Tech enthusiasts, buckle up! We've got a mixed bag of news coming out of Microsoft and the peripheral world. From saying goodbye to an old friend to fixing long-standing issues and questioning new hardware, here's the latest.
Skype's Final Call
It's the end of an era for Skype. Microsoft is officially sunsetting the once-dominant video call service, replacing it with Microsoft Teams. Remember when Skype was *the* way to connect with friends and family across the globe? Those days are fading as Microsoft consolidates its communication services under the Teams banner. While some may feel nostalgic, the move aims to streamline Microsoft's offerings and focus on a more integrated platform.
“The Revodok Max 313 13-in-1 docking station is yet another entrant in Ugreen’s stable, reliable line of docking stations. But this is a triple-display dock that only outputs to two displays, with performance that underwhelms. For its price, you’d expect more.” - Mark Hachman / Foundry
A Bug Bites the Dust
In other Microsoft news, the company has finally squashed a particularly annoying bug in its Store app. This wasn't just any bug; it was a persistent problem that predated Windows 11! Users have been plagued by this issue for what feels like forever, so this fix is a welcome relief. Kudos to Microsoft for finally addressing this long-standing pain point.
Ugreen's Docking Station: Stable but Slow?
Now, let's dive into the world of hardware. Ugreen's Max 313 Thunderbolt 4 docking station is under the microscope. While praised for its rock-solid stability and a generous array of ports, the dock faces criticism for its performance and price.
Reviewers are pointing out some key issues. The Ugreen Max 313 claims to support three displays, but in reality, it only reliably connects to two. Performance benchmarks reveal surprisingly inconsistent and sometimes slow transfer speeds compared to competitors. And with a price tag of $399, many are questioning whether the Max 313 justifies its cost.
The dock offers a wide range of ports, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and SD card slots. However, it only delivers 60W of power to the connected laptop, which might not be sufficient for power-hungry devices like the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. Furthermore, some tests showed frame drops during 4K video streaming, raising concerns about overall performance.
Cybersecurity Watch: Silk Typhoon Targets Cloud
Finally, Microsoft is warning that the Chinese Silk Typhoon hackers are now targeting common IT solutions such as cloud and IT applications to steal business data. Stay vigilant and ensure your cybersecurity measures are up to date.
So, there you have it – a mix of goodbyes, fixes, and hardware debates in the tech world. Stay tuned for more updates as they unfold!