Over a ten-year span focusing on tech news, you may observe that stories tend to cluster together. This past week, it seems like the entire tech community was reminiscing, as both Windows Phone and Windows 95 made headlines again. Additionally, there’s speculation about the revival of the Halo TV series through Netflix. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Surface lineup evolution, as analyzed by our Senior Editor Zac Bowden, wasn’t particularly positive news.
Surface is dead… kind of
The Surface line, once known for groundbreaking designs, is no longer in its former glory under Microsoft’s leadership. Eighteen months since Panos Panay left, Microsoft has outlined a fresh direction for the Surface brand, focusing more on commercially viable products rather than experimental designs that didn’t always find market success.
In a recent article, Bowden noted that the less common, high-end Surface devices of the past no longer fit into the current Surface product lineup. Specifically, products such as the Surface Studio and Surface Duo, which catered to specific markets, have been phased out. Instead, the company is concentrating solely on hardware that appeals to both business clients and broader audiences.
A tedious thing isn’t necessarily awful; it simply lacks excitement. Microsoft continues to push boundaries in the PC sector, doing so by employing Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Luckily, those who love PCs that push boundaries can look Lenovo’s way.
Halo TV show on Netflix
The Halo TV show didn’t garner the same level of critical praise or audience interest as Fallout. Both series stem from Microsoft-owned video game series. Unlike Fallout, which has been confirmed for a second season, Halo is aiming for a comeback.
The Halo television series was exclusively available on Paramount+, a comparison Richard Devine made to “Metallica performing their one concert of the year in Greenland.” However, to maintain a show, viewers are essential, and it appears that Paramount+ may not be the optimal platform for Halo.
In the near future, the Halo TV series is set to stream on Netflix across multiple territories. This might potentially pave the way for a third season of the previously terminated Halo. At the very least, it ensures wider accessibility for viewers.
Windows 95
The installation procedure for Windows 95 could be likened to three individuals hidden under a trench coat. Back in the day, when Microsoft was upgrading its operating system, this process posed distinctive hurdles, and the developers needed to find an optimal method to make it user-friendly.
Raymond Chen, a veteran of more than 30 years with Windows, penned a blog post in November detailing the reasons behind the three-operating-system approach taken during the setup process for Windows 95.
Microsoft faced a challenge in allowing users to upgrade to Windows 95 from MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, or even corrupted versions of Windows 95 itself. One possible approach could have been designing a text-based setup program compatible with all three operating systems. However, this method might not have provided the optimal user experience. Another option was to make users install Windows 95 first before setting it up, which would seem more polished but still wasn’t an ideal solution in terms of user convenience.
The final decision was to find a middle ground, as explained by Chen:
The optimal choice lies in between: You can set up a minimal version of Windows 3.1 using the MS-DOS installer, providing only what the 16-bit GUI setup program requires to function. This lean version is compact enough to be installed from a few floppy disks. After installation, you can boot into this lightweight version of Windows 3.1 and execute the 16-bit GUI setup program.
Responding to the previous discussion, Chen explained the reason Microsoft opted for text over graphics in the MS-DOS setup program. Essentially, while it was technically feasible to incorporate graphics, it would have necessitated a significant amount of additional effort.
Chen explained that despite writing code for your setup program, none of it has anything to do with installing Windows 95. Instead, it’s the underlying structure required to even run the setup program. It’s quite extensive and it might be challenging to fit everything into just 640KB of memory,” said Chen.
In order to utilize the expanded memory space available in protected mode, it’s time for you to develop a Protected Mode Manager, which is often referred to as an MS-DOS Extender.
That method essentially meant Microsoft would’ve needed to develop another OS specifically designed to install Windows 95. Given this context, it’s clear why they opted for a different strategy instead.
Windows Phone revived?
Regardless of Windows Phone no longer being active for quite some time, we still find opportunities to discuss it in our content. Thus, when I came across headlines suggesting a Lumia was being reborn as a contemporary device, my interest was piqued. Unfortunately, these articles were not about the HMD Skyline. Rather, they centered around a project where components of an iPhone SE (Gen 3) were inserted into the casing of a Lumia 1020.
Reddit user OceanDepth95028 constructed the gadget, giving it the name “NokiApple LumiPhone 1020 SE.” As it’s primarily assembled with authentic iPhone components, the phone operates almost flawlessly. However, Apple Pay and wireless charging features are inoperable, but the device runs on the most recent version of iOS and receives over-the-air updates.
scarcely any supporters of Windows Phone can be found in 2025. In truth, even during its peak, it was difficult to find Windows Phone enthusiasts. Remarkably, Daniel Vávra from Warhorse Studios, who is well-known, left Microsoft headquarters astounded when they observed him using a Windows Phone.
No need to fret, Vávra! Plenty of us from Windows Central used Windows Phones in the past as well.
Windows Central Podcast
Every week, our top editors Daniel Rubino (Editor-in-Chief) and Zac Bowden (Senior Editor) discuss the hottest topics of the moment. They also offer valuable insights into industry developments and occasionally disclose exclusive details. So, don’t miss out – either join us live or catch up later on YouTube or your preferred podcast platform.
This past week, I delved into an enlightening discussion with colleagues Bowden and Rubino, focusing on the evolution of the Surface brand throughout the years and the headline-grabbing news that dominated our tech landscape recently.
Reviews
Each week, our team gets hands-on with the newest devices, games, and other items. This week, we delve deeper into “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza” and the revamped Zenbook Duo in our latest reviews. We’ve been busy this month, so I’ve gathered all of our recent review articles for you as well.
This week, the Zenbook Duo is stealing the show. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra “Arrow Lake” H-Series processor, it boasts a duo of 3K OLED displays, which means this PC actually has two full-sized screens, and not a small action bar or secondary screen.
On the Zenbook Duo, you can adjust the screen positions for multiple usage angles, enhancing its adaptability with an integrated stand.
At a quick look, the Zenbook Duo is striking, mainly because of its screen; however, it offers much more than just an eye-catching design. This laptop received top marks in various categories such as its value, display quality, exceptional battery performance, comfortable keyboard, and responsive touchpad.
Our Cale Hunt concluded his review by saying:
Similar to the original Zenbook Duo (UX8406), the 2025 model is an absolute joy to utilize. New ideas for maximizing its innovative screen layout keep popping up, and so far, it’s performed exceptionally well in almost every scenario. If it fits within your budget, you won’t be disappointed with this impressive 2025 update of the Zenbook Duo.
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2025-02-22 17:09