After a year-long delay, at its all-virtual Ignite 2020 conference, Microsoft finally revealed that the Surface Hub 2S 85-inch model is now available for commercial customers to pre-purchase in the United States for $21,999.
With actual availability coming in January 2021, the Surface Hub 2S 85-inch model has everything that’s needed for a hybrid workforce. The digital display features Microsoft Teams meeting integration with a one-touch meeting join capability, inking experience with the Surface Pen and Microsoft Whiteboard, plus a third-party app ecosystem as well.
Unlike other large-format displays from Dell and other companies, the Surface Hub 2S also has its own computing unit built right into its rear. This allows customers to use the display on its own, without having to plug in a computer or a laptop. It can even function as a full-blown PC with its support for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise.
“It is just an incredible Surface to work on. It allows you to have a digital canvas that is beautiful; you can work on it in a room and project back to everyone who is participating online as well. These are some really cool things for that hybrid [work] setting,” said Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365 during a pre-recorded press briefing.
In addition to the availability of the 85-inch Surface Hub 2S, Microsoft is planning to announce two new software features for the digital whiteboard, too. Customers with the Surface Hub 2S will be able to enjoy a new optional Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise desktop experience. This is for those who don’t like the Windows 10 Teams operating system that powers the device and want a more personalized Windows experience on a larger screen.
Microsoft is also releasing the free Windows 10 Team 2020 Update for the Surface Hub 2S and original Surface Hub, as well. This update will improve the Teams meeting experience, and also introduces the new Microsoft Edge Browser to the digital whiteboard, which is powered by Google’s open-source Chromium engine. For IT pros, it also improves IT integration, device deployment, and management capabilities.
Other than the Surface Hub 2S, Microsoft also announced that its HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality headset will be shipping to more markets. That includes Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Mozilla is giving Firefox’s Smart Window two new tricks. If you haven’t tried it yet, Smart Window is an optional AI mode in Firefox with a built-in chat that helps you get things done while you browse. With this update, it can fill out online forms using details from your tabs and keep an eye on websites for you.
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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.