Surface Devices Archives

Winsage

August 30, 2026

Windows 11 26H2 is almost here, but where is the flagship Surface to sell it?

Microsoft is set to release a significant update to Windows 11, version 26H2, in the Release Preview Channel, with a general rollout expected in a few weeks. The update includes a new user interface, such as the ability to reposition the Taskbar, and various enhancements. There is currently no new Surface device to showcase these changes, which is seen as a missed opportunity. Microsoft has integrated Windows 11 with Snapdragon technology, as shown by the Surface Pro 11, which highlights the potential of fanless, Snapdragon-powered PCs. However, marketing the new features of Windows 11 poses challenges, particularly for under-the-hood enhancements.

Winsage

August 30, 2026

Dear Microsoft, where is the Surface to showcase all these improvements to Windows 11?

Microsoft has introduced Windows 11 version 26H2 to the Release Preview Channel, signaling a broader rollout in the coming weeks. This update includes user interface enhancements such as the ability to reposition the Taskbar, resize the Start menu, and disable web and Store suggestions. Over 7,000 applications are now optimized for Arm architecture, indicating growing support for Windows on Arm. PowerToys has also updated with a feature called Window Hopper for easier window management. Despite challenges in communication and design consistency across its products, Microsoft is focusing on the advancements in Windows 11, particularly in relation to Snapdragon technology, which has encouraged the production of Snapdragon-powered laptops. There is currently no unified marketing strategy or event planned to showcase the upcoming changes in Windows 11.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Images of Microsoft’s Canceled Windows Surface Phone Have, Well… Surfaced

A recent leak has revealed images of a Microsoft smartphone prototype believed to date back to 2013 or 2014, speculated to be a Surface-branded Windows Phone that never reached the market. The images show a sleek phone with a silver metal frame, navigation keys beneath a 720p display, and a Microsoft logo on the back. The device operates on an early internal build of Windows Phone 8.1 from September 2013. Key specifications hinted at include an unidentified Qualcomm processor, a micro-USB port, a headphone jack, a SIM slot, volume controls, and a dedicated camera button. However, details such as the chipset model, RAM, storage capacity, battery size, or camera specifications are not disclosed. The design resembles Microsoft's early Surface devices, but there is no definitive evidence it was intended for commercial release. This leak follows Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's Devices and Services business, which was announced in September 2013 and finalized in April 2014, potentially explaining the decision to shelve this smartphone design.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Windows is a drop in Microsoft’s ocean, no wonder it’s been ignored while Azure and LinkedIn eat the profit

Microsoft's fiscal year results for FY26 showed a 16% increase in stock price, adding nearly half a trillion dollars to its market value. The "More Personal Computing" segment reported billion in revenue with an operating income of .4 billion, reflecting a slight decline in revenue but an increase in operating income. Analysts estimate that Windows client revenue is just over 5% of Microsoft's total revenue, approximately billion for FY26, with an estimated income of around billion. The overall margin for the More Personal Computing category is about 27%. Azure has crossed the 0 billion revenue threshold, making it the largest product category within Microsoft. LinkedIn contributes an estimated billion to billion in income. Microsoft may prioritize investments in emerging technologies over Windows due to higher profits from other segments.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Best in Class: Stream PC Games and Study on the Same Laptop With GeForce NOW

GeForce NOW allows students to balance study and gaming by transforming everyday laptops into powerful gaming machines through cloud gaming. Members can access a library of thousands of supported PC games, including the newly added Halo: Campaign Evolved, which features high-definition visuals and enhanced gameplay. The service enables users to stream games they own from platforms like Steam and Xbox Game Pass without lengthy downloads or installations. The Ultimate membership offers advanced gaming performance with NVIDIA technologies. New titles available this week include Halo: Campaign Evolved, Mistfall Hunter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Sudden Attack Zero Point, The Ranchers, Corsair Cove, Funnel Runners, and Pathogenic.

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Microsoft finally making much needed improvement to Windows 11 downloads and installs

A significant outage recently affected Microsoft, causing a temporary halt in Windows 11 updates through both the Windows Update channel and the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft is leveraging AI technology to identify vulnerabilities within its updates, addressing security challenges. Users often encounter inconsistencies with the Windows Update progress tracker, leading to uncertainty during the download and installation phases. Microsoft has confirmed improvements in the update management process with the latest Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Release Preview builds, including enhancements to the Orchestrator and Arbiter logging components. The update enhances the calculation of update progress in Windows Update Settings and introduces changes to the cleanup logic for improved system performance post-update. These enhancements could benefit users with less powerful PCs, addressing concerns about sluggishness after installations.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Windows 11 bloat proves too much for Microsoft’s new 8GB Surface Laptop

Microsoft introduced the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8, starting at 9, with lower-end specifications including an older Snapdragon chipset and 8GB of RAM. Reviews indicate that while these devices perform adequately for basic tasks, they struggle with more demanding activities, such as video calls on Microsoft Teams, leading to freezing and hanging issues. The device utilized approximately 6.7GB of its available 7.6GB of memory during typical usage, and even a reboot reduced memory consumption to around 4.2GB, which quickly increased with just a few Chrome tabs open. Users have expressed that 8GB of RAM is insufficient for reliable performance, despite Windows 11 having a minimum requirement of 4GB. Historically, Microsoft recommended 16GB of RAM for a seamless experience, but this recommendation has been omitted for the new 8GB devices, which are now described as suitable for everyday use. An additional 8GB is required to access Copilot+ AI features.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot certificates have expired, and Microsoft says what to do next

Microsoft held its OEM Secure Boot Office Hours event on July 15, where engineers collaborated with OEM representatives from companies like Acer, Asus, Cisco, Dell, and HP. IT administrators were able to ask live questions about the Secure Boot 2023 rollout. The discussion thread became a detailed technical record, especially following the expiration of the first certificates three weeks prior. Concerns raised by IT admins included BitLocker recovery loops, stuck confidence ratings, and unhelpful Intune error codes. Key facts include: - Devices offline for long periods will still receive the 2023 certificates upon reconnecting to Windows Update. - Devices with existing 2023 certificates in firmware will switch to the new boot manager after the latest Windows patches are installed. - A new script, Detect-SecureBootCertUpdateStatus.ps1, is available in Windows for checking certificate status. - BIOS updates may reset a device’s confidence rating to unrated, which is normal and does not indicate certificate failure. - Admins should edit the AvailableUpdates registry key, not the AvailableUpdatesPolicy, which is managed by Intune and Group Policy. - A licensing bug affecting AvailableUpdatesPolicy on devices upgraded from Pro to Enterprise was resolved by Microsoft in 2026. - BitLocker recovery is not typically linked to the certificate update process but may relate to firmware or PCR issues. - Dell and HP provided guidance on which BIOS versions include the 2023 certificates for their newer models. - Older HP EliteBook 840 G5 units require a manual update package for the new certificates. - Eligible devices can still receive the 2023 certificates in the future, and Surface devices released from 2024 onward come pre-equipped with them. - Microsoft confirmed that devices running 2011 certificates will not lose the ability to receive the 2023 chain. - The Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 and Microsoft UEFI CA 2011 certificates have expired, with the Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011 set to expire on October 19, 2026.

Winsage

July 15, 2026

Microsoft’s Snapdragon X2 Surface Laptop 8 and Pro 12 for Business are now available

Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop 8 for Business and the Surface Pro 12 for Business, both equipped with advanced Snapdragon X processors. The Surface Laptop 8 can be configured with Snapdragon X2 Plus or X2 Elite, while the Surface Pro 12 features the Snapdragon X2 chip. Both devices also offer an Intel model. The Surface Laptop 8 includes haptic feedback capabilities, enhancing user interaction, and the Surface Pro 12 provides improved graphics performance over its predecessor. Key features for business users include pre-installed Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, an integrated Privacy Screen option, Advanced Exchange Warranty service, Device Firmware Configuration Interface (DFCI) cloud management, Windows Autopilot tenant pre-registration, access to the cloud-based Surface Management Portal, native corporate domain onboarding pathways, and availability of Intel models. The Snapdragon X2-powered Surface Pro 12 does not support 5G connectivity. Anyone can purchase a Surface for Business device without needing to own a business.

Winsage

July 2, 2026

‘The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them’: Microsoft clearly faces an uphill struggle as it defends Windows 11 laptops, firing shots at MacBook Neo

A viral video on X showcased the MacBook Neo's superiority over a generic Windows laptop, specifically an HP Victus gaming model, which raised questions about the fairness of the comparison. Microsoft responded by highlighting the Dell XPS 13's features and competitive pricing, especially as Apple increased the MacBook Neo's price. However, Microsoft is facing challenges with its Surface lineup, including price hikes and rumors of discontinuing more affordable models like the Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3. Reports indicate that these devices are becoming harder to find, and the Surface Laptop Go 3 has been replaced by a more expensive model. Additionally, public sentiment on platforms like Reddit reflects skepticism towards Windows laptops, with concerns about Windows updates and overall reliability persisting despite improvements in Windows 11.