Microsoft United Arab Emirates (UAE) lights up the tallest building in the world to announce the launch of Windows 11. The company did this on the eve of the official release date to draw attention to the announcement. The iconic building was covered in blue, the new bloom wallpaper, Windows logo and Windows 11 inscription.
It’s a monumental day for Windows fans, and the Burj Khalifa is helping us celebrate #Windows11 in a big way.
Windows 11 is official today October 5th with Microsoft making it generally available to the public. However, Microsoft will use a measured and phased rollout process to bring it to existing devices that meet the upgrade requirements. Microsoft says it expects all eligible Windows 10 devices to get the upgrade by mid-2022. So you don’t have to worry if it doesn’t immediately show up in Windows update in settings.
As the day becomes October 5 in each time zone around the world, availability of Windows 11 begins through a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs and on new PCs.
Update: 2:47 pm – updated to correct the wallpaper name from glow to bloom.
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Microsoft is introducing new Xbox gaming markets, get an Xbox Live Game Pass at a discounted price and more. The weekend is here and this is a round-up of stories making the news across the Microsoft ecosystem globally.
Xbox showcase, Tokyo Game Show 2021
First, we head off to Japan where the Japan Times reports that Microsoft is finally pulling its weight. That’s in terms of gaming and Xbox in Japan. It says Microsoft has lagged behind Sony and Nintendo over the years. At the side of the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft revealed its renewed commitment to the region. By launching Xbox Cloud gaming service in Japan and localizing more than 100 gaming titles on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft is also working with over 200 independent Japanese developers in the ID@Xbox program. Click to get the full gist here and find a recap of the Microsoft Tokyo Game Show 2021 here.
Xbox Live discounted
PCWorld says Newegg is selling 12 months of Xbox Live Gold for $50, that’s $10 off the usual price. But unfortunately, the offer is for today only. So if this is something you have been looking out for no long talk. Just click and head out to PCWorld for details and grab this.
New Xbox Markets
Microsoft is taking steps to reach three billion game players around the world. The company is announcing the launch of the Xbox Cloud Gaming in Australia, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. This comes as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which allows players to play their games on their smartphones, PC and tablets. The addition of the new markets means Microsoft Xbox gaming is now officially in twenty-six countries across five continents. With South Africa being the only supported market in Africa. And Israel, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia being the other markets in the Middle East Africa region. Xbox All Access and Xbox Game Pass Cloud gaming are still not available to these supported markets.
Expected Xbox Live games
Microsoft says Sherlock Holmes Chapter One and Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Trial Version … is coming to Xbox Series X and S on November 16 and October 1 respectively. The company is also expected to release a new list of free games to the Xbox Live Gold family. Charles of istockanalyst has put together a list of Xbox games to look out for. This includes InnerSpace, Shovel Knight, Alan Wake and Metal Gear, Solid HD Edition. Check the full list and why you might like them here.
Have a lovely weekend and tell me what news excited you most from the Microsoft ecosystem this week. Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Microsoft is introducing the Surface Laptop Studio as a replacement to the Surface Book line. The name and design suggest it borrows heavily from the Surface Laptop, Surface Studio and even the Surface Pro devices. It isn’t your conventional laptop by design, but Microsoft has a reason. It is a powerhouse device designed for developers, creative pros, designers and gamers. But as usual, the question is how will it stack up against Apple’s MacBook.
The 14.4″ Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio runs on the latest quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core H Series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU. It has a screen resolution of 2400 x 1600 and 201 PPI maintaining the famous 3:2 aspect ratio. 16GB up to 32GB of RAM and removable SSD storage starting from 256GB up to 2TB. Battery life estimations show up to 19 hours of typical device usage.
Microsoft says the feedback it got from Surface Book users was that they wanted a workstation with more power. They also wanted a device they can easily detach the screen and move around with. Interestingly this is Microsoft’s answer to that. The screen can’t be detached but like the Surface Pro models, you can adjust the kickstand to change the mode. But Microsoft isn’t calling it the kickstand here.
Price and release date
It starts at $1599.99 and you can pre-order it now and get it on 5th October 2021 when Windows 11 becomes generally available. Unfortunately, it will only be available in select markets, mostly the US, for now. But will come to other markets in 2022.
Watch the video below to find out everything new including design, specifications, and hands-on review about the Surface Laptop Studio.
Surface Laptop Studio full device specifications
Dimensions
12.72” x 8.98” x 0.746” ( 323.28 mm x 228.32 mm x 18.94 mm )
Display
Screen: 14.4” PixelSense™ Flow DisplayRefresh rate: up to 120Hz Resolution: 2400 x 1600 (201 PPI) Aspect ratio: 3:2 Contrast ratio: 1500:1 Surface Pen enabled Touch: 10-point multi-touchDolby Vision® support3
Memory
16GB or 32GB LPDDR4x RAM
Processor
Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H35 i5-11300H Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ H35 i7-11370H
Accessories Support
Integrated Surface Slim Pen 2* storage for charging compatible with Surface Dial* off-screen interaction
Security
Hardware TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security and BitLocker support enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in Windows enhanced hardware security
Software
Windows 11 Home, Preloaded Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Home 30-day trial Preloaded, Xbox App Xbox Game Pass Ultimate one month trial
2 x USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt™ 4 technologies support 3.5mm headphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port
Cameras, video, and audio
Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)1080p resolution front-facing camera. Dual far-field Studio MicsQuad Omnisonic™ speakers with Dolby Atmos®
Wireless
Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible Bluetooth Wireless 5.1 technology Xbox Wireless built-in
Exterior
Casing: Magnesium and AluminumColor: Platinum
Warranty
1-year limited hardware warranty
Keyboard layout
Activation: Moving (mechanical) keys Layout: QWERTY, full row of function keys (F1-F12)Windows key and dedicated buttons for media controls, screen brightness Backlight
Battery capacities
Battery Capacity Nominal (WH): 58.0Battery Capacity Min (WH): 56.3
Hinge
Dynamic Woven Hinge made of woven fabric with embedded cables that can bend 180 degrees
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Microsoft officially welcomes realme to the Windows partner ecosystem with the launch of the realme Book. Alvaro Celis, the company’s VP of World Device Sales shared this at the launch event of the realme GT series and realme Book (Slim).
Alvaro shares that with more than 1.3 billion users the Windows ecosystem is more vibrant than ever. A platform that allows people to do whatever they need from their place of choice, he adds. He also notes that the realme Book is an incredible example of that [Windows 11] innovation.
Windows 11 is the Windows that you care and love, it has been reimagined, it has been simplfied. Today I have the distinct pleasure to welcome realme to the Windows partner ecosystem. With the launch of their device the realme Book, a device that will be available worldwide. I look forward to our joint success in the marketplace. Congratulations and welcome.
Alvaro Celis
The launch of the realme Book sees the company join smartphone companies Infinix and itel. They also recently joined the laptop market and announced their debut devices.
For realme, this venture will see if they can extend their mobile phone business model of delivering premium devices at budget prices to the laptop category. They have already made a name in the smartphone market claiming to be the world’s fastest smartphone brand to reach 100 million device sales. That question that remains is will they be able to give realme fans premium laptops at value prices?
The laptops will be upgradeable to Windows 11 for free when it launches officially later this year.
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realme is introducing its first high-performance slim notebook, the realme Book, as it enters the personal computer market. Just like it does with its mobile phones, the company wants to give consumers premium laptop devices at budget prices. But will realme be able to do this with the laptop category? I guess we will find out soon.
The Book has a 90% screen-to-body ratio with a resolution of up to 2160×1440 and bright screens at 400 nits. It sports a 14-inch IPS display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a broad viewing angle. realme says it factors in an all-round screen in its design, giving creators what they want, more screen space to create. The Book is powered by an 11th generation Intel processor and Intel iris Xe graphics and supports up to 8GB+512Gb storage combination.
The notebook comes in a premium looking aluminum body and is lightweight at 14.9mm thin and 1.38kg. It notes the Book is thinner than the MacBook Air and Pro and lighter than the MacBook Pro. With its super-fast charger realme says you should get a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. It boasts of an extra-large touchpad and a backlight keyboard with three modes. It comes with Windows 10 that will be upgradable to Windows 11 for free when it launches. You also get Microsoft Office Home and Student with all features pre-installed and can go ahead to activate it and use it.
Everything about the Book from the launch event
In terms of pricing, the device will start at $749 for global markets. However, the Intel Core i3 with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage will retail at $632 or INR 46,999 in India. Whilst the Intel core i5 variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage will retail at $807 or INR 59,999. Devices are expected to start selling from the 30th of August.
In Africa, Kenya is the only official realme market at the moment. It is therefore expected that it will officially get launched in Kenya in the near future. Check out the full device specifications below.
realme Book 14″ laptop device Specifications
Dimensions
30.7 x 22.9 x 1.5cm, 15.5 mm thin
Weight
1.38 kg
OS
Windows 10 Home (free upgrade to Windows 11)
Display
14″ 2K full screen, IPS display, 2160 x 1440 UHD, 400 nits, 100% sRGB, 3:2
54Wh,65W Adapter, 65W PD Super-Fast Charge, up to 11 hours of usage
Audio
Stereo sound by DTS, Dual HARMAN audio speakers system
Port
i3 Version: USB-C 3.2 × 2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jack i5 Version: Thunderbolt 4/ USB 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jack
realme fan? What are your thoughts on the laptop?
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This is the Infinity X50 laptop, the high-end model of the Infinity branded laptop. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 mobile processor with Radeon Vega graphics. Running on the Zen core architecture it has two CPU cores with a base clock of 2.6GHz and a maximum boost of 3.5GHz.
It runs on a six thousand milliamp battery which can give a user about six hours of minimum usage. It has four gigabytes of RAM and there is no mention of models with higher RAM sizes. Or an option to change or increase this for power users. The storage size is 512GB and is a solid-state drive (SSD). Available ports on the device include an HDMI, micro SD card reader and USB ports. The price of the laptop is set at $668, it comes with a warranty and after-sales support is available.
Check out more on the Infinity laptop in the hands-on video and full specs table below.
Designed, produced and assembled by the Zimbabwe Information Technology Company (ZITCO). The Infinity devices are a Zimbabwean brand to serve the PC market in Zimbabwe mainly but have plans to bring them to other African markets in the future. Other devices in production include the Infinity T46 Laptop, Infinity G79 Desktop PC, Infinity All-in-one PC, Infinity Mini-Laptop and Infinity Tablet.
What are your thoughts on the design, specifications and price of the laptop device? Kindly share them in the comment section below.
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