Membership Plan, this one is aimed at SMBs and enterprise markets instead of individuals.

Called the “Surface as a Service” initiative, this plan would allow Microsoft’s partners to lease out Surface devices. Tablets aren’t the only thing that can be leased out as Microsoft has revealed that Windows 365, Windows 10 and other ISV software will also be part of the “Surface as a Service” initiative.

While the initiative is currently available only in Europe thanks to a cloud solutions provider called ALSO, Microsoft has promised that they intend to roll out this initiative globally as they secure similar partnerships in other countries.

Source:
Windows Blog

enterprise
microsoft
surface
surfaceasaservice
windows


Microsoft will be launching trials for Outlook Premium

300

Would you pay USD 3.99 per month for a premium e-mail service? That is what Microsoft would like to find out as the company is about to start the trial run for Outlook Premium.

News of Microsoft offering a premium e-mail service was
first leaked in February
, but we now have more information as to what to expect from Outlook Premium. Based on the landing page of Outlook Premium, Microsoft would be offering the service for free for the first year. After that, a monthly subscription of USD 3.99 (RM 16) will be required.

What does RM 16 per month get you? Well, you’ll get five personalized e-mail addresses as well as an ad-free inbox. You would also be able to share calendars, contacts, and documents between people who have e-mail address on your domain with ease. For those who have Office 365, Outlook Premium would work as an add-on to Office 365.

As the Outlook Premium is still under the testing phase, all of the features for this service are still subjected to changes. Microsoft has yet to announce a proper launch for the service and as such, details such as pricing and features are subjected to change.

Source:
TechCrunch
,
Thurrott
,
ZDNet

email
microsoft
outlook
premium


Microsoft will be removing Cortana on iOS and Android devices in certain countries next year

314

Microsoft is killing off its Cortana app for iOS and Android next year, starting from January 31. The app will be no longer be supported in a markets including Australia, UK, Germany, China, Spain, India and many more.

According to Microsoft’s statement in its support page, the company will be “integrating Cortana into your Microsoft 365 productivity apps”. After January 31, 2020, the company will instead release an updated version of Microsoft Launcher without Cortana.

However,
The Verge
 mentioned that the Cortana app will still be working for both iOS and Android devices in US. There is no guarantee as to how long the app will continue to operate or if there will be changes in the app for US users.

You should also rest assured that the Cortana content created will still be accessible on Windows, so you won’t actually lose complete access of it.

android
cortana
ios
microsoft
windows


Microsoft will be removing Wi-Fi Sense from Windows 10 during the Anniversary Update

272

Wi-Fi Sense, a feature implemented in Windows 10 that gives the OS the ability to share password-protected Wi-Fi networks with contacts will no longer be a thing as Microsoft has removed said feature from the latest Windows 10 Insider build.

Citing “low usage and low demand”, Microsoft has stated that it will be discontinuing this feature on Windows 10 once the Anniversary Update goes live. “We have removed the Wi-Fi Sense feature that allows you to share Wi-Fi networks with your contacts and to be automatically connected to networks shared by your contacts. The cost of updating the code to keep this feature working combined with low usage and low demand made this not worth further investment,” says Microsoft’s Gabe Aul.

While Wi-Fi Sense will no longer be a thing, some parts of the feature will still be available on Windows 10. For example, Windows will still be able to automatically connect you to public hotspots based on crowdsourced data. If you’re not a part of the Windows Insider program, Wi-Fi Sense will still be available for use until Summer comes around.

Source:
The Verge
,
Windows Experience Blog

microsoft
wifisense
windows10


Microsoft will be restricting Cortana for Windows 10 to Bing and Edge

1.3K

Up till today, Microsoft’s personal assistant Cortana has always been able to play nice with non-Microsoft search engines and web browsers. Well, this is no longer the case as Microsoft has made it so that Cortana would only work with the company’s own Bing search engine and its Edge browser.

In a statement issued by Microsoft, the company claims that using Cortana outside of both Bing and Edge would “result in a compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable.” “The continuity of these types of task completion scenarios is disrupted if Cortana can’t depend on Bing as the search provider and Microsoft Edge as the browser. The only way we can confidently deliver this personalized, end-to-end search experience is through the integration of Cortana, Microsoft Edge and Bing – all designed to do more for you,” says Microsoft.

Suffice to say that Microsoft’s decision will probably be a controversial one as it basically forces users to deal with both Bing and Edge should they be reliant on Cortana. Personally speaking, as someone who barely uses Cortana as it is, this move by Microsoft would just put me off the feature even more.

Source:
TechCrunch

bing
cortana
edge
windows10


Microsoft will be rolling out the Unified Update Platform with the Creators Update

362

Last November, Microsoft rolled out a feature to its Windows Insider Builds called Unified Update Platform (UUP). With this feature in place, Microsoft is now able to shrink the size of updates. Now, Microsoft has confirmed that said feature will be making its way to every other Windows 10 user soon as part of the Creators Update.

For those who are not aware of the UUP, this platform will introduce differential download packages that would lead to smaller update files. What this feature does is that the platform scans your computer to look at files already on your system. From there, the system would proceed to download only the necessary files for your machine. Once the download is complete, Windows would then rebuild the new OS version from a combination of pre-existing files and freshly downloaded files.

Assuming that everything goes according to plan, this system would mean that the Creators Update would be the last “full build” update that you’ll see from Microsoft. Those who are already a part of Windows Insider will potentially get a smaller version of the Creators Update considering the fact that Insider Builds already content some features that will be made available with the Creators Update.

Source:
Windows Blog
,
Engadget

creatorsupdate
differentialdownload
microsoft
unifiedupdateplatform
update
windows10


Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 after 14 January 2020

1.2K

Microsoft has announced that the support for Windows 7 is ending in about a years’ time. After 14 January 2020, there will no longer be any security updates or support for PCs with Windows 7.

Of course, users can update to Windows 10 but they can also still continue using Windows 7. The downside is that once the support ends, Windows 7 users will no longer get security and feature updates which will put their PCs at security risks. Windows 7 can also be installed and activated even after the mentioned date though it will not be getting updates, but the company strongly recommends its users to upgrade to Windows 10.

Users can opt to continue getting security updates, but only if they’re business customers and they’re paying for the support. That being said, it’s definitely not worth it because the security updates will only last for three more years and the rates will be higher each year.

Though previously Windows 10 faced several major bugs with its latest version update, most of it has been resolved. In addition, Windows 10 is still a remarkable upgrade from the Windows 7 that was first launched in 2009.

microsoft
windows 10
Windows 7


Microsoft will finally allow you to freeze automatic updates with the Creators Update

321

Regular Windows users would probably understand the frustration that stems from having Windows automatically update when you’re in the middle of something important. While Microsoft’s intentions are good with regards to automatic updates, its execution leaves much to be desired. So it comes as a pleasant surprise that the upcoming Creators Update will allow Windows users a way to stop automatic updates from happening.

First spotted by Winaero, Microsoft appears to have implemented a ‘Pause Update’ option in its advanced options menu. By enabling this option, Windows will temporarily pause updates from being installed for up to 35 days. While this will stop a large majority of updates from being installed, Windows Defender definition updates will still be installed regardless. What happens after the 35 days are up isn’t mentioned, but we’re going to assume that Windows 10 would proceed to install said updates after prompting the user to do so.

Currently, the feature is only available in Windows 10 build 14997, a Windows 10 build that was leaked online and was not intended for public use. While the build will eventually be available for members of the Windows Insider program, the feature will not be available until after the New Year. As such, the feature is liable to changes before it goes live.

Source:
Winaero

automaticupdate
creatorsupdate
microsoft
pauseupdate
windows10
windowsinsider


Microsoft will integrate Internet Explorer into upcoming Chrome-based Edge browser

357

Microsoft are making a change to their internet browser offerings and it looks like it’s for the better. You may have heard that Microsoft are rebuilding the Microsoft Edge browser to run on the Chrome engine, to the delight of many Windows users.

Recently, the American giants have piled on the good news by confirming that they will be integrating the aging Internet Explorer browser into the upcoming Chromium-based Edge. The older version of MS Edge, which was built using EdgeHTML and Chakra engines, couldn’t support legacy applications and programs like ActiveX; making it so that those who rely on such programs to shy away from MS Edge.

The new Chrome-based Edge will be able to use an Internet Explorer rendering engine and create a separate tab to that looks and runs like the old browser. Therefore, businesses that rely on IE will be able to upgrade without sacrifice.

Although this new change is geared towards businesses, Microsoft will also be adding a feature called Collections, which allows you to collect and copy text, as well as images, into a note tab by simply dragging and dropping highlighted items. These items can then be moved into MS Word, can be shared to friends and more. Anything you copy will also be referenced back to its source to help with workflow.

These updates will gradually be rolled out to users soon, but if you’re eager to try it out, you can download the Dev or Canary channel build
here
 so you can try it out.

browser
chrome
internet explorer
microsoft edge


Microsoft will launch the HoloLens "when the world is ready"

320

With the major VR headsets scheduled to be launched this year, surely Microsoft’s HoloLens would be available sometime soon? Well, according to Microsoft, that would be very unlikely as the company is in no rush to release the product.

Speaking at the TED conference in Vancouver, Alex Kipman refused to put a time frame as to when Microsoft will start selling its augmented reality headset. “When I feel the world is ready, then we will allow normal people to buy it. It could be as soon as we say ‘yes’, and it could be as long as a ‘very long time’,” Kipman said.

Part of the reason as to why Microsoft is being so cautious over the HoloLens can be attributed to the Kinect’s failure. When it was originally launched, the Kinect went on to break sales records, landing it in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, consumer enthusiasm waned after the initial hype the Kinect has due to a combination of poor games support and the Kinect requiring a large open space for it to function properly. “It was not a pleasant experience. It was just not ready to go sell 10 million units in 60 days, which is what it did,” says Kipman.

While the consumer version of the HoloLens won’t be available anytime soon, Microsoft has begun selling the HoloLens Developers Kit to developers and business for USD 3,000. Kipman added that the developer’s version of the HoloLens is “pretty consumer-ready”.

Source:
Recode

hololens
microsoft
ted


Microsoft will perform a major redesign for their 2019 Surface Pro

330

Microsoft is planning a major design change for their 2019 Surface Pro. The device is said to arrive mid-2019 and will be heavily redesigned and will come with the 8th Generation Intel Core processors.

Aside from that, ZDNet has speculated that a new Surface Laptop might arrive this year with Intel’s 8th Generation processors but did not confirm if it will come with a USB Type-C port, which many had requested. Other reports from Microsoft says that they are also developing a new Surface headset which ZDNet mentions, will be similar to the Jabra Evolve.

Bloomberg also reported that Microsoft is working on cheaper, $400 Surface Tablets to rival the Chromebooks and iPad, which they are also targeting towards education. These Surface Tablets will come with 10-inch displays, USB Type-C ports for charging and will be 20 percent lighter than current Surface Pro devices. Nice to see that Microsoft is reducing the price of their devices and will have a focus on tablets, as the tablet market is currently one-sided towards Apple’s iPads.

microsoft
pro
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Microsoft will soon unveil a new $400 Surface tablet

365

Microsoft’s products did not pick up much traction here not for the lack of features and performance but rather, the pricing was not the best when comparing it to its closest competitors. It looks like that is about to change because a cheaper $400 Surface tablet has just passed through the FCC this week.

We reported about this a few weeks back that the company is planning to make more
affordable Surface devices
 and it looks like these devices have finally come to light. The new model will be lighter than the current models and it will come with Intel processors and a full version of Windows 10. There is also plans to include LTE in the tablet alongside cheaper keyboard covers, a stylus and mouse. These new cheaper and complete devices will be great for the education field in which they are having huge competition with the new 2018 iPads and the better Chromebooks.

Although the listing is out for these new Surface tablets, Microsoft has yet to acknowledge their existence to the public. We assume it will be just a matter of time before more information surfaces on these devices.

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Microsoft will warn users whose accounts are targeted by governments

256

Facebook has done it
,
Twitter has done it
, Google has done it and now it seems that Microsoft will be warning users should their Microsoft accounts, which includes Outlook e-mail accounts and OneDrive accounts, be targeted or compromised by an individual or group working on behalf of a nation state.

According to a blogpost done by Microsoft
, the company will be improving their current notifications system to include attacks that are deemed to be “state-sponsored”. The decision to do this is partly because the attacks done by “nation states” would be far more sophisticated than attacks from run-of-the-mill cybercriminals.

Microsoft further clarifies that these notifications doesn’t necessarily mean that the user’s account has been compromised, but it does mean that Microsoft has evidence that the attacks are very likely to be from governmental sources. The company says that evidence of gathered from user accounts that are suspected to have been targets would not be released until Microsoft is fairly sure that governments are behind the attack, but they promise to inform the user involved should that proves to be the case.

In the meantime, Microsoft has listed down methods as to improve your account’s security.

Source :
Microsoft Blog

hacking
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outlook
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Microsoft Xbox One S ‘All Digital’ Mega Leak: Images, Specs, and Pricing Revealed

403

The folks over at Windows Central published a report last month claiming Microsoft would launch a
disc-less console
 named “Xbox One S All-Digital Edition” in early May. Official renders as well as pricing of the upcoming all-digital console have now leaked, courtesy of German tech blog WinFuture.de.

Just as expected, the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition” will essentially be identical to the regular Xbox One S. The only notable difference will be the omission of a Blu-ray drive. Instead, the console will have a 1TB capacity hard drive with a few games preinstalled. In Europe, the console will ship with Forza Horizon 3, Minecraft, and Sea of Thieves preinstalled.

Image Credit: WinFuture.de

Apart from 1TB of storage, the leaked images also confirm 4K and HDR support. This means you will be able to use the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition to stream content from Netflix and other video streaming services in 4K Ultra HD. As for pricing, the report claims the console will be priced at EUR 229 (RM1,066) in Europe, which is quite a bit lower than the standard Xbox One S console.

Image Credit: WinFuture.de

The Microsoft Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is expected to be launched on April 16
th
 and is said to go on sale in Europe starting May 7
th
. As mentioned earlier, the console is likely to go on sale in other markets as well by early May.

consoles
microsoft
Xbox One S
Xbox One S All Digital


Microsoft Xbox Series S launched with affordable price of RM1,250

509

The console hype war rages on between arch rivals Sony and Microsoft with the latter announcing the
price
 of their
Xbox Series S
 – which is the more affordable version of the flagship Xbox Series X.

The console is officially priced at $299 (RM1,247), and comes in a petite frame and is dubbed as the smallest Xbox to date; despite that, Microsoft claims it still offers the same next-gen performance customers need; we don’t doubt that, but we do question how well it dissipates heat.

👀 Let’s make it official!

Xbox Series S | Next-gen performance in the ˢᵐᵃˡˡᵉˢᵗ Xbox ever. $299 (ERP).

Looking forward to sharing more! Soon. Promise.
pic.twitter.com/8wIEpLPVEq

— Xbox (@Xbox)
September 8, 2020

To address that is a tacky air vent that’s plastered onto the front/top side of the console – despite how it looks juxtaposed with the console’s all-white aesthetics, it seems like a practical solution for keeping the system cool.

The Series S is a digital-only console and is capable at running games at 1440p at 120FPS, with 4K upscaling; we’re not sure if the claimed of running at 120FPS takes into account ray-tracing being enabled. The console has variable refresh rate support to minimize screen tearing too. For storage, there’s a 512GB SSD, which should just be enough to store a few AAA titles, and some room for future patches.

no point holding this back now I guess
pic.twitter.com/SgOAjm3BuP

— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_)
September 8, 2020

There has been speculation of its Sony counterpart, the PlayStation 5 costing an arm and a leg due to its spec-heavy loadout; Microsoft’s Xbox Series S makes us sigh in relief knowing “next-gen” can still be affordable.

affordable game console
gaming console
microsoft
next gen
raytracing
series s


Microsoft’s Analog Keyboard is probably interesting enough to get you type on an Android Wear Device

335

When smart watches are supposed to be an extension of your smartphone, you can’t deny that some developers have done some pretty good job on spicing up the limited smart watch operating system. Now, Microsoft Research has probably developed one of the most interesting Android Wear keyboard to date that’s called the Analog Keyboard.

You’d be probably surprised why Microsoft would actually develop something for its competing platform especially when the company hasn’t even started a smart watch market, but Microsoft Research always tend to surprise us with many of its great innovative apps. Instead of really typing on the smart watch, you actually hand write on that small piece of screen, which makes it a much more practical approach as you won’t find typing on a 1.6-inch display enjoyable, handwriting on a small screen made so much sense if you want to send a quick message without taking out your smartphone, especially on a rounded shape watch like the Moto 360.

Analog Keyboard is now on version 0.1 so it’s very much an Alpha software, you can expect bugs on the software but if you really want to try it out, you can download the app on the source link down below and it supports the Moto 360 and square Android Wear watches with 320×320 display resolutions.

Source:
Microsoft Research

Via:
Android Central


Microsoft’s answer to the PS4 Pro is called the Xbox One X

306

The hyped new console from Microsoft finally has a name and even though the company copyrighted the ‘S’ symbol, which we assumed had something to do with the name of the new console, they announced the official name of the console during their E3 press conference and it is called the Xbox One X.

The console is fairly similar on how it works as the Xbox One but comes with 4K HDR output and has a Dolby Atmos surround sound onboard, it is also fairly small when compared to the original Xbox One but is the most powerful console coming to the market. Design wise it is a simple looking device which looks very similar to the developer version of the console. There is an Xbox logo on the from with a USB port on the bottom of the logo and next to it is the controller pairing button. On the other side, there is an eject button, disk slot, and an IR receiver. On the back there are two USB ports, an HDMI in and out, optical audio port, IR port, Ethernet and power cable port.
On release, the console will support 42 games that have been updated and enhanced to make use of the shear power the console can output with more games and exclusives coming soon as well as support for legacy Xbox 360 games.

4k
dolbyatmos
microsoft
one
s
x
xbox


Microsoft's Edge browser is the only browser out of the 'Big Four' that streams Netflix content at 1080p

341

After beating other browsers at the
battery game
, Microsoft is back once again as they have claimed that the Edge browser is the only browser out of the ‘Big Four’ that is capable of streaming Netflix content at 1080p.

First claimed by Microsoft
last week
, Microsoft claims that when compared with Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and the company’s own Edge browser, the Edge browser is the only one capable of streaming Netflix content at 1080p with a bitrate of 7500. The other browsers are all limited to 720p with a maximum bitrate of 4420. While this claim may feel false,
Netflix
 does indeed support this statement as the only browsers that can support 1080p streams is limited to Edge, Internet Explorer and Safari.

If you’re still unconvinced with the claim,
PCWorld
 has personally tested out this claim that only the Edge browser is capable of supporting 1080p streams from Netflix. The result further confirms that the Edge is the only one out of the four browsers stated above that can stream 1080p content from Netflix. In short, your Netflix and chills sessions will be better if you’re utilising Microsoft’s Edge.

Source:
Microsoft
,
Netflix
,
PCWorld

1080p
edge
microsoft
netflix
stream


Microsoft’s foldable phone might see a late 2019 release

295

For those of you that are anticipating the new Surface Phone or whatever they may call it, might be disappointed as a recent report has indicated that the phone will only arrive in 2019.

Codenamed Andromeda Project, is said to be the first foldable phone from Microsoft that will be able to replace your tablet when it is completely folded out. Instead of releasing the phone this year, the company has decided to rework the phone. This information comes from Thurrott’s Sources and the reason for that is because the “software and hardware do not create a compelling solution” and thus they have gone back to the drawing board to make every aspect of the phone better. The report goes on to say that the device will be pushed back to a late 2019 release as they are also planning to equip the device with better specs which is a good thing as Qualcomm is finalizing the Snapdragon 850 processor which is said to power Windows 10 devices.

It looks like Microsoft might be late to the foldable party as Samsung is set to release the first foldable phone in early 2019 which might just be the Galaxy X phone that has caught wind this year.

andromeda
foldable
microsoft
phone


Microsoft's Lumia 650 to be announced on February 1

311

Many die-hard Microsoft Lumia fans out there are awaiting the company to break its silence for 2016. With many rumors about Lumia phones surfacing, the Lumia 650 is one of them.

The Microsoft Lumia 650 will finally be announced next month. Windows Central, who has been tailing the Lumia 650 for a couple of months now, claims that the device will most likely be the the last Lumia for 2016.

According to multiple sources, it is confirmed that Microsoft will reveal the details regarding the Lumia 650, such as availability and pricing, on February 1 through its official blog. The company is also expected to maintain a low profile at Mobile World Congress (MWC) late next month.

Unofficial specifications of the Lumia 650 have recently surfaced. The device is said to sport a 5-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon 210 or 212 processor with 1GB of RAM running Windows 10 Mobile, 8GB of internal storage with micro SD expansion, an 8MP rear facing camera with LED flash and a 5MP selfie camera. The device is also said to come in two colors – Matte White and Matte Black.

Microsoft is rumored to be shifting its focus on the “Panos phone”, which is to be launched alongside its Surface product line, instead of the Lumia lineup, hence making the Lumia 650 likely to be the final Lumia phone this year.

As of now, Microsoft has yet to announce any plans for MWC and there is no further information on the Lumia 650, but that will most likely be clarified by Microsoft on February 1.

Source:
Windows Central
  Picture credits: PC Mag

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Microsoft’s Mixer Create app lets you stream games from your smartphone

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If you want to show off your best skills in Candy Crush or how you own Mobile Legends on live stream, Microsoft is now offering that solution for free with the Mixer Create app, available on Android and iOS, you can literally live stream most games on to the Mixer streaming platform, and by what we mean ‘most games’, you are not going to get the flexibility on iOS devices like you do on Android, as the latter will definitely support live streaming of any games installed, iOS games will require Apple’s ReplayKit support in order to support the live stream features, hence only certain titles such as Modern Combat 5: Blackout, Goat Simulator and Into the Dead will work well with Mixer Create.

Game developers will usually need to integrate live streaming features into games in order to stream to Twitch or Facebook Live, Mixer Create tend to help reduce that trouble and though it only supports streaming to Mixer, its still a pretty good solution should you want to live stream games that doesn’t support native live streaming. Like most streaming platforms, the Mixer Create app will allow you to chat with your audiences, it also has co-streaming features to team up with Xbox and PC game streams, while it can also purely be used for chat when live streaming from PC.

gaming
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Microsoft’s new ad features a guy called Mac Book to diss Apple’s MacBook Air

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It’s not unusual to see companies dissing each other, but Microsoft recently released a YouTube video that mocks Apple’s MacBook in a very obvious way.

In this video, Microsoft managed to get an individual names Mackenzie Book to testify and compare the Surface Laptop 2 with the MacBook Air. Well, you see where this is going, right? Near the end of the video, Mackenzie said, “ You should get a Surface. Trust me, I’m Mac Book.”

But then again, this isn’t the first time anyone has taken shots at Apple. Samsung also previously had an ad for its Galaxy S9 series that showed an iPhone user with various problems who eventually upgraded her phone to the Samsung Galaxy S9, and that’s only one of its many commercials that disses Apple.

Of course, Apple had its fair share too. The tech giant took a shot at Google a while back when they placed a billboard next to Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs in Toronto that wrote, “We’re in the business of staying out of yours,” and another in Las Vegas before CES started this year with the text “What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone.”

There will be no end to this, so let’s see if Apple will respond soon.

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Microsoft’s new app will help blind people understand the world around them

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Microsoft is trying to help the disabled community with the release of the Seeing AI, an app that uses computer vision to describe the world for the visually impaired. The app can describe a person by telling you who they are and how they are feeling, it can also be pointed at an object and the app will tell you what is it.

The tech is using artificial intelligence to identify different things and it can run locally on your phone. They showed off a prototype of the app last year and starting today it is available for iOS users in the US. Unfortunately, there is no news on the release of the Android version of the app. The app works in many scenarios such as, recognising people that you have saved as known contacts, guess a strangers age and emotion as well as action, scan documents and read them back, scanning barcodes to indicate the product scanned and recognising US currency.

The app can perform these functions thanks to the neural network that is built into the app, however, certain functions will not work without Internet connection such as, describing an entire scene or recognising handwriting. Although it does have its short comings, this is an amazing step in the right direction to make life better for people that need it.

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Microsoft’s new conference device can identify meeting members

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Microsoft’s Build event is going on right now in Seattle, and one of the products that really stood out from the rest is a smart speaker which you can guess, is powered by Cortana. However, this smart speaker is like any other we have seen because this speaker can identify the people in a room.

The company wants to change the way meetings and conferences are held. In a demonstration by Raanah Amjadi, Microsoft Team Marketing Manager, they showed how easy it is to host a meeting with Cortana.

As each member of the meeting entered the room, the speaker identified each person and even greeted them, when the head of the meeting entered, the speaker greeted her and asked if she wanted to start the meeting. As the leader said yes, the speaker activated Surface Hub to began transcribing the meeting and even taking notes of key tasks. It even had the ability to connect to Skype and translate the conversation to another language.

This device/smart speaker is still in its early prototyping stage and we might not see this device in the near future, but it can not only make meeting easier, this could potentially break some barriers between businesses when it comes communication or the inability to meet face to face.

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Microsoft’s new icons for Office is a part of a design overhaul

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Microsoft revealed new icons for its Office suite a few days back, and the last time they redesigned the icons were five years back.

As Office 365 transforms into a more collaborative suite and introduced AI technology and chat service called Microsoft Team, Microsoft also decided to revamp the Office icons to represent the transformation that Office has gone through throughout the years.

It is undeniable that the new icons actually look more futuristic, as Microsoft decided to separate the symbol and the letter in each icon, adding some shadows and depth, resulting in the new icons getting a 3D look. Microsoft also said that the new designs are made to honor heritage while welcoming the future, which is probably why the icons are new yet familiar at the same time.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YplAU5myNP4]
 The designs adopt new hues without changing the main colours, and lost the traditional tool formatting. “Whereas prior Office icons had a document outline for Microsoft Word and a spreadsheet outline for Excel, we now show lines of text for Word and individual cells for Excel,” said Jon Friedman, the Head of Microsoft Office design. In addition, the letter-to-symbol ratio has also been readjusted whereby the symbol is emphasised instead of the letter as Microsoft believe that the symbol speaks more to people’s creations.

Microsoft also announced that the new Office icons are a part of the company’s major overhaul of Office as a platform. In the video above, Microsoft also showed some changes in design when it comes to Windows 10’s icons, which led to many speculating that the Windows 10 will soon follow Office’s footsteps in getting new icon designs. While there is no confirmation on whether the icons for Windows 10 will be coming, Friedman has already announced that the new icons for Office 365 will be rolling out in the coming months, and the update will first appear on mobile and web.

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Microsoft’s new Office app is now available for Windows 10 users

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Microsoft is going to introduce a new app called Office for its Windows 10 users and it’s a replacement for the existing My Office app.

The Office app is free for all. Users with Windows 10, and it can be used with most of the versions of Office including its free version which is Office Online. If you are one of the users who have been using
office.com
 then you can rest assured that you’ll be quite familiar with the app.

Image credit: Microsoft

The app works like a centre that lets you access all your other Office app and also documents. You’re only required to sign-in to be able to use the app.

The new Office App can actually be downloaded from the Microsoft Store and Microsoft said that it will be available to users over the next few weeks. If you’re interested in downloading it, click
here
.

microsoft
office
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Microsoft's next-generation HoloLens will only be out in 2019

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Microsoft’s HoloLens is one of the more interesting VR/AR headsets available in the market, although the price point for the product isn’t exactly what one would consider affordable. For those of you who are looking forwards to the next iteration of the HoloLens which would hopefully make it a better product while lowering the barrier of entry, you’re going to have a really long wait ahead of you as Microsoft’s next version of the HoloLens isn’t due until 2019.

According to a report by Thurrott, it appears that Microsoft has scrapped plans for a second generation HoloLens, opting instead to accelerate the development of the third generation headset instead. The logic behind this move is rather straightforward: as Microsoft has a huge space to work with in the augmented reality market right now, the company feels no need to rush devices out to compete for market share. Because of this huge buffer that Microsoft has, the company is looking to speed up development of the 3rd-gen HoloLens that will come with new technologies instead of developing a more affordable version of the current HoloLens.

While the new HoloLens isn’t expected to arrive until 2019, Microsoft will still be working on the first gen HoloLens via updated software.

Source:
Thurrott

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Microsoft's partners will release their own batch of VR headsets

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Microsoft’s presentation on the Windows 10 Creators Update makes it very clear that the company sees virtual reality, augmented reality, and holographic computing, as the future of the company. Because of that, it is no surprise that some of Microsoft’s partners will be releasing their own virtual headsets over the course of 2017.

These VR headsets will be creator by some of the biggest names in the PC market. Some of the names that were announced during the presentation includes Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus and Acer. While the specifications of the headsets have yet to be revealed, Microsoft did mention that the headsets will come with built-in sensors that provide six-degrees of freedom. The built-in sensors also mean that external sensors aren’t needed for these headsets.

If you’re worried about the pricing and the computer specifications needed to power these VR headsets, don’t be. Microsoft has announced that these VR headsets will come with a starting price of USD299 (RM1,250). Microsoft has also stated that these headsets are designed to work on lower end machines and laptops, so you don’t need a Oculus Rift or HTC Vive-ready computer to power these headsets.

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Microsoft’s patent suggests fabric with touch sensors for its future products

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A patent filed by Microsoft was recently published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last month, and this patent demonstrates fabric material with touch sensor.

Image credit: USTPO

Titled ‘FORMING TOUCH SENSOR ON FABRIC’, this patent was filed by the company back in July 2017 so that its devices that has fabric material can come with touch sensors. This will allow users to control the devices even when they’re not touching the screen displays of the devices.

According to the patent, the company plans to integrate touch sensors into the fabric to allow detection of gestures and swipes that can enable app browsing, volume adjustments, access to settings and others. Users will also be able to control the devices through gestures done at the back of the device because the touch sensors can be placed at different locations of the exterior surface.

Image credit: USTPO

That aside, the smart fabric is also said to be applicable to wearables in which it can be an adjustable band that allows more touch inputs and gestures that can give more options in controlling the device. In addition, the patent also states that the touch sensor might be able to control remote devices with or without wired connection.

If Microsoft can really manufacture products with fabric that has touch sensors, the company will definitely be getting more fans because this can be a unique selling point for the company.

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Microsoft's Solitaire Collection is now available on iOS and Android

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Remember Solitaire? The game that came with almost every known Windows version to date? Good news, you’ll be able to play Solitaire and more on your smartphones or tablets as Microsoft has released the Solitaire Collection on both iOS and Android.

Available for free, the Solitaire Collection comes back with the classic solitaire as well as different takes on the base game. The variations include FreeCell, Klondike, Spider, Tripeaks and Pyramid. Unfortunately, Minesweeper is not part of the collection.

The Solitaire Collection comes with Xbox Live intergration, allowing you to play some of the games in the collection with other people. While the game is free to download and play, the Solitaire Collection does come with a “Premium Edition” that costs USD2 per month. If you opt for the “Premium Edition,” you’ll get to earn twice the amount of coins per game as well as an ad-free experience.

Source:
The Verge

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Microsoft's "Surface as a Service" initiative is now available in Malaysia

319

Back in July 2016
, we’ve made mention of Microsoft’s “Surface as a Service” initiative that lets businesses lease out Surface Pro 4 units for a monthly fee. Well, Malaysian businesses who are hoping that this initiative would arrive in Malaysia are now in luck, as Microsoft is now offering the
“Surface as a Service”
 locally as well.

Available through Ingram Micro and 3StepIT, the local version of Surface as a Service will allow businesses to lease out a number of i5 256GB variants of the Surface Pro 4, complete with Type Cover, extended hardware services warranty, and Office 365 Business. In order to be eligible for this initiative, the business is question must least a minimum of five Surface Pro 4 units.

Businesses who are interested in this program can choose to lease the Surface Pro 4 for either two years or three years. Those who choose to lease the unit for 2 years will have to pay RM280 per month per unit, while those who opted for three years will need to pay RM212 per month per unit. Seeing as a company needs to lease at least five units, this means that the company needs to pay at least RM1,400 per month for the two year option, or at least RM1,060 per month for the three year option.

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Microsoft’s Surface Go convertible laptop goes official for less than RM2000

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We reported last week that Microsoft is about to unveil a cheaper Surface device, and it has finally gone official in the name of Surface Go, it is the smallest Surface device that the company has ever released with a 10-inch PixelSense display and weighing merely 500g, the screen supports the Surface Pen that lets you do shades and curves. The Surface Go takes on the form factor of the higher end Surface Pro, which features the very same solid kickstand that lets you use it in different angles and a magnetic connector for attaching the Type Cover keyboard.

If we do a direct conversion of the price with taxes, the Surface Go could be priced well below RM2,000 and it offers some neat features, such as support for Windows Hello sign-in with the 5MP front facing camera, an 8MP rear camera, USB-C, dual microphones, Dolby Premium audio certified stereo speakers and up to 9 hours of battery life.

Where the Surface Go managed to cut cost is the performance internals, it uses an Intel Pentium Gold Processor supported by either 4GB or 8GB RAM, storage configuration is either a 64GB eMMC or 128GB SSD. Therefore, the Surface Go isn’t intended to be a device for the demanding creatives, and it is more suited for lightweight productivity tasks.

The Surface Go is clearly targeted at Apple’s iPad and Chromebooks for its capabilities and value, and it could be a serious contender since it will be able to run full blown Windows programs. Pre-orders for the Surface Go will kick start August 2nd in Malaysia, while customers in Australia and New Zealand will be able to make their pre-order starting tomorrow.

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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 launches 28th August in Malaysia, just in time for burning your pay checks

272

Whether you’re thinking to buy something for yourselves to celebrate the National Day in Malaysia, or you just want to burn your pay check for some tech stuff, Microsoft Malaysia is ready to launch the Surface Pro 3 this Thursday and we’ve been invited over to finally take a first look on the
tablet
 that aims to replace your laptop. The Surface Pro 3 is a 12”
tablet
 that comes with a whooping 2160×1160 screen resolution, hardware offers start from a 4th Gen Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB SSD up to a Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, the tablet will come preloaded with the latest Windows 8.1 operating system and features a stylus for writing.

The Surface Pro 3 is believed to have retail prices starting from RM2729 up to RM6779, we will get to see and have our first hands on of the device in just two days time so stay tuned.


Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 is available for pre-order from RM4,399

325

Microsoft has finally announced that you can now pre-order the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 in Malaysia, and both devices have been available for pre-orders since yesterday.

The Surface Pro 6 was officially launched last year and sports a 12.3-inch PixelSense display weighing at only 770 grams, it is claimed to be able to last for up to 13.5 hours.

Besides that, the device is powered by a quad-core 8th Generation Intel Core processor that can perform 1.5 times faster than its predecessor. Users can opt between the Intel i5 or the Intel i7 processors, depending on their needs. The Surface Pro 6 starts with 8GB RAM but can be upgraded to 16GB RAM and has SSD storage up to 512GB.

Moving on, the Surface Laptop 2 sports a 13.5-inch PixelSense Display that supports 10 point multi-touch. It is said to be able to last up to 14.5 hours, and comes with a USB 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort, a Surface Connect port and a headphone jack.

Like the Surface Pro 6, the Surface Laptop 2 also equips the quad-core 8th Generation Intel Core processor though it only comes with the Intel i5 processor option. That aside, the laptop comes with 8GB RAM with either 128GB or 256GB SSD storage.

The Surface Pro 6 is available in the colour Platinum and it has few configurations as such:

Intel i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD: RM4,399

Intel i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM5,799

Intel i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM7,079

Intel i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD: RM8,999

The Surface Laptop 2 which is also only available in Platinum colour has two options as below:

Intel i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD: RM4,829

Intel i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD: RM6,199

Besides that, there are also Surface accessories that will go well with the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2. The price for the accessories are listed as below:

Surface Mobile Mouse: RM187

Surface Pen: RM399

Type Cover for Surface Pro 6: RM 473

Signature Type Cover for Surface Pro 6: RM634

Signature Type Cover with Finger Print Reader for Surface Pro 6: 634

These devices and accessories can be pre-ordered via authorised retailers such as ALL IT, Harvey Norman, Lazada and others and also authorised commercial resellers such as Prestariang, SoftwareOne, Ingram Micro and others. Its official sales will generally begin from 15 January 2019.

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Microsoft’s unveils Surface Pro 6, which now comes in matte black

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When Microsoft started their PCs production, they’ve managed to capture the attention of global consumers. Now, Microsoft is finally launching their 4 new Surface gadgets, and one of them is the Surface 6 Pro, the latest laptop/tablet hybrid. The Surface 6 Pro will be launching in US stores on October 16th, and can already be preordered in US today.
Unfortunately, the Surface Pro 6 did not change much compared to last year’s Surface Pro. It still has a 12.3 inch display, and the battery life lasts up to 13.5 hours. However, the Microsoft finally release the Surface Pro 6 in matte black finish, which is one of its highlights. The previous platinum silver finish is also available for those who aren’t into matte black. The matte black’s availability also depends of the specs of the Surface Pro. For example, if you picked a Surface Pro 6 with 16GB RAM with i7 Intel Processor, the color Matte Black is available for 512GB only, whereas the Platinum Silver is available for 512GB and 1TB internal storage.

In terms of storage, the Surface Pro 6 comes with either 8GB or 16GB RAM, and range from 128GB internal storage to 1TB internal storage. Microsoft says that it can perform 1.5x faster than the previous model with it quad-core Intel 8th Generation processor. It is also note-worthy that the thermal management system for the Surface Pro 6 was restructured, making it less noisy due to the increase in passive cooling.
The Surface Pro 6 will also support the optional Surface Pen, which will not be provided, just like the Type Cover keyboard. Microsoft set its starting price at $899, and this excludes the Surface Pen and the keyboard. Therefore, if consumers decide to buy the Surface Pen and/or the Type Cover keyboard for their Surface Pro 6, it will definitely cost more than just $899.

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Microsoft’s Windows 10 on ARM Limitations Accidentally Revealed

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Microsoft recently released ARM-powered Windows 10 PCs, though the “all-day battery life” may not be validated as of now, it has been getting a lot of heat because limitations have been briefly revealed.

Here are some of the details as enumerated by the copy on the major differences between Windows 10 for ARM processors and Windows 10 for x86 chips:

x86 drivers are not supported
. This shouldn’t be too big of a problem for most hardwares, but since only ARM64 drivers are supported, existing 32-bit drivers won’t be able to work.

x64 apps are not supported
. Microsoft will plan to support this at some time in the future, but as of now, Windows 10 on ARM does not support emulation of x64 apps even when it can be compiled as 64-bit ARM software.

3D software and certain games are not supported
. This functional gap which is the OpenGL must not be later than 1.1 and must not require hardware-accelerated OpenGL, or it won’t work on Windows 10 on ARM.

The Windows Hypervisor Platform will not be included on ARM
. There is no indication that states that Microsoft will allow Hyper-V software to work with ARM processors.

Although it is not clear if these deficiencies are to be long term, it is still worthy to test whether an ARM-powered Windows 10 laptop will have a long battery lifespan and a good performance for desktop apps.

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Microsoft’s Wireless Display Adapter is a Miracast dongle for your Surface Pro 3

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We all know that Microsoft wants to replace your
tablet
 and laptop with the
Surface Pro 3
, however it seems that Microsoft is really to take on Google’s Chromecast and the Apple TV by offering its own Miracast enabled display dongle. Of course, since it’s a Miracast dongle, it will support a vast majority of wireless devices that supports the Miracast protocol.

It’s really nice of Microsoft to release some nice accessories for you to go with the
Surface Pro 3
 because consumers simply love official products, the Microsoft
Wireless Display Adapter
 should only be able to support up to Full HD resolution and it will only be useful for users who wants to make their TVs to have wireless display capabilities. The product will retail at $59.95 in the US, expect the product to be sold around RM180 in Malaysia should it becomes available.


Microsoft’s Xiaoice chatbot can have a human-like conversation with you

343

Robots are taking over! Well, in this case, its Microsoft’s new chatbot called Xiaoice. We have seen Google showing off Assistant making calls on your behalf and now, Microsoft has been testing this bot with millions of Chinese users and is ready to show it to the world.

At a Microsoft event in London, Microsoft showed the world, its conversational bot which you can converse over messaging services like WeChat, and if you are feeling lonely, it can even make a call to you so you can carry on your conversation with words. Unlike Google Assistant which is still under testing, Xiaoice has been used by many people in China and looks like its ready for a worldwide unveil.

Other than just having a conversation, it is still unsure what are the future plans for their chatbot other than keeping lonely people company. The bot currently only works in China, but it pretty obvious that they have made plans to bring this chatbot to other countries perhaps in hopes it can be on the same playing field as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

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Mid range HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle to feature entry level Snapdragon 400 series processor

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The HTC 10, though an impressive smartphone in its own stride, hasn’t been selling too well worldwide, or it just couldn’t make up for the companies recent financial struggles. It seems that the Taiwanese manufacturer has to look beyond its sole flagship in order to keep up with the rest of the competition, financially as well. The HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle, rumored to launch later this year, has had a couple of specs predicted by Twitter user LlabTooFeR.

LlabTooFeR, who is also a ROM developer, is known for his knowledge regarding HTC devices of the past, and according to him, the mid ranger will be sporting a tame Snapdragon 400 series processor, hence making it a budget smartphone to cost around $150-200 (RM600-800). The Snapdragon 400 series processor could be the 430, which is seen underneath the hoods of the Redmi 3s and the LG Stylus 2 Plus, or the 435, which has yet to be seen featured in any smartphone. While LlabTooFeR did not list out further specs regarding the Desire 10 Lifestyle, earlier rumors suggest that the phone will feature a sub par 720p display at 5.5-inches, 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage, a pair of 13MP/5MP cameras on its rear and front sides respectively, plus HTC’s signature BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition stereo speakers.

Regardless, the HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle seems like a pretty value for money phone to get if the above mentioned specs happen to be spot on. For now, try not to make wild speculations and take these rumors with a huge grain of salt shall we? Let us know what do you think!

Source:
LlabTooFeR (Twitter)
 Via:
 Pocketnow

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