It looks like Microsoft is officially removing itself from the mobile market by quietly turning off the Microsoft Store app’s main features. More specifically, Microsoft has turned off the features for Windows 10 Mobile. With this change, Windows 10 Mobile and the first wave of Windows Phones are no longer officially supported.
Users have reported that the store’s homepage isn’t working properly. In addition, the pages for downloading apps and getting updates will not load at all. This problem even affects pages with app details. While it may seem like this is out of the blue, Microsoft announced that support for Windows 10 Mobile devices would end in December 2019. This happened simultaneously with the ending of Windows Phone 8.1 support.
That said, Windows 10 Mobile does support sideloading, which allows users to install apps from places other than the Microsoft Store. It’s worth noting that some users have reported that the store starts working normally again after running the newest offline package.
Microsoft has recently made it very clear that its current strategy is to focus on AI and the PC market, not mobile platforms. However, CEO Satya Nadella recently said that ending support for Windows Phone was a mistake as the mobile device industry is constantly shifting and evolving that they may have lost a crucial bit in the technology market.
Integrating your smartphone and PC experience has always been a problem for many years. Apple has successfully done so with their range of devices thanks to the nature of their strictly closed development. You can work on your iPhone and then transfer your FaceTime call to your iPad tablet when you get access to it, and then even to your MacBook or Mac desktop when you get to them, without too much fuss. The closest thing we have on Android and Windows is the Microsoft Phone Link platform, which can be a pain to work with at times.
Alternatively, you have Google’s Nearby Share that works as a file transfer protocol between Android devices and Windows devices. It is far from seamless though. While it is simple enough on your Android devices to work with, your PC have to have the app installed and open for it to receive files from your various Android devices.
Samsung’s Quick Share is sort of the in-between the Phone Link and Nearby Share platforms. It is more like the Nearby Share platform, except that it is made for Samsung devices specifically. Nearby Share is made for the general Android devices that come with multiple connectivity standards and hardware. Samsung’s Quick Share is made for Galaxy devices with specific hardware that comes with all Galaxy devices; meaning communications between two devices can be standardized, made seamless, and be made at greater speeds. That is why you can only find the Samsung Quick Share button on Samsung’s Galaxy devices including the Galaxy Book laptops. Then again, that is not the case anymore.
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Source: Microsoft Store
Samsung has made the Quick Share app available on the Microsoft Store for other Windows devices. While Quick Share for mobile devices is still only available on Samsung’s Galaxy devices, you do not have to have Samsung’s Galaxy Book devices to take advantage of it. You can now download it for free from the Microsoft Store.
There are a few more caveats though, other than that you must have a Samsung smartphone to take advantage of it. You must be on a Window 10 operating system at least with 2004 release (build number 19041), which is not entirely difficult since Windows 11 is the standard operating system today (unless you are on a corporate device, and they have not moved on from Windows XP just yet). You also need to have Intel’s Bluetooth driver version 22.50.02 and Wi-Fi driver version 22.50.07 to get the Quick Share app to work on your Windows device. All of these should not be too big of an issue if you have a modern laptop and ensure that you regularly update your Windows device. It only becomes a problem when you have a device that does not support Intel’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi drivers, then you cannot enjoy the Quick Share function on your Windows device. Still, you can never know until you disassemble your PC, so you can try it for yourself by downloading the app from Microsoft Store.
WhatsApp, at least in Malaysia, is the most popular messenger app that has ever existed. It is a common bridge between iOS and Android users. Some Nokia devices running proprietary operating systems (OS) can also support WhatsApp messenger these days. When everything becomes more integrated, they introduced WhatsApp web, an official workaround for you to use your WhatsApp messenger on your PC, and without flipping between devices. Then they introduced WhatsApp Desktop app, a sort of workaround if you are too lazy to turn to your browser to type “web.whatsapp.com” into it to use WhatsApp web.
WhatsApp Desktop though was one of the best things to happen to WhatsApp users. It allows users direct access to their WhatsApp messages on their PC or Mac devices without having to go anywhere else. With just a click of a button or icon, your PC or Mac turns into your answering machine powered by you. The app is based on the Electron framework, details of which we will not get into. What you need to know is that the WhatsApp Desktop experience is very close to what you get on WhatsApp web, just without having to type a URL into your browser.
A few months ago, WhatsApp revolutionized again finally with an official native Windows app simply called WhatsApp. It looked nothing like WhatsApp web or WhatsApp Desktop. It looks cleaner and feels smoother, and rather fitting to the designs of Windows. Naturally, we switched to the native app. Not everyone switched to the new app however and remained with WhatsApp Desktop, to the point that WhatsApp is now forcing users to switch their native app.
They do that by shutting down their old WhatsApp Desktop app and encouraging users to switch to the native app instead. The first indication to WhatsApp shutting down their old WhatsApp Desktop app is when WhatsApp notified users of the app about a month ago with a countdown on the app’s main screen. If you try to access the Desktop app now, the main page will only tell you that the app has expired and offers you a link to the new app, at least to its Microsoft Store page.
Since WhatsApp has not introduced a native app for the MacOS currently. That also means that you will still have to rely on your WhatsApp Desktop app if you are on a Mac or work with WhatsApp web for the time being. That does not mean that WhatsApp will not have a native app for Mac though, you can safely expect the native app to also come to Mac devices and the old Desktop app to be retired.
Sharing files between devices is not as simple as it sounds. Sure, Apple figured it out and introduced their own version of wireless file sharing system called AirDrop for years now. The feature allows you to share files between multiple iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, or even Mac Desktops without the devices ever touching each other or tethering to one another.
Android and Windows did not have that. This is where the problem of fragmentation of Android and Windows devices comes into play. Every device is built to a different standard and specification so that file sharing between devices becomes a problem. You can technically share files between Android devices quickly without the devices ever touching each other. The function is called nearby share, and it works, to a certain degree. Each manufacturer also tries to come up with their own solution for their own devices that other manufacturers cannot take advantage of. For Windows devices, it is more of a problem because there is almost no such thing as wireless file sharing other than via Bluetooth.
It seems that Google, not Microsoft to no surprise at all, is going to solve that problem for Android users at least. They call it Nearby Share for Windows, which was technically introduced as a beta app for Windows devices about a month ago. Then again, it was only available in select regions and was more of a test tool. The tool is now in beta and is available for all Windows devices across the globe (with some exceptions).
If you wish to, you can download the tool from Google themselves to try it out. It only works with Android devices and 64-bit version of Windows 10 and newer. If you are running Windows out of an ARM based device, you are out of luck. You also need to own an Android device running Marshmallow (Android 6.0) with Nearby Share capabilities. It will be utilizing your Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities on both your Android and Windows devices to make the transfer handshake and transaction happen, so you want to make sure to turn on both when you are making a transfer.
Unlike HUAWEI’s implementation of file sharing between devices, you do not need an NFC tag on your PC or smartphone. The only thing you need to do is to tap ‘nearby share’ on your smartphone, select your accompanying or intended Windows PC, approve the data transfer request on your PC, and wait for the files to transfer at near instant speeds, as fast as your WiFi can go. The transfer goes both ways, so it will be the same process for data transfers from your Windows PC to your Android device.
The Nearby Share for Windows app, as you might have noticed when you hop into their website, is still in beta and will be in that state for a while, we guess. That means that you might need to expect a few bugs and glitches with the software or function. It is not going to be the perfect solution just yet is what we are saying. Of course, Google is looking to make the app better constantly, so that is also what we are expecting in the future. You can find out more about Google’s Nearby Share for Windows app on their website.
Dell’s XPS series of thin-and-light devices are quite legendary in its own market segment. The XPS series is known for their superb build quality with all-metal construction with an ultra-thin design like no other. They are not known to be the lightest devices in the market, but the all-metal body does add to some weight. It is not just premium build though, the XPS series also sets themselves apart to be a sort of benchmark in the world of thin-and-light PCs.
Dell just announced their latest XPS device, the XPS 13 2-in-1. Yes, it bears the same name as the XPS 13 2-in-1 from 2021 as well. It is a follow up model, in all fairness. It is a Microsoft Surface like tablet/PC.
Of course, as an updated model, it bears Intel’s 12th generation Core processors. You can spec it up with up to a Core i7-1250U that comes with two performance cores and eight efficiency cores totaling up to ten cores within the chip. That processor is also paired with up to 16GB in LPDDR4x (on board) RAM to ensure that multitasking is smooth and snappy. There are no discrete GPU to be found here, just a humble but still powerful Intel Iris Xe Graphics keeping everything that has to do with graphics processing in check.
Source: Dell
The powerful chipset allows Dell to include a 13-inch 3K display with 3:2 aspect ratio. Of course, because your primary interaction with the device would be through touch, it is a touch sensitive display. The display also pushes DisplayHDR 400 at 500 nits’ peak brightness. It boasts up to 100% sRGB colour gamut coverage and up to 1800:1 contrast ratio. The Gorilla Glass Victus protected display should be more than enough for you to be immersed in your movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with Dolby Vision support.
To ensure that you have all the storage you need for work and play (not many games, we would assume), you get up to 1TB in SSD storage. To keep you entertained and your movies immersive, you get Waves MaxxAudio Pro and Waves Nx 3D audio tuning on your speakers. Of course, because this is a device for productivity, it packs two microphone arrays to ensure that your voice is crystal clear in video and tele conferences. On top of that, you get a Full HD 1080p front facing camera that is capable of taking 5-Megapixel photos. At the back is a 11-Megapixel camera that is capable of taking up to 4K resolution videos.
Source: Dell
When you are in a call, you want a stable and fast network. Intel’s Killer WiFi with WiFi 6E support should ensure that your internet connection is ever stable for those long online conferences. If you prefer to use Wireless headphones, there is Bluetooth 5.2 connection available too.
While it is sort of a tablet, it is still a versatile PC too. It has two Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB Type-C ports that also supports display output and power delivery. Included in the box is a USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapter, if you need to plug your external storage in. There is also a USB Type-C to 3.5mm AUX adapter, if you want to plug your headphones in. Within the device is a large 49.5WHs battery to ensure that you can work from anywhere through the day.
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
Source: Dell
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 will be available in Malaysia within the month (August onward). The variant that will be available to Malaysians comes with Intel’s 12th generation Core i5-1230U, 8GB of RAM, 256GB in SSD and Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics. It will set you back MYR 5,999. For more information on the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, you can check out their website.
When HUAWEI and its sister brand started in the world of Windows PCs, we were quite curious. The dawn of smartphones and tablet devices were regarded by many experts as the beginning to the decline of bulky PCs. If you think about it as well, today we rely more on our smartphones than modern PCs.
The reality today is a large contrast to what the experts thought would happen many years ago. Smartphones thrived, which is largely in line with what was being said at the time. Oddly enough, Windows PC and Macs thrived too, there is even the Chromebooks now. All of which also points to the fact that PCs still have their place in the world today. In most cases, you tend to use both devices for differing functions. That is why Xiaomi also came up with the RedmiBook 15.
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
The RedmiBook 15, to be fair, looks like any other thin and light notebook that came out from any China manufacturers like HONOR and HUAWEI. They all have that same svelte and clean design with minimal branding. You can probably only see the branding on the cover of the laptop and the bottom of the display. Even the cover shell branding is rather subtle on the RedmiBook 15.
As its name suggests, it is a 15-incher notebook. Specifically, you get a 15.6-inch display that boasts up to 1,920 by 1,080 pixels in resolution. It is an anti-glare display with flicker-free technology to protect your eyes. Of course, sitting atop the display is a 720p webcam, nothing too special or surprising there.
The Microsoft Windows 11 machine is powered by Intel’s 11th Generation Core processors. There is no Core i7 model here though, you only get up to a Core i5. We presume that it is because they might want to keep costs low. Storage wise, you get up to 512GB in SSD storage paired with up to 8GB of DDR4 RAM. Graphics is handled by Intel’s UHD Graphics. All of these are kept running for up to 10 hours at a time with a 46Whr internal battery.
Yes, to be fair, there is nothing much to shout about here. Intel’s 12th Generation Core processors are gracing the field now. The UHD Graphics are also a little outdated at this point with Intel’s Iris Xe graphics going on every thin and light you can find in 2022. There is a reason why you might want to get your hands on one of these though, its cost.
Price and Availability
The Intel Core i3 variant of the Xiaomi RedmiBook 15 starts at MYR 2,399 which is not a lot of money to begin with for a Windows 11 machine. If you want to go for the more powerful Core i5 variant, it will set you back MYR 2,799. The Xiaomi RedmiBook 15 will be available 6th June, 2022 onward in all authorised Xiaomi stores nationwide (Malaysia) and on Xiaomi’s official online stores on Shopee and Lazada.
As mentioned in the previous article, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio was launched in back in September 2021. This is also an era when Intel has yet to introduce their latest 12th generation Core processors. That also means that the most powerful Microsoft Surface device is still powered by an 11th generation Intel Core processor.
In case you forgot, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio comes with a display you can tilt around to make it a sort of a tablet or a touch display with an easel stand or kickstand behind it. It is more stable though since it has the whole weight of the laptop underneath it. Of course, it works like a normal laptop too.
Source: Microsoft
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio comes in either an Intel Core i5-11300H processor or an Intel Core i7-11370H processor. With the Core i5 variant, you get Intel’s proven Iris Xe graphics. The More powerful Core i7 variant gets NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050Ti GPU. The One with Core i7 and the GeForce RTX 3050Ti is the one you want.
There is also a Stylus included with the laptop. The stylus can be used on the brilliant 14.4-inch touch sensitive display that boasts 120Hz in refresh rate. The Studio laptop also features Quad Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos certification to keep you inspired or entertained when it matters.
Source: MicrosoftSource: MicrosoftSource: MicrosoftSource: MicrosoftSource: Microsoft
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is now available via Maxis and all Microsoft’s authorised retailers including Shopee and Lazada. You can choose between two configurations for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, as mentioned. There is also a third configuration available for Malaysia. It is a Harvey Norman exclusive though. The Harvey Norman exclusive (MYR 11,999) comes with Intel’s Core i7, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050Ti, 32GB of RAM, and 1 TB of SSD storage, whereas the regular (MYR 9,399) Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio tops out at 16GB of RAM with 512GB in SSD storage. More information on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio can be found on their website.
Logitech is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to computer peripherals. The company has, over the years, made a name for itself with some of the most reliable and long-lasting keyboards and mouses out there. They’ve even expanded their portfolio to include gaming-centric peripherals under their Logitech G brand. That aside, we’re writing about their new Logitech Signature M650 mouse.
Source: Logitech
The Logitech M series mouses have been one of their most popular lineups for a while now mostly due to its comfort and also affordability. With the newly released Signature M650, Logitech is expanding the functionality, comfort and functionality of the lineup. They’re also bringing a version of the Signature M650 built specifically for lefties!
The new Logitech Signature M650 is equipped with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity via the Logi Bolt USB receiver. The SmartWheel on the M650 brings added control, allowing you to get line-by-line precision or super-fast scrolling as and when you need it. It’s also been ergonomically designed for comfort with a contoured body and soft area for your thumb. It also comes with rubber side grips for added grip. The Signature M650 is also more silent with 90% less click noise and has programmable buttons. You can customise the latter with Logitech Options Plus and set your favourite shortcuts.
The M650 comes with 24-month battery life with a single AA battery and is compatible with Windows, Chrome OS, macOS, iPad OS, and Android. It’s priced at MYR159 and is currently available on shelves.
Windows 11 was just announced by Microsoft last week. Before the launch though, the new biggest update to the most popular computing Operating System in the world was endlessly teased and leaked. From what we saw too, Microsoft’s Windows 11 is a huge departure from Windows 10 in terms of looks and design.
Centered Task Bar and Redesigned Start Menu
Source: Microsoft
But Windows 11 is more than just a cosmetic change over Windows 10. Then again, when we say it is a major visual change over Windows 10, it was more of a rearrangement on how Windows look and work. For one, Windows 11’s task bar is now centered rather than being aligned to the left of the desktop.
Thing is, the changes on Windows 11 is more than skin deep. The Windows Start menu is still lodged at the leftmost side of the taskbar. It is redesigned though to open up to a bigger window. Gone are the live tiles too which also means less clutter in the start menu.
The focus on the Start menu is more productivity and convenience for users than ever. That is also why you can pin apps on the menu with recommended apps. Of course, you still can access all apps from the start menu, but it is an extra process this time. Less clutter and items on the start menu also means that it is easier and quicker to find things you usually work with from the start menu. Of course, you can still pin all your shortcuts on the Desktop home page.
The centered taskbar though is a clever way to make Windows 11 more touch friendly. The Microsoft Windows interface is notorious for not being the most touch friendly interface in the world. Even Windows 10, the most touch friendly interface of all the Windows versions before it fell a little short even when a stylus is involved.
Multitasking Redefined
Source: Microsoft
Windows 10 did something right though; Microsoft’s Windows 10 got multitasking done right. When you bring a window to different ends of your screen, the window snaps to smaller windows to allow you to fit two to four windows on a single display. Windows laptops can push up to three displays including its own, which also means you can fit up to 12 windows for even more multitasking.
Windows 11 expands on the multitasking capabilities of Windows 10. It is now easier ever to arrange your windows to parts of your display. Instead of the traditional 50:50 ratio you get when you put two windows on your display. You can now adjust so that one of the windows occupy 2 thirds of your display. You can also put three evenly sized windows side by side on one display. That, or have one of the displays occupy half the display in the middle of the display. All you have to do is click on the traditional minimise/maximise window button and choose where you want to put the window.
At the same time, you can create separate desktop home screens for different purposes and for different times. You can create a desktop designed completely for work, for example. Once work is done, you can switch to a desktop for gaming, or a specific desktop for other forms of entertainment like music, or movies. What you want to do with your desktop is by your design.
More Gaming
Source: Microsoft
The gaming industry boomed in the past two years alone thanks exclusively to the current phenomena that is the pandemic. The pandemic situation means that most of us are stuck at home with nowhere to go. That also means that you do not get to hang out with your friends other than in an online space. That online space could a video call watching movies together, or it can also be online gaming. More time at home can also mean more time for games – something we have been complaining we have not got enough time for.
It also makes sense for Windows to be more gamer friendly than ever. The Windows 11 comes with DirectX 12 Ultimate for super high frame rate and super detailed graphics for your favourite games. DirectStorage ensures that your games loads faster and near instantly. Windows 11 also comes with Auto HDR, finally, for more vivid colours and an immersive visual experience.
Then there is Xbox Game Pass, a dedicated gaming store for Windows 11. Xbox Game Pass also means that games that are available on Xbox and Xbox exclusives will be available on Windows. Games like the upcoming Halo: Inifnite will comes to Microsoft’s Windows 11. EA Play also comes at no additional cost on Game Pass.
Widgets Make a Comeback
Source: Microsoft
Widgets were scraped in Windows 10. The idea was that Widgets on the home screen might clutter the desktop too much that your PC looks like a trash can that could not make any sense. The direction for Windows 10 was to make your PC super clean looking.
Windows 11 thinks of widgets differently though. Windows 11 thinks of widgets as a quick way to sort and consume information. Windows 11 also ensures that the widgets you want to work with does not interfere and clutter your desktop or start menu though. That also means that your widgets are all stored in their own separate space. You get your weather updates, calendar, and news from your chosen source all in one glass sheet on top of the desktop.
Apps For and From Everyone
Source: Microsoft
The Microsoft Store has been gaining traction since Windows 10. In Windows 11, Microsoft aims to make the Microsoft Store the only app store you only need. Obviously the Microsoft Store houses all the most popular Windows compatible apps in one place including Adobe’s Creative Cloud, and popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime video, and Disney+.
But it is not just a store for apps. The Store is also a place where users can rent and buy movies and music. Microsoft Store is now the central place for entertainment in Windows 11.
These are nothing new though, we knew that the Microsoft Store will eventually be the place for all things you want in Windows 11. What is big is Windows embracing mobile operating systems. You can now find Android apps in Microsoft Store and run Android apps natively on Windows 11 itself via Amazon Appstore.
Even Better Security
Of course, with every iteration of Windows, security becomes more of a priority than ever. The current Windows 10 with all its major updates and security updates is more secure than ever. Microsoft is also still updating the system to ensure that it is more secure than ever before. Windows 11 builds on the foundations of Windows 10, which is currently Microsoft’s most secure operating system.
In that sense, upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10 is basically like a regular system update that you are used to from Window update. Because the basic infrastructure and architecture of the Operating System is the same one as Windows 10, apps that you have on Windows 10 will automatically work on Windows 11.
Windows 11 is also built as a Zero Trust-ready concept to allow users to protect their data and access across all their devices. Of course, there is the requirement that Windows 11 can only work on devices with Trusted Platform Module 2.0. You can easily check if your PC is ready to take on Windows 11 in a few simple steps. You just have to click on your start menu, type and open ‘Run’, and type tpm.msc to find out if you have TPM 2.0 installed on PC.
Windows 11 is Coming Soon
Source: Microsoft
Windows 11 will be rolling out as an update from Windows 10 later in 2021 onward. If you are a part of the Windows Insider Program, you should be able to access an early version of Windows 11 this week onward. For more information on Windows 11, you can check out Microsoft’s website. You can also check if your PC is eligible for the Windows 11 update or not within the same link.
Remember the Mac guy, the old Apple ads that pits the Mac up against Microsoft PCs. The Mac guy, Justin Long is back on YouTube. Now though, he is not the ‘Mac guy’. Instead, he is just Justin (no pun intended). Like before, Justin is comparing Macs against PCs.
Instead of roasting Microsoft Windows and PCs though, Justin is taking a stab at Apple instead. When I say Justin, Intel is taking a stab at Apple’s Mac ecosystem. The result is some hilarious shorts that tells you to buy a PC instead of a Mac.
Macs vs. PCs have been an age long debate since the dawn of personal computing. Yes, all computers can trace back their origins to the machine that broke the German Enigma encryption device. If you do not know what that is, watch ‘The Immmitation Game’, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and get up to speed.
Personal computing was brought forth by Steve Jobs with his Macintosh and later Bill Gates came with Microsoft Windows. Since then, the never-ending war between the two giant platforms started. Even today, people are divided between the two giants.
Here is the thing, Intel has never gotten involved in the fight between PC and Mac. They have always been a neutral bystander fighting their own fight with their rival, AMD. To be fair too, most of the Mac devices that has come for the past 5 years have been sporting Intel processors, so they should have no reason to take a stab at Apple’s best sellers.
Something did change a little bit in the past year though. Apple introduced their very own Apple M1 System on a Chip (SoC) for their own Mac platforms. The SoC is used across all the Apple product range too. That is basically Apple’s way of saying, we want to be independent of a third-party hardware vendor.
The change in Apple’s direction and the addition of their new chips also means less sales for Intel. They had to respond to that, in some ways. They respond in the best way they know how, throw money at it. But they did not just throw money at the problem. They threw money to also increase awareness and brand images of their partners. They have always done so, especially when it comes to gaming products, and more recently the Intel ECO ultra-portable notebook platforms.
The fight between Mac and PC may never end, but at least it brings us some hilarious moments to enjoy. It also brought out some humour from the competing brands. Competition between the two parties also means that it brings out the best of each other to better serve their own respective users. In the meantime though, enjoy Intel’s stab at Mac.
