Mini IT8, GEEKOM launches mini PC with Windows 11

Mini IT8, GEEKOM launches mini PC with Windows 11

GEEKOM is introducing its 2021 flagship mini PC the Mini IT8. The mini PC is built with a core i5 Intel processor and comes with Windows 11 OS pre-installed. It is lightweight, has flexible storage configurations, supports up to four 4K displays and has competitive prices. 

The Mini IT8 mini PC weighs only 1kg and can fit into the palm of a hand. It is powered by an Intel Coffee Lake processor and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 GPU. The mini PC supports RAM and storage expansion from 8GB to 32GB and 128GB to 1TB SSD.

The latest GEEKOM mini PC is available for purchase at www.geekompc.com. The least configuration retails at $459 but is currently discounted to $379 till 26th December 2021.

The launch of our latest mini PC reflects our ambition to provide users with more options for computers that are faster, more powerful, and easier to customize,” says Kom de Olde, founder of GEEKOM.

Mini IT8 specifications

Mini IT8 GEEKOM mini PC
Dimensions117 x 112 x 45.6 mm, 1kg
ProcessorIntel Coffee Lake i5 8259U
GPUIntel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Memory8/16GB (Dual Channel DDR4)
Storage256/512GB (M.2 Kingston SSD)
RAM BrandKingston
Operating SystemWindows 11
FeatureSupport 4 Displays/Quiet Fan
Ethernet1000Mbps LAN
Wireless ConnectivityBluetooth 5.1/Dual-Band Wi-Fi
Ports1 * RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port
1 * SD card reader
3 * USB3.2 Port
2 * USB-C Port
1 * HDMI2.0
1 * MINI DP
1 * DC in
Price$459.00

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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella celebrated Global launch of Windows 10 in Nanyuki, Kenya on this day four years ago

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella celebrated Global launch of Windows 10 in Nanyuki, Kenya on this day four years ago

Four years ago, on the 29th of July 2015, Microsoft globally launched Windows 10. The latest version of its operating system(OS) for users of Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Window 8 Mobile. Introducing a much more user friendly OS with innovations, features and security capabilities. Satya Nadella who had been named new Microsoft CEO in February 2014 opted for an unusual mode of announcement. Deciding to join in the Windows 10 launch fans celebrations in Kenya.

Satya citied Microsoft’s core mission as well as wanting to go meet Microsoft’s global user base as reason for the decision. Read the full interview here.

I’m here in Kenya and in Nairobi to listen and learn. The core mission of Microsoft is to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more.
I felt that in order to realize that mission with the Windows 10 launch we wanted to celebrate with our fans all over the world instead of going to a media-rich country
.
We wanted to go out there where our fans are because we are a truly global product and we have usage everywhere.”

Watch Satya Nadella talk about why he was in Kenya

Satya Helps students upgrade PCs to Windows 10

Windows 10 Launch Party

https://youtu.be/sciCLq4IReI

Satya Nadella Joins Window 10 fans celebrations in Nairobi

Microsoft introduces lightweight disposable desktop environment, Windows Sandbox

Microsoft introduces lightweight disposable desktop environment, Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox

Microsoft announced Windows Sandbox feature in new Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305.

Windows Sandbox is a lightweight desktop environment where you can test and run applications securedly. It is an isolated, temporary, desktop environment suitable for safely running untrusted software or downloaded executable files.

Microsoft says “you can run untrusted software without the fear of lasting impact to your device. Any software installed in Windows Sandbox stays only in the sandbox and cannot affect your host. Once Windows Sandbox is closed, all the software with all of its files and state are permanently deleted.”

Windows Sandbox according to Microsoft is efficient, secure, disposable, pristine and part of Windows. Sandbox takes away the need of having to set up a virtual machine when you need a clean installation of Windows as well.

Here’s what you need and how to set up Windows Sandbox,

Windows Sandbox

Prerequisites:

Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise Insider build 18305 or later
AMD64 architecture
Ensure Virtualization capabilities are Enabled in BIOS
At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended)
At least 1 GB of free disk space (SSD recommended)
At least 2 CPU cores (4 cores with hyperthreading recommended)

Set up

Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features > Programs and Features > Turn Windows Features on or off, and then select Enable Windows Sandbox.

To start Windows Sandbox, open the Start menu, enter Windows Sandbox and then select it.

Click to check out Sandbox for other details, configurations and bug errors and fixes. Try the new feature and share with us your thoughts.

iTunes app finally comes to Microsoft Store

iTunes app finally comes to Microsoft Store

Apple’s iTunes application finally debuts in the Microsoft store after it’s announcement a year ago.

iTunes 

Microsoft’s Build developer 2018 event takes place next week. At this same event a year ago Microsoft made a big announcement; iTunes is coming to Windows Store. However we didn’t see or hear anything till it was released in the store on the 26th of April. This could be good news, might be too late to win over other developers or fans. 

“Now you can download iTunes from Microsoft Store and easily play your favorite music, movies, and more—right from your Windows 10 PC. iTunes is also home to Apple Music, where you can listen ad-free to over 45 million songs and download your favorites to enjoy without using WiFi”.

The app is currently only available for PC’s. It might become available as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app and run across devices. Visit the Microsoft store and download the app, synchronize your stuffs and enjoy. 

How does this announcement resonate with you? Share with us in the comments. 

 

Latest Windows 10 Insider Preview features

Latest Windows 10 Insider Preview features

We detail out some of the new Windows 10 Insider Preview features from the latest builds  

Insider Preview features

Microsoft’s journey of collecting feedback from users to help shape the look and feel of its Windows operating system continues. The latest preview builds released to windows insiders introduce some new features mentioned earlier by CVP Terry Meyerson.

We look at some of these Windows 10 Insider Preview Features.

TIMELINE

Insider Preview features

Timeline allows a user to quickly resume activities started in the past. It gets you right back to where you left off even if you’ve closed the app or file. The Timeline feature works in the Task View allowing users to quickly scroll back to content they had earlier opened.
The default view of Timeline shows snapshots of the most relevant activities from earlier in the day or a specific past date. A new annotated scrollbar makes it easy to get back to past activities. Browse all your activities from a single day or search for those activities you don’t see in the timeline default view.
Also If you have more than one PC or account, you can use Timeline on all of them. You’ll see the same activities no matter which PC you’re using. And if an activity from one PC used a modern app that you don’t have installed on another PC, Windows will help you install that app. Read more about the feature.

SETS “Sets”

Microsoft introduces “Sets” as an easier way to organize your stuffs and get back to what you were doing. Not exactly like Timeline.

“Many of the most important things we do happen across apps, web sites and PCs — whether that’s writing a report for school, planning a trip, managing a complex project at work — or even flipping back and forth between playing a game and watching a game. In today’s evolving modern workplace, we work on sets of things in fits and starts, often in between other commitments. We spend time setting things up just the way we want them for a project, with all our files, websites, notes and apps at hand —only to be pulled away at the last minute by a call, a meeting or some other interruption that seem to happen throughout our busy days. And, that’s the moment we’re focusing on, that moment when you have everything ready to be worked on but are pulled away. We believe there’s an easier way to organize your stuff and get back to what you were doing.
In the coming weeks in WIP, we will begin releasing a new Windows 10 feature we are calling “Sets” (we’ve not landed on a name yet). With Sets, what belongs together stays together — making it easier and faster to create and be productive. The concept behind this experience is to make sure that everything related to your task: relevant webpages, research documents, necessary files and applications, is connected and available to you in one click. As Office, Windows and Edge become more integrated to create a seamless experience, so you can get back to what’s important and be productive, recapturing that moment, saving time — we believe that’s the true value of Sets. And with Timeline, it’ll be even easier to go back and find the Set you were working on.

Windows Shell Improvements 

Bring in new features such as:

Quiet Hours

Insider Preview features

Helping you stay focused and interrupted so you can be more productive. With Quiet Hours will be able to choose the times when you don’t want to be bothered with Quiet Hours automatic rules. This is just like the quiet hours feature from Windows 10 Mobile.

Near Share

Allows a Windows 10 PC user to wirelessly share files and URLs to a nearby PCs. 

If you play it safe and aren’t in the Windows Insiders Program (WIP) no need to worry. These Insider Preview features will pop up in a major feature update. But if you want to give these and try now, then head over and register to be an insider. What do you think about the latest features, share with us in the forums or comments.

Win more than $200,000 in the 2017 Dream Build Play Challenge

Win more than $200,000 in the 2017 Dream Build Play Challenge

Are you a developer, creator, innovator or more specifically game maker? Participate in the Microsoft Dream Build and Play 2017 Challenge and you could win more than $200,000 in prizes. 

dream build play

Build Dream Play challenge is an indie game development contest which is open to all developers. You can either work alone or in a group of seven team members. There are four game categories. It doesn’t matter what tech you use in the development process. What matter is publishing your games as  a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) game. The challenge is powered by Windows, Azure and Xbox. 

Challenge is pushing game makers to maximize their creativity and create experiences that engage gamers from across the world. 

Dream Build Play categories and Prize amounts; 

  • Cloud-powered game  – Grand Prize: $100,000 USD 
  • PC game                     – Grand Prize: $50,000 USD 
  •  Mixed Reality game   – Grand Prize: $50,000 USD 
  • Console game            – Grand Prize: $25,000 USD 

There’s also another feature prize of $5,000 USD. The Developer Diary Contest, if you document and share your game building journey. 

The contest is already opened. Here are some key dates to note:

  • June 27: Competition opens for registration
  • August 2: Team formation and game submission period opens
  • December 31: Game submission period closes
  • January 2018: Finalists announced
  • March 2018: Winners awarded 

Register for the challenge and don’t forget to read the rules and conditions of the contest. Visit contest page

What’s more? You can search the Dream Build Play community and engage with innovators and game makers from across the globe. 

If you have no development skills but what to use this opportunity to start. Get started with UWP game development  Game Development Guide.