Microsoft is preparing to launch a contract-free wireless service for Windows PCs, based on a new app found on the Windows store.
The Cellular Data app allows users to connect to an “anywhere” network offering 3G, 4G, and LTE service. Users can find and connect to the service in the wireless network section of the taskbar, as with any personal WiFi signal. By connecting to their Microsoft account, possibly through the app, users will pay for the service through the Microsoft Store. According to the app listing, the service will be compatible with Windows 10 devices using an as-yet unannounced “Microsoft SIM card.”
As with services like Project Fi and Apple’s SIM card service, Microsoft will partner with domestic and international mobile carriers to furnish the signal for their network. Microsoft’s Cellular Data app will ask users to “select a plan,” suggesting that users will buy discrete chunks of data the Microsoft Store. According to Winbeta, the service will initially launch in the U.S., France, and the U.K..
Meanwhile, French mobile carrier Transatel announced on Friday that it will provide 3G and LTE service for Microsoft SIM cards. Microsoft’s SIM cards will also be based on Transatel’s SIM 901 card.
“We want to promote the adoption of cellular connectivity on Windows tablets and laptops to complement classic Wi-Fi connectivity and make it easier for consumers to connect to the internet, anywhere, anytime,” Microsoft Vice President Eric Lockard told The Register. “The Transatel SIM 901 solution helps us reach this objective in multiple markets through a single interface.”
There are still many important questions about the service that have not been answered, including pricing and availability for both the cards and service. Hopefully, we’ll get answers when Microsoft officially rolls out their plan for the service.
Google DeepMind's AI world model Genie 4 can now build interactive worlds that you can explore and reshape as they run. It also generates ambient sounds, music, and dialogue that respond to your actions.
The new world model builds on Genie 3 with improved realism, more natural human movement, and better simulations of real-world physics. It could eventually help with everything from game development to training robots.
Apple has an incredible talent for making me admire its products while simultaneously questioning what on earth it's thinking with the pricing. This isn't even something as bizarre as a monitor stand, but the audacity for starting a new laptop lineup from $2,000 doesn't surprise me.
The newly announced 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 is just the latest to showcase this. The funny thing is, I already know that it's going to be a reliable workstation. You get a powerful new 2nm M6 processor, a gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display, and up to 24 hours of battery life. We were impressed by the M5 MacBook Air, so the high-end M6 powered MacBook Pro definitely won't let us down.
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Mini PCs have become an increasingly practical alternative to traditional desktops, especially if you're trying to save desk space without giving up the Windows experience. Whether you need something for everyday work, a home entertainment setup, or more demanding creative tasks, there's a surprising amount of hardware packed into these compact machines.