Today’s Surface Event 2022 was a busy but underwhelming event where Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 5, Surface Pro 9 with an Arm 5G variant, and the frankly strange Surface Studio 2+. Also at the event, the company raised a curtain on a pair of new accessories, the Microsoft Audio Dock and Microsoft Presenter+.
There have long been rumors that Microsoft was working on a smart speaker. While the Microsoft Audio Dock will not compete with Amazon Echo or Google Home speakers, it does combine speaker technology with being a laptop hub.
It is an understated piece of design that will sit well below a monitor on a desktop setup. It provides omni-directional speakerphone capabilities and powerful output. To enhance sounds, it features a 15W woofer and 5W tweeters. The Microsoft Audio Dock also offers to microphones.
In terms of connectivity, there is a 60W USB-C connection for charging your computer, two regular USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 jack and a lone USB-A offering. Microsoft is positioning the tool more as a meeting (Microsoft Teams) focused laptop hub than a consumer speaker. It also supports Mac and third-party services like Zoom and Google Meet.
It will cost a hefty $250 when it makes its debut in select markets from October 25th.
Microsoft Presenter+
Another new accessory also made its debut at the Surface Event. Microsoft Presenter+ is a modern version of the Presenter 3000 that launches over 10 years ago. It is a remote control for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
It has forward and back buttons for controlling slides, while a Microsoft Teams button allows quick entry into meetings. Presenter+ also works with other collaboration and communication tools, including Zoom.
A large mute/unmute button allows users to block their microphone audio, while a vibrate feature tells you when participants can hear you. It also comes with a charging stand. Microsoft says Presenter+ will cost $80 and make its debut on Windows 10 and Windows 11 this month.
Tip of the day: To prevent attackers from capturing your password, Secure Sign-in asks the user to perform a physical action that activates the sign-in screen. In some cases, this is a dedicated “Windows Security” button, but the most common case in Windows is the Ctrl+Alt Del hotkey. In our tutorial, we show you how to activate this feature.
