Microsoft has announced today the release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for its Surface Hub family of interactive whiteboards. This new product category runs a version of Windows 10 optimized for touch interactions as the Surface Hub is meant to be used simultaneously by multiple collaborators in conference rooms. Microsoft started shipping the first Surface Hubs to enterprise customers earlier in the Spring, and the company shares today that it has now sold over 600 devices to customers in 24 different countries.
Just like the Xbox One, the Surface Hub has a sort of special status in Microsoft’s ecosystem of Windows 10 devices. Before shipping the Anniversary Update to this family of devices, the company explains that it gathered feedback from its customers to find the best way to iterate on the Surface Hub system software. “That feedback is front and center as we build out what’s next for Surface Hub,” the team explained.
In the blog post, Microsoft highlighted the most important new features of this update such as Skype for Business improvements, inking support across Office apps, support for simultaneous Pen and Touch, and more. Here is the full changelog of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for the Surface Hub (the OS build number is 14393.222):
Skype for Business:
- Performance improvements when joining meetings, including issues when joining a meeting using federated accounts
- Video Based Screen Sharing (VBSS) support now available on Skype for Business for Surface Hub
- Resolved disconnection after 5 minutes of idle time issue
- Resolved Skype Hub-to-Hub screen sharing failure
- Improvements to Skype video, including:
- Loss of video during meeting with multiple video presenters
- Video cropping during calls
- Outgoing call video not displaying for other participants
- Addressed issue with UPN sign in error
- Addressed issue with dial pad during use of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) calls
Whiteboard:
- Added support for sending large (10 MB and greater) Whiteboard files
- User can now save & recall Whiteboard sessions using OneDrive online service (via Share functionality)
- Improved launching Whiteboard when removing pen from dock
Apps:
- Pre-installed OneDrive app, for access to your personal and work files
- Pre-installed Photos app, to view photos & video
- Pre-installed PowerBI app, to view dashboards
- The Office apps – Word, Excel, PowerPoint – are all ink-enabled
- Edge on Surface Hub now supports Flash-based websites
General:
- Enabled Audio Device Selection (for Surface Hubs attached using external audio devices)
- Enabled support for HDCP on DisplayPort output connector
- System UI changes to settings for usability optimization (refer to User and Admin Guides for additional details)
- Bug fixes and performance optimizations to speed up the Azure Active Directory sign-in flow
- Significantly improved time needed to reset and restore Surface Hub
- Enabled support for BitLocker To Go devices
- Windows Defender UI has been added within settings
- Improved UX touch to start
- Enabled support for greater than 1080P wireless projection via Miracast, on supported devices
- Resolved “There’s no internet connection” and “Appointments may be out of date” false notification states from launch
- Improved reliability of on screen keyboard
- Additional support for creating Surface Hub provisioning packages using Windows Imaging & Configuration Designer (ICD) and Improved Surface Hub monitoring solution on Operations Management Suite (OMS)
Microsoft explained that the update will roll out gradually through Windows Update to Surface Hub customers around the world, with the full roll-out to be completed by early November. In the meantime, customers can get more information about how to get prepared for the update by checking the Surface Hub Support Webpage.
