The Windows Central Podcast

It was a week chock full of new hardware this week with a refreshed Surface Pro X and an official announcement of the rumored Surface Laptop Go. Other manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP showed off laptops with 11th Gen Intel processors. Especially interesting are the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and HP's Spectre x360 14, which has a 3:2 OLED display.

They also discuss Windows 10 build 20226 and Windows Timeline support being removed from Microsoft Launcher on Android.

Links:

• Microsoft unveils refreshed Surface Pro X and new Surface Laptop Go hardware line-up for the fall | Windows Central
• Windows 10 build 20226 brings new storage health feature to Insiders | Windows Central
• The foldable PC era begins as Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold goes live for preorders | Windows Central
• Lenovo announces new ThinkPad X1 Nano featuring Intel Evo, 16:10 and weighing just two pounds | Windows Central
• Dell XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1 get speedy updates with Intel 11th Gen, Thunderbolt 4 | Windows Central
• The new HP Spectre x360 14 brings a gorgeous 3:2 OLED display and packs Intel 'smarts' | Windows Central
• Windows Timeline support is being removed from Microsoft Launcher on Android | Windows Central

Dan and Zac cover some of the most interesting announcements from Ignite. The 85-inch Surface Hub 2S is coming in January 2021. Edge is on the way for Linux users, and Microsoft Teams continues to grow as a platform for remote workers.

Alleged source code for Windows XP has leaked — hopefully you've upgraded by now! They also review the Windows 10 October 2020 Update along with a look at what's to come in 2021.

In the gaming realm, the guys talk about Xbox preorders and Microsoft's purchase of Zenimax for $7.5 billion dollars. And check out their Surface Duo tips!

Links:

• Second half of Microsoft Ignite will be in March 2021 | Windows Central
• Windows 10 October 2020 Update review: Subtle, but necessary | Windows Central
• Surface Duo tip: Enable app notification icons in Peek Mode | Windows Central
• Microsoft's massive 85-inch Surface Hub 2S is coming in January 2021 for $21,999 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Edge for Linux preview is coming in October | Windows Central
• Microsoft Teams bringing more meeting tweaks with custom layouts, breakout rooms | Windows Central
• Alleged Windows XP source code leaked, spread on 4chan | Windows Central
• Xbox Series X, PS5 fiascos show the problem with preorders in the digital age | Windows Central
• Microsoft has acquired ZeniMax Media (DOOM, Elder Scrolls, Fallout) for Xbox | Windows Central

Michael Fisher aka "Mr. Mobile" joins Daniel and Zac to offer his impressions of Surface Duo. Zac shares the history of Andromeda — the initiative that ultimately led to creation of Surface Duo.

They also touch on Windows 10 20H2, a roundup of Surface laptop rumors, and the value of PS5 vs. Xbox.

Links:

• Surface Duo Review: Double Trouble - YouTube
• Surface Duo | Windows Central
• Project Andromeda: The secret history of Windows on Surface Duo | Windows Central
• How to get Windows 10 October 2020 Update before anyone else | Windows Central
• Microsoft is building a new midrange Surface clamshell PC with a 12.5-inch display | Windows Central
• Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One X 3D size comparison | Windows Central

This week, Dan provides his full review of Surface Duo. He and Zac also discuss the recently unveiled Xbox pricing. It appears Microsoft will "win" this generation of consoles from a price and value standpoint.

Zac also reports on a new midrange Surface laptop (codenamed Sparti) that may arrive in time for the Holiday shopping season.

Links:

• Surface Duo review: A dual-screen phone of tomorrow ... that's not quite ready today | Windows Central
• Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S release date and price finally revealed | Windows Central
• Microsoft is building a new midrange Surface clamshell PC with a 12.5-inch display | Windows Central

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Some Microsoft product code names have leaked — Zac and Daniel talk about what upcoming devices a few of them might be. Qualcomm has an update to the Snapdragon 8cx line coming late this year.

There are plenty of other product announcements this week. Intel have announced their 11th-gen processors, while NVIDIA unveiled a family of RTX 3000-series GPUs.

Links:

• Qualcomm announces new Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G Compute Platform, ships 'late 2020' | Windows Central
• Surface Duo might not arrive in markets outside the United States until 2021 | Windows Central
• Windows 10 build 20206 lands with new and improved emoji picker, much more | Windows Central
• Intel takes on AMD with 11th-gen Tiger Lake and Iris XE graphics
• NVIDIA unveils RTX 3090, RTX 3080, and RTX 3070: Everything you need to know | Windows Central

Dan has a Surface Duo in hand and provides his impressions of the hardware while carefully skirting questions about software as he continues testing the new device. He and Zac also talk about Windows 10 20H2 build 19042.487 rolling out to the Beta and Release Channels.

It's possible that the Microsoft purchase of TikTok could be happening VERY soon. Plus, the new Xbox dashboard finally gets it right.

Links:

• Surface Duo FAQ: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's first dual-screen Surface | Windows Central
• Surface Duo unboxing: Watch Windows Central's Daniel Rubino go hands-on | Windows Central
• Windows 10 20H2 build 19042.487 now rolling out in the Beta and Release Channel | Windows Central
• Microsoft TikTok purchase could happen within next 48 hours | Windows Central
• The next Xbox One and Xbox Series X dashboard finally gets it right | Windows Central

There's still plenty more to say about Surface Duo, but Dan and Zac catch up on other happenings within the Microsoft world. There's chat about new Windows 10 builds, Xbox Series S, real-time trips and weather with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and the end of support for Microsoft Edge Legacy.

Additionally, Dan reviews the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from a Microsoft service users perspective. Plus, he makes the case for new societal fashion aesthetics.

Links:

• Windows Insider build 20197 makes disk management way more accessible | Windows Central
• Say goodbye to Microsoft Edge Legacy; support ending in March 2021 | Windows Central
• Samsung Note 20 Ultra review: The everything phone of 2020 | Windows Central
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on Xbox: Release date, Xbox Series X, and everything you need to know | Windows Central
• Surface Duo FAQ: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's first dual-screen Surface | Windows Central
• Still mulling Surface Duo? Check out Dave Lee's hands-on overview. | Windows Central
• Surface Duo displays already available at some Best Buy stores | Windows Central
• Controller leak possibly confirms Xbox Series S name | Windows Central

Surface Duo has been fully unveiled and is now available for pre-order! Daniel and Zac are joined by another Dan — Android Central's Executive Editor Daniel Bader. They cover all the bases of the new device, including pricing and why Microsoft chose Android for the operating system instead of a Windows variant. As we've said many times already, Surface Duo is a product for Microsoft fans and hardcore users of the ecosystem. Don't overthink it, just tune in!

Links:

• Surface Duo FAQ: Everything you need to know about Microsoft's first dual-screen Surface | Windows Central
• Who is Surface Duo for? Don't overthink it. | Windows Central
• Duo-take: Here's what the media is saying about Surface Duo | Windows Central
• Will you buy Surface Duo for $1,400? (poll) | Windows Central
• Watch Panos Panay's Microsoft Surface Duo launch press briefing | Windows Central

Sponsors:

• Mint Moblie: Mint Mobile makes it easy to cut your wireless bill down to just 15 bucks a month. Every plan comes with unlimited nationwide talk and text. Use your own phone with any Mint Mobile plan and keep your same phone number along with all your existing contacts. To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to mintmobile.com/wcp.

It's been a busy week for Microsoft, and thus for Daniel and Zac as well! Significant organizational changes are happening for the Windows and Azure teams. Meanwhile, Satya Nadella works to acquire TikTok in the midst of very mixed signals from President Trump.

Microsoft and Apple are at odds over xCloud game streaming and what Microsoft claims are unfair App Store policies. But Microsoft is finding a not-so-strange bedfellow in the form of Samsung with regard to app integrations and a mutual love of foldable devices.

Links:

• Microsoft makes significant reorg changes to Windows and Azure | Windows Central
• Report: Microsoft wants all of TikTok, but Trump signs order for new restrictions | Windows Central
• TikTok slams President Trump's Executive Order, threatens legal action | Windows Central
• Microsoft slams Apple over unfair App Store policy as antitrust looms large | Windows Central
• What Microsoft's Xbox xCloud partnership with Samsung really means | Windows Central
• Microsoft 'Your Phone' will soon let you stream your Android apps to Windows 10 | Windows Central
• Samsung Notes and Reminders will soon sync to Microsoft To Do and OneNote | Windows Central

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