Tag: microsoft

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Microsoft prepares to launch Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2

Microsoft is getting ready to unveil its Surface Book 3 and Surface Go 2 hardware. Recent retailer leaks have hinted that Microsoft is planning to use Intel’s latest 10th Gen processors on the Surface Book 3, alongside potentially up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Rumors also suggest that Microsoft is switching to Nvidia’s Quadro graphics chips in some Surface Book 3 models. The switch will mean the Surface Book 3 will better cater to 3D animators, designers, and engineers who rely on the power of Quadro graphics cards that are optimized for a number of pro apps instead of gaming.

Microsoft is also preparing a Surface Go 2, a successor to its popular smaller tablet. Retailer leaks have also hinted that Microsoft will be offering a model with an Intel Core m3, alongside the typical Intel Pentium Gold processor option. Windows Central reports that the Surface Go 2 will also include a larger display at 10.5 inches, with slightly smaller bezels that are more similar to those found on the Surface Laptop 3.

The exterior size is said to be the same as the original Surface Go, though, so existing accessories and the Type Cover from the Surface Go will work on the Surface Go 2. The Intel Core m3 model will also reportedly include 8GB of RAM, 128GB storage, and an optional LTE connectivity.

Microsoft is planning to unveil its new Surface hardware next month, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. Those plans could change due to the pandemic, but Microsoft has been working toward these new devices for quite some time.

Source: The Verge

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The latest Windows 10 update is so broken, even Microsoft thinks you should uninstall it

Microsoft has released yet another glitch-ridden update to Windows 10, with KB4535996 causing more problems than it’s managed to fix. 

The KB4535996 cumulative update for Windows 10, released by Microsoft at the end of February, promised to bring with it fixes for a number of issues affecting search functionality, printing and battery performance. 

Since installing the update, however, Windows 10 1909 and 1903 users have flocked online to report numerous glitches that appear to have been caused by the update itself. These, to name but a few, include boot issues, crashes, performance problems, audio issues and broken developer tools. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…

And, while Microsoft hasn’t released an official fix – or even acknowledged that there’s serious issues with this latest update, it has told at least one user to uninstall the update, even if it was to fix an issue with Visual Studio rather than the chronic BSODs.

Falling apart

One user over on the Microsoft Answers website complains: “I just had this update on my PC and now it will not boot. Fails the BIOS POST test with a series of beeps, completely blank screen. I bought it only 5 days ago, have tried re-seating the RAM and GPU.”

Another user, who bravely installed the KB4535996 cumulative update across their organization, reports that more than 200 PCs are now crashing and displaying the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

“Seeing this issue with about 200 machines. Uninstalling the update doesn’t come off cleanly and still gets lockups on initial boot,” they write.

Other disgruntled users, who should be used to this kind of thing by now, are reporting that the sound in Windows 10 has gone kaput, that their machine is now unable to enter safe mode, and that that Visual Studio code-signing tool signtool.exe no longer working.

Though Microsoft has yet to formally acknowledge this barrage of issues, it did acknowledge the glitch affecting Visual Studio, of all things, in response to one miffed customer.

“We’re aware of issues with signtool.exe after installing the latest optional update for Windows 10, version 1903 or Windows 10, version 1909 (KB4535996),” the company said.

“If you are encountering issues or receiving errors related to signtool.exe, you can uninstall the optional update KB4535996,” Microsoft added, all but confirming that this latest release is the culprit.

Though there’s no official fix in sight, there is some good news. As it’s an “optional” update, meaning it won’t be automatically installed onto your machine, these glitches shouldn’t be affecting too many people. As we’ve previously reported, you should uninstall this update if you have it – even Microsoft doesn’t have an official workaround yet, so it’s better to just avoid the update for now.

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Microsoft’s new Office app for mobile combines Word, Excel and Powerpoint

Microsoft’s having a busy Monday morning, and for anyone that uses Office on the go, its new app might be the major gamechanger.

The company’s newly unveiled Office app is an attempt to put everything you might need in one place. Instead of grabbing separate apps for Word, Excel and Powerpoint (aka the Office Triforce), today’s public preview puts them all together.

The app also includes a new Actions pane that should be especially effective for document editing on-the-go. Microsoft says you’ll be able to create and sign PDFs with ease from your tinier smartphone screens, and sharing files has also been simplified and streamlined. The Office app also makes better use of your phone’s talents, with the ability to take a photo of a document and turn it into an editable Word file on the fly, or even do the same with printed-out tables in Excel. Details ahead of today’s launch was otherwise a little scarce — but nevermind, you can test them out for yourself starting this morning. The Office app preview is available on Google Play now, and for iOS users that are using Testflight. There’s no date yet for when the app will launch outside of preview.

Source: Engadget

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Microsoft’s next Surface Pen looks like it’ll have wireless charging

An updated version of Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which is expected to be announced at the company’s annual fall hardware event on October 2nd, may come with wireless charging. An FCC filing for the stylus refers to a “charging coil,” pointing to the possibility that the pen will have an internal power source, allowing for it to be used without AAAA batteries like the pen’s current model does.

Teardowns for competitor styluses with wireless charging have revealed coils being used for this exact purpose. In this JerryRigEverything teardown of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ S-Pen, a charging coil can be found toward the tip of the pen, showing how the pen is charged through the phone.

The Apple Pencil 2, which charges by magnetically attaching to the side of an iPad Pro, sports a similar charging coil. You can check it out in the photo below from the iFixit teardown. The Surface Pen already magnetically attaches to Surface laptops, albeit without charging, so hopefully this FCC filing is a sign of the feature to come.

The inside of the Apple Pencil 2

The upcoming Surface Pen will likely be another separately purchased accessory priced at around $99 to accompany the new Surface Pro line. We should learn more details about it during Microsoft’s fall event on October 2nd.

Source: The Verge

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Microsoft announces Surface event on October 2nd in New York City

Microsoft is holding a special Surface hardware event in New York City in October. The event, which will be held on October 2nd, could serve as the first unveiling of Microsoft’s dual-screen Surface device. Microsoft has been building a new dual-screen device, codenamed “Centaurus,” for more than two years, and it’s designed to be the hero device for a wave of new dual-screen tablet / laptop hybrids that we’re expecting to see throughout 2020.

Microsoft demonstrated this new device during an internal meeting earlier this year, signaling that work on the prototype has progressed to the point where it’s nearing release. Still, it’s not certain that Microsoft will show off this new hardware in October or even launch it. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella famously killed off the Surface Mini just weeks before its scheduled unveiling. If Microsoft does plan to show this dual-screen Surface device, then it won’t be ready to ship immediately. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Vergethat the company is currently targeting a 2020 release date for its dual-screen Surface.

Alongside Centaurus, Microsoft will likely refresh other Surface devices. The Surface Book is long overdue an update, and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop and Surface Pro hardware could finally see the addition of USB-C ports this year. Even Microsoft’s Surface Go tablet is more than a year old now and could see a minor refresh. The Verge will be live with all the latest news from Microsoft’s Surface event in October, so stay tuned.