Microsoft is leading a new vision of always-on always-connected devices, working with hardware engineering partners to achieve this.
We live in a dispensation where device users want to be always connected. We yearn for devices that can outlive a day’s activity from a single charge. Whilst this hasn’t happened, Microsoft has been speaking with its partners about thinking this way. With updates and features in Windows 10 that point to this. Including accelerating a Move to the Cloud with Always Connected computing.
We are again at the beginning of another major technology shift: the ability to be connected anytime, anywhere with Always Connected PCs that are instantly on, always connected with incredible battery life. – Terry Myerson
At the Windows Hardware Engineering Community event (WinHEC) held in Shenzhen, China in December 2016, Microsoft chartered a course on building the next wave of modern devices for creators. Microsoft calls them modern PCs that support mixed reality, gaming, and always-connected, more power-efficient cellular PCs running Windows 10.
This video gives you a glimpse into what the culture of Always Connected and Always On PCs is about.
Last year at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit, Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group Executive Vice President, Terry Myerson shared his experience trying out an Always Connected PC.
One of the favorite parts of my job is trying out new products. Seeing the innovation, understanding how all the components work together, how it looks and feels, and ultimately how the customer will experience the product. For the last few months, I have been using an Always Connected PC, running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform. In the last week, I watched the movie Moana with my daughter, worked in PowerPoint, browsed the web every day, reviewed budgets in Excel, checked email while waiting to pick up my son from soccer, marked up a few PDFs with Ink, played some games on the plane – all of this without plugging in my power cord all week. The PC is fast and responsive when I am using it and quickly goes into standby being incredibly battery efficient when I’m not using it.
Always Connected PCs enable a new culture of work with better security at a lower cost.
This year we are going to see the announcements of various devices by Microsoft OEM partners. Already there are announcements coming out of CES 2018 on this.
How does having a PC that lasts for more than a week sound? Don’t get this wrong, some of these have powerful hardware specifications. I’m not sure how the eSIM and faster mobile networks in Africa will work with this but we will surely get around this. What are your thoughts?
Reimagined Photos app benefits greatly from introduced artificial intelligence feature in the Windows 10 Fall Creators update
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, comes with lots of features and this includes an improved photos app. This also includes new artificial intelligence features that make searching though your photos very easy. It also helps you create other photos and videos from your existing ones without hustle. We saw story remix demoed earlier this year and this is some what interesting.
With the help of artificial intelligence features, in the reimagined Photos application, available with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, we’re making it easier to find that perfect photo or video and make the most of your memories. – Ashlie Little, Microsoft PMM
Searching Photos app with AI
Search by person, place, or thing in the new app to quickly find what you are looking for.
How do you do this?
“Simply click on the search bar and images of people from your collection will appear. This makes it easy to click on the person you’re looking for. You’ll also see places and things that are already in your collection. Also if you know what you’re looking for, a photo from the playground, a video captured at Disneyland, or last year’s picture with Santa, just type those things into the search box and the automatically tagged photos will come up in your search. That’s right, the best part is, it’s all done for you through automatic intelligent tagging, no work needed on your end”.
How cool is this? Now you don’t have to scroll through tons of photos to find that picture you need.
Create an AI inspired video from Photos app
The new video creation tool experience makes a pro out of a novice. Yeah like try it and tell me if not, lol. So how do you exhibit pro skills?
“With the video creation tools in the new Photos app, no video editing skills are required. Using AI, the Photos app will automatically bring together your memories into a video for great storytelling complete with soundtracks, themes, and transitions. Keep the automatically generated video to enjoy and share, or easily remix it with just the click of a button for an all-new look and feel of the video, complete with a new soundtrack and transitions. AI enables the app to understand what music and transitions align best with your photos or videos”.
Okay tell me if this isn’t awesome. You just watch the magic happen lol.
Have you updated your device to the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update? give this a try and tell us what you think. Cheers!
600 million monthly active devices, Microsoft CEO reveals the latest user metrics at shareholders event .
The latest numbers show a rise from its previous of 500 million monthly active devices shared at Build 2017. Its adoption rate has slowed and Microsoft have said they aren’t going to meet their target. Earlier plan was to see Windows 10 active on more than 1 billion devices within 3 years.
These metrics are measured by how many devices have been active or used in a specified duration. This time out about 30 days. It also covers devices of all form factors, PC, mobile, Xbox, HoloLens, tablets, IoT, etc.
Is this increase something to cheer on about? Let’s know what you think in the comments or forums.
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Windows Insiders have voted on their Top Update Features in the recently released Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
Lady using a Dell Canvas at Microsoft South Africa event for Creators ?: @MicrosoftSA
Insiders provided feedbacks during the creation process of the OS as they tested features and helped fix bugs. Windows 10 Fall Creators Update was released to the public on October 17th making it the fourth Windows 10 Update. It is feature rich than the earlier released Creators Update.
Windows Insiders favorite Windows 10 Fall Creators Update features
Microsoft asked windows insiders to vote on their favorite Windows 10 Fall Creators Update features. Here are the features that make the top list;
Improved gaming features. You and up to 3 friends can combine streams into a single view using Mixer. Plus, you can easily switch on Game Mode right from the Game Bar for even better performance.
PDFs in Edge. Fill in PDF-based forms within Microsoft Edge and make notes directly on PDFs.
Better storage management. With Windows 10 Creators Update, we added the ability to automatically remove files you don’t need using Storage Sense. Now, you can also choose to have files in your Downloads folder automatically deleted as well.
Ransomware protections. Windows Defender Antivirus now has specific safeguards against malicious apps and threats like WannaCry.
Currency converter in Calculator. This top feature request even works offline when you’re travelling internationally.
Get web results in Cortana without opening your browser. It works with movies, celebrities, stock prices, weather, flight status — and a myriad of other topics.1
One Drive Files on Demand. Access your files from in the cloud in File Explorer without downloading and using storage space on your device.
With the Fall Creators Update out of the way, Windows Insiders are off to the next quest of shaping up the next update codenamed(RS4).
Are you helping shape the next Windows 10 OS used by millions around the world? Share your excitement with us. Are you excited about other features? Do share.
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update rolls out today across the world. We teach you how and where you can receive the update.
Roll out of feature rich Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to devices starts 5 pm UTC. The update is expected to roll out in phases to devices starting from newer devices. Microsoft has taken the phase out approach to ensure a seamless update process.
“the key to our phased approach is actively listening to all available feedback mechanisms and making the appropriate product updates during the rollout.”
Microsoft also recommends waiting till the update hits your device automatically, through Windows Update. The update will roll out automatically to you through Windows Update if you have opted to have updates installed automatically on your device. But if you are an IT Admin or don’t mind waiting here is what to do. So here are the two main ways to get the updates.
Manually Check to see if you are eligible for the first phase roll out
Manually download installation media with the help of the Update Assistant
Manually Check – to see when Windows 10 Fall Creators Update rolls out
To Manually Check to see if you are eligible for the first phase roll out;
Open the Settings page >
navigate to Update & security >
Windows Update >
click Check for updates
If the update status reads your device is up to date but you aren’t on the new version then you wait till it becomes available. or alternatively go ahead with step 2.
Manually download installation media with the help of the Update Assistant
There are two ways to about this.
Using the Update Assistant. (which is the recommended, and you get to keep everything. )
Download and run Media Creation Tool (this performs a clean installation or reinstall of Windows 10)
If you are an active Windows Insider chances are you are good to go. Otherwise these options should get you the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. You shouldn’t do this if you are afraid of breaking your PC. Are you going to wait or take the leap? Share with us.
