Dell Venue 8 Pro is updated for Windows 10

Looks like the HP Envy 8 Note is getting some steep competition from Dell in the 8-inch Windows 10 notebook space. Dell just announced an update to its Venue 8 Pro tablet from two years ago, this one goes by the name Dell Venue 8 Pro 5000 Series (64GB) and it starts at US $449.99.

Powered by a Quad Core, 2.24GHz Intel Atom processor, the Dell has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage plus microSD card expansion. This has a USB type-C port for I/O and power but the Dell Stylus is sold separately and there's no accessory keyboard mentioned although there's a Dell Dock which could make it possibly run Continuum. No idea when this is coming to Canada and what price it will get, but I'm happy to see more variety come to the Windows mini tablet space.

Source: Dell via Thurrott.com

New Xbox One experience update powered by Windows 10 available now

I woke up this morning to find that an entirely new user interface for my Xbox One downloaded and installed overnight. Still groggy from my Fallout 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider marathon the night before, it took me a while to reorient myself to the new experience. 

Aside from rearranging the look and feel of the Xbox One interface, Microsoft says the re-imagined Xbox One experience is faster and more social and now powered by Windows 10.  An added bonus, all Xbox One owners can play select Xbox 360 games on Xbox One at no additional cost with Xbox One Backward Compatibility (provided you already own the games to begin with, ok). If you have auto updates enabled in your Xbox One, the update should already be installed or coming later today. It's magical. More information can be found here.

Source: Microsoft

New Surface Pro 4 ad focuses on creatives, musicians, and the PC experience

While it may not be as exciting as Microsoft's audacious Surface Book, the Surface Pro 4 does offer the most refined and improved iteration on the 'tablet that can replace your laptop' while running a full Windows 10 OS for all your classic applications. The latest advertisement for the Surface Pro 4 shows what the device offers and what it can do for various use cases. It's a welcome departure from the song and dance Surface ads of the past.

Video: Windows 10 Continuum demoed on a Lumia 950

By Gadjo C. Sevilla

One of the most compelling features of the new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL is that they can function as desktop PCs running Windows 10 provided they're connected to Microsoft's Display Dock. I got to see this feature demoed firsthand earlier this evening during a Microsoft Device Night where a Lumia 950 was tethered to two monitors, a keyboard and a mouse.

When launching the Continuum app on Windows 10 Phone, the Lumia projects a full Windows 10 desktop experience on to the monitor. Once connected, the display of the Lumia can be used like a trackpad plus you can also access phone functions (i.e. calls, messages, certain apps) without disturbing the desktop. You can even launch desktop versions of Office applications and work on them just as you would on a notebook or desktop.