Microsoft commits to Surface with Windows RT for at least four years
Although Windows RT was officially released nearly a month ago on Microsoft's Surface and on a handful of PCs from its OEM partners, Microsoft has been quiet about its support policy for RT.
Now, the mystery is partly resolved. In an update to its support lifecycle page, Microsoft has officially declared that it will support its initial Surface release for four years. That is, not coincidentally, long enough for a determined undergraduate to get through a conventional university degree program.
Normally, Microsoft supports consumer and business versions of Windows for five years (the so-called mainstream support phase) with business versions getting an additional five years of extended support.
Because Surface with Windows RT is a hardware-software combo, it plays by a different set of rules. Microsoft has decreed that its Mainstream Support End Date will be April 11, 2017, which is nearly 4-1/2 years after the product's initial release date. Because this device is considered a consumer device, there's no Extended Support End Date.
Update: On a separate page (see the Support Lifecycle Policy heading), Microsoft has updated its policy to provide additional support details for consumer hardware.
Microsoft's current policies offer "a minimum of ... four years Mainstream Support for Consumer Hardware products."
During the Mainstream Support phase, "Hardware repairs or replacements and parts are available throughout the support lifecycle. Services are free for products under warranty and available for a fee for products out of warranty. ... Updates are available for the software/firmware and OS that is embedded into the hardware (except for Surface devices, which is covered by the support lifecycle policy for the Operating System on the device)."
Additional details are available in this FAQ, which notes: "For Surface devices, any Surface software installed, embedded or downloaded on the device is subject to the software lifecycle support policy for that software (unlike other HW devices such as Xbox). ... The hardware support lifecycle policy applies only to the Surface hardware (and as stated above not the Surface software). For Surface devices, that policy affects only the tablet device and hardware based accessories (and for example not to soft goods accessories such as cases)."
That means that anyone who buys a Surface with Windows RT can expect firmware updates until at least April 2017. Support for Windows RT and for the included Office Home and Student 2013 software should be available for the minimum five-year period defined for consumer software. And there's ample precedent for Microsoft to extend that end date.
That support schedule, while a trifle skimpy by Redmond's normal standards, is downright generous compared to tablet rivals. Apple's original iPad, released in early 2010, no longer qualifies for iOS updates, security or otherwise, and it's barely 2-1/2 years old. Similarly, anyone who buys a Google Nexus 10 has no idea how long it will receive updates. The same is true for tablets from Google's many Android partners, including Samsung. Given Google's track record with orphaned Android devices, it's hard to believe these devices will be supported for more than a couple years.
Likewise, both Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are in uncharted territory in terms of support.
Surface isn't the only Windows RT device, of course. A handful of OEM partners, including Dell, Acer, and Samsung, are (or soon will be) shipping devices with Windows RT. So far, Microsoft’s support lifecycle page is mum on their expected support dates. Presumably, Windows RT, as a consumer operating system, will be supported for five years per the current policy. But as of today, the official Windows RT Product Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ doesn't list any support lifecycle dates. Instead, it simply says:
Microsoft will make software updates, including security updates, available for Windows RT. Additional information regarding the Windows RT lifecycle policy will be communicated as available. … Office Home and Student 2013 RT has the same lifecycle policy as Windows RT.
Hat tip to an anonymous reader.
OpenAI makes 'Memory' available to all ChatGPT Plus subscribers - how to use it
Successfully using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT depends on including as much background information with every prompt as you can to ensure you get the intended results you want. This process can be time consuming and repetitive -- that's where ChatGPT's Memory feature comes in.
Also: Yikes! Microsoft Copilot failed every single one of my coding tests
On Monday, OpenAI announced that its Memory feature is now available to all ChatGPT Plus subscribers, making it possible for the chatbot to remember any user-supplied insights or information that could prove useful when formulating subsequent answers.
Memory is now available to all ChatGPT Plus users. Using Memory is easy: just start a new chat and tell ChatGPT anything you’d like it to remember.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 29, 2024
Memory can be turned on or off in settings and is not currently available in Europe or Korea. Team, Enterprise, and GPTs to come. pic.twitter.com/mlt9vyYeMK
For example, in the demo video above, ChatGPT saves to Memory that the user "lives with a golden retriever named Ellie and a Maine Coon cat named Teddy," as well as other personal facts, including that the user is traveling to Canada in July for vacation, has a two-year-old daughter named Lina, and more.
ChatGPT can use this information as context when generating a future related answer. For instance, this same user could ask the chatbot to explain a rainbow to their daughter and wouldn't have to restate that the daughter is two years old or loves jellyfish because ChatGPT would already have that information saved.
As seen in the video, the user asks ChatGPT to "create a photo of my pets riding a surfboard, please," and because the AI already knows what pets the user has, it's able to generate the image with no further direction.
OpenAI first tested the feature earlier this year, but the company says it has since made improvements. For example, the AI chatbot now lets you know when it used your inputs to update memories, as seen in the demo above.
Also: GitHub releases an AI-powered tool aiming for a 'radically new way of building software'
OpenAI also makes it easier to manage memories by simply hovering over the message that says "Memory updated." Clicking on this message lets you then view the entirety of your Memory history and edit it to remove any memories you would rather not have saved.
If you who would rather keep your personal information as separate as possible, you can turn Memory on or off in settings, as well as delete individual memories.
To turn the feature on, click on your profile in the lower left-hand side of the screen, followed by Settings, Personalization, and then toggle Memory on or off. If you click Manage, you'll be able to see all your saved memories and make changes from there.
Under the personalization tab, you will also see the option to turn the Custom Instructions feature on or off, which -- like Memory -- works to prevent you from having to type out the same information -- in this case, instructions -- repeatedly.
Also: The best AI chatbots: ChatGPT isn't the only one worth trying
The feature is currently available to all ChatGPT Plus subscribers, with the exception of those in Europe or South Korea. The company said that the feature is coming to Team, Enterprise, and GPTs, but provided no details about a potential timeline.
Artificial Intelligence
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One of the best QLED TVs I've tested is not made by Samsung or Sony
TCL unveiled the 115-inch model of its popular QM8 series at CES. We've been testing the smaller 65-inch size.
ZDNET's key takeaways
- TCL's QM8 model is one of the best QLED TVs we've tested, with bright colors and vivid imagery.
- It's also secretly perfect for gaming, thanks to its 4K output, vibrancy, and 120Hz refresh rate display.
- A few drawbacks include the low-sound speakers and the inability to turn on when you power a connected console/device.
The TCL QM8 made our list of the best 85-inch TVs, and the other versions are just as good. It features a QLED panel as well as support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for better picture quality and virtual surround sound. This TV's dedicated gaming mode allows you to monitor frame rates and VRR status. Plus, our testing of the QM8 proves itself to be a well-rounded TV -- and for a price that is a little easier on the wallet than competing brands.
ZDNET RECOMMENDS
TCL QM8
TCL's latest 65-inch TV features a QLED panel and a 120Hz refresh rate.
I'm sure you've heard of TCL and even seen its more budget-friendly TVs at Walmart or on Amazon, but the QM8 is the brand's newest iteration of its mid-range line, boosting a QLED screen with support for Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+, which helps to create bolder colors and deeper contrast.
Also: Hisense's U9N QLED is a new super-bright TV that gamers will want
Setting up the HDR was a quick, 2-3 minute process, and you can make changes later in the TV's settings; and when you set up game consoles like the PlayStation 5, you can set up game-specific HDR settings.
There's also a dedicated game mode, which can be accessed by holding the hamburger menu button while using a game console via HDMI. The mode creates a top and bottom bar, which allows you to monitor your frame and refresh rates as well as choose different color temperature settings or even share screenshots and videos of your gameplay.
Also: Best TVs for the PS5: LG, Samsung, Hisense, and more
The picture quality of the QM8 is much better than what I was expecting, being more familiar with TCL's budget TVs. The QLED panel is bright, clear, and vibrant, which makes it a great choice for gaming as well as for revisiting old favorite shows and movies.
I sat down for my semi-regular re-watch of the original Teen Titans show from Cartoon Network, and even though the cartoon is twenty years old, the resolution upscaling was clean, eliminating that odd "fuzziness" that older, pre-1080p media can have.
And by playing around with the picture settings, I was able to tweak contrast and color to really take advantage of the dynamic art style, which is full of dark shadows and bright, colorful superhero costumes.
For gaming, the QM8 worked wonderfully with both my PS5 and Nintendo Switch, offering smooth playback and great picture quality. Though I will say to keep in mind that your Switch hardware may not support 4K output, especially if it's a first-iteration model (which is what I have).
Also: Best TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and TCL compared
Although the Switch graphics looked a bit chunky with some titles, especially Wheel of Fortune (but it sort of added to the charm,) they never looked bad, per se. Other games like Hades looked amazing, with smooth animations and on-screen action, and vivid colors.
The built-in speakers of the QM8 sound respectable but quiet, so I recommend picking up a soundbar like the TCL Alto 6+ to boost dialogue and enhance the sound in movies, music, shows, and games.
Another drawback to the QM8 is that it doesn't automatically power on when a connected device is. I own several other televisions, and each of them automatically turns on when I power on a game console or DVD player. It's a very small gripe, but it's a quality-of-life feature that I personally like to have in my TVs.
ZDNET's buying advice
TCL's QM8 is one of the best QLED TVs you can buy today, with a price point that undercuts competing models from Samsung, Sony, and LG. For just about all things visual, including gaming, the TV gets the job done. And if you want to make the experience even better, I suggest pairing the set with one of the best soundbars available.
