Tag: #SurfaceHub

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Surface Hub 2S – the next generation.

Microsoft has announced they will be launching the next generation of the Surface Hub 2S. Shipping later this year, it will come loaded with a new version of Windows known as “Teams Rooms on Windows” and will follow the current Surface Hub 2S design profile and feature both 50″ and 85″ versions.

The new version of Windows that will ship with the new Surface Hub 2S is called Teams Rooms on Windows, and is a major upgrade over the existing “Windows Teams” OS that Surface Hub 2S uses.

Teams Rooms on Windows will ship on the next generation Surface Hub 2S

Microsoft.

In the blog, Microsoft says that the existing Surface Hub 2S will continue to be supported through to until October 2025, which is when support for the version of Windows that runs on Hub 2S is due to end.

Teams Room on Windows

Teams Rooms on Windows will feature a brand new user design interface, which will be similar to that of Teams Rooms for Windows and Android MTR devices, along with unified management and new collaborative features such as support for FrontRow and the upcoming Copilot for Teams. This will finally bring consistent user experience and management for all Teams Room devices.

“Front Row” | Hub 2S | Teams Room on Windows

This new version of Windows will only be available for the new generation Surface Hub 2S devices but they do mention that Surface Hub 2S users will have a “path” to migrate to this experience at a future date, which I expect will be via the cartridge hardware upgrade – a key sustainability and upgrade selling point of Surface Hub 2S.

More information

Microsoft say in their blog that more information will be released later this year…

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New Teams Meeting Experience rolling out to SurfaceHub

We heard a couple months back that big changes are coming to both SurfaceHub 1 and 2S as the SurfaceHub and Microsoft Teams product groups work to continuously improve the meeting and collaboration experiences on Surface Hub.

Starting last week, updates are rolling out to the Microsoft Teams app on Surface Hub which will brings fixes and quality improvements based on the customer feedback. The most important bits are still to come though with this update preparing the hub for new features that will start rolling out later next quarter.

The update will be delivered seemlessly via Windows Update (assuming its enabled) taking the Microsoft Teams app to version 0.2020.84.4301.

The update also sees the SurfaceHub receive a new driver update to complement the Microsoft Teams experience with an improved Microsoft Teams meeting join experience after the update is completed.

Like I said most of the visual updates which we expect to include things like proximity join, improved management, allowing SurfaceHub to join a Teams meeting as a secondary or companion decide etc are coming later this year.

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Surface Hub 2: The Latest Update Annoucements

With the plethora of new information circling around the hugely  Microsoft Surface Hub 2 since their New York event and annoucnment of availability and pricing back on the 17th April. While we are still waiting for UK pricing and availablity, I wanted to try to summarise everything about the new Surface Hub is currently “public” into a blog post.

Release date and pricing

Whilst initially announced as ‘Hub 2’ in May last year, the evolution of the product into Hub 2S and Hub 2X (more on that later) means a staggered release, with the 2S variant becoming available in the North American market in June 2019, and other regions – including UK and other countries to follow “very” shortly after.

Pricing for  Surface Hub 2S in North America has been confirmed at $8,999, and as per the offical launch date into other markets, as well as  UK pricing is expected to confirmed (expected on 2nd May 2019).

Surface Hub 2S: The key specs

Taking it’s key desgn pricipals from the hugely successful Microsoft Surface “product family”, the Surface Hub 2 model comprises of a lighter (about 40%), thinner device in contrast to Surface Hub V1. The from the ground-up redesign introduces (as it did first time round) a new collaboration product category that I am sure the competition will quickly copy/immitate.

At just 27.9 kg , combined with the big reduction in bezel size, removing of built-in (non upgradable) cameras, inclusion of edge-side connectors and repositioning speakers to the rear, introduces the future option (coming in 2020) of tiling multiple devices together for greater options in both use, agility, and room design. On the subject of audio, the new speaker configuration in Hub 2 includes a subwoofer, and vastly superior quality speakers with ambient noise cancelling and  active speaker tracking.

The significantly smaller, more agile and lighter design is where the Surface Hub 2 has yet again created itself new space in the market. Whilst Surface Hub 1 could be used in a mobile environment (when used with the Microsoft Rolling Stand), the recent announcement of the APC Charge Mobile Battery which is designed to slot into the Steelcase Roam Mobile Stand, the Hub 2 takes this flexibilty even further with 2 hours of completely cable-free use.

Surface Hub 1 on Stand

Surface Hub 2S on Stand

I personally can’t wait to see this feature in our customers meeting spaces and to see how it creates even greater meeting & collaboration experiences for users in literally any space.

Aside from being massively impressed by the slick Microsoft launch (ok teaser) last year, the Hub 2’s mobility is truely genius – the beautifully engineered rolling stand deserves to win prizes as it really will set Hub 2 free and make collaboration truley possible in any space without the need for cumbersome cables or power one of the biggest blockers in creating agile teaching or collaboration spaces.

Surface Hub 2’s Partner in Crime – Whiteboard

In short, the Microsoft Whiteboard app is not confined (anymore) to Surface Hub. After already making is debut on Hub 1, it is a simple, clean yet vastly powerful and AI driven app that makes it easy to collaborate with multiple other people virtually using images, sticky notes, unlimited canvass, intelligent search and image services and of course …the digital pen. The app works across all Windows 10 devices, Apple Tablets and Android devices (very soon) and of course works seemlessly on all Surface devices including Surface Hub 1 and 2, Surface Studio, Surface Book, Surface Laptop and of course Surface Pro.

Whiteboard app if you havent tried it is simply awesome. I wont say much more on this blog – try it you’ll love it… what ever touch enabled device you use!

What Else is Coming?

Surface Hub 2X– When Hub 2X comes out next year, you’ll be able to easily upgrade a Surface Hub 2S to 2X through removable processor cartridge, unlocking upgraded operating system features, multiple device tiling, and the dynamic tilting screen.

Surface Hub 2S 85″ – The initial announcement/rumour of an 85″ Surface Hub version was made during the April 17 event, with product testing to commence early 2020, and anticipated for late 2020.

Surface Hub 2 Display only – Microsoft continues to build momentum in the Windows Collaboration Device product category with a display-only Hub 2 format that is pen and touch-back enabled, also expected later this calendar year.

Official Hub 2 Video

Talk to us & get started today

Cisilion is a leading Microsoft Gold Partner and Surface Hub Value Added Reseller and offers everything from supply and ship to complete life-cycle services.

Our offerings include everything from room design, supply and implementation, to change management and user adoption programs to ensure you and your teams achieve the maximum value from your investment.

Register your interest using the link below to reserve priority access to UK  Surface hub 2S stock when it becomes available.  You’ll also receive all of the latest updates and insights direct from both our team, and the Microsoft Surface Hub Team.

Thanks

Rob

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