Dev Kit Archives

Winsage

February 27, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link PC shows up in real life photos ahead of availability this spring

Microsoft introduced the Windows 365 Link, a compact mini PC that operates as a thin client, streaming Windows 11 from the cloud while running a streamlined version of Windows locally. It is currently undergoing private testing with select customers, with a broader release anticipated in April. The device is small enough to be held in one hand and features various ports, including USB-A, USB-C, ethernet, DisplayPort, and HDMI. It is powered by an Intel N250 processor, has 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Priced at , it requires an active subscription to a Windows 365 PC, which is currently an enterprise-only service, though Microsoft may expand it to consumers in the future.

Winsage

November 20, 2024

“Windows 365 Link” is Microsoft’s $349 thin client for Windows in the cloud

Microsoft is launching the Windows 365 Link in April at a price of . The device is a compact black box designed to connect to the Windows 365 cloud service, rather than operating Windows locally. It features a user-friendly interface with a single USB-A port on the front and multiple connectivity options on the rear, including one USB-C 3.2 port, two USB-A ports, a full-size DisplayPort, a full-size HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a power jack. The Windows 365 Link operates without a fan, is powered by an unspecified Intel processor, and includes 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It runs a streamlined version of Windows and supports dual 4K displays. The device includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity and is designed for efficient integration with desktop peripherals and network connections.

Winsage

October 19, 2024

Qualcomm abruptly cancels Snapdragon X Elite dev kit — refunds customers for mini PC, ends sales and support for the device immediately | Tom’s Hardware

Qualcomm has decided to discontinue the Snapdragon X Elite Developer Kit, which was priced at 9, and is offering refunds to customers who purchased it since its launch. The company acknowledged that the Developer Kit did not meet its standards of excellence and has paused the product and its support indefinitely. Retail laptops with Snapdragon chips were already available, which diminished the kit's purpose for app development on Windows for Arm. Qualcomm plans to expand Snapdragon chip usage across all PC form factors, including desktops. There is potential for a Snapdragon X mini-PC from an OEM, and testing of X2 Elite chips is underway, indicating future developments based on the Developer Kit experience.

Winsage

October 19, 2024

Qualcomm cancels its miniature Windows on Arm PC

Qualcomm has canceled its Snapdragon Dev Kit, a compact Windows on Arm PC originally set for release in June, citing that it "has not met our usual standards of excellence." Customers will receive full refunds for their orders. The launch faced multiple challenges, and Qualcomm has not provided specific reasons for the delays. Some developers received units before the announcement, with one noting performance comparable to Apple's M3 Pro but lacking Linux support and having peculiar resale restrictions. A missing HDMI port was identified as a potential issue, with suggestions that it may have caused production delays and failed FCC compliance testing. The dev kit was intended to help developers adapt applications for Windows on Arm, with notable successes in native Arm64 applications. The cancellation raises concerns about Qualcomm's strategy for desktop PCs as it approaches its upcoming Snapdragon summit.