Is Microsoft Surface losing steam?
Lacklustre Microsoft Surface updates a sign of things to come?
It’s never a good sign when your team lead leaves the company just days before a major launch event. But that’s exactly what happened last week when Microsoft announced the surprise departure of its chief product officer, Mr Panos Panay, who led the development of Windows 11, and has been the face of Microsoft’s Surface line since its 2012 debut.
Predictably, the new Microsoft Surface devices weren’t that exciting. The three new devices sport updated specs, but no major changes. The cool but niche Microsoft Surface Studio Laptop is refreshed with the latest specs. Its new feature is an adaptive touchpad that tweaks palm rejection, which is great for those with difficulties using a conventional touchpad. However, the focus was mainly on AI, notably, Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant that works across all of its apps and services, including Windows 11 and Microsoft 365.
With the lacklustre Surface updates, and with the departure of Mr Panay, I can’t help having some doubts about the future of the Surface line. Especially when the Surface devices aren’t selling well in a depressed PC market. Hopefully, the lack of a new Surface Pro 10 last week isn’t a sign of things to come. And that Microsoft is just taking its own sweet time. After all, it would make sense to have a design makeover for the tenth iteration, right? And there’s still time for it to launch later this year, or early next year. Make it happen, Microsoft.
While Microsoft had an underwhelming Surface event, Apple’s new iPhone 15 models arrived in stores last week. We just covered it in our latest reviews, which also include Jabra’s new premium earbuds, and a cute GaN charger from Ugreen.
Apple’s new iPhone 15 Plus gets a USB-C makeover, along with key features (Dynamic Island, 48MP camera, and A16 Bionic chip) from last year’s Pro models. It’s a great choice for those who just want a solid upgrade, and find the Pro version too pricey.
The Jabra Elite 10 is a great pair of true wireless earbuds in terms of sound quality and comfort. Features-wise, it’s also competitive with other earbuds, and is one of the few to come with Dolby Head Tracking. The active noise cancellation, though, is not quite top-tier, but overall, Jabra has managed to deliver the goods.
With its compact and cute design, the Ugreen Nexode Robot GaN Charger is one to bring on your next overseas trip. Its two-pin power prong design is suitable for places like US, China, or Japan. And it’s powerful enough to keep your laptop topped up, while supporting fast charging, too.