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Microsoft's 84-inch Surface Hub won't ship until 2016
If you've been waiting to get your hands on Microsoft's 84-inch 4K collaborative pen display, you're going to have to wait just a little longer: the company says the $20,000 Surface Hub won't ship until January 1st, 2016. By the time it reaches customers, it will have almost been a year since it was originally announced.
Sony wants you to delay upgrading your old VAIO PC to Windows 10
Sony might not be making PCs anymore, but it's still on the hook for supporting its older systems -- and that's creating a big problem for Windows 10 upgrades. The electronics giant is warning owners against installing Microsoft's latest software on older VAIO PCs until it has the drivers needed to get all the hardware working properly. And unfortunately, that's going to take a while. If your computer first ran Windows 8.1, the Windows 10 drivers won't be ready until October; if it's old enough to have shipped with Windows 8, you'll have to wait until November.
Lenovo's latest pro laptops pack 4K and Xeon processors
There are plenty of workstation laptops that claim to deliver on the promise of heavy-duty computing on the road, but they're not usually that much different on the inside than a garden variety portable. You can't say that about Lenovo's monster new ThinkPad P50 and P70 systems, though. The two not only offer things you'd expect in this class, such as color-accurate 4K displays and pro NVIDIA Quadro graphics, but Intel's first-ever mobile Xeon processors (specifically, the E3-1500M) -- you won't have to settle for an ordinary Core i-series chip here. If you need to crunch 3D models or video when you're out of the office, one of these rigs may be your best bet. That CPU upgrade also brings the kind of perks normally limited to desktops, including support for a whopping 64GB of memory and Thunderbolt 3 ports that can handle dual 4K displays.
Microsoft built a robotic air hockey table to show off Windows 10
Microsoft is more than a little proud that a version of Windows 10 runs on tiny, embedded PCs -- proud enough that it's willing to make clever devices to show this off. The folks in Redmond have built a robotic air hockey table whose virtual player is powered by a diminutive MinnowBoard Max running Windows 10 IoT Core. It's simple (it largely depends on an overhead camera to track the puck), but it's good enough to keep up with at least some shots, as you'll see in the video below. You aren't about to buy this table in a store -- it'd need to keep up with a ruthless human rival, for starters -- but it's proof that modern Windows can find its way into some very unusual places.
Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 is coming to the NFL sidelines
With NFL teams set to kick off their pre-season next week, Microsoft today announced that the Surface Pro 2 won't be used during games anymore. Instead, the upcoming 2015-2016 season will see its Sideline Viewing System, which lets players and coaches review game photos instantly, be powered by Surface Pro 3s for the first time. But that's not the only change being made. Microsoft and the NFL are also going to start testing video as part of the Sideline Viewing System, including replays of questionable calls that referees can watch via the custom-made device. Even though this is only going to be a test run (over 20 pre-season games), it will be a significant move if it ends up being implemented in the regular season. Microsoft's laptop/tablet hybrid has already replaced the traditional paper method for most teams, and it could do the same with monitors on the field -- the current way of watching replays by officials.
Microsoft has iOS devs building the 'bridge' for Windows 10 apps
It's no secret -- even with its fast start, Microsoft needs more apps on Windows 10, across PCs, tablets and phones. Many of the most popular ones are already built for Android, iOS or even older versions of Windows, but supporting another platform can be tricky. To solve that problem, in April Microsoft announced "Windows Bridge" tools to make it easy for those developers to reuse already written code in new Windows apps. Now it's ready to live up to that promise, and is releasing an early look at the bridge for iOS today. More importantly, it's even opening up the source code (Github) for the Bridge tool itself so the people who will use it can help make it better. If you'd rather use apps than make them, then this doesn't necessarily mean you'll see ported over iPad or Android apps simply running on your PC, just that developers won't have to change so much of the stuff in the background to make them work.
Microsoft Studios lead talks Kinect and the future of Xbox
You might not know who Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda is, but you know his work. He was the driving force behind Kinect and HoloLens. And more recently, he's taken control of a large part of Microsoft Studios, the company's in-house video game publishing and development arm. As part of his position, Tsunoda leads Rare, Lionhead and other first-party studios, and also oversees the development of key Xbox exclusives published by Microsoft, such as Scalebound, Quantum Break and the new Crackdown. I sat down with Tsunoda for a chat at Gamescom, and quizzed him on the future of Xbox, HoloLens and gaming at Microsoft.
Windows 10 has a $15 DVD player app that you shouldn't buy
Microsoft may have inadvertently made a good case for embracing movie downloads and streams. The company has released an official DVD Player app that lets you play old-school disc-based movies in Windows 10. Sounds convenient, right? It is, but there's one big problem: it's $15. Yes, if you got your Windows 10 upgrade for free, it'll cost you more to play that dusty copy of Armageddon in DVD Player than it did to get an entire operating system.
Tell us how you really feel about Windows 10
Windows 10 became available for download last week, and in our review we hailed it as the "most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft." We were able to recommend it "without any hesitation," and with free upgrades for Windows 7 and 8 users, there are plenty of reasons to give it a shot. Sure, a few other outlets have reported running into some bugs, which might be a good reason to hold back. But that didn't stop over 14 million people from making the leap within the first 24 hours. So, we'd like to know what our intrepid readers think. Write us a user review on Engadget's Windows 10 database page to tell us all about the highs and lows of what Microsoft is calling "the last version of Windows ever," and we'll feature the most interesting or insightful ones in an upcoming post.
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook gives you a full Windows laptop for $169
Hey, HP: you're far from the only one who can play the ridiculously low-cost Windows laptop game. Acer has unveiled the Aspire One Cloudbook 11 and 14, a pair of thin-and-light Windows 10 portables that promise a 'real' PC experience even if you're on a shoestring budget. They respectively cost a mere $169 and $199 in the US (a good $30 less than HP's Stream 11 and 13), but still manage to pack 1.6GHz Celeron processors, 2GB of RAM, full-size keyboards and expansion that includes USB, HDMI and SD card slots. Neither is going to be a screamer, then, but they may do the job if you're looking for a back to school system that's just good enough to handle your class notes and reports.
Windows 10 is coming to these Lumia phones first
In case you haven't heard, Windows 10 is here, and the version for phones will arrive soon. To help you prepare, Microsoft posted the initial list of Lumia handsets that'll be privy to the free upgrade later this year. The collection of mobile devices includes Lumia 430, Lumia 535, Lumia 640 XL, Lumia 735, Lumia 830, Lumia 930 and others for 10 total. This means that if you own one of group, or have been thinking about picking one up, you'll be able to grab the new software when it's released. Of course, Windows 10 Mobile will deliver those universal apps, a retooled Action Center and Microsoft's new Edge browser. For the full list of phones that will be included in the initial update, jump down past the break. Bummed because your daily driver didn't make the cut? Don't fret: this is the first set and there could be more included later.
Call Windows' Cortana assistant with this Bluetooth button
Now that Microsoft's voice-guided Cortana assistant is up and running in Windows 10, you might be eager to trigger it without leaving the "hey Cortana" feature on (which might sap battery life) or staying within reach of your computer. If so, Satechi might just come to your aid. It's releasing a Bluetooth Cortana button that will trigger the Halo-inspired helper on Windows PCs and phones from a distance. You can use it to more quickly ask about the weather from across the room, for instance, or leave your phone in your car's cupholder when you start a call. At $23, it won't be the cheapest single-purpose peripheral when it ships later in August. However, that purchase might pay off if you'd rather not get that chatty with your devices.
The After Math: Stupid-fast storage and what's in a Windows number?
Already immersing yourself in Windows 10? Trying to block out the not-so-favorable memories of Windows 8? Good for you. This week involved a new smartphone from a new challenger, and several new smartphone from a once-dominant player. And we don't mean Nokia, which was busy dipping its toes into the world of VR cameras. Because of course.
Microsoft's HoloLens headset will reach developers within a year
When Microsoft said that its HoloLens headset would arrive "in the Windows 10 time frame," what did it mean, exactly? Thanks to a BBC interview with Satya Nadella, we now have a better sense of when this augmented reality eyewear will show up. The company chief expects developers and enterprise users to get the first version of HoloLens "within the next year" -- you won't be getting one as a holiday gift, folks. It's not certain just when a personal version will launch, but Nadella describes the overall technology as a "5-year journey" that will eventually branch out to other fields. While that doesn't necessarily leave you high and dry until 2020, it does suggest that you'll have to be patient if you want to play some holographic Minecraft.
A look back at Windows through the ages
It's hard to believe that Windows is 30 years old this year. Originally a graphic shell that sat on MS-DOS, Windows has blossomed over the years to be the visually rich experience it is today. That's not to say it hasn't encountered a few pitfalls along the way -- Windows ME, anyone? -- but despite weathering rivals from the likes of Apple, Microsoft's pride and joy is still the most widely used personal computer operating system on the planet. In the gallery here, we take a look back at Windows through the ages. Be sure to keep an eye out for a few cameos from Jennifer Aniston, Jerry Seinfeld and, of course, Steve Ballmer. [Image credit: Associated Press]
The best of Public Access Vol.7: online security and Android frustrations
Microsoft set the world on fire this week with the release of Windows 10 as a free download for existing Windows users. And in our review of the OS, we found that Edge, Windows 10's new web browser, is a sleek and speedy onramp to the information superhighway. Simply upgrading to the latest and greatest software doesn't make you impervious to harm on the internet, however, so last week we asked you to share how you stay secure online. Caroline Leopold doles out some handy tips for password management and stresses the importance of HTTPS. Meanwhile, Jess James has a bone to pick with Google's all-encompassing power over Android, and Bob Summerwill thinks we could all be more efficient at our jobs if we eliminated synchronous operations from the workplace and embraced asynchronous communication instead.
Mini review video: our verdict on Windows 10 in 45 seconds
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-790918{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-790918, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-790918{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-418354").style.display="none";}catch(e){}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-790918").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Didn't read all the way through our nearly 3,700-word review of Windows 10? You really should: Devindra makes some good points. That said, if you're short on time, or just have a hopelessly short attention span, we've distilled our writeup into a mini review video. As you can tell by the score alone (91 out of 100), we really, really dig the new software, and found very little fault with it. In particular, we love how the new, Live Tile-ized Start menu seems to combine the best of Windows 7 and 8, all the while correcting some big UX mistakes that Microsoft made over the past few years. In addition, new features like Cortana search and the Edge browser are in and of themselves worth the upgrade (and what an easy upgrade process it is too). Find the highlights in the short video above, and head over to our full review at the link below if you decide you want a little more detail after all.
Mozilla is unhappy with Microsoft over Windows 10 changes
If you're one of the millions of people who've already upgraded to Windows 10, you've probably noticed that the OS changed your default apps. Your main browser, for instance, suddenly became Microsoft Edge after the upgrade -- something Mozilla finds "disturbing," especially since the platform actually made it trickier to switch back to Chrome, Firefox or any other browser. In an open letter to Microsoft head honcho Satya Nadella, Mozilla's CEO Chris Beard revealed that the non-profit got in touch with the Windows 10 team when it got wind of the change, but that "didn't result in any meaningful progress."
Windows 10 is up to 14 million installs already
Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi is checking in with a Windows 10 status update, revealing that the OS is already on some 14 million devices. He noted that not everyone who reserved an upgrade has gotten it yet, but says the rollout will continue in phases over the next few weeks. While whether or not you can upgrade to Windows 10 may still be in question, we have information to help decide if you should with our FAQ and review. Of course, if you're one of the millions already in the door, you can just let us know how the new experience is working so far.
A closer look at the Edge browser in Windows 10
In 18 days, Internet Explorer will turn 20 years old. But rather than celebrating with a new version, as it did for birthday number 15, Microsoft will be shoving IE away into an obscure folder with other legacy applications -- you know, like Paint. Though the browser will live on, mostly for the sake of enterprise users, it will only receive security patches going forward (read: no new features or design changes). Just as important, it will no longer be the default browser in Windows. That honor now goes to Edge, a cleaner, leaner browser that makes its debut on Win 10. Microsoft hopes that with the name change, fresh design, smarter features and improved performance, Edge will be enough to convince people to set aside whatever negative impressions they may have had of Internet Explorer.
