Microsoft Palm concept mouse combines manoeuvrability and ergonomics

MICROSOFT PALM Design Renders

The need for a mouse will never go away, even with all the innovative trackpads and keyboards available. Such a mouse still has numerous advantages, including ease of use and quicker to work with. Using a mouse may also be best to draw graphics and do digital art on the computer.

The tiny tool that sits on your desk has an essential purpose: to help you be more productive and get things done fast, whether for work, school, business, or leisure. A mouse should not slow you down or hurt your wrist; instead, it should allow you to work fast, productively, and without any pain. Industrial designer Arshad Asaaf knows first-hand the importance of an ergonomic mouse, so he came up with one that delivers intuitiveness and practicality.

Designer: Arshad Asaaf

MICROSOFT PALM Details

Asaaf knows that both horizontal and vertical mice have benefits, so he attempted to combine them into one product. PALM is only a conceptual mouse, but Microsoft should consider checking out. The designer has decribed this as an “intuitive wonder that fits your palm.” The description fits because your hand really can fit right into the oddly shaped mouse.

MICROSOFT PALM Concept

Some people may prefer a vertical mouse, but your wrist can hurt after some time. Others find it slippery, so quick motion may be more challenging, especially for those with big hands. A mouse with the right size and angle is what people need as it will perfectly fit your palm.

To develop the perfect shape for the Palm Mouse, the designer implemented several 3D development techniques. With a simple use of CAD and clay, Arshad Asaaf was able to form the ideal shape of the mouse. Several models were made before the correct surface and 45-degree angle were achieved.

MICROSOFT PALM Concept Design

At first glance, you may think this is like any other vertical mouse in the market. It may be inspired by Microsoft, but this one comes with a subtle angled curved in front. The shape of the rest of the mouse follows the horizontal design, but this one still acts like a vertical mouse.

MICROSOFT PALM Details Concept

Unlike the usual mouse options we see or own, the mouse does not feature a scroll wheel. You can rest your hand free and over the mouse more comfortably. There are touch-sensitive buttons that perform what the scroll wheel usually does. It has a trackpad function requiring two-finger action to work and avoid unintended registrations or clicks. The mouse’s S-curve will hold the rest of your palm while the middle part can support your fingers. The wireless mouse works over Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, so you know it can be fast. A reliable connection is promised as long as two devices are paired. You can turn it off/on and it won’t have any problem recognizing your device.

MICROSOFT PALM Design Images

MICROSOFT PALM Design Concept

The Microsoft Palm is only a concept design, but we can imagine it in different colors like Poppy Red, Pastel Popsicle, Ice Blue, and Silver Bullet. Each color version is intended for a purpose like Ice Blue to inspire calmness. Poppy Red develops a sense of energy and confidence—traits you need to get going. The Pastel Popsicle is not a boring option despite the gray shade because the bottom parts show a colorful gradient for an added punch.

MICROSOFT PALM Design Render

Concept MICROSOFT PALM Details

The Silver Bullet boasts a more sophisticated look but may only be released in limited pieces. It has a clean upper look that shows a more elegant form. There is also a stainless steel Microsoft logo to give the mouse a more timeless appearance. The Silver Bullet appears to be unique with the combination of materials and colors. It is the most minimalist-looking version that may be the best choice for professional environments.

MICROSOFT PALM Box

MICROSOFT PALM Versions

MICROSOFT PALM Concept Sketch

MICROSOFT PALM Concept Renders

Concept MICROSOFT PALM Design

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Microsoft Moab is a cute robot that can learn how to balance balls and eggs

Until the metaverse buzz came along, a lot of the hype was placed on AI and machine learning. The way this technology was portrayed makes it almost like a magic sauce that made anything and everything smarter. Reality couldn’t be more different, though, especially for developers trying to learn the ropes of the different technologies involved in AI. Microsoft set out to make the learning process easier and, curiously enough, ended up with an interesting robot that tries to learn one of the oldest tricks in the book: balancing a ball.

Designers: Microsoft with Fresh Consulting

At first glance, Microsoft Moab doesn’t look like your typical robot. It doesn’t even look like a typical machine aimed at developers. It looks more like a cross between a robot vacuum cleaner and a weighing scale with a glass platform held up by three legs. When it does its thing, however, it resembles a creature lying on its back and flailing its legs to keep a small ball from falling off.

Learning how to balance a ball sounds so trivial, and that’s exactly the point with things like AI and machine learning. Things that we take for granted as humans aren’t exactly intuitive for machines. Adding another layer of complexity is how humans need to learn how to teach these machines to learn, which is what this Moab robot tries to offer in a non-intimidating way.

In a nutshell, Moab uses a camera to see the ball or any rolling object placed on top of its plate and then tries to move the plate until the object becomes stationary. After mastering that, developers can move on to giving Moab “obstacles” to overcome by poking the ball, for example, or using an object that’s not completely spherical like an egg. Moab doesn’t learn all of these automatically, though, and developers learn the ropes of machine learning, including things like visualizing their data in simulations before transferring that to the robot.

What makes Project Moab rather unique is that it was created as a product from beginning to end. Unlike what would usually be characterized as a DIY project or a hack, Moab’s form, the materials used in manufacturing the robot, and even the packaging were made with a commercial product in mind, and it might even be available for purchase in the near future.

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What will Microsoft’s next digital frontier be? This POS system shows how ‘Windows Pay’ could revolutionize retail

Microsoft’s current CEO Satya Nadella famously mentioned that his vision for the company was to make it like air – invisible, but completely surrounding every single thing you see. After Ballmer’s failed attempts at pushing Windows into smartphones and tablets, Nadella helped pivot it back on track, bolstering Windows and Azure to become the reliable and omnipotent services they are for both consumers and enterprises, while also acquiring LinkedIn and GitHub to really cement Microsoft’s widespread reach. So what’s the next frontier for the Redmond-based company? NFTs? Self-driving cars? Well, designer Bas Kamp believes the next place for the company to make its mark is in the payments industry. Created at a Microsoft Surface virtual design workshop, the Windows Pay concept is a combination of hardware and software that allows Microsoft to cement its place in the retail space by allowing Microsoft Surface tablets to become point-of-sales devices. In a world with oddly shaped POS units that eventually have to interface with Windows computers used by cashiers, Windows Pay makes everything simple and elegant, streamlining the process in a way that Apple Pay or Google Pay probably can’t.

Kamp’s conceptual system uses three hardware devices that pair up with the Surface Book to cover a wide range of scenarios. From a barcode reader that helps with scanning inventory to a tap-to-pay card reader to process payments and finally a traditional POS device for accepting cards and printing invoices, Windows Pay brings the archaic system of retail payments into the modern age with a refined design and experience.

Right above is the Digital POS device that lets you use magnetic strip cards to make payments. The product definitely echoes the Surface’s uniquely minimal design language, with sleek lines, sharp edges, geometric shapes, and the use of matte/chrome metal. While most POS devices come with archaic black and white screens and ugly keypads, the Windows Pay POS refines it by giving it a touch of minimalism. The interface on the Windows Pay POS is entirely touch-sensitive, with capacitive buttons and a minimal display that guides you through the payment procedure.

For newer cards with tap-to-pay features, or even NFC-enabled payment systems on Apple and Android devices, the Windows Pay Card Reader sits perpetually docked against the side of a Surface device, letting people instantly checkout with a mere tap of a card or smartphone. This makes checking out faster and works exceptionally well for self-checkout kiosks and terminals, leveraging the power of Windows Pay to help people easily make payments. The card reader doesn’t need a display, like the POS device. Instead, it sits docked against a computer, using the computer’s interface to simplify payments.

Perhaps the most eyecatching of all the products is the Windows Pay barcode scanner. Designed with a minimal form language and in a variety of eye-catching colors, the Windows Pay barcode scanner brings the entire retail experience into the modern age, equipping cashiers with the best modern tools to get the job done.

Kamp even took the liberty of designing a new Tablet/Laptop hybrid for Microsoft, relying on the Surface Book’s famous hinge design, and a modular setup that lets you swap out the keyboard for a secondary display.

The reason Windows Pay stands out as such a powerful concept is that even though it’s so remarkably designed, it makes natural sense for Microsoft to expand into payments. While Apple and Google will have you believe that their payment platforms and wallets are all the rage, the truth is that Windows finds itself in literally every payment gateway in the world, from the computer your cashier uses to bill you, to even the ATM you withdraw cash from. Although it would be a pretty massive undertaking for Microsoft to roll out this series of devices and services across every corner of the world, it does definitely make sense for the company, allowing them to cement themselves in retail and enterprise in a way that not a single other silicon valley giant can. If Nadella wants Microsoft to be like ‘air’, it should definitely look at the world of retail and payments – two places where Windows play an absolutely integral role.

Designer: Bas Kamp

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The best 2-in-1 laptops for 2024

If you’re looking for a device that can do it all, a 2-in-1 laptop might be just what you need. These versatile machines combine the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, making them great options for everything from note-taking and sketching to full-on work or entertainment. Whether you’re a student, creative or just want a more flexible setup, a 2-in-1 gives you the best of both worlds without having to carry multiple devices.

We've tested and reviewed some of the top models out there from brands like Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and Apple to help you find the perfect fit. Flip the screen around for movie nights, use it in tablet mode for hands-on projects or stick to traditional laptop mode for work - there are options for everyone.

When you’re shopping for a 2-in-1, there are some basic criteria to keep in mind. First, look at the spec sheet to see how heavy the tablet is (alone, and with the keyboard). Most modern hybrids weigh less than 2 pounds. If the overall weight of the tablet and its keyboard come close to 3 pounds, you may be better off getting an ultraportable laptop.

Also, while some 2-in-1s offer built-in LTE or 5G connectivity, not everyone will want to pay the premium for it. An integrated cellular radio makes checking emails or replying to messages on the go far more convenient. But it also often costs more, and that’s not counting what you’ll pay for data. And, as for 5G — you can hold off on it unless you live within range of a mmWave beacon. Coverage is still spotty and existing nationwide networks use the slower sub-6 technology that’s barely faster than LTE. For now, tethering a PC to your phone is still the best way to get online.

These machines still have their limits, of course. Since they’re smaller than proper laptops, they tend to have less-powerful processors. Keyboards are often less sturdy, with condensed layouts and shallower travel. Plus, they’re almost always tablets first, leaving you to buy a keyboard case separately. (And those ain’t cheap!) So, you can’t always assume the advertised price is what you’ll actually spend on the 2-in-1 you want.

See Also:

Sometimes, getting a third-party keyboard might be just as good, and they’re often cheaper than first-party offerings. If you’re looking to save some money, Logitech’s Slim Folio is an affordable option, and if you don’t need your keyboard to attach to your tablet, Logitech’s K780 Multi-Device wireless keyboard is also a good pick.

While we’ve typically made sure to include a budget 2-in-1 in previous years, this time there isn’t a great choice. We would usually pick a Surface Go, but the latest model is still too expensive. Other alternatives, like cheaper Android tablets, are underpowered and don’t offer a great multitasking interface. If you want something around $500 that’s thin, lightweight and long-lasting, you’re better off this year looking at a traditional laptop (like those on our best budget PCs list). Alternatively, you might consider one of our top picks for the best Chromebooks, either as a back-to-school option or for basic tasks.

June 2024: We updated our top picks to include the Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ edition.

Nathan Ingraham contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-2-in-1-laptops-173038508.html?src=rss

This handheld console brings back the Microsoft Windows phone as a portable Xbox gaming device

An ideal carrier for the Xbox Game Pass, this console concept from Anestétique Projets shows what a portable Xbox would look like.

Titled the XBOX Series A, this little number hopes to be the Google Pixel of handheld gaming devices. Just as the Pixel was invented to showcase the Android experience in its true glory, the XBOX Series A is a handheld console that’s designed to unleash the true power of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Designed to outshine all the handheld devices taking a stab at mobile gaming (practically aiming directly at the Razer Phone 2, ASUS ROG, and Lenovo Legion), the XBOX Series A literally puts the power of an Xbox in your pocket.

Interestingly, the Series A device isn’t a highly-specced smartphone moonlighting as a gaming device… it is, from the looks of it, a console first, and a phone later. It also isn’t a handheld computer, like Alienware’s absurd experiment with the UFO concept. The Series A is a sleek device with smartphone-ish proportions but comes with actual physical controls that appear through the screen, acting sort of like physical keys that sit right where you’d expect the virtual controls to be while playing a triple-A title game on your handheld touch-sensitive device.

The XBOX Series A comes in the console maker’s signature B/W colorway and minimal design, and just through its handheld format, reminds me a lot of a similar concept for a portable modern PlayStation. However, while Sony’s already had experience in the portable gaming domain (on three separate occasions), the Xbox famously hasn’t ever made any portable console in 20 years of its existence. Microsoft, on the other hand, has released a whole line of Windows Mobile devices through the acquired Nokia brand, before finally shuttering that project. Recently, Microsoft resurrected their handheld computing device line in the form of the Surface Duo and Surface Neo. Having already scaled down the Windows OS for those two devices, a portable Xbox gadget running Windows with the Xbox Game Pass definitely sounds like something Microsoft could pull off… even if it were as a vanity project, or as a way of stealing the limelight from Sony’s wildly successful PlayStation 5.

Speculation aside, the XBOX Series A concept is quite the looker, with a slick design and practically flush or countersunk controls that make it easy to slip the gadget into your pocket without the joystick catching any fabric. The device comes with all the controls you’d need on-screen, including two joysticks, a D-Pad, action keys, and function keys, but look over to the other side and you’ll even see L1 L2 + R1 R2 buttons on the edge of the device. On the opposite edge lie power and volume buttons, a sim tray, a USB-C charging port (for easy charging while you’re gaming), and a 3.5mm headphone jack, much to the joy of seasoned gamers.

The device also comes with a camera, placed along the middle of the device, so your finger doesn’t brush against the lens while you’re gaming. I’d imagine it also makes AR gaming a possibility, allowing you to use the camera DURING gameplay. If you look carefully, there’s a hole-punch camera on the front too, located not in its conventional position, but rather along the longer edge of the phone, so it’s on the top when you’re holding the phone in landscape – a feature that could possibly allow gamers to capture themselves while online streaming.

The XBOX Series A is, much to my chagrin, just a fan-made concept. Designed to appeal to the hardcore gaming fan base (although seasoned gamers famously detest the idea of mobile gaming), the Series A hopes to provide some sort of fusion between a console and a smartphone, basically allowing you to play games even while on the go. It definitely isn’t, from Microsoft’s business model perspective, a practical or feasible idea… so let’s just admire this little work of art and hope that Microsoft IS, in fact, planning on building a portable version of the Xbox.

Designer: Anesthétique Projets

The post This handheld console brings back the Microsoft Windows phone as a portable Xbox gaming device first appeared on Yanko Design.

The best digital gifts to send your friends and family

There are way too many online services and subscriptions to keep track of these days, but the flip side is there’s a tool for just about everything. We’ve pulled together some of our favorite digital gifts and subscriptions, including time-tested music, video and gaming services as well as tools to clear your mental space and learn new skills. There are also a few subscriptions here that provide ongoing, IRL deliveries, if you think your giftee will appreciate the nostalgic charm of a physical object.

Disney Bundle

Super Duolingo

Headspace

Masterclass

Codecademy

PlayStation Plus / Nintendo Switch Online / Xbox Game Pass

Apple One

Adobe Photography plan

Max

Audible

Crunchyroll Premium

Twitch Turbo

YouTube Premium

The Sill

Gaia fitness

Field Notes subscription

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/holiday-gifts-digital-and-subscription-gifts-160041638.html?src=rss

Microsoft’s office pod creates a private working space to help you get away from the noise!

As we gradually make our way back into the office, we can’t help but miss the best parts of working alone from home. We have our favorite chairs, our home desks, and our desktop computers. You can’t beat the social element of office working, but sometimes you just need to get away from the noise. Designed for hybrid workplaces, Flowspace from Microsoft was recently recognized by Red Dot Design and given its Best of the Best Award for its innovation as an office pod for solo working in crowded offices.

Draped in gray felt, Flowspace comes with automated privacy panels that create a hybrid of a conventional desk and round pod. As currently conceptualized, each pod comes with its own desktop computer, desk, and stool. The desktop computer’s monitor spans almost the entire panel inside the pod, making it an ideal screen for heavy workloads and even presentations. The pod itself comes in two halves to combine and provide plenty of privacy amidst busy work zones. Whenever you want to get back to the WFH grind, Flowspace creates a temporary sanctuary for focus and deep work. With the so-called ‘new normal’ making its way around the globe, we’re all eager to have a little bit of both–the charm of working alone and the excitement of collaboration.

Microsoft is known for streamlining our workdays. From computer programs to actual computers, Microsoft has always designed the necessary equipment for us to get through various tasks throughout the day. Flowspace is yet another addition to Microsoft’s long catalog of office supplies that make the work grind that much easier.

Designer: Microsoft

Xbox just pulled a Nintendo with its 20th Anniversary translucent wireless controller!

“Ah, this gives me such fond GameBoy Advance memories!”

2021 marks a pretty important milestone in the timeline of gaming. It was 2 decades back that Microsoft unveiled its ambitious plans to move from computing to full-blown gaming with the Xbox, a console designed to take on Sony’s PlayStation which released in 1995… a rivalry that even 20 years later, is still going strong. To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Xbox, Microsoft announced a special edition of its wireless controller, with a uniquely nerd-pleasing translucent black design with green accents – colors that have a strong link to the Xbox brand and even their logo.

While Xbox has a history of releasing translucent variants of their controllers (notably the translucent green Xbox Duke controller), it’s a tactic that one could argue was popularized at least in the gaming circuit by Nintendo, with the translucent GameBoy, GameBoy Color, and GameBoy Advance. The controller isn’t fundamentally different in function, although it’s a hat-tip to 20 years of Xbox revolutionizing the console gaming industry. It comes along with a translucent Universal Quick Charging Stand that’s designed by Razer, which claims to charge your controller in under 3 hours, with overcharge and overheating protection.

The Xbox 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, which was announced earlier today, goes on sale beginning November 15th. Alongside the controller, Microsoft also announced a wired 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Stereo Headset, complete with bright green highlights and a translucent black shell.

“November 15th, 2021 will mark 20 years of gaming together! Fans helped shape what Xbox is today and we can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring”, said Microsoft in a press release on the Xbox Wire blog. “Today, we celebrate our history together with the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller and 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Stereo Headset – launching November 15 and available for pre-order now. We were inspired by our favorite memories together from the last 20 years and created not one, but two unique accessories to commemorate this milestone.”

Designer: Microsoft (Universal Quick Charging Stand designed by Razer)

Excel at Sipping Coffee with the Spreadsheet Shortcut Mug

I like to think I’m pretty adept at Microsoft Excel.  Whenever I show some neophyte how to use a Pivot Table, I feel like a spreadsheet god. Despite my skills at manipulating rows, columns, formulas, and macros, I don’t have all the Excel keyboard shortcuts memorized. I mean sure, I’m a master of Copy, Paste, and Undo, but after those, I don’t remember most of them. Now, every time I go to take a sip of hot coffee, I can brush up on my spreadsheet shortcut knowledge.

Firebox sells this Excel Shortcut Mug which lists a number of the available keyboard shortcut sequences for Excel, including classics like “Ctrl Shift +” and “Alt F1.” I had no idea that you could copy a value from the cell above with “Ctrl Shift Quote.” Heck, I’m already smarter and I haven’t even bought this thing yet. Next stop, creating complicated and abstruse financial models that make venture capitalists throw fat stacks of cash at me.

Like all ceramic computer reference materials, the Excel Shortcut Mug holds 12 oz. of your favorite hot or cold beverage and is dishwasher and microwave safe. You can grab one for your desk today over at Firebox for just $11.

 

Microsoft’s wireless mouse goes sustainable with 100 % recyclable packaging and waste ocean plastic construction





This ergonomic mouse by Microsoft is made out of the plastic waste recovered from the water bodies that are decimating our planet beyond comprehension. This is another example of mindful recycling effort plays a part in saving the planet from doom.

Microsoft is on course to fulfill its zero waste goal by 2030 and give up single-use plastics in packaging by 2025, as a part of the larger recycling and sustainably goal. Their latest creation in collaboration with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a global leader in the chemical industry is a testament to their noble efforts. The Silicon Valley giant revealed the all-new sustainable Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse at the annual Surface event to mark the occasion.

This first-of-a-kind Microsoft consumer electronic product was initially planned with the aim of infusing at least 10 percent recycled ocean plastic. After formulating the prototypes, the final version’s exterior shell came out with 20 percent recycled ocean plastic. Way more than the initial goal set by Microsoft! The Ocean Plastic Mouse also has packaging made out of 100 percent recyclable material – recyclable wood and sugarcane fibers to be precise. The plastic shell mixed with resin and other materials starts its journey from the oceans and waterways – in the form of waste plastic recovered from these water bodies. The plastic waste is then cleaned and processed into recyclable plastic resin pellets to procure the raw material for the final processing.

To take the sustainability efforts further, Microsoft is also offering a free mail-in program in select regions. Here you can send an old mouse to be recycled with help from Microsoft’s contracted partners. The best thing, this eco-friendly mouse can be pre-ordered right away for a price tag of $24.99.

As for functionality, it has got all the relevant functions of a Bluetooth wireless mouse with an average AA alkaline battery cell life of 12 months. Apart from that Microsoft touts its super responsive left/right-click buttons, fast-tracking sensors, and precise navigation. It also gets the three customizable buttons and the Swift Pair technology for quick pairing with your machine.

Designers: Microsoft and SABIC

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