HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Has Finally Enabled the Surface Dial on the Surface Pro 4

Microsoft Has Finally Enabled the Surface Dial on the Surface Pro 4

The Surface Dial is now compatible with the Surface Pro 4 thanks to a firmware update, allowing users to make adjustments in Photoshop, switch Spotify tracks, and more.

-

promised Surface Dial support for the Pro 4 in Q4 2016, and we hadn't heard a whole lot since then. It's remained exclusive to new Surface devices, perhaps in an attempt to ship more units.

It's taken a while, but that's no longer the case. Surface Pro 4 users now have access to the same functionality thanks to a simple firmware update. For the unfamiliar, the dial is a cylinder Bluetooth device that can sit on the screen and be used to adjust ink color, scroll, control music, and more.

Thanks to the Pro 4's relatively small screen, you aren't going to want it sitting on the glass most of the time, but it's a useful productivity tool all the same.

Limited App Support

Unfortunately, the Surface Dial hasn't seen huge support from developers since its release, and that could be another reason for the delay. Microsoft supports it in and Adobe recently in Photoshop, but there are still a number of apps that could do with integration.

There's also DataMesh, which was unveiled in February. It lets the HoloLens, Surface Dial, and Surface Pen work together for a robust 3D workflow. Unfortunately, this won't be much use to most users due to the expense of the HoloLens and its experimental nature.

Still, if you're interested in the Dial, you can purchase one from the Microsoft Store. For $100, it may be a hard sell, but you may be able to pick one up cheaper in a sale sometime down the line.

Last Updated on April 9, 2020 11:57 am CEST by Ryan Maskell

SourceMicrosoft
Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

Recent News