Tag: Microsoft

  • Microsoft’s Windows 365: The Future of Traditional PCs?

    Microsoft’s Windows 365: The Future of Traditional PCs?

    Microsoft has rolled out the Windows 365 Link, marking its first desktop computer aimed solely at linking users with Windows in the cloud. With a price tag of $349, this device is set to hit the market in April 2025, catering primarily to business clients.

    Design and Portability

    The Windows 365 Link boasts a stylish and portable design, with dimensions of 120x120x30 mm and weighing less than a pound. This compact size makes it perfect for hot-desking and shared office environments. It features a fanless design, ensuring silent operation, and has a chic puck-like shape, allowing it to rest on a desk or be mounted behind a monitor. The device powers up in seconds and resumes from sleep almost immediately.

    Specifications

    Equipped with an Intel processor, the device includes 8GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage. Although the storage capacity is low, the device relies completely on cloud computing, removing the necessity for local software or data. It is capable of supporting dual 4K monitors, making it a great option for contemporary office settings that demand high-resolution screens.

    The device is fitted with a wide range of ports, featuring three USB-A 3.2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 port, an Ethernet jack, an audio jack, and both HDMI and DisplayPort for external display connections. It also offers Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, providing speedy and dependable wireless connectivity. This strong connectivity ensures that the Windows 365 Link is versatile enough for different office layouts and accessories.

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  • Phil Spencer: Microsoft Not Rushing to Create Handheld Console

    Phil Spencer: Microsoft Not Rushing to Create Handheld Console

    Rumors about Microsoft’s handheld gaming device have been circulating for quite some time now. However, a report from the previous year indicated that it may not be released until 2026. In a recent chat with Bloomberg, Xbox leader Phil Spencer essentially confirmed that the company isn’t in a hurry to launch a handheld, mentioning it is, “a few years out.”

    Focus on Existing Platforms

    Currently, the company’s priority is to enhance its Xbox app for current handheld devices. In recent months, they have rolled out various quality-of-life improvements, including the option to save multiple Wi-Fi networks and a more streamlined user interface.

    Plans for an App Store

    On the mobile side, Microsoft aims to introduce its own app store, similar to the recent efforts by Epic Games. However, this plan faces obstacles from Google and Apple, who aren’t exactly happy about others avoiding their 30% platform fee.

    Phil also noted that Microsoft is considering releasing Xbox exclusive games on different platforms, following Sony’s recent strategy. This could be a positive development, as it would allow PlayStation users to enjoy beloved series like Gears of War and Halo.

    Long-Term Strategy

    Microsoft’s choice to hold off on an Xbox handheld might ultimately benefit them in the future. Currently, the market has a surplus of Windows-based handhelds that feature relatively underpowered chips. It may take one or two generations for low-power platforms like Lunar Lake, Strix Point, or Snapdragon X Elite to fully develop. Also, adapting Xbox’s console OS to function on a handheld will need further adjustments.

    Even Valve isn’t rushing to unveil the Steam Deck 2. Microsoft could take the opportunity to shake things up with its first Xbox handheld. There’s even talk of Sony jumping into the fray, but this time with a real console instead of just a fancy Remote Play device.

    Source: Link

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  • Windows Hello Unveils New Login Design: Fingerprint, Face, Passkey

    Windows Hello Unveils New Login Design: Fingerprint, Face, Passkey

    Microsoft has rolled out a fresh Windows Insider preview version (build 22635.4440), which mainly updates Windows Hello. The firm has crafted new icons that will represent the method of login, whether it be through password, fingerprint sensor, or facial recognition across the system in the future. Furthermore, Microsoft has revamped the Windows Hello login screen in Windows 11 to better inform users about their choices for unlocking their devices.

    Streamlined Passkey System

    In addition, Microsoft has made adjustments to the passkey system in Windows, simplifying the process of switching between various passkeys and devices in this new preview version. For instance, users now have the capability to authenticate their login using a second laptop instead of relying solely on a smartphone. This feature is expected to be very beneficial for the new Administrator Protection feature, which is set to debut in an upcoming update for Windows 11 24H2.

    Enhanced Administrator Protection

    This new functionality permits the authentication of administrator permissions precisely when they are required, rather than granting full administrator access to an entire application. Consequently, the updated passkey system facilitates the use of an administrator’s passkey for authentication, even when the PC is predominantly used by another individual.

    This added layer of administrator rights protection is optional and seems to be primarily aimed at businesses. Moving forward, passkeys will be able to sync across multiple authorized Windows devices via a Microsoft account, improving the convenience of using this password alternative.

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  • Microsoft Q1 2024 Revenue Up 16% Driven by Cloud Growth

    Microsoft Q1 2024 Revenue Up 16% Driven by Cloud Growth

    Microsoft Corp. has shared its financial results for the first quarter of 2024, showcasing the company’s growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI) services. For the quarter ending September 30, 2024, Microsoft announced a revenue of $65.6 billion, representing a significant 16% rise compared to the same timeframe last year.

    Financial Performance

    The tech leader’s operating income hit $30.6 billion, showing a 14% increase, while net income climbed to $24.7 billion, which is an 11% growth. A major factor in this success was Microsoft Cloud, which experienced a revenue boost of 22%, bringing in $38.9 billion for the quarter. In particular, the Intelligent Cloud segment contributed $24.1 billion, reflecting a 20% increase.

    CEO’s Remarks

    In a statement to the press, CEO Satya Nadella noted, “AI-driven transformation is changing work, work artifacts, and workflow across every role, function, and business process.” As Microsoft embraces these changes, it’s also aware of the risks that come with AI. The forward-looking comments in the earnings report pointed out possible hurdles, such as competition, cybersecurity dangers, and increased regulatory oversight.

    Other Business Segments

    The report also sheds light on the More Personal Computing segment, which recorded revenues of $13.2 billion, an increase of 17%. Notably, revenue from Xbox content and services skyrocketed by 61%, largely due to the recent Activision acquisition.

    These results reflect trends seen in other tech companies like Google, which noted a 35% rise in cloud revenue.

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  • Microsoft Postpones Copilot+ Recall to December

    Microsoft Postpones Copilot+ Recall to December

    Microsoft has once again postponed the Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs. This feature is designed to simplify the process of finding items on Windows by capturing screenshots of user activity at set intervals, which allows users to search through this information. It employs local AI models to create a timeline for users to explore.

    Initial Plans and Delays

    Originally, Microsoft intended to launch this feature in June. However, due to pushback from users and security experts, the rollout was pushed back to November. The company also decided that Recall would first be available to Microsoft Insiders for testing rather than being offered as an opt-in feature as previously planned.

    Further Postponement

    Now, Microsoft has announced yet another delay, moving the launch to December. Brendon LeBlanc, who is a senior product manager for Windows, informed The Verge that Microsoft is "dedicated to providing a secure and trustworthy experience with Recall" and is "taking more time to enhance the experience before introducing it to Windows Insiders".

    Hardware Requirements

    Recall will only be available on "Copilot+ PCs," which are computers equipped with dedicated NPUs (Neural Processing Units). To be classified as a "Copilot+ PC," Microsoft requires an NPU that can perform 40 trillion operations per second, along with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage.

    The Verge, Microsoft Windows Blogs.

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  • Microsoft Claims Google Funds Campaign Against Its Cloud Services

    Microsoft Claims Google Funds Campaign Against Its Cloud Services

    Through a blog entry written by Rima Alaily, who is Microsoft’s CVP and Deputy General Counsel, the tech behemoth from Redmond is claiming that Google is running a covert operation to tarnish its reputation before the European Commission.

    Google’s Complaint

    In September, Google officially lodged a complaint against Microsoft with the European Commission, alleging that the company engages in anti-competitive licensing methods. It accused Microsoft of employing outdated licensing strategies that keep customers locked into a single cloud environment.

    Google highlighted that Microsoft has interconnected Teams, its communication platform, with its main SaaS (Software as a Service) products, Office 365 and Microsoft 365. In the complaint, Google claimed that Microsoft is also doing this with Microsoft Azure, making it difficult for customers in Europe to “transfer their existing Microsoft workloads to other cloud services – despite there being no technical reasons preventing it – or impose what Microsoft acknowledges is a massive 400% price increase.”

    Microsoft’s Response

    Microsoft contends that Google is attempting to divert the attention of regulators from the ongoing legal challenges the company is currently facing. There are over 24 antitrust inquiries into Google in major digital markets around the globe.

    Microsoft asserts that Google is trying to skew the regulatory environment to its advantage instead of competing fairly in the cloud services market. The company argues that Google is using the OCC (Open Cloud Coalition) as a guise to gain regulatory support. This coalition, which was launched today, includes global companies like Civo and Gigas, as well as smaller firms such as Pulsant, Clairo, and Room 101.

    Coalition’s Goal

    Nicky Stewart, a spokesperson for the coalition and former ICT chief in the UK Cabinet, stated that the group aims to encourage lawmakers to examine restrictive contracts and support a more open and adaptable market for competitors.

    Microsoft, Google, European Commission, Gov.uk

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  • New Leaks Reveal Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 Details

    New Leaks Reveal Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 Details

    Microsoft has not frequently updated its Surface lineup in recent years, especially after the failures of the Surface Duo and Surface Neo. Nonetheless, this year it has launched four new Surface products: the Surface Laptop 6 for Business, Surface Laptop 7, Surface Pro 10 for Business, and Surface Pro 11, with the latter available for $1,099.99 on Amazon.

    New Business Variants

    Although there have been ‘for Business’ models before, this time is significant because they have different processor designs compared to the consumer versions. New reports suggest that Microsoft might be going back to refreshing its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop series annually, particularly the ‘for Business’ editions.

    Upcoming Devices

    Recently, images of what could be the Surface Laptop 8 for Business surfaced online. A post on Chiphell indicates that Microsoft is working on this device under the codename ‘831_WID’. Additionally, a new Surface Pro, codenamed ‘830_QUN’, is also in the works and is expected to launch as the Surface Pro 12 for Business.

    Technical Specifications

    Both the Surface Laptop 8 for Business and Surface Pro 12 for Business will likely be equipped with Core Ultra 5 226V, Core Ultra 7 266V, and Core Ultra 7 268V processors. This means that they will come in both 16 GB and 32 GB RAM options. Moreover, both new models are anticipated to showcase the design tweaks that Microsoft introduced earlier this year with their ARM-based consumer versions.

    Interestingly, this aligns with an earlier report that appeared on Reddit recently. Although that post has since been removed, it was claimed to be from a reliable Microsoft partner over the years. So, it wouldn’t be shocking if Microsoft reveals information about a new Copilot+ or a business-focused event around March or April of 2025.

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  • $1 Game Pass Trial Disappears Before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

    $1 Game Pass Trial Disappears Before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

    Once more, Microsoft has chosen to cut back on the $1 Game Pass trial that is meant to give gamers a 14-day glimpse into what the subscription service provides. The timing of this decision seems rather suspicious, falling just before the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

    Changes to the Trial

    Originally, the $1 trial (£1 in the UK, Rs 50 in India) lasted for a full month, but that was removed in March 2023. Instead, Microsoft rolled out a referral program for PC Game Pass, which permitted current members to invite other PC users to test the service for a period of 14 days. The trial returned in August, but it was shortened to 14 days, just a few weeks prior to the release of Bethesda’s Starfield.

    Availability of Black Ops 6

    According to Microsoft’s plan, Black Ops 6 will be exclusively accessible through PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions on consoles. This comes despite the company’s earlier commitment to making all first-party releases available for all Game Pass subscribers from the very first day.

    Reasoning Behind the Change

    One could argue that this strategy serves as a deterrent against potential cheaters who might want to access the multiplayer mode at a lower cost, possibly by creating multiple accounts.

    The Verge, IGN.

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  • Windows 24H2 Update: Removing Recall Breaks File Explorer

    Windows 24H2 Update: Removing Recall Breaks File Explorer

    When Microsoft revealed its AI-driven Recall feature, designed to create a searchable timeline of your desktop activities, there was a huge reaction from privacy advocates and tech enthusiasts online. Although the initial release of Recall was delayed, Microsoft appears to have made it quite challenging to use the modern features of Windows File Explorer on a PC without involving Recall. YouTuber Chris Titus Tech, who conducted tests and in-depth analysis on the new Windows 11 24H2 update, noted that while it is possible to turn off Recall, doing so in a user-friendly manner also turns off the modern Windows File Explorer.

    Discoveries from Testing

    The YouTuber and software developer, recognized for his content on optimizing Windows and his automated tool for the same, found out during his tests that Recall is now a required part of Windows File Explorer. Titus’s tool, MicroWin, can eliminate Recall, but this action results in losing all the user-friendly features added in recent Windows updates. Essentially, this reverts the program back to something resembling its Windows 7 version (though with a few slightly newer icons), which includes losing dark mode and the File Explorer tabs.

    A Partial Solution

    Titus managed to uncover a workaround that disables Recall rather than removing it completely, which thankfully seems to hold up after restarts. However, currently, there’s no way to completely eliminate Recall without impacting the File Explorer interface. When Microsoft initially postponed the Recall launch due to privacy concerns, they mentioned that the feature would be opt-in when it finally rolled out widely. Yet, this does not appear to be the case in the 24H2 update. For those who use this utility or don’t mind having Recall activated, it may not be a significant issue, but it does signal that Microsoft is fully committed to incorporating Recall and AI features into Windows in future updates.

    Alternatives and Tools

    Another individual on GitHub highlighted that Microsoft’s DISM could be utilized to turn off the Recall service without affecting File Explorer. However, Titus noted that this behavior seems to vary, as his tests showed that the File Explorer’s appearance still changed after a restart. Regardless of this inconsistency, it’s doubtful that average Windows users will even know what DISM is, let alone how to operate it, showcasing Microsoft’s intent to rely on command-line tools for managing a controversial feature.

    For those considering switching from Windows, the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 is an excellent option for running Linux effectively, and it is priced starting at $685.20 in Lenovo’s US store.

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  • Windows 11 24H2 Released: New AI Features and Enhancements

    Windows 11 24H2 Released: New AI Features and Enhancements

    As previously stated, the well-known Windows Recall feature is making its return, but not for everyone (more on this shortly). It’s important to note that this isn’t a minor update; it’s included in Windows 24H2, which is also referred to as Windows 11 2024. This update for personal users also introduces Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024. While Windows 24H2 is set to receive two years of support, the business version is granted five years (the IoT variant enjoys a whole decade).

    Key Features of Windows 11 24H2

    Moreover, it’s worth noting that the Recall feature is returning, but it will do so gradually. Windows Insiders utilizing Snapdragon devices will be able to access this feature later this month, while users on Intel and AMD platforms will need to wait until November. Information on the feature’s wider release will be shared in the coming months.

    Update Rollout Process

    Even though it was released yesterday, the newest feature update for Windows 11 will take some time to reach all eligible devices. Microsoft has mentioned that this will be

    "a phased rollout that will begin over the coming weeks, starting with eligible devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2 that have the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” set to On." If the update is ready for your device, it will automatically download and install."

    Quick Update Options

    For those who can’t wait, there’s an option to create installation media using the Media Creation Tool or to use the Windows 11 installation assistant for a quicker update process.

    Windows Experience Blog

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