Once upon a time, actually just a decade ago, the Surface name simply referred to a range of 2-in-1 tablets that transformed into laptops when a keyboard cover was attached. Today, the brand encompasses a variety of devices, including Microsoft’s very own laptop. Rather than aping Apple’s MacBook like other manufacturers tend to do, the Surface Laptop made a name for itself with its distinctive design that clearly marked it as part of a larger Microsoft family of computers. Now in its fifth year, the Surface Laptop 5 continues that tradition, bringing not only a new set of hardware upgrades inside but also a new selection of colors to match your own personal style.
The Surface Laptop has always looked smart and sharp compared to most laptops. Clean corners and flat edges give it a somewhat industrial look, while its minimalist surfaces provide a modern contrast that gives the notebook PC a unique visual character. Ever since the early days of the Surface line, Microsoft has adopted a special design tradition with the use of premium Alcantara material on many of its devices. The Surface Laptop 5 inherits that DNA but also expands it a little bit to accommodate the diverse tastes of customers.
Knowing that there is no one size or color that fits all, Microsoft is adding a new Sage color option to the roster. This grayish-green hue has earthy tones that call to mind pebbles and smooth rocks that are commonly associated with Zen gardens. This gives the Surface Laptop 5 a calmer appearance that seems to fit perfectly with today’s busy lives centered around computers. Customers can still pick their preferred Sandstone or Matte Black metal colors, as well as the Platinum colorway with a premium Alcantara keyboard deck.
The Surface Laptop 5 upgrades the series with the latest 12th gen Intel processors, all designed using the chip maker’s EVO platform to guarantee power efficiency in a mobile setting. Like before, buyers can also choose between 13-inch or 15-inch sizes depending on their need for portability or more screen space. Whichever they choose, they will be able to harness the laptop’s full potential for work and entertainment. Those include Dolby Vision IQ and Atmos for exceptional image quality and cinematic sound, a 720p HD webcam and dual far-field Studio mics for video meetings, and a battery that will last 17 to 18 hours, depending on the model and use case. Availability details for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 are still forthcoming, and this piece will be updated once the information becomes available.
Microsoft has been pushing tablets as powerful yet flexible productivity tools long before Apple decided to go on its “What’s a computer” iPad Pro marketing campaign. Although it has had trouble making and selling its own devices before, Microsoft finally struck gold with the Surface Pro 2-in-1 tablets, giving birth to a new brand of Surface devices that have become the company’s signature hardware line. Nine years and nine generations later, the Surface Pro still remains a benchmark for this class of Windows computers. With the Surface Pro 9, Microsoft is consolidating its lightweight and flexible PC while also breaking it out into new splashes of colors that will give customers more options to fit their aesthetic tastes.
Tablet PCs existed long before the iPad was even conceived, but those portable computers really stretched the meaning of the word “portable.” While tablets powered by iOS (now iPadOS) and Android were indeed lightweight and convenient to carry around, their earlier incarnations lacked both the hardware and the software to be considered worthwhile tools for work and creating content. The first Surface Pro in 2013 challenged those assumptions and started a trend that other PC makers would follow even to this day.
The Surface Pro’s core design has changed very little, despite heavy criticism of its kickstand’s “lap-ability.” Microsoft opted to focus on familiarity, refinement, and compatibility, with last year’s Surface Pro 8 making the biggest change that would see the bezels around the screen slim down considerably. This year, the Surface Pro 9 pays attention to a slightly different aspect, increasing the color options to include more vibrant hues to appeal to more design-savvy customers.
New to this batch are Sapphire and Forest colors, adding a bit of life to the more subdued Graphite and Platinum choices. As with any new Surface Pro release, there are matching Signature Keyboard Covers that are now partially made with biobased Alcantara material. This more sustainable textile contains at least 12% renewable content derived from sugarcane waste, making the Surface Pro 9 a little bit more environment-conscious this year.
There are more changes inside, of course, primarily with the more powerful 12th gen Intel EVO processors. Those familiar with Microsoft’s previous Surface Pro devices might notice the addition of a new Surface Pro 9 with 5G model in the list. This replaces the Surface Pro X line and is powered by a new Microsoft SQ3 processor co-designed with Qualcomm, pitting it directly against both the M1 iPad Pros and the M1 MacBook Pros. All in all, the Surface Pro 9 offers more flexibility in the number of options buyers will be able to choose from, letting them decide the features they need in the colors they want. Availability details for the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 are still forthcoming, and this piece will be updated once the information becomes available.
The way we work changed drastically after 2020 due to how many businesses were forced to adopt work-from-home arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though many companies have returned to normal operations by now, a lot have embraced hybrid work strategies that let people work in the office or at home, depending on the situation. During these tumultuous times, the one thing about work and even school that hasn’t changed is the need to deliver presentations. Very few people actually find that activity fun, and it can ironically be even more stressful when done remotely. There are a few ways to lessen the cognitive load when doing presentations, and one of them is by having the right tool for the job, like the new Microsoft Presenter+ remote control specifically designed for a hybrid life.
No matter how well you’ve prepared your slides and rehearsed your delivery, something always tends to go wrong during presentations. One of the biggest “accidents” that happen is a slide that just refuses to move forward or backward at your command. If you’re near the laptop or computer where the presentation is running, that might be easy to resolve, but not if you’re at a distance, whether in a meeting room or your bedroom.
The new Microsoft Presenter+ addresses a few of these problems and then some. With Bluetooth connectivity and a maximum range of 32 feet, you won’t have to worry about your presses not going through. Dedicated forward and backward buttons make it clear which does what, but these can even be reprogrammed to do other things if you really need some extra functionality. For in-person presentations, a screen pointer is also available to keep your audience focused on the content that matters.
The Microsoft Presenter+ is designed from the ground up for the new systems and technologies that have been adopted in the workplace, especially hybrid work arrangements. A dedicated Microsoft Teams button lets you easily join a meeting or raise your hand when you’re already in one. There is also a clearly-marked mute button, so you won’t have to scramble to click the correct icon. A helpful status indicator lets you easily see if you’re muted or not to prevent that awkward silence.
Although specifically designed with Microsoft Teams and PowerPoint in mind, the Presenter+ also works with other presentation software, including Apple Keynote and Prezi. With an easy-to-use interface and convenient shortcuts to often-used functions, this handy gadget keeps you focused on your presentation rather than on which button to press next. Availability details for the Microsoft Presenter+ are still forthcoming, and this piece will be updated once the information becomes available.
Designed as an upgrade to their Surface Studio 2, the 2+ now has double the graphical capabilities of its predecessor and comes built expressly for Windows 11.
Earlier today, Microsoft announced a slew of hardware products under their Studio line (along with even an audio dock system for enterprise use with their Teams software). Debuted alongside next-gen announcements for the Surface Tab and Laptop, the company even revealed an upgraded version of their flagship all-in-one desktop system. Aptly titled the Surface Studio 2+ (since it’s an upgrade, not a next-gen), the desktop device comes with the same flexible, adjustable design as its predecessor, however with a few tweaks under the hood. The Studio 2+ sports a massive 28″ PixelSense touchscreen with support for a digital pen, with a virtually weightless, adjustable Zero Gravity Hinge connecting it to the main hub.
The Studio 2+ comes with an 11th Gen Intel® Core H-35 Processor under the hood (50% faster than the Studio 2) with 32GB DDR4 memory, enabling multitasking, working with large files, and conducting video calls right on the device. It even houses an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX® 3060 Laptop GPU with the latest RT Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors, offering double the graphical productivity of its predecessor.
The Surface Studio 2+ comes with an abundance of essential ports including thunderbolt and USB-C inputs, a 3.5mm input, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The 28″ display boasts a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 4500 x 3000 resolution with support for Dolby Vision and color calibration suited for most artist and creative-based applications. Gorilla Glass 3 on the top keeps the display unit protected against scratches, scuffs, and any other damage.
Other hardware specs include a front-facing 1080p camera with Windows Hello face-unlock, 1TB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, stereo 2.1 speakers and dual far-field microphones, and finally a Surface Pen and Surface Keyboard that comes bundled with the Studio 2+. The Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ ships with a 1-year limited warranty, and impressively enough, is designed with replaceable components, enabling repairing and upgrading with time.
Pricing and availability details for the Microsoft Surface Studio 2_ are still forthcoming, and this piece will be updated once the information becomes available.
Styled less like a piece of hardware and more like functional fashion, the Microsoft Holo Glasses are redemption for exactly how geeky Google’s glasses were in 2013. They scale down Microsoft’s existing Hololens 2 technology into a slim wearable that fits comfortably on your face, and comes with snap-on frames that allow you to swap styles in a hot minute!
The Holo Glasses are a wearable concept that takes Microsoft’s AR chops and makes them consumer-friendly again. Now, I love Microsoft as a company. Satya Nadella’s done wonders by taking it to the trillion dollar club, and Microsoft’s acquisitions of LinkedIn, Github, and Activision Blizzard are a great example of Nadella’s vision for the company… but at the same time, aside from their gaming business, Microsoft’s entirely an enterprise-focused company. They surrendered the smartphone war by bidding adieu to Nokia, and they even took Hololens 2 and turned it into more of a business solution than a consumer gadget. The Holo Glasses, however, make the company cool again!
Designer: Misneok Kim
Schematically, the glasses are pretty much like the Hololens, with cameras and sensors that help with object and spatial tracking, and lenses in front of the eye that help reflect images into the retina. Like the Hololens 2, the Holo Glasses let you see what’s ahead of you too, giving you a mixed reality experience that only a handful of companies have been able to deliver on… although we’re still expecting Apple to launch their AR glasses shortly too!
As is evident in the image below, the Holo Glasses are designed in two parts – the first being the hardware that sits on your face, and the second being a set of magnetic frames that snap onto the glasses, giving them their fashion-forward look. The frames add the aesthetic appeal to the Holo Glasses while the visors on the actual wearable deal with reflecting visuals to your eye. This dual-glass setup can be seen in many other AR headsets, although what this concept does is slim the contraption down to a level where tech and fashion can coexist harmoniously.
These snap-on frames come in a variety of colors and shapes, giving wearers the freedom to choose their ‘look’. You can simply swap out fascias to alter the appearance of your Holo Glasses, and there’s even the option of getting prescription lenses built into the snap-on frames, allowing people with spectacles to wear the Holo Glasses too!
On paper, the Holo Glasses are a pretty nifty concept. They make Microsoft’s existing tech even better and more democratized, so regular users can access game-changing AR technology without breaking the bank. The glasses can be operated by voice or by buttons and touch-sensitive surfaces on the temple stems. Each Holo Glass also comes with bone-conducting audio units built into the ends, delivering audio directly to the wearer without needing to wear earphones. Ultimately, when not worn, the Holo Glasses can be carried around in their spectacle cases, which also double as charging docks for the wearables.
Your college years can be some of the best of your life, but we know it can be tough to enjoy them when you’re scrounging every dollar for textbooks, food and (if you’re lucky) the occasional outing with friends. Money is tight when you’re a student, and that financial stress can be compounded by the reality of having to stay on top of your studies.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s student discounts. Many companies offer their products and apps for less to those struggling through lectures, writing term papers and studying for finals. We’ve compiled a list of the best deals you can get on useful services, along with some things you’ll enjoy in your down time. Just keep in mind that most of these offers require you to prove your status as a student either by signing up with your .edu email address or providing some form of student identification.
Shopping
Engadget
Amazon Prime Student
If you’re not piggybacking off of your parents’ Amazon Prime account, you can have the subscription for less while you’re in school. College students can get Prime Student for free for six months, then it costs only $7.49 per month after that. That comes out to about $90 per year, and the membership includes the same perks as regular Prime does, including free two-day shipping, free same-day delivery in select areas, and access to the entire Prime Video library.
While it doesn’t offer a specific student discount, Best Buy has Student Deals that you can sign up to receive. Aside from proving your student status, the only requirement is for you to be a My Best Buy member; that program is free to enroll in. We actually recommend that most people sign up for My Best Buy because some items, especially during site-wide sales, will be even cheaper for members. All student deals will appear in the Member Offers page in your account.
Apple offers some deals to students and educators in the form of knocking down the prices of its most popular laptops and tablets. There isn’t a flat percentage rate across all products; the discounts vary by device. For example, right now students can get a MacBook Air M1 starting at $899, which is $100 less than the normal starting price, and the iPad Pros start at $749, which represents a $50 discount. These are decent savings if you must have a brand new Apple product, but those with tighter budgets should also consider Apple’s refurb program. Also for 2022, students can get up to a $150 gift card and 20 percent off AppleCare when they purchase a qualifying Mac or iPad.
Much like Apple, Samsung doesn't offer a blanket discount across all of its products for students. But you can save depending on what you're looking to buy. For example, you can save hundreds on the latest Galaxy S22 smartphones, and the discount will be deeper if you have a handset to trade in. On the laptop-and-tablet side of things, you can get a Galaxy Chromebook 2 for as low as $350 or a Galaxy Tab S8+ for. as low as $200.
Microsoft also provides students and educators with up to 10 percent off its gadgets, including the already affordable Surface Go 2 and the Surface Headphones 2. And Microsoft’s online store doesn’t only sell Surface devices: You can also find Windows PCs from Lenovo, HP, Acer and others there at discounted prices.
Spotify Premium’s student plan gives you a lot for only $5 per month. Besides access to millions of songs, it also includes Hulu’s ad-supported tier and Showtime’s ad-free service. You’d spend roughly $27 a month if you paid for all three separately at their full prices, making this student offer one of the best you can get.
Pandora also offers students its Premium membership for $5 per month. Pandora’s offering doesn’t include any additional services, but you do get an ad-free experience, personalized music, unlimited skips and unlimited offline play. Plus, you’ll get 60 days of free use before your payments kick in.
Apple also slashes 50 percent off its Apple Music subscription for students, bringing it down to $5 per month. The offer is available for up to 48 months so you can enjoy the rate for the entirety of your college experience. What’s more, the company bundles Apple TV+ in this student offer, so you can watch Apple originals like Ted Lasso and Severance.
Paramount+’s student discount knocks 25 percent off the Essentials monthly plan, so you’ll end up paying around $3.75 per month for access to the service’s content with limited commercials. With this subscription, you can watch shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, South Park, RuPaul’s Drag Race and more, but just keep in mind that this particular plan doesn’t include access to your local CBS station.
Discovery+ knocks 40 percent off monthly plans for students, so you can get access for only $3 per month. You’ll pay for the Ad-Lite plan, so there will still be commercials to sit through, but you can get that discounted rate for as long as you are an enrolled student.
Tidal provides student discounts on both of its streaming services: Premium and Hi-Fi. Premium drops to $5 per month, down from $10, while Hi-Fi costs $10 per month, down from $20. Tidal is still often overshadowed by Spotify and Apple Music, but these discounts are a good way to give it a try without spending too much money.
College students can sign up for Hulu’s ad-supported plan for only $2 per month. That’s $4 less than the normal price and a great deal considering all of the content that Hulu has to offer (think: The Handmaid’s Tale, Grey’s Anatomy, Rick & Morty and more). Yes, you have to deal with commercials, but it’s a small price to pay to binge-watch shows like Brooklyn Nine Nine, which can provide a much-needed laugh when you’re drowning in coursework.
If you’re already spending a lot of time watching YouTube, you may have a better experience with YouTube Premium. The Student plan cuts nearly 50 percent off the price so you’ll pay $7 per month for ad-free video viewing, background play, video downloads and access to YouTube Premium Music. The latter is YouTube’s attempt at a Spotify/Apple Music competitor, but it has a long way to go before it can really hold a candle to those services. However, if you listen to most of your music via YouTube already, Premium could be your one-stop-shop for music and video streaming.
Being a student is stressful even in the best of times, but now it’s even more difficult to concentrate and find peace. Headspace is just one of many meditation and mindfulness apps available that can help with that, but it stands apart with an excellent student discount: $10 for the entire year, or $60 less than a normal annual membership. In addition to a large library of meditation lessons and routines to follow, Headspace recently added SleepCasts, a collection of soothing voices reading bedtime stories to help you fall asleep, as well as “mindful” workout routines.
You’re probably using Adobe products if you’re studying anything related to digital art or design. Adobe Creative Cloud is the industry standard in this space but the entire suite of programs is quite expensive at $53 per month. Thankfully, Adobe has education pricing for students that drops the entire creative suite to $20 per month for the first year. That includes the big programs like Photoshop CC and Illustrator CC along with Lightroom CC, Premiere Pro CC, Adobe XD and more.
After your first year, the monthly cost increases to $30 per month. While not ideal, it’s still more affordable for students than it is for industry professionals. If you’re not tied to Adobe programs, you might also consider Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher apps from Serif ($50 each for the Mac or Windows versions), which compete with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, respectively.
Regardless of whether you’re studying music production, students can get 40 percent off Ableton Live Standard or Suite for as long as they are enrolled full-time. That brings Live 11 Standard down to $269 and Suite down to $449 — great discounts on some of the best music software available right now.
Many students have to use Microsoft 365 tools on the regular. If your college or university doesn’t provide you with an account, you can still get Microsoft 365 for free by taking advantage of the company’s student and educator discount. This gives you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and even Microsoft Teams free of charge, which is a solid deal considering an annual subscription costs $100.
Spending all day and night writing papers is even more frustrating when you don’t have all your writing organized in one place. Ulysses is a popular writing app for mac/iOS that can be used for note taking as well as thesis writing, with features like auto-save and auto-backup, word-count writing goals, markup, plain text support and DropBox integration. Normally, Ulysses costs $40 per year but students can get it for only $12 every six months, or $24 per year. There isn’t a direct alternative for Windows users, but you do have options including Scrivener (a one-time student price of $41.65), IA Writer (a $20 one-time price) and FocusWriter (free and open-source).
Evernote can be an indispensable tool if you like to keep all of your thoughts in one place — everything from class notes to web clippings to to-do lists. Students can get half off one year of Evernote Premium, which brings the price down to $4 per month or $48 for the year. Premium is the way to go if you’re investing in Evernote because it syncs your notes across unlimited devices, gives you offline access, lets you annotate PDFs and search saved documents.
Notion provides students and educators its Personal Pro plan for free just by signing up with a valid .edu email address. While the free version of the service has a ton of features, the Pro plan adds unlimited pages and blocks, file uploads and version history. That means you won’t be restricted if you want to collect your entire academic life in Notion, along with your personal to-do lists, agendas, notes and more.
Aspiring developers can sign up for Github’s Student Developer Pack, which includes discounts and resources that developers can use to learn, create projects and more. Github partnered with a bunch of companies including Educative, Canva, Namecheap, Bootstrap Studio and others to offer students access to many of the services they’ll need as the expand their skills.
Whether you’re itching to get a jump-start on your portfolio or just want an online space to show off your work, Squarespace is a good option as it gives students a 50 percent discount on any of its annual plans. The most affordable option will cost $72 for the year, which is half the normal yearly price of $144. Squarespace is one of many website builders out there, but it’s particularly popular with creative professionals. Its customizable templates make it easy to build a website and make it look exactly how you want it. Plus, you can upgrade down the line to add things like website analytics, custom JavaScript and CSS and e-commerce.
You shouldn’t rely on Twitter to be your sole source of news. With foreign wars, new viruses, Supreme Court decisions and upcoming elections making headlines daily, it’s important to get your news from reliable sources. Yes, it’s daunting to get into the news on a regular basis, but it’s crucial to know what’s going on in the country and the world as a whole. Here are some reputable news organizations that offer student discounts on their monthly or annual subscription plans.
The Atlantic: Starts at $35 per year for digital-only access.
Microsoft knows its craft when it comes to marketing its gaming consoles. And it’s clear, they’ve got a real affection for the current generation Xbox Series X and Series S. The Redmond-based tech giant ignited interest with their one-off Xbox Series X fridge revealed at the E3 2021 event, and then they joined forces with premium luggage maker July to create limited-edition Xbox Series S suitcase for hardcore nerds.
No, this one is not the official Microsoft build, but a DIY project by engineer and Youtuber Michael Pick who’s lately obsessed with crafting the world’s biggest gadgets. He teamed up with ZHC to build the world’s largest Xbox Series X gaming console for a good cause. The size of a big refrigerator you’d come across, the DIY project stands towering at 6.82 feet and 3.41 feet wide. If you ever thought the retail version was a bit on the bulkier, this one should bury all your apprehensions for good.
Designer: Michael Pick
Behind the perfect look, there is a real Xbox Series X fitted inside the wooden rig. All the fancy inputs right from the Microsoft logo and the connection ports at the rear are actuated by the Arduino microcontrollers. For instance, pressing the button on the bigger console triggers an input on the hidden console inside courtesy of a motor. Pick invested a lot of time and energy into crafting the curved top using 3D printing technique, and it took him almost two weeks to finish the piece. Even though the top isn’t visible due to the height, according to Pick it brings the build to life. Once the basic crafting of the console got completed, it was passed over to ZHC in Texas where it got a cool custom paint job in a cartoonish sci-fi theme.
Compared to the mini Xbox X fridge which cools down beers, this one is fully functional as a gaming console, its primary intended purpose. By the way, this huge console is well over 600 percent bigger than the real one, and unsurprisingly has a Guinness World Record to its name too. Behind its highly detailed emulated look, the DIY project was ultimately gifted to the Youth and Teen Development Center in Atlanta, GA. The kids were elated to see this cool creation and then, later on, try out the games loaded onto the console. Truly a build worthwhile all the effort!
It walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, but it has a few feathers that are different from the flock.
The Mac mini has been around for almost two decades now, but the recent Apple M1 model definitely changed the game. It showcased the power of Apple’s first desktop silicon, butting heads with Intel chips. It also shrank the internals, though Apple has yet to take advantage of those space savings. More importantly, it vindicated the mini PC market as a viable computer for more than just content consumption or casual use, as long as you have the right hardware inside. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft is trying to catch up, announcing its first-ever Arm-based desktop computer. But while it immediately draws comparisons with the M1 Mac mini, there are a few things that set it apart in both good and bad ways.
This isn’t Microsoft’s first dance with using Arm chips similar to the Apple M1. In addition to 2-in-1 laptops made by its hardware partners, it also debuted the Surface Pro X with special versions of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipsets. Reception of these Arm-powered Windows devices has been mixed, bordering on the lukewarm, so it’s a bit surprising that Microsoft is again taking the plunge. Then again, Apple’s success in this territory means that Redmond has to face the music sooner or later.
Just like how the Mac mini became Apple’s developer kit for introducing its M1 processor to developers, Microsoft is similarly announcing Project Volterra as developers’ gateway to a new era of computing, at least as far as the company is concerned. Microsoft is giving the slim mini PC an AI-centric flavor, positioning it as the best way for developers to get started on the technologies that will power tomorrow’s experiences, particularly the ones that rely heavily on machine learning and AI. While Intel’s processors are also capable of pulling it off, Microsoft is banking heavily on Qualcomm’s dedicated chips for neural processing (NPUs) to stay ahead.
Desing-wise, Project Volterra is a bit intriguing, though it’s probably too early to draw conclusions from a video teaser. It looks incredibly thin, probably what the M1 Mac mini should have been from the get-go. It still has plenty of ports, though the selection is a bit odd as well. There is no HDMI port, for example, but there is at least a mini DisplayPort in addition to USB-C ports that could be used for video output. Microsoft’s teaser suggests that it can run two displays at once, though details have yet to be revealed. It has three USB-A ports, one more than the latest Mac mini, and an Ethernet port. Curiously, there is no sign of a headphone jack, which seems to imply that the computer is only for serious business.
Microsoft’s teaser mentions that Project Volterra is made from recycled ocean plastics, which definitely scores sustainability points no matter how small. The most interesting bit is how the mini computers have a stackable design that will make them more space-efficient when used in racks. Whether that actually has any performance advantage, like joining CPUs together, is unknown and probably wishful thinking. That said, Volterra is currently targeted at developers, and it is unknown if it will ever be made commercially available. If it does, it will probably go by a much different name under Microsoft’s Surface brand and hopefully also come with a more refined design and a complete set of ports.
If you’ve been looking for a superior gaming audio controller for in-game advantage, then look no further than Turtle Beach’s gaming accessory. It has a better design and features than the official Microsoft offering which makes it a better option.
Microsoft Stereo Adapter for Xbox controller lets you connect gaming headsets (or any other normal headset/earbuds) providing different levels of volume and the level of in-game volume. It also has the party chat volume along with the mute button. However, it lacks two important features for tactical gaming – microphone monitoring and microphone canceling.
This problem comes to light when you’re in a game room and other players can hear the external noise like TV playing in the background or the irritating thud of a jackhammer at the nearby construction site. This Turtle Beach Gaming Audio Controller solves them both and brings more features for gamers that they’ll relish. The Gaming Audio Controller gets three different levels of background audio canceling. The first one is pretty much the same as the Microsoft adapter, and is of not much use. The second one cuts out most of the background noises and only picks up high-pitched sounds like a train horn or an alarm. The last one is the most powerful at canceling out unwanted background audio clutter, as it cuts out 95% noise.
Other than this the audio controller has different game mode settings for audio signature – Extra Bass, Extra Treble, or both. The standout feature of this adapter is the Super Human Hearing mode which provides greater accuracy in battle royale games. So, you can rest assured of hearing even the faintest of footsteps in the nearby building to ascertain the direction of the enemy’s approach. Overall, the gaming accessory has a much better audio response and microphone clarity than Microsoft’s adapter.
Microsoft is leading the way in creating products for disabled people which is going to push others in the industry to create ones of their own. This will definitely splurge competition and drive the prices down which will benefit the disabled community!
Traditional PC input devices can (at most times) be challenging for people with disabilities to use. Microsoft took a step in solving this problem with their Xbox Adaptive Controller for disabled gamers, and then later on with the Surface Adaptive Kit, tailored for ease of use with existing input devices. Taking things forward, they’ve now developed Adaptive Accessories designed for people with disabilities who want something better than the traditional mouse and keyboard setup.
Destined for the second half of the 2022 launch, the PC peripherals are created in close association with the disabled community, understanding their needs in a better way. This line-up consists of three devices namely – an Adaptive Mouse, Adaptive Buttons, and an Adaptive Hub. The first two come with support for customized 3D printing freedom – giving the user option to curate them the way they want to. So, we are talking about completely customizing your mouse, keyboard inputs, and shortcuts to interact optimally with laptops, PC, or even big-screen tablets. Just to give you an idea, the toppers for the buttons can be shaped as per the needs.
The mouse is a small puck-like accessory that can clip into a palm rest, and the tail for the mouse acts as a palm rest. The flipping thumb rest allows the user to use it with the right or left hand with equal dexterity. The low-profile mouse doubles as a joystick, an eight-way D-pad. Those adaptive buttons can be toggles for eight programmable inputs for the PC. In the press release, Microsoft showed off the one with two large buttons.
The inputs can be set for macros or complex keyboard shortcuts which will come more than handy for people with motor disabilities. The normal keyboards can be replaced or augmented with a central hub and wireless buttons to pair with up to four Microsoft Adaptive Buttons, thereby removing unnecessary clutter. This hub works perfectly with 3.5 mm assistive tech switches and comes with three profiles for use with multiple devices.
Microsoft has not yet let out the word on the pricing of the Adaptive Accessories, but the fall launch date is certain. We hope they come at a reasonable price to reach the chunk of disabled end-users who really need them to streamline their productive workflow. More often than not assistive technology carries a premium price tag, and if Microsoft follows suit, then it will be a bit disappointing.
touchscreen with support for a digital pen, with a virtually weightless, adjustable Zero Gravity Hinge connecting it to the main hub.
