TOP STORIES #58
NAB is now in full swing in Las Vegas, which is all about the production of content - this is where filmmakers go to learn about new gadgets and technologies, which is a welcome distraction from the onslaught of news from the IT world, where we are currently overwhelmed by AI news. Show Daily - Day 1 is here.
Remarkable technologies are being shown, for example, you can see how they are making the idea of the HoloDeck a reality.
Last Week's TOP STORIES #57 is here.
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The original story about Teams being unbundled is provided below in case you missed it.
Hardware
ARM AI PC's to outperform MAC's?
Microsoft seems confident that the latest Windows-based ARM PCs will beat the Apple M3 MacBook Air this time. We will have to wait till the 20th of May for the release, but if this is the case, this will be quite a big deal. You can read more here. Not that Apple is going to be left behind for long - the M4 has just been announced!
Lunar Lake will have 100+ TOPS
Intel has announced that the Lunar Lake NPU will have 45+ TOPS beating Microsofts minimum requirement which will be enough to allow for parts of CoPilot to run locally. You can read more here.
Microsoft
New Windows Server 2025 features revealed.
We are now getting more information on what's new including hot patching and confirmation that you will still be able to buy it as a perpetual license. You can read more here.
Teams unbundled from Office
Score: EU=0 Microsoft=1 - the dust has not settled!
This is actually old news first published in TOP STORIES #26. It started years back with Slack complaining to the EU that it was uncompetitive for the EU to allow Microsoft to sell Office bundled with Windows, as it prevented companies like Slack from selling their offering to compete with Teams.
Well, Slack got it's wish.
Directions on Microsoft analyst Jim Gaynor said: "In the end, this move is about Microsoft trying to stay ahead of regulatory scrutiny, not about offering customers a way to reduce costs."
What is really important to read is this paper from Directions on Microsoft, where you should particularly note this statement:
"Because so many Microsoft and third-party products are integrated with Teams these days or use Teams-based apps as their main user interfaces, axing Teams might not be a simple decision. Many of those using Microsoft 365 Copilot claim the most useful piece is Teams Copilot."
The benefits of Teams with CoPilot are very impressive, and if you have not explored just how impressive the results you get from Meeting summaries, recaps etc.... I recommend that you reach out to our Unified Communications Division, GaldonData, here, to request a demo of the more advanced and impressive features of Teams with CoPilot. (In the "Let us know how we can help box" - just enter #57). And of course refer to our CoPilot workshops below.
Redmondmag has published a more detailed breakdown of the Teams and No Teams pricing here. This site from Microsoft has more information but is more directed at partners.
When it comes to the pricing implications and how this will affect your agreement, especially when it comes to planning your renewal, it is ESSENTIAL that you contact your First Tech Licensing account manager to understand your options going forward.
Windows 10 End of Life
It is starting to look quite clear that there will be no extension to the end of life date for Windows 10 (October 2025), and you now need to start planning the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 which is expected in September. It is now really important to start the planning- starting with making sure that all pre Gen 8 hardware is on it's way to the recyclers. Please reach out to your account manager to start helping with this planning that dovetails with the procurement of new hardware and, of course, the new minimum system requirements.
Cloud & AI
Need a Video for your presentation - AI will make one for you
Google has announced an AI App that will when prompted with some text, documents, pictures and videos generate an entire video with music, script and voiceover - everything for your production. Read more about this here and here where it is suggested we will see Lunar Lake shipping by end of 2024.
It is really important to reach out to your First Tech. Hardware AM to discuss your plans in terms hardware refreshes - things are changing so fast!
ChatGPT gets an upgrade
For paid subscriptions, its model has gotten smarter and is now aware of what is going on in the world up to December 2023. You can read more about it's new intelligence here.
Security
Brand new Malware coming to your inbox (again)
As always this serves as a reminder for your need to stay alert for anything suspicious, which is becoming more difficult because AI's are helping the bad guys where English is not their first language, communicate perfectly. This one is nasty as it can detect if it is running in a sandbox.
What's up at FTG
CoPilot Readiness FTG is offering an M365 CoPilot Readiness Workshop to help you get ready. You can register here
Copilot for Security You and your team are invited to a one-on-one demo session we are hosting featuring Microsoft Security Copilot. It's a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase this cutting-edge technology to you. Sign up here.
Movies
Now Playing: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Now Playing: Mothers Instinct
Now Playing: Back to Black
Now Playing: Civil War
19 April: Sleeping Dogs
19 April: Abigail
19 April: The boy and the Heron
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