Category: Microsoft

Microsoft Launches The HoloLens 2 Developers Edition

Microsoft has unveiled the developer edition of its HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality (MR) Headset on the 2nd of May. It is the successor to the HoloLens headset that was launched in the year 2016. To recall, the company first showcased the product at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 in Barcelona in the month of February. It is touted to bring about major changes to its predecessor, especially in terms of design, comfort and processing power.

What Is Mixed Reality?

Microsoft HoloLens

The Mixed Reality or MR platform was popularised by Microsoft with the original Hololens which offers a unique amalgamation of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. This signifies that the technology uses the camera attached to the headset which is worn by the user. With the camera used for augmented reality, the Virtual effect rendered inside the headset creates isolation from the real world. Noteworthy, Mixed Reality is anticipated to take off exponentially in a few years.

The real world case of Mixed Reality is expected to be more elaborate than both AR and VR, which are mostly used for gaming as of now. For instance, the technology can be used to train industry workers and medical professionals in a virtual environment. This can help in driving down costs and boosting productivity. However, in its current stage, the technology is deemed significantly expensive which has limited its adaptation.

Microsoft HoloLens 2: What’s New?

As mentioned above, the HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality Headset boasts of major changes over the original HoloLens. The company claims to have fixed major gripes that were reported by the users of the first generation device. According to Microsoft, the customers mainly faced issues with the resolution of the two displays which have now been bumped up to 2K resolution panels resorting the complaints. Another issue that Microsoft has fixed with the HoloLens 2 is related to the Field of View (FoV). The FoV in the first generation was found to be its biggest weakness. Microsoft claims to have fixed it with a wider FoV on the latest device. It is also said to be three times more comfortable than the previous generation and uses a knob at the back for adjusting the grip of the headset.

Also read: Top Gaming Laptops Available In India Under Rs 70,000

The Developer Kit of the HoloLens 2 includes Azure Credits alongside Unity Pro and Unity PiXYZ Plugin. While the former is a cloud service by Microsoft, the latter two are used for developing software for the headset. The company has also revealed the Unreal Engine 3 will be supported for the HoloLens 2 by the end of May. In terms of pricing, the MR headset is available for developers at a price of US $3500 (Rs. 2,42,553). It is expected to be available commercially and to businesses later this year at a slightly more price than the developer edition.

May 3, 2019
Microsoft Launches Surface Hub 2S With 50 Inch Display

Microsoft is mostly known for its software products which mainly include Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office suite. However, in the last few years, it has launched a variety of innovative hardware products under the Surface lineup which includes laptops, tablets, headphones, AIO (All In One) computers. One distinctive product from the lineup was the Surface Hub which is a collaborative computing device for modern offices. In simple words, it is a large screen device running Windows OS which intends to improve productivity in a workspace. In an event held on the 17th of April, Microsoft launched its successor which carries the Surface Hub 2s moniker. The newly launched device is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, both in terms of design and specifications.

Microsoft Surface Hub 2s Design And Features

In terms of design, the Microsoft Surface Hub 2s is reminiscent of a large screen TV mounted on a steel tubing frame with castor wheels. It measures 1097 x 741 x 76 mm and tips the scale at 28 kg. The device features a 50 inch 4K IPS LCD display that has a 3:2 aspect ratio and an anti-glare coating. In contrast, the original Surface Hub had a 55-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The newly launched device is kitted with an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 Quad Core processor. In terms of memory and storage, it has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of SSD.

The Microsoft Surface Hub 2s ships with the Surface Hub 2 Pen which can be used as a stylus to write on the display and control several functions of the device. It also has a detachable Hub 2 camera which apparently can be used for video conferencing in a workspace. Input-Output ports on the device include USB A port, Mini Display Out, RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI Out and 4 x USB C ports. In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.1 and maracas display technology.

Also Read: Facebook Admits To Have “Unintentionally Uploaded” 1.5 Million Email Addresses Without Consent

The Microsoft Surface Hub 2s smart whiteboard is priced at US $ 8,999 (Rs 6,26,000) and it will start shipping in the month of June this year.

April 18, 2019
Microsoft Announces The All Digital Xbox One S

Microsoft in a blog post has announced the newest member of the Xbox lineup of gaming console. Dubbed the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, it is the long rumoured diskless variant of the regular Xbox One S. With no disk drive in the console, users would only be able to obtain the game licenses digitally. Because of the removed component, the company has been able to reduce the price of the gaming console by a considerable margin.

Xbox One S All Digital

The new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition as mentioned above will be the regular Xbox One S not featuring a disk drive. This insinuates all the basic specifications of the regular version will remain intact. So, one could expect the regular’s 4K streaming, Spatial Audio and HDR Support on board. With the All-Digital version, Microsoft is bundling three games, namely Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3 and Sea of Thieves with the console. An additional 1TB Hard Drive is available on the Xbox One S.

To facilitate the purchase of digital gaming titles on the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, Microsoft is also promoting its Xbox Game Pass. It is a subscription service by the company which lets users play over a hundred gaming titles. A disadvantage of an all-digital version of the gaming console has over its regular variant is the missing Blueray support because of the lack of a physical disk drive.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Google And Apple Take Down TikTok From Their Respective Application Stores

Microsoft has launched the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition in the US for the price of US$ 249 (Rs. 17,300) and it is available to pre-order starting today. Unfortunately, the company hasn’t announced when the gaming console will make its way to the Indian market, however, it is unlikely to launch in India. The reason for that is cited for the abundance of the stocks of regular variant of the Xbox One S. Additionally, all digital game titles are still not as popular as physical ones in the country.

April 17, 2019
Microsoft May Launch Surface Buds To Take On Apple AirPods

When Microsoft first launched its wireless Surface headphones, they received positive reviews globally. The headphones have a minimalistic design and offer best-in-class gesture controls. As per the latest reports, Microsoft is working on a pair of Truly Wireless Earbuds, which will supposedly go up against the hugely popular Apple AirPods. The aforementioned earbuds from Apple were first released in December 2016 and have since become the gold standard for wireless earbuds.

Microsoft Surface Headphones

As per sources, the Truly Wireless Earbuds from Microsoft are codenamed “Morrisson”. Reports say that Microsoft is planning to expand its wearables lineup from the Surface headphones to the in-ear Truly Wireless Earbuds, which are speculated to feature passive noise-cancellation. Moreover, they are expected to sport a minimalistic design to the aforementioned Surface headphones.

Apple AirPods

Sources also reveal that the American technology company will aim towards integrating gestures with the Surface buds, which will greatly improve any form of interactions between the smartphone and the earbuds, such as reading content on the handset. Furthermore, just like Apple’s AirPods Siri Integration and Galaxy Buds‘ Bixby assistant, the Microsoft Truly Wireless Earbuds are expected to be equipped with Cortana, Microsoft’s Voice Assistant.

Also Read: Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL Price Leaked, Launch Imminent

Competition And Availability

Samsung Galaxy Buds

As previously reported, Amazon is also expected to release its own version of Truly Wireless Earbuds in the upcoming months, which will be equipped with the Alexa voice assistant. Considering Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are the most popular voice assistant in the market right now, Cortana-based Surface buds may have to face some serious competition from the same. Some exceptional features may be able to turn the tide when Microsoft’s Cortana TWS earbuds hit the market by the end of the year 2019.

April 16, 2019
Microsoft Claims To Have Seized 99 Iranian Websites Used By Hackers

Microsoft stated that 99 websites which were being misused by Iranian hackers have been seized by the company. Reportedly, the hackers were trying to phish/steal important information and launch cyber-attacks on users. With the increase in the number of malicious websites and webpages, browsing the internet has become significantly more difficult. Sensitive data is being poached from the users, while at the same time, companies seem to be helpless as countless such websites keep popping up every day.

Microsoft’s Statement

Microsoft said that it had eyes on a similar set of websites since 2013, which were being operated by hackers for negative intent. The company has previously tried to snoop on defence industry workers, political activists and journalists in the Middle East. Microsoft tied the attacks to the country of Iran, not to its Government. Furthermore, Iran has fully denied any participation in hacking attacks made by the aforementioned hackers.

Microsoft also stated that the hackers used malicious links disguised like popular brands, such as Microsoft and its subsidiaries, LinkedIn, Outlook etc. As per the company’s court filings, the hacking operation required patience, skill and deep access to resources to pull off. The software that was used by hackers modified the Microsoft Windows trademark system into “a tool of deception and theft”.

Noteworthy, the accounts that were being targeted by the users were personal accounts, not work based accounts. The hackers used to send surprisingly legitimate-looking emails with malware-infected attachments to users who would then click on them and have the respective software injected on their devices. The domains used by the hackers closely resembled the ones used by Microsoft and other reputed brands.

Conclusion

Also Read: Xiaomi’s Foldable Smartphone Spotted In Official Video Promo

The US District Court, which handled Microsoft’s case regarding the same, believed the company’s allegations, saying that the hacking activity was indeed affecting the company and its users. Steps being taken by the US Court may ensure that the hacking group receives serious penalties for the attacks performed.

March 28, 2019
Microsoft Decides To Pull The Plug On Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 was the operating system that defined a decade for desktops and laptops. With one of the most loyal user base of a Microsoft-designed OS, Windows 7 held its position as one of the most stable operating systems ever. Even after the company released Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, Windows 7 users found it extremely tough to migrate to the newer operating systems. After almost 10 years of a very successful run, Microsoft has finally decided to terminate support for the OS.

Microsoft’s Response

Microsoft has already started notifying Windows 7 users regarding the removal of support for the same. The company is also recommending its users what OS should they move to next. Furthermore, it is also eager to clear any doubts regarding the end of support with the OS. As per reports, Windows users will have a time period of approximately 9 months to upgrade to the OS to Windows 10, which is the latest (and widely used) operating system from the company.

By the beginning of January 2020, Microsoft will not only stop the sale of Windows 7 digital keys but will also stop providing technical support and security patches for the same. No new bugs will be addressed by the American Multinational Technology company, which will make the device running Windows 7 extremely vulnerable to malware and other security threats such as viruses, trojans and even phishing bots. Since the new virus signatures won’t be updated by the OS, the system may get infected far more easily.

How To Migrate To Windows 10?

Also Read: Google Stadia’s Viability, What Resources Does The Cloud Gaming Service Need?

Microsoft states that Windows 10 will act as a welcoming interface to Windows 7 users. All the support required for backing up the user data and documents is being extended by Microsoft itself. Step-by-step guides available on the company’s website will help users safely move over to a new PC or the new OS. In order to prepare users for moving to Windows 10, Microsoft claims that the new OS starts up 28 percent faster than Windows 7, and has a better security detail than the outgoing OS. With this move, Microsoft may attain the number of 1 billion Windows 10 devices by the end of the year 2019, with the current user count standing at around 800 million.

March 25, 2019
PC Gamers Will Get To Test Out Halo: The Master Chief Collection Pre-Release

After Microsoft announced the arrival of the hugely popular Halo Series on PC, gamers have been ecstatic about it. Tweets clearly depict how excited people are because Halo is depicted as the game which helped sell Microsoft’s Xbox in the first place. Following the announcement, Microsoft has revealed that PC gamers will be granted the opportunity to test out the game ahead of its release.

Halo Insider Program

Selected gamers who are a part of the game Insider Program will be able to test out the features of the game before it comes out. The Insider program will accept feedback and insights from gamers regarding the in-game progress and gameplay. Noteworthy, there is a chance that not everyone who signs up for the Insider program may get selected for the testing phase.

About Halo

First released for Microsoft’s Xbox in 2014, the Halo franchise will be available to play on PC via popular gaming portal, Steam. The franchise package will include Halo Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. It is interesting to note that all the iterations of the game will not be released at once, instead, Microsoft plans to release all the games in chronological order. This means that Halo: Reach will be the first game that will land in the hands of gamers. Even though the game was first released in the year 2010, it’s still a classic and is rated as one of the best gameplay experiences of all time by gamers worldwide

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches The Black Shark 2 Gaming Smartphone With Snapdragon 855 SoC

It is still not clear whether Microsoft will include support for 4K resolutions and 60 fps in the early iterations of the game. Fans are excited for the same though, probably because they will get to re-live the entire game universe all over again, this time in enhanced configurations. Furthermore, if players own the game on Xbox, they won’t be able to use the same copy on PC. This means that interested gamers will have to purchase a separate copy of the game in order to run it on their PCs. As of now, no concrete release date has been provided by the American company.

March 19, 2019
Microsoft Launches The Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2 In India

Microsoft has updated the Surface lineup of devices in the Indian market. On Monday, the company launched the Surface Pro 6 and the Surface Laptop 2 in the country. This makes it Microsoft’s third launch in the last few months, coming after the Surface Go, which was launched a while ago. The Microsoft Surface lineup of devices are soon making their way in the country.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The Surface Pro 6 is the most premium windows tablet in the market and one of the best devices for multimedia and work. The Tablet is equipped with a 12.3 inch Quad HD LED Backlit PixelSense Multi-touch Display with either the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7. It is available in 3 variants. And all the three variants come with 8GB of RAM. The pricing for all the three versions are Rs. 83,999 for the Core i5, 128GB SSD variant. The Core i5, 256GB version comes at Rs. 1,10,999. The i7, 256GB SSD version costs Rs. 1,39,999. The device will be available on Flipkart.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

The Microsoft Surface Laptop got raving reviews when it launched in 2017. With the 2nd generation of the device, Microsoft hasn’t changed much. There is a new Matte Black colour and upgraded specifications. The Surface Laptop 2 comes with 8th Gen Intel processors. Rest of the features remain the same. There is the same 13.5 inch display as last gen.

There are 3 variants of the Surface Laptop 2 in India. The Core i5, 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage start at Rs 91,999. Bumping up the storage to 256GB on this variant will cost Rs 119,999. There’s a top-end variant with Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage that costs Rs 2,03,999. The device will be available on Flipkart and some offline channels.

Read more: Honor View20 Launched In India, Kirin 980 And 3D Camera In Tow

The Microsoft Surface devices are one of the best ones in the market for productivity and multimedia purposes. Let’s see if these devices find their success in India.

January 30, 2019
Microsoft Is Officially Ending Support For Windows Phone, Asks Users To Switch To Android Or iOS

Windows 10 mobile is an operating system that was developed by Microsoft and was released in the year 2015. It is a successor to the Windows Phone 8.1 and was derived from Windows 10 to work on devices that have a screen size under 9-inch. Windows 10 mobile entered the market with Lumia brand smartphones in 2015.

Although Windows 10 powered smartphones had up to date specifications, Microsoft was unable to create a seamless ecosystem like Android or iOS. Later in October 2017, Microsoft revealed the development of Windows 10 mobile has been ceased due to low market share and lack of third-party development for the platform.

Microsoft has announced that the company will soon stop releasing security updates for the platform. Smartphones running on Windows 10 Mobile version 1709 will receive updates until December 10. While the devices running on version 1703 will only last through June 11.

Microsoft has recommended Windows 10 Mobile users to manually create a backup of their data with the help of built-in tool before termination of support. This announcement does not necessarily impact all the 3rd applications on Windows 10 Mobile. As these applications would continue to function until their developers provide support for them.

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft has advertised Cortana users from Windows 10 Mobile to continue using the voice assistant application on Android and iOS applications.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy M10 And M20 Price Leak, Starts At Rs 7,990

All in all, Windows 10 Mobile was a well designed operating system which was also intuitive. Sadly it was unable to survive in the market that is dominated by Android and iOS devices. To back up data on Windows 10 Mobile, users can follow these instructions:

Settings > Update & Security > Backup > More Options > Back up now

January 21, 2019
Microsoft Windows 10 Overtakes Windows 7

According to a market research study, Microsoft’s Windows 10 has overtaken the famous Windows 7 in terms of number of users. Windows 10 has now 39.22% share followed by Windows 7’s 36.90% as of December, 2018.

Brief History of Windows 7 and Windows 10

Windows 7 operating system was released in 2009 and it became one of the most successful operating systems in the world. Before that, Windows XP was a widely used platform. After a string of failure with Vista and Windows 8, Microsoft finally released the Windows 10. It was made as an OS that mixed the tablet, mobile and laptop formats in their design cue. The Windows 10 OS was well received, with additional features like Microsoft’s digital assistant – Cortana being just one click away. It mixed the App ecosystem with features that a personal computer or laptop has such as a full fledged desktop, start buttons etc. Microsoft Windows 10 had a great start. As high as 14 million devices adopted the new operating system in less than 24 hours of its release. It was a free upgrade and it changed the user experience drastically when compared to Windows 7.

Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has also started an update cycle unofficially called Patch Tuesday. The updates occur on the second, and sometimes fourth, Tuesday of each month. Larger updates are pushed out in even-numbered months while smaller updates in odd-numbered months. Microsoft had also previously stated that Windows 10 would be the last version of the Windows platform. They had stated that the OS will be regularly changed and updated with time according to the demands of the industry. According to recent reports, Microsoft might be pushing the Windows 10 update forcefully even though Microsoft has vowed to not push updates on it’s users. The company has also very recently received flak for various issues cropping up on users’ devices after updates. It was also one of the reasons as to why one of the recent updates was pulled back as well.

It is yet to be seen how Windows tackles the constant issues with updates causing problems for users and how Windows 10 is developed and modified in the coming years, when bendable screen phones finally arrive. But for now, we will have to make do with the Windows 10 version and updates that we have.

January 2, 2019
Microsoft Launches Surface Go 2-in-1 PC In India
Microsoft offers a wide range of laptops and touchscreen PC’s which carry the Microsoft Surface branding. These devices have a premium build with high-end features and are intended to set a benchmark for other Windows PC OEMs. Earlier this year, the company launched their cheapest 2-in-1 detachable notebook, the Surface Go in the US. The budget-oriented Surface Go has now been launched in India. As the name suggests, it is a 2-in-1 PC with a detachable keyboard that is sold separately. Like a lot of other companies, Microsoft has also chosen the online sales model for the Surface Go. The PC will be exclusively available on Flipkart and will be offered in two RAM + ROM configurations.

Click Here To Buy The Microsoft Surface Go

Design

The Microsoft Go has a rectangular tile-like shape with an adjustable kickstand. It measures 245 x 176 x 8.3 mm and weighs in at 522 grams. The top side of the device houses the power button and the volume rockers while the bottom side houses the magnetic keyboard connector. The left side of the Surface Go houses the microSD expansion slot and the right side houses the 3.5 mm jack, USB Type-C port, and side firing dual speakers. The rear of the device has a 5 MP camera and a microphone pinhole. The PC also has an 8 MP autofocus camera for taking pictures and video conferencing.

Specifications

The Microsoft Go has a 10-inch LED display with a resolution of 1800 x 1200 px. For protection against scratches, the display also gets Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Microsoft Surface Go has dual 2 Watt stereo speakers with Dolby audio support. The touchscreen PC features the dual-core Intel 4415Y Pentium Gold processor that has a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. The Intel SoC also has integrated HD 615 graphics.

In terms of connectivity, the Surface Go has Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac. It also has a variety of built-in sensors which include an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. The PC runs latest Windows 10 Home in S Mode and is powered by a 2 cell battery. According to Microsoft, the Surface Go can offer up to 9 hours of battery backup, depending on the usage pattern.

Price, Colours, And Availability

The Microsoft Surface Go is available in a single Grey colour variant. It is available for pre-order on Flipkart and the deliveries will commence on 27th December. It is offered in two RAM + ROM configurations for which the price is as follows:
- 4 GB + 64 GB – Rs 37,999
- 8 GB + 128 GB – Rs 49,999
Also Read: Huawei Nova 4 With In-display Camera Launched

Another point worth mentioning is that the 64 GB variant has eMMC storage whereas the 128 GB variant gets an SSD. Both eMMC and SSD are types of NAND flash storage but the latter has higher read and write speeds.

Click Here To Buy The Microsoft Surface Go
December 18, 2018
Microsoft May Join The Foldable Smartphone Bandwagon in 2019

Microsoft’s smartphone under Project Andromeda, which is a foldable screen phone may be launched as early as 2019. Foldable screen phone technology seems to be the future of smartphones. Many companies such as Samsung, Huawei and LG are working towards a future which will have large screen tablets that can be folded into phones and kept in your pockets. Microsoft, under Project Andromeda may launch the smartphone in 2019, according to a book called Beneath a Surface by journalist and Microsoft tech blogger collaborator Brad Sams.

Microsoft’s Future Plans

The book talks about how Microsoft built a $1 billion an year business from their Surface laptop. Brad Sams also mentions that a host of devices such as a Microsoft Surface product, Xbox One and new Surface tablets are slated for their launch. The book mentions that new form factors can be released in the next couple of years. This probably indicates the new foldable phone. According to reports, it won’t have a phone like interface, it will be a tablet like interface that works in a smaller form factor when folded. But these are all speculations for the time being.

Also Read: Microsoft Launches The New Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2 and Surface Headphones

Microsoft has redirected their efforts and manpower towards the Surface lineup and wish to compete toe to toe with Apple’s iPad. The Surface lineup has earned them a lot of revenue in the recent past. 5G phones and foldable phones seem to be the right way to go for smartphone manufacturers right now. The author also revealed that the company plans to release a Surface Pro detachable tablet device. This device will sport a USB Type-C port, smaller bezels and rounded corners. This may see it’s launch in the later half of 2019. The company also plans to release two new low-cost Xbox One S devices, according to the book. The book talks about an ambient computing device that is also slated for launch. The device is a computer that senses and responds to user presence.

December 3, 2018
Microsoft Tests Reveals 91% PCs In India Have Pirated Software
When you think about software, Microsoft is probably one of the first companies that come to your mind. Bill Gates founded the company in 1975 and it has a major contribution to the evolution of personal computing. The company is the developer of the world’s most popular desktop and laptop Windows operating system. Microsoft recently performed a survey in nine Asian countries, including India. The survey was conducted to check the penetration of pirated software in personal computers.

Test Results

Between May & July, Microsoft purchased and tested personal computers from multiple local sources in nine nations. The tests reveal about 83% of all the computers had pirated software on them. 91% of India bought computers had pirated software which was followed by Indonesia at 90 %, Taiwan at 73%, Singapore at 55 %, and the Philippines at 43%. While 100% of the computers bought in Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea have pirated software.

Additionally, a key Microsoft Singapore representative, Mary Jo Schrade reports 85 % of Indian computers with pirated software also had some type of malware. These shocking results raise major security concerns which one can associate with software piracy. Some of the common issues include bugs, crashes, and no updates & support. While other potentially harmful risks could be as follows:
- Identity theft- Cyber fraudsters plant malware into pirated software that is capable of sneaking into the personal files of the users. The files may contain sensitive data like banking information and healthcare documents which the hacker can use for ill intentions.
- Criminal Liability- Software piracy is not only a civil issue but, it is a serious crime and it is the duty of an organisation to ensure they comply with the legalities of using a software. Otherwise the people in charge can land up for some jail time.
Also read: Amazon Great India Festival Diwali Special: Top Smartphone Deals

To conclude, consumers should keep the use pirated software at bay. Instead, they can opt for free and open-source software. Some examples of which are VLC media player, Chromium browser and GIMP photo editor.
November 2, 2018
Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale: Top Deals On Video Games

The Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale is here and we are super stoked! Here are some of the best deals on video games we could find!

Microsoft 1 TB Xbox One X Console

Free Game: PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds Bundle

PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds is one of the most popular games at the moment and this Xbox One X console comes bundled with it. This console will be available at a 13% discount amounting to Rs 43990 from its original price of Rs 50590.

Xbox One Wireless Controller with Bluetooth (With 3.5 mm Jack) (Black)

Compatible with Xbox One and Xbox One S and compatible with Windows 10 via Bluetooth. The controller now features a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack that lets you plug your favourite gaming headset right into the controller. Now the controller can be updated wirelessly instead of needing to connect a micro USB cable (each sold separately).

The console which is available for Rs 5390 will be available at Rs 3799 during Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale.

Sony PS4 Slim 1TB Console (Free Games: TLOU and DS4) with Marvel’s Spider Man (PS4)

Can’t wait to run along walls and swing through Manhattan in the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man? This special bundle includes a fully customized Amazing Red 1TB PS4 Pro console featuring the iconic Marvel’s Spider-Man spider, a matching DualShock 4 wireless controller, Marvel’s Spider-Man game on Blu-ray disc, and digital content.

The console will be available at Rs 37289 during Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale.

Nacon Wired Compact Controller for PS4 (Grey) PlayStation official Licensed Product

Wired Compact Controller for PlayStation4 Nacon’s Wired Compact Controller packs in an impressive range of features, including a touch pad, stereo headset jack and vibration motors. The ergonomic design provides complete comfort for all ages, even during marathon gaming sessions.

The wireless controller which is available for Rs 4990 will be available at Rs 2999 during the offer.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Standard Edition (PS4)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 delivers the biggest Day 1 Zombies offering ever, with three full experiences at launch: IX, Voyage of Despair and Blood of the Dead. Featuring gritty, grounded, fluid Multiplayer combat, the biggest Zombies offering ever at launch and Blackout, where the universe of Black Ops comes to life in one massive battle royale experience

The video game which is available for Rs 4699 will be available at Rs 3999 during the offer.

Marvel’s Spider Man (PS4)

The game features an experienced Spider-Man with several years of crime fighting under his belt, Peter Parker has sheer mastery of his powerful spider-sense, dynamic skills, acrobatic abilities and new suit. This is an all-new Spider-Man universe, featuring familiar characters in unfamiliar roles, Take control of a complex dual life, as a young adult with great powers… and evolving relationships. Swing freely through Marvel’s New York City in epic action set-pieces filled with a rich narrative and relatable characters.

The video game which is available for Rs 3999 will be available at Rs 3499 during the offer.

God of War – Standard Edition (PS4)

It is a new beginning for Kratos. Living as a man outside the shadow of the gods, he ventures into the brutal Norse wilds with his son Atreus, fighting to fulfil a deeply personal quest. Vicious, Physical Combat – With an intimate, over-the-shoulder free camera that brings the action closer than ever, combat in God of War is up close, frenetic, and unflinching. Kratos’ axe —powerful, magic and multi-faceted – is a brutal weapon as well as a versatile tool for exploration. Get your copy during the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale!

The video game which is available for Rs 3999 will be available at Rs 1999 during the offer.

October 9, 2018
Microsoft Launches The New Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2 and Surface Headphones
Microsoft launched an updated range of the current Surface devices and added some new products in their current line-up in this year’s surface event. The event was held in New York City on October 2nd. The new devices released are the Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2, Surface Headphones and the Surface Pro 6. Microsoft has set the launch of the new devices for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

1. Surface Laptop 2:

This is an updated version of the Surface Laptop that Microsoft released last year. The device has the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor. The user can opt for the Intel Core i5 or i7 processor as per their needs. It has a 13.5 inch PixelSense Display with a 2256 x 1504 px resolution and has a pixel density of 201 ppi.

PixelSense is Microsoft’s technology that can sense the amount of pressure that is being put on the display of Surface devices. This technology broadens the possibilities of what a touch screen is capable of. Microsoft is utilising this technology in their surface accessories like the Surface Pen and the Surface Dial. The display has 10 point muti-touch capabilities. In terms of storage, the users can select the SSD storage capacity which ranges from 128 GB to 1 TB. The RAM can be configured to either 8 GB or 16 GB. The device runs the Intel UHD 620 Graphics irrespective of the processor selection.

In terms of I/O ports the device has one USB 3.0 connector, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, mini display port and one surface connector port which is compatible with the Surface Dial screen interactions. The laptop also has a 720p HD webcam, dual stereo microphones and an ambient light sensor. The Surface Laptop 2 is available in four different colours: Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue and Black. The laptop price ranges from $ 999 for the base variant and goes all the way upto $ 2,199 for the top end variant.

2. Surface Studio 2:

This is an updated version of the previously launched Surface Studio. Now Microsoft has updated the processor, graphics card and the storage. The Surface Studio 2 has an easy tilt screen which can be used to write and even draw on. Microsoft is targeting this machine towards design professionals. The screen is a 28 inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Like the Surface Laptop 2, the Surface Studio 2 also has a 10 point multi-touch screen.

It runs on the 7th generation Intel-core i7-7820 HQ which is a step up from last generation that used an intel 6th generation processor. The pc has 1 TB or 2 TB SSD storage options and RAM can either be configured to 16 GB or 32 GB. There are two graphics card options to choose from, the Nvidia GTX 1060 with 6 GB of DDR 5 Ram or the Nvidia GTX 1070 with 8 GB of RAM (Note: This is the graphics card RAM and not the system’s main RAM).

In terms of camera, video and audio, it has a 5 MP front facing camera with 1080 HD video recording, dual microphones and 2.1 Dolby Stereo speakers. In terms of wireless connectivity, it has an 802.11 ac A/B/G/N Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The device weighs in at 9.56 kg. Other than Surface Studio 2, the box packs the Surface Pen, the surface keyboard, the surface mouse and the power cord for the device. The Surface Studio’s base model starts at $ 3,499 and goes upto $ 4,799 for the top of the line variant.

3. Surface Pro 6:

The Surface Pro was first launched in 2013 and has reached its 6th generation. The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPad. But the Surface Pro and iPad are fundamentally very different. The Apple iPad is very app driven and a mobile version of the complete computing experience whereas the Surface Pro 6 is a full fledged computer. The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s take on building a portable computer. The Surface Pro 6 has a detachable physical keyboard and it has a kick-back stand that can be adjusted to different angles to make it stand upright. The detachable keyboard is sold seprately.

The device has a 12.3 inch 10 point multi-touch display. The screen has a resolution of 2736 x 1824 px and a pixel density of 267 ppi. Powering the tablet is an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The device has Intel UHD 620 Graphics built-in. Like the Surface Laptop 2, the RAM can be configured to either 8 GB or 16 GB. SSD storage can be selected from 128 GB upto 1 TB. The device has Bluetooth 4.1 technology and 802.11ac A/B/G/N Wi-Fi. It has an Accelerometer, a Gyroscope and an Ambient light sensor.

The I/o ports device has are: one USB 3.0 port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connector (Microsoft’s proprietor connector) and a microSDXC card port. Microsoft claims the device has a battery backup of upto 13.5 hours which will vary depending upon the usage of the device. The tablet weighs at 775 grams for the i5 variant and 792 grams for the i7 variant. The price of the device varies between $ 899 and $ 1,899 depending upon the configuration.

Additional Accessories:
- Surface Pen: It is an active stylus and a digital pen that Microsoft developed to work alongside their Surface devices with PixelSense technology. It has variable pressure sensitivity points that allows it to work like a real life paint brush or a pen. Microsoft is mainly targeting it towards professionals in the design industry. People in this field can take advantage of the technological advancements that a digital design canvas offers compared to the traditional pen and paper.
- Surface Dial: This is yet another accessory that is mainly targeted towards designing professionals. The dial sits on top of the screen of the Surface Laptop or Studio. It provides functionalities like zoom in and out, selecting paint-brush and a bunch of other features that can ease the work of professionals.
4. Surface Headphones:

This is another key product that Microsoft announced at this year’s Surface event. Microsoft Surface headphones have a lot of handy features. The headphones automatically pauses the audio as you remove them from your head and then resumes audio as you put them back.

They have Cortana integration. Cortana is Microsoft’s virtual assistant with whom the user can interact to perform certain tasks. You can ask Cortana to set reminders, inquire about the weather, etc. This is just a small example of what the virtual assistant is capable of. To control the volume of the headphones you can simply rotate your fingers around it’s ear cup. They also have variable active noise cancellation. The headphones have four microphones that helps in improving the noise cancellation quality. With this feature the user can filter or allow the amount of ambient sound that gets to your ears. The headphones are compatible with Windows 10, Android, iOS and macOs. They are available in Light Grey colour and have a price tag of $ 350.

Your Phone App

Additionally, Microsoft also demostrated their application “Your Phone” for Windows. With this application the user can directly respond to text messages they receive on their Android phone. This a really convenient feature and the user does not need to switch back and forth between the computer and phone to respond to text messages.
October 3, 2018