Tag: Microsoft

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The Surface Laptop Studio reveal could make this your last chance to get a Surface Book

The Surface Laptop Studio likely means the Surface Book is dead.

It’s a sad day for fans of the Surface Book, although I won’t miss it much. The quirky laptop had a unique accordion hinge and let people remove the screen from the keyboard, which was a pretty neat feature. In my time with the Surface Book 3, however, I just really didn’t like the hinge.

Microsoft’s weird new Surface Laptop Studio seems like it could be a worthy successor. Internally, it’s got all the hallmarks of a high-end Surface device with powerful Intel CPU options and Nvidia graphics, just like the Surface Book. But I think the inability to detach the Laptop Studio’s screen from the keyboard completely will make the Laptop Studio a tough sell to fans of the Book.

While this also likely spells the end of the Surface Book line, those interested can still pick one up (at least, for a little longer). Microsoft’s website still has the Surface Book 3 in 13.5- and 15-inch configs, plus it’s on sale.

Only three versions of the 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 are still available, and only in French. There’s an i5 with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD and two i7 models with 32GB of RAM, one with a 512GB SSD and one with a 1TB SSD.

The 15-inch Surface Book 3 is in better shape, with all eight configurations still available on Microsoft’s website.

The discounts range from $500 to $700 off, which isn’t bad. Still, for the top-end 15-inch Surface Book, you’ll be paying almost $4,000 before tax.

Although Microsoft hasn’t confirmed to MobileSyrup what the fate of its Surface Book line will be, I’d say it’s a safe bet that once the current Book 3 models are sold, there won’t be any more, making this potentially the last chance to get a Surface Book.

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Microsoft Surface Duo 2 will be available in Canada and Canadians seem excited

There are upsides and downsides to covering tech news in Canada. One of the biggest downsides is that hot new technology sometimes doesn’t come here.

Thankfully, that won’t be the case with Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2. Unlike the company’s first attempt at a dual-screen Android smartphone, the new Duo will arrive in Canada at the same time as other countries.

That’s great news for those interested in trying out what looks to be an all-around improvement. Thanks to its high price tag, mediocre cameras, and frustrating software, Microsoft’s first Surface Duo didn’t receive much love from reviewers.

This time around, Microsoft kept the high price but has done more to justify it with a flagship CPU, 5G support and an all-new camera experience that, hopefully, significantly outperforms the original Duo.

While it seems Microsoft has addressed nearly every major complaint about hardware with the Surface Duo 2, it remains to be seen if the company has improved the software experience. If it has, the Duo 2 could be a real contender in the foldable space.

However, one main drawback with the Surface Duo 2 in Canada is that the phone isn’t available through carriers. At least, not yet — it’s unclear if it will be available through carriers in the future.

In other words, that means Canadians who don’t want to drop $1,899.99 at once for Duo 2 are, unfortunately, out of luck. However, that doesn’t seem to have stopped anyone so far — at the time of writing, the Surface Duo 2 pre-orders appeared to be out of stock. Microsoft’s website no longer lists any of the ‘Obsidian’ Duo 2 options, while ‘Glacier’ is only available in one storage config.

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Canadian pricing and availability for Microsoft’s new Surface products

Microsoft announced several new products at its Surface event on September 22nd. From a revamped Surface Duo 2 to several small but important spec bumps, there’s plenty to be excited about.

Any Canadians out there interested in picking up new Surface devices will be interested to know that everything Microsoft announced is available for pre-order starting September 22nd. Customers can place order through Microsoft’s website and through major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

Almost all the new products will be available for purchase starting October 5th — conveniently, the same day that Windows 11 will launch. The exception is the Surface Duo 2, which won’t be available for purchase until October 21st.

You can find the pricing for all the new Surface products below:

You can find all of MobileSyrup’s Surface Event coverage here.

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Microsoft unveils revamped Surface Duo 2 with 5G and triple rear cameras

As expected, Microsoft unveiled an update to its Surface Duo dual-screen smartphone at its September Surface event. The Surface Duo 2 sports many improvements, including a faster processor, 5G, revamped cameras and a new ‘Glance Bar.’

Overall, it really seems like Microsoft took the criticisms from the original Duo and made those improvements accordingly. And, it has me very excited to try out the Duo 2.

First up, the Duo 2 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which should help significantly improve performance over the original Duo. Additionally, that means the Duo 2 will support 5G. Overall, this is a huge change and should go a long way to making the Duo competitive with other flagship foldable devices from Samsung.

Like its predecessor, the Duo 2 sports two ‘PixelSense Fusion’ 5.8-inch AMOLED displays that can be used together as one 8.3-inch screen. This time around, however, the screens offer a 90Hz refresh rate, which should make scrolling and gaming smoother. Microsoft also boosted the battery to 4,449mAh split across two cells — it’ll be interesting to see how this battery life holds up given the original Duo’s surprising longevity with a smaller 3,577mAh battery.

The ‘Glance Bar’ is another exciting enhancement with the Duo 2. Based on the pictures, it looks like the edge of the display has a subtle curve along the edge of the hinge. When closed, it allows users to see a small strip of the screen, which displays the time and lights up with notification bubbles to show how many calls, messages and other notifications are waiting for you when you open the phone.

Another major area of improvement is the camera. Microsoft added a new triple rear camera array with 12-megapixel wide, telephoto and 16-megapixel ultrawide cameras. That alone is a significant bump over the single selfie camera on the original Duo, but how well these new cameras perform remains to be seen. Speaking of the selfie camera, it also got a slight improvement to a 12-megapixel sensor.

Finally, the Duo 2 will be available in two colours — ‘Glacier’ like the original Duo and a new ‘Obsidian’ option. Microsoft says the Surface Duo 2 will cost $1,899.99 in Canada and will be available for pre-order on Microsoft’s website starting today. The Duo 2 will be available for purchase starting October 21st. That means the Duo is still quite expensive, but with the significant overhaul Microsoft has done, it might actually be worth the money this time around.

You can learn more about all of Microsoft’s Surface announcements here.

Image credit: Microsoft

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Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio looks like a MacBook with a Surface kickstand

Microsoft unveiled several new devices at its September Surface event, including the all-new Surface Laptop Studio.

What stands out most about Microsoft’s newest laptop is its unique hinge. The Laptop Studio seems to be one part Surface Pro and one part Surface Laptop for one wholly weird device. Users will be able to open and use the Laptop Studio like a typical laptop or adjust the screen to make it comfortable for drawing and even lie it (almost) flat like a tablet.

The Laptop Studio boasts a 14.4-inch ‘PixelSense Flow’ touchscreen with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2400 x 1600 pixels (201ppi). The Studio retains the Surface line’s classic 3:2 aspect ratio as well.

It runs Windows 11 and sports Intel’s 11th Gen Core H35 i5-11300H or i7-11370H CPUs with 16 or 32GB of RAM. For graphics, customers can configure the Studio with either Intel’s Iris Xe graphics on the i5 or Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti on the i7. There are some other options for commercial versions of the Studio.

Additionally, the Laptop Studio sports Microsoft’s new Surface Slim Pen 2 and ‘Quad Omnisonic’ speakers with Dolby Atmos. For ports, the Laptop Studio offers a Surface Connect port, two USB 4.0 ports with Thunderbolt 4 support and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Microsoft highlights the Surface Laptop Studio as a great option for creators, with powerful performance and tools designed for creators to draw, sketch, design, and more.

The Surface Laptop Studio will cost $2,049.99 in Canada and will be available for pre-order starting today on Microsoft’s website. It will go on sale starting October 5th.

Those interested can learn more about the Surface Laptop Studio on Microsoft’s website.

Click here to learn more about the full line of products revealed at the 2021 Microsoft Surface event.

Images credit: Microsoft

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The Surface Go 3 is a subtle update to Microsoft’s entry-level 2-in-1 series

The Surface Go 3 is one of several new products released at Microsoft’s September Surface event — but you might not have noticed just from looking at it.

That’s because, from the outside, there’s not much difference between Microsoft’s new Surface Go 3 and last year’s addition to its 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrid series, i.e. the Surface Go 2.

In fact, the two devices are nearly identical in terms of physical specs: the Surface Go 3, like the Surface Go 2, features a 10.5-inch, 1920 x 1280 pixel resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio display housed in a platinum-coloured magnesium body with a kickstand — there’s no rainbow palette of options to choose from here, unfortunately.

Despite being marketed as its “most portable Surface PC yet,” the device also seems to have the same dimensions and weight as last year’s Surface Go 2, measuring in at 9.65 inches x 6.9 inches x 0.33 inches and 1.2 lbs.

The differences lie within the device, though the improvements here are still incremental.

For instance, the Surface Go 3 gets a CPU boost, via a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor or quad-core 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y processor with 4 or 8GB of RAM.

During the Surface event, Microsoft claimed these upgrades make the device run 60 percent faster than before.

It also boasts an extra hour of battery life over last year’s model — 11 hours, bumped up from 10 hours — and features built-in eSIM technology.

And, of course, this new model runs on Windows 11, rather than Windows 10.

Port-wise, the Surface Go 3 sports a Surface Connect port, USB-C, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microSDXC Card Reader and a Nano SIM tray.

It’s also fully compatible with the Surface Pen, though the pen — and protective Type Cover — are sold separately.

The Surface Go 3 starts at $ 519.99 CAD. You can pre-order the device now, or purchase it outright in-store or online as of October 5th, 2021.

Click here to learn more about the full line of products revealed at the 2021 Microsoft Surface event.

Image credit: Microsoft

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Microsoft’s updated PC Health Check app now available to all

Ahead of Microsoft’s Surface event on September 22nd, the company finally rolled out its upgraded PC Health Check app.

If you’ve been following the ongoing Windows 11 upgrade debacle, you’re likely familiar with the PC Health Check app. For those who aren’t, Microsoft released the app alongside the initial Windows 11 announcement for people to scan their PC and check if it’s compatible with the new OS.

Unfortunately, the app didn’t offer an explanation when a PC failed the check. Since Microsoft’s seemingly arbitrary security and CPU requirements caused many capable, custom-built PCs to fail, Windows users were left scrambling, trying to figure out why and what they could do about it. At the time, the most logical explanation was that the new TPM requirement caused PCs to fail the check, which resulted in prices for TPMs spiking as people rushed to buy them. Additionally, tons of coverage detailed how some CPUs had built-in TPM capabilities and explained how users could enable that functionality.

Ultimately, Microsoft pulled the PC Health Check app and promised to bring it back with more clarity and detail. The new version rolled out to Windows Insiders in August and is now generally available. You can download it from the bottom of Microsoft’s Windows 11 website.

PC Health Check now says why your computer isn’t compatible with Windows 11

However, a lot has changed since the initial PC Health Check app. For one, Microsoft has made an effort to better explain the strict hardware requirements for Windows 11. While some would argue that the company hasn’t been successful, I’d say at least we have a better understanding of which CPUs Windows 11 doesn’t support, if not why Microsoft chose not to support them.

This is made worse by the fact that many people have been able to run Windows 11 just fine on hardware that supposedly wouldn’t be supported by the new OS. A great example of this is The Verge’s Tom Warren, who wrote that he ran the new PC Health Check app on his desktop PC and received a message that the PC isn’t compatible, despite that the PC was running Windows 11 when he performed the test.

Moreover, that seems to back up information Microsoft provided in August — the company said it wouldn’t block PCs with older CPUs from installing Windows 11. However, Microsoft also followed up that announcement by saying it might withhold future updates, including security updates, from PCs with unsupported hardware.

New installer message warns of compatibility issues on unsupported hardware

Windows 11 installer message (Credit: The Verge)

Additionally, Warren reports that the Windows 11 installer now pops up with a new message that basically warns your PC isn’t supported, that there may be compatibility issues because of it, and that running Windows 11 may void your warranty. The warning doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, although it may also simply be a way for Microsoft to cover its ass should something go really wrong.

All this is to say that the Windows 11 upgrade remains confusing and frustrating, especially for people with custom-built PCs or older, but still capable, hardware. Even my Windows 10 desktop with a 10th Gen Intel CPU was listed as incompatible with Windows 11 until I dug into the BIOS and changed several settings. The refreshed PC Health Check app should help identify cases where Windows users can get away with just that — changing some settings to get their PC in order. But for those who don’t have a CPU on Microsoft’s special list, you’re still out of luck.

Source: The Verge

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How to watch Microsoft’s September Surface event

Microsoft’s secretive September Surface event will take place Wednesday morning. If you’re interested in tuning in, here’s how to do it.

First, the live stream event kicks off at 11am ET/8am PT. You’ll be able to watch it on Microsoft’s event page here. However, last time Microsoft held an event, the stream had some issues — you may be able to catch it on YouTube via Microsoft’s channel as well, or on other YouTube channels if the stream has issues again.

We expect the event to take about an hour, but if that’s too long for you, you can also follow along for coverage on MobileSyrup via our website or social handles, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

As for what we expect from the event, the short answer: Surface devices. Microsoft hasn’t really given much detail beyond. However, we do have a full break down of updates we expect for popular Surface hardware including the Surface Pro, Go and more. You can find that here.

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Here’s what to expect from Microsoft’s September Surface event

Microsoft has a big Surface event taking place on Wednesday, September 22nd. Although the company hasn’t said much about what will happen, the teaser image definitely hints at Surface products.

Based on rumours and leaks so far, we’ve got a few ideas of what to expect at the event (and a few things we’re pretty confident won’t be there).

So, let’s dive in.

New Surface Pro X and Surface Pro 8

Of everything on this list, I’d argue refreshed Surface Pro devices are most likely. I mean, Microsoft’s teaser image for the event is literally a side-profile of a Surface Pro device. Coupled with the Surface Pro 7 coming out in 2019 and no other Pro devices coming since (aside from the Pro X, which we’ll get into in a moment, and the business-oriented Pro 7+), it’s clear the Surface Pro line is due for an upgrade.

According to The Verge, there likely won’t be a significant redesign for the Surface Pro 8. That shouldn’t come as a surprise — Microsoft designs its hardware for businesses and tends to hold onto designs to maximize compatibility with accessories.

However, The Verge also reported that a source “familiar with Microsoft’s plans” said the company plans to revamp the Pro 8 with a larger display and smaller bezels. While that alone would help modernize the look of Microsoft’s premier 2-in-1, the source also claimed Microsoft would add Thunderbolt on at least one Surface Pro 8 model. That’s interesting, considering Microsoft previously avoided Thunderbolt over security concerns.

Finally, Microsoft will reportedly drop the single USB-A port on the Surface Pro line, add Intel’s latest 11th Gen chips and removable SSDs to bring the Pro 8 in line with the company’s Surface Pro X and Laptop devices.

Speaking of the Surface Pro X, Windows Central notes that Microsoft’s ARM-powered 2-in-1 will also get a refresh, although there likely won’t be any significant external changes. Instead, expect an upgraded processor and perhaps some new hardware to enable Windows 11 functionality. Windows Central also suggests Microsoft could launch a Wi-Fi Pro X this year.

Finally, both the Pro 8 and Pro X could feature 120Hz displays, according to Windows Central. Microsoft is at least testing the feature, although it may not ship if it has too high an impact on the battery.

Surface Book 4

Microsoft’s powerful Surface Book line is due for a significant refresh. According to Windows Central, one is coming with the Surface Book 4. The publication described the new Surface Book as having a combination of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro form factors — The Verge compared it to the HP Spectre Folio.

Either way, it looks like Microsoft plans to ditch the accordion-style hinge from previous Surface Books in favour of a whole new design. That’s a welcome change, in my opinion — I had my share of issues with the Surface Book 3.

Other rumoured changes include a display with a dynamic refresh rate, slimmer bezels, Nvidia RTX graphics, rounded corners and possibly an improved Surface Pen with haptic feedback capabilities.

Finally, it’s possible this new Surface may not be part of the ‘Book’ line. Other possible names have surfaced, such as ‘Laptop Pro’ and ‘Laptop Studio.’ We’ll likely learn for sure what this device is on Wednesday.

Surface Duo 2

Next up, we have the sequel to Microsoft’s admiral attempt at a foldable Android phone: the Surface Duo 2. Rumours about the Duo 2 have swirled for some time now, but it would make sense for Microsoft to unveil it at the Surface event.

Rumoured upgrades include a new rear camera array with three lenses — standard, telephoto and ultra-wide. It could also ship with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888 processor and offer 5G support, two major improvements over the original Surface Duo.

The Duo 2 may even support NFC, which also wasn’t available on the original Duo. Other possible changes include moving the fingerprint sensor into the power button, centring the USB-C charging port on the phone’s right side, and other minor hardware changes.

However, the most important upgrades will need to be on the software side. That’s one of the areas where the Surface Duo struggled most, and if Microsoft can ship a more stable, fluid software experience, that’d make a world of difference. Unfortunately, rumour has it the Duo 2 will run Android 11, not 12, out of the box, but hopefully, Microsoft can get the Android 12 update rolled out sooner rather than later.

Other possibilities and devices we won’t see

Finally, to wrap up, there may be some minor changes to the Surface Go line with a new Surface Go 3. Expect nothing more than a minor chip upgrade, with almost everything else remaining the same as the Surface Go 2.

Windows Central also hinted that there would be a handful of new accessories at the event, as is standard for Microsoft’s Surface launches.

While that wraps up the things we expect to see, it’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge a few things we won’t see. First, don’t expect a new Surface Laptop — the Surface Laptop 4 came out earlier this year, and you can read all about it here.

We also likely won’t see a refresh of the Surface Laptop Go (😞), the Surface Studio or the Surface Neo. Regarding the Neo, Windows Central reported that Intel discontinued the Lakefield chip that would power the device. It’s possible Microsoft could repurpose it with another processor, such as the SQ CPUs Microsoft uses in the Pro X, but I’d say that’s unlikely.

Of course, it won’t be much longer until we know for sure. The event will kick off on September 22nd at 11am ET/8am PT, and I wouldn’t be shocked if there were at least a few surprises.

Source: The Verge, Windows Central

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Microsoft wants you to ditch your password

Big tech really wants you to ditch your password.

Back in 2019, I spoke with a Google product manager about the problem with passwords. He urged people to ditch passwords in favour of better authentication methods, noting that alternate systems are “probably your safest bet.” Fast forward to now, and it seems Microsoft is also on board with dropping passwords.

In an announcement post, Microsoft unveiled that it’s adding a new option to remove the password from your Microsoft account. People who do so can use other methods to sign in, such as Microsoft’s Authenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key or a verified code sent to your phone or email.

However, it’s worth noting that you could effectively avoid using your Microsoft Account password before now — you just couldn’t remove it entirely. I haven’t ditched my password, but I also haven’t typed it in years. Instead, whenever I need to sign in to my Microsoft Account, I use the Authenticator app. I grab my phone, authenticate myself, and I’m logged in and ready to go. It’s fast, simple and convenient.

Of course, not everyone is on board with ditching passwords just yet. Some things still require a password, and some people feel more secure having one. Microsoft also detailed some of the reasons why passwords aren’t that secure — most of it echoes other things I’ve written about passwords, including that Google story mentioned up top.

Passwords aren’t secure because people suck at making them

First, there’s the human nature side of it. Most people still create their own passwords, and to remember those passwords, most people also use the same (or very similar versions of the same) password across several sites and services. Moreover, people often pick passwords that are easy for them to remember. The problem, however, is if a hacker guesses your password for one site or breaches the security of and steals passwords for a site, there’s a good chance that they will be able to use that password to log into other websites.

Hackers have plenty of other ways to get passwords too. Phishing attacks, for example, seek to trick people into giving up their log-in information. One way to do this is to create a fake login page for an app like Netflix, then send people an email saying something like, “There’s an issue with your billing info, sign in to fix it.” If the email looks real enough, people will click through the link to the website, type in their password, and inadvertently give up their log-in.

If you’re interested in going passwordless with your Microsoft Account, you can do so by heading to ‘account.microsoft.com,’ signing in and clicking ‘Advanced Security Options.’ Under ‘Additional Security,’ look for ‘Passwordless Account’ and select the option to turn it on. If the option isn’t there, you may need to wait a bit as Microsoft continues the rollout over the next few weeks. And, you can always switch back if you don’t like it. You can learn more about passwordless Microsoft Accounts here.

If you still need a password, get a password manager to boost your security

Of course, if you’re concerned about your other online accounts and they don’t offer passwordless options like Microsoft, there are other steps you can take to improve security. For example, using a password manager to create long, unique, impossible-to-guess passwords for each website can go a long way to improving your online security. You can learn more about some password managers at the links below:

Other options that can help include two-factor authentication (2FA). It’s not a perfect system, but adding another layer of security can help keep your accounts secure even if someone gets your password.

Source: Microsoft