Month: September 2019

Microsoft has announced a major launch event in New Yorkwhere it is widely expected to reveal the latest Surface hardware, and it looks like there could be a surprise in store for Surface Laptop fans.

Taking place on October 2nd, the latest information is that Microsoft will be updating the Surface Laptop portfolio to include its first 15-inch model. Although the Surface Book has a 15-inch screen option (and Apple is heavily rumored to up the 15-inch MacBook Pro to a 16-inch display, assuming Apple really cares about this market), the appearance of the 15-inch option with the Surface Laptop opens up a new audience to Microsoft.

I would expect any 15-inch Surface Laptop to follow in the shadow of both the existing Laptop and the larger Surface Book machines to continue using the 3:2 ratio screens. With the higher price of the Surface Book, having a Surface Laptop option with the larger screens opens up a different market segment that is looking for the expansive screen at a lower price point.

I’m more intrigued by the chipset options. Until now Microsoft has worked with Intel, but there have been some indications that AMD has been under consideration in the past, as reported here on Forbes over the summer:

There’s a strong argument that if Microsoft is looking to keep the ecosystem in balance then it should be looking at other manufacturers such as AMD. Not only does that show other manufacturers that Windows 10 is not just for Intel silicon, it ensures that Microsoft and AMD share competencies that can ensure a wide and varied pool of components.

Qualcomm is also an option for Microsoft, especially if it is looking for 4G LTE and 5G connectivity in the future, but I would expect the more mobile and enterprise-focused Surface Go to be a better fit for Qualcomm’s 8CX chipset launched earlier this year.

Three devices are on deck and ready for some upgrades at the October launch event. One is the aforementioned Surface Laptop which looks a sure bet, as does the next generation Pro in the form of the Surface Pro 7. But anticipation is cooling on the potential of a third Surface Book.

And will we see a dual-screened Surface break cover? We’ll find out at the start of next month.

Microsoft’s latest round of Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 10 were released earlier this week, bringing a number of unexpected issues. First, the Redmond giant confirmed that problems with the Start menu and Windows Search were being investigated. Later, reports started emerging from users regarding audio issues including missing audio effects and volume sounding much lower than usual. More specifically, the problems are being faced by those on build 18362.356.

This doesn’t seem to have been the last of unanticipated issues, however, as some users are experiencing network adapter failures as well (via Windows Latest).

According to a user on the Microsoft community forum, “After installing the latest update KB4515384, my Intel wireless network card and Intel lan card have stopped working. Device Manager reports a device error and cannot start it. Deinstalling KB4515384 solved the problem.”

Another user documented the problem on the Feedback Hub in the following way:

“KB4515384 breaks ethernet and wifi adapters on my PC. Appears to create new devices as they’re labelled ‘#2’ and when exposing hidden devices in Device Manager the previously named devices appear. Uninstalling these / new or old drivers do not fix the issues (i.e. “ethernet unplugged” which it is clearly not). Only option was to uninstall this update.”

Meanwhile, users on Reddit have reported facing similar problems, with one user stating that downloading the latest Intel drivers or performing a fresh install did not help in resolving the problem. As such, Ethernet and Wi-Fi capabilities end up being disabled for these users.

Users affected by this bug can attempt to re-enable the network adapter via Device Manager, and then reboot their systems. However, by all accounts so far, it does seem that the only fix for now is to uninstall the KB4515384 cumulative update. Although Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the issue yet, users will be hoping that a proper workaround is detailed soon.

If you’re pricing out a new 13-inch laptop, you’ve probably considered the HP Spectre and Dell XPS lines—particularly the HP Spectre x360 and the Dell XPS 13.

Both of these laptops are the core workhorses in their respective lines, which are kitted out to appeal to higher-end consumer and business audiences. Hewlett Packard often wins corporate bidding due to its more budget-conscious pricing, though you give up some fit and finish to make those cost breakpoints. Dell machines tend to be more solidly built, but also tack on extra cost to cover those details.

All of the Hewlett Packard Spectre line commonly available are touchscreen 2-in-1 models, meaning that you can flip them over on their hinges and use them as tablets (or in table-tent mode for video viewing.) The XPS 13 does come in a 2-in-1 version, but it’s a bit pricier. I’ve stuck with the standard laptop edition for this review to keep the models in a similar price range. Here’s how they compare:

Hewlett Packard (HP) Spectre x360-13t

The Spectre x360 13t includes a 13-inch screen with HP’s distinctive cut-off corners. This one comes with a dark chassis and gold accents. It draws its power from a quad-core 8th Generation Intel i7-8550U processor, 16 gigabytes (GB) RAMand a 512GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive.

Graphics processing is provided by an integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics processor (standard equipment on most laptops in these two lines.) The price tag is quite reasonable for a 2-in-1 with these specs, but the x360 isn’t going to win any medals for sturdy construction.

New Dell XPS 13 9380

The New Dell XPS 13 9380 comes with newer hardware inside, but no touchscreen or 2-in-1 capabilities outside. This model is a handsome rose gold exterior—with a silver interior.

This unit includes an Intel Core i7-8565 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a fingerprint reader (which can be used to turn on the laptop). It has the same onboard Intel HD Graphics 620 processor as the Spectre x360, which means that like that model, it’s capable of handling some light photo editing and similar tasks. The screen is a true 4K, and pleasant to look at. You’re paying for better build quality here, though the HP has a minor edge on hardware.

You might only have to wait a few weeks more if you’ve been holding off for a OnePlus 7T. The historically accurate OnLeaks and Compareraja have claimed that both the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro will be unveiled on October 10th, with availability slated for October 15th. The apparent scoop also includes specs for both, although it’s clear these are incremental upgrades — you won’t be in a rush to upgrade a OnePlus 7 Pro.

Both phones will reportedly tout slightly faster Snapdragon 855 Plus chips, the long-rumored 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a host of photography modes that includes a new macro mode. You won’t see fundamental changes beyond that, according to the leak. It’s not necessarily a bad thing when that still means top-tier specs in key areas, particularly the responsive 90Hz AMOLED screen. If these specs prove authentic, though, this is the definition of a “T” release from OnePlus — an iterative upgrade meant to keep the device current, rather than court enthusiasts who replace their phones as often as possible.

After years of rumors, Apple will finally include a fast charger with at least one of its iPhone models. Starting with the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the company will ship an 18W power adapter inside the box. The 18W USB-C power adapter is the same one the company ships with the 2018 iPad Pro. Since the iPhone 11 Pro still features a Lightning Port, Apple is also including a USB-C to Lightning cable, which means you’ll finally be to connect your iPhone to one of the company’s current Macs without buying an additional cable. This marks the first time one of Apple’s smartphone hasn’t come with the company’s outdated and slow 5W charger.

Unfortunately, the more affordable iPhone 11 will continue to come with a 5W charger. In addition to faster charging, the new iPhone 11 Pro models feature improved battery life, with Apple claiming the 11 Pro offers four more hours of battery life over the iPhone Xs. The iPhone 11 Pro Max, meanwhile, offers five more hours of battery life compared to the iPhone Xs Max.