Microsoft releasing Android 12L to the Floor Duo lineup, Steam breaking utilization data, and a glimpse of the brand new Xbox dashboard are simply among the tales that broke this week. With a lot information to go round, it is easy to overlook just a few issues. That is the place our weekly roundup is available in.
Home windows Dev Equipment 2023 launches
Whereas the Floor Professional 9 and Floor Laptop computer 5 have been the most important {hardware} bulletins from Microsoft this fall, the corporate additionally launched the Home windows Dev Equipment 2023. The mini PC, which was previously often called Challenge Volterra, runs on a Snapdragon 8cX Gen 3 paired with 32GB of RAM and 512GB. It prices only a hair underneath $600.
That comparatively low value would usually stack up the PC towards the Mac mini, however Microsoft didn’t select to place it that manner. As its identify suggests, the Home windows Dev Equipment 2023 is constructed for builders seeking to optimize their apps to run on Home windows on ARM. That being mentioned, anybody can buy one. Our senior editor Zac Bowden did simply that and went hands-on with the machine.
Android 12L rolls out to Floor Duo
Microsoft additionally shipped Android 12L to the Floor Duo 2 and unique Floor Duo this week. The replace brings a refreshed interface to the folding telephone, bringing it extra consistent with Home windows 11. It additionally provides a brand new Pen menu characteristic and improves the telephone in a number of areas.
Android 12L is aimed toward large-screen gadgets or these with folding shows. Microsoft has labored to optimize it for the Duo lineup for fairly a while, and in accordance with our current hands-on video, it reveals. Blur results, animations, and gestures all appear to work higher following the replace.
Whereas it is not formally accessible, Android 12L for Floor Duo additionally features a secret cloud-based Continuum mode.
This is the changelog for the replace:
- Upgrades the Android working system to Android 12L for foldable gadgets. For basic details about Android 12, see Android 12 (opens in new tab)(opens in new tab).
- Addresses situation outlined within the Android Safety Bulletin—October 2022.
- New Fluent UI—redesigned Fast Settings and Settings, refreshed Microsoft feed design, new acrylic system results.
- Home windows accent colour types and dynamic theming based mostly on chosen wallpaper.
- New Home windows impressed wallpaper.
- Pen menu for Floor Slim Pen 2.
- Switch Microsoft Groups assembly via the Time widget.
- Optimize battery utilization and efficiency for Microsoft Groups via {hardware} offloading.
Joe Belfiore leaving Microsoft
Microsoft Company Vice President Joe Belfiore introduced that he’ll go away the corporate. The CVP has been with Microsoft for 32 years and at present heads the Workplace Group. Belfiore will proceed to function a senior advisor and coach till summer season 2023 to assist the transition.
Belfiore has held many main roles at Microsoft, however our readers doubtless keep in mind him most for his time in command of Home windows Cellphone and Home windows 10. He has all the time proven a ardour for his work and has shared that at keynotes, shows, and interviews over time.
New Xbox dashboard is filled with adverts
Microsoft launched a new Xbox dashboard to Xbox Insiders this week. Sadly, the brand new look earned criticism from a number of throughout the net. Our video games editor Jez Corden summarized among the largest flaws with the design:
“The brand new design pushes up the tiles structure additional to the highest of the web page, obscuring view of no matter theme you’ve got opted for. If that wasn’t annoying sufficient, just under the fold, we have now rows upon rows upon rows of Xbox Sport Go content material, which can’t be custom-made in any manner.”
The brand new Xbox dashboard on the Alpha Skip Forward mainly seems like a mirror of the Sport Go app for TVs. Does Microsoft NOT LISTEN to suggestions right here? What is the level of dynamic backgrounds with this design?Microsoft: There exists an Xbox exterior of Xbox Sport Go. pic.twitter.com/Y6Q4vqpiY5October 27, 2022
Microsoft was criticized for not listening to consumer suggestions and pushing adverts for Xbox Sport Go onto the Xbox dashboard.
Because the new dashboard continues to be in its testing section, Microsoft may tweak it earlier than releasing it. That being mentioned, the corporate has proven a shift towards pushing Sport Go, so a completel overhaul of the dashboard with out these adverts appears unlikely.
Home windows PC gross sales are down
Microsoft earnings got here out this week for FY23 Q1. The corporate reported $50.1 billion in income, together with Floor gadgets and income bettering by 2%, however it wasn’t all excellent news. Home windows OEM was down 15%, which signifies that demand for PCs and laptops has dropped. Microsoft predicted a decline within the “excessive single digits,” so a decline of 15% is critical.
Whereas PC demand was down within the quarter, Microsoft noticed double-digit development throughout Azure, LinkedIn, Workplace 365 Industrial, Workplace client merchandise, and Dynamics.
Steam units document for concurrent customers
Steam hit a milestone for concurrent customers final weekend. The favored gaming platform had over 30 million customers throughout a 24-hour window, which was up from the earlier high-water mark of 29,986,681. Steam utilization has gone up constantly for the reason that platform launched, however it took a dramatic flip upward when the worldwide pandemic started.
Figures have bounced up and down every month however typically trended upward over time. With colder climate on the best way within the northern hemisphere, extra folks will doubtless hop onto Steam, setting new data.
Overview roundup
Along with overlaying the newest information, our specialists evaluate {hardware}, software program, and devices every week. Over the past seven days we took at have a look at the AMD-powered Lenovo Slim 7i Professional, Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose, and far more.
