The new Surface updates for Surface Pro 4, Surface 3, and Surface Book are available. Most of these updates are focusing on power and battery life. Grab them if you need them via Windows Update or from the Microsoft page.

• Intel(R) Precise Touch Device (v1.1.0.246) improves touch stability when the device resumes operation from sleep or hibernation.
• Surface Integration (v1.0.97.0) optimizes screen brightness when the device resumes operation from sleep or hibernation.
• Surface Integration Service Device (v1.0.115.0) ensures the default Balanced power plan is set correctly when the operating system is updated.
• Surface Pen Pairing (v1.0.56.0) improves pen pairing with the device.
• Surface Management Engine (v11.0.15.1003) improves stability and performance when you change between power states.
• Surface UEFI (v106.1281.768.0) improves stability and performance when you change between power states.
• Surface Integration (v1.0.103.0) improves the device usability and battery life.
• Surface Integration Service Device (v1.0.146.0) makes sure the default Balanced power plan is set correctly when the operating system is updated.

For those running Windows 7 and Windows 8, be on the look out for the updated telemetry updates that trigger the Get Windows 10 dialogs. This has caused confusion, frustration, and downright anger in the past from some users.

Updates are KB2952664 for Windows 7 and KB2976978 for Windows 8.

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.

Does this mean Microsoft will be offering the free update to Windows 10 again, after lackluster growth? No one knows quite yet.

Microsoft is readying a fix for the recent update to the Anniversary Update for Windows 10 that caused a reboot loop. The KB3194496 update caused problems for some Insiders, but was released to the public release ring anyway. Microsoft announced they are working on the fix in this Microsoft Answers forum post.

Hello Insiders!
We’ve been working diligently on this issue and are finalizing a clean-up script that will fix the underlying issue preventing the install of  KB3194496 (Cumulative Update 14393.222) for affected users.  Your patience during our research and subsequent work is greatly appreciated.

Thank you as always and stay tuned!

Microsoft has stopped selling their fitness watch, Microsoft Band, in their stores. They have also confirmed that they are not releasing another Band this year. With the movement in the development teams and this, it looks like the Band is getting chopped.

My first gen Band is still a great device. It’s gone through a lot, and is still working great. I’d love to upgrade to a newer version, but it looks like I’ll be going for a Fitbit. I was hoping for a new iteration of the Band…

Microsoft is believed to have disbanded the software team that was looking to bring Windows 10 to the Band a couple months ago. I’ve gotten various tips that at least some of the Band hardware team members have dispersed, too, with some moving to other Microsoft hardware teams inside the company.

Even though sources of mine have said Microsoft is planning to phase out its fitness band devices and to have no plans to roll out a Band 3 device any time soon (or likely, ever), company officials still haven’t completely conceded that it’s the end of the line for Band.

For those in the Insiders group, a new build was released today. A lot of new fixes, build expiration, updates to applications. A lot of excellent changes this week. Make sure to update and try it out. Also, submit any feedback (good or bad) to the Windows team. They definitely use it to make a better Windows for future builds!

Just as we’ve always done with pre-release versions of Windows, Insider Preview builds have expiration dates. Starting tomorrow September 15th, PCs running really old Insider Preview builds will start to see build expiration notifications once a day. Then on October 1st, these PCs will start rebooting every 3 hours and then on October 15th – these PCs will stop booting all together. If your PC is running one of these old Insider Preview builds, please make sure you update to Build 14926 via Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. Build 14926 has an updated expiration date of May 1st, 2017. If your PC is running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Build 14393) in the Slow and Release Preview rings today – this does not apply to you and you will not be notified of your build expiring.

Microsoft has officially launched a new online community with a focus on IT Professionals. The Microsoft Tech Community is consolidating several communities to focus on Windows Server, Office 365, Azure and SQL Server.

It is still a community that is new, so expect some growing pains as well as upcoming new features. Come join the fun, help out, ask questions, and join the conversation.

Today we are pleased to announce the launch of the Microsoft Tech Community, bringing multiple communities together in one central location to support discussions and best practice sharing across a variety of Microsoft products and services.  The Microsoft Tech Community is an evolution of the Office 365 Network, growing to support new Azure; Windows Server, and SQL Server Communities and in future many more communities.

Microsoft has released a new build for Windows Insiders, build 14915. Lots of fixes this round (including my #1 issue – power button broken on Start Menu! Always had to right click to get it…). The app and update delivery  has been optimized, as well.

Starting today, Windows Insiders that have Delivery Optimization enabled will be able to download new Insider Preview builds, OS updates, and app updates from other PCs on their local network as well as from other PCs on the Internet. We introduced Delivery Optimization with the Windows 10 November Update giving users the ability to get updates from PCs on a local network and are now enabling the ability to get updates from PCs on the Internet.

Microsoft has changed their mind and will be supporting Intel’s Skylake CPU technology until the end of support for Windows 7 and 8.1. Windows 10 will be required for the newer CPU generations, however. At least for the latest and greatest features and support.

As previously communicated earlier this year, future silicon platforms including Intel’s upcoming 7th Gen Intel Core (Kaby Lake) processor family and AMD’s 7^th generation processors (e.g. Bristol Ridge) will only be supported on Windows 10, and all future silicon releases will require the latest release of Windows 10.

With the latest Anniversary Update behind us, Microsoft has given us another Insiders Update – Build 14901. This has a few fixes, and a new way for notifications within File Explorer.

I’d also like to thank everyone for all of your help around the research and ideas for the #WINsiders4Good events. The Seattle one was a great success and I will write up a detailed blog (with a video!) once we wrap up Berlin this weekend. The team and I are working on creating a CAT (Create-A-Thon) In A Box so that any of you can host your own event with your local community. I love that our Insider community are people who use the tech they love to help eradicate the problems they don’t love.