Microsoft refreshes its Surface Studio after 4 years

Source: Microsoft

It's been four years since the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 came out, and while we weren't expecting a Microsoft Surface Studio refresh, we got one. The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus gets an Intel Core i7-11370H processor, the mobile version of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1.

According to Microsoft, it gets enhanced mics and a camera, too. But that's mostly processing improvements made in Windows 11. It has a 28-inch, pressure-sensitive 3:2 aspect ratio display (resolution between 4K and 5K) and a smart hinge design. The Microsoft Surface Studio 2 Plus will start shipping on October 25, with a starting price of $5,960.

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Google Meet update can automatically frame your video

Source: Google

If you want to ensure you're not off-centre in your next Google Meet session, the app has an update for you. That is if you are a Google Workspace Business, Enterprise, Education, and Google One subscriber with a 2TB or more account. (You can check out the complete list here.) Before you join a session, the app can automatically frame your video to put you at the centre. But you can also manually reframe the video at any time from the settings. This feature is disabled by default. It's coming to Rapid Release domains first right now, then to Scheduled Release domains starting November 2.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 gets an incremental update

Source: Microsoft

There isn't much that's new with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5. The biggest change is its move to Intel's 12th-generation Core processors, specifically a choice of an i5-1245U or i7-1265U. It's expected to perform 50% faster than the Surface Laptop 4 and should have a longer battery life. DDR5 memory is available in three configurations: 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB. There are also three removable solid-state drive options: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB.

As for ports on this laptop, they're kept to the bare minimum, including a solitary USB-C port, a USB-A 3.1 port, a combo headset jack, and a Surface Connect port. That USB-C port is now USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4. Unfortunately, the built-in webcam is still a 720p HD one. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 will launch on October 25 with a starting price of $1,450.

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Netflix Canada's ad-supported tier costs $5.99 per month

Netflix announced its ad-supported tier earlier this year. It will be launching in the country on November 1 for $5.99 per month. The streaming service's ad-free plans range from $9.99 to $20.99. In exchange for the savings, you will need to sit through an average of four to five minutes of ads per hour to be played before and during your TV and film watching. You also won't have access to Netflix's complete library and you won't get the option to download titles. There will be no price change for the existing plans.

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