Microsoft has finally revealed its most recent version of Windows, called Windows 11, and it features an option we have not previously seen — the Microsoft Teams app is integrated directly in the taskbar of the new OS.
It doesn’t matter which platform you’re using Windows on or which device you’re logged in to. In Windows 11, the Teams icon is located front and center on the taskbar and leverages options for both chat and video call.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the work from home situation that it gave rise to, online communication apps have grown more prominent than ever. As online working became the norm, Microsoft Teams saw 145 million daily users.
Microsoft used this shift in communication as an opportunity to push its very own platform and integrated Teams directly in the taskbar. It also gave the icon a redesigned look with a camera logo in the middle of a purple circular background. When you click on it, a floating window will reveal your recent contacts and conversations. There are options to start a new video or chat, along with an option to launch the app for the full experience.
The updated Teams feature on Windows 11 essentially seems like an attempt by Microsoft to promote its own platform, just like MacOS features a streamlined interface for FaceTime and iMessage. However, this update could come off as bad news to online communication competitor apps. There is already a sign that Microsoft may plan to end Skype, and this easy integration could mean companies may find it easier to connect on Teams instead of downloading a third-party app such as Slack.
It is important to note that Microsoft announced the personal version of Microsoft Teams just last year. The company surely wasn’t trying to compete with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or other dedicated chat apps. It was a part of a broader effort by Microsoft to remain relevant with consumers and win them back after a series of exits from consumer-friendly services. The repositioning of the icon on Windows 11 may also be an attempt to appeal to a set of people looking to do more than just chat.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.