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Ultimate Guide To Iot & How To Protect Them In 2023

The term "Internet of Things" (IoT) is frequently misused. The finest definition and description of IoT: the functioning of everyday objects over the internet via computing devices implanted within them. Kitchen appliances, lighting, heating units, security systems, and other "daily items" fall within this category.

Despite the fact that we have provided a basic definition of the term "IoT," technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated with time. With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence and technical developments on a regular basis, sophisticated software implanted within physical gadgets, vehicles, and even buildings will allow not only you to engage, but the objects to operate on their own or in conjunction with one another. 

As a result, there has been a surge in demand for IoT development companies that can help businesses integrate IoT technology into their products and services. For instance, if you're looking for an IoT Development Company in Dubai, there are several reputable firms that specialize in developing custom IoT solutions to meet the unique needs of businesses in the region. These companies can help you design, develop, and deploy IoT solutions that can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. With the right IoT development partner, you can unlock the full potential of IoT technology and stay ahead of the competition in today's fast-paced digital world.

IoT Explained

As previously said, IoT entails various sorts of smart gadgets being informed what to do or connecting with one another in order to improve the quality of life around us - it makes our lives easier. This is accomplished by network connectivity, which is often wireless.

IoT Components

IoT is a complicated framework made up of many pieces ranging from sensors to actuators. Confused? We're here to explain what's going on.

Essentially, every IoT object begins with a sensor. Objects cannot perform actions or capture states unless they are equipped with sensors. This, combined with a connection to the internet, makes these items "smart" without the need for human participation. The actuator then causes everything to happen. 

Simply simply, IoT is a collection of interconnected technologies rather than a single technology.

  • Sensors to Actuators
  • The Network
  • Apps, platforms and services
  1. Sensors to Acurators

IoT items are primarily low-power gadgets that were not designed to be "smart" from the start, but have evolved through time. The majority of the devices are low-cost and wireless. The sensors attached to the items continuously collect data from their surroundings and transmit it to the next layer.

Sensors that are commonly used include thermostats, pressure sensors, humidity sensors, proximity detection, speed sensors, RFID tags, and so on. The actuator functions similarly to a switch, making the command a reality on the gadget.

  1. The Network

Wi-Fi internet is the standard communication network in IoT, although most modern smart devices and sensors can also be connected by alternative low powered networks such as Bluetooth, Z-wave, ZigBee, LoRAWAN, and so on. Each of these networks has advantages and disadvantages in terms of data transfer rate and overall efficiency.

The development of IoT networks is still underway, with the goal of improving technology, increasing battery life, and increasing efficiency. 6LoWPAN, which is IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks, is one of the most recent protocols to be added. Many organisations have adopted the technology, which is now utilised to provide energy-efficient data transfer in IoT networks.

  1. Apps, Platform, and Services

The middleware that connects IoT components comprises IoT apps, platforms, and services. They collect and distribute data, convert across protocols, store and analyse data, and so on.

These services, which are largely cloud-based, are in charge of processing data and converting it into meaningful information. Amazon Web Service is an example of a widely utilised IoT service (AWS). Microsoft Azure, IBM Watson Bluemix, and ThingWorx are among the others.

Also Check: Choosing The Best IoT Application Development Company In 2023

The Growth of IoT

Although the Internet of Things has received a lot of attention in recent years, it is not a new concept. A Coca-Cola machine invented at Carnegie Melon University in the 1980s was one of the early demonstrations of IoT.

It was an internet-connected refrigerator where one could check to see if a drink was available and if it was cold before opening the fridge. Back then, the concept was simply known as "embedded internet" or "pervasive computing."

Some IoT Application Areas (Impact of IoT)

According to data, the key applications of IoT include improving customer experiences, enabling safety, achieving cost reductions, increasing production, and getting supply chain visibility.

It is projected that the Internet of Things will continue to grow dramatically and create new businesses around the world. Nowadays, the following areas have been completely revolutionised by this groundbreaking concept:

  • IoT at home

Despite the fact that IoT has expanded in every sector, the fastest growing sector is IoT home. In fact, we are on the verge of a smart-home explosion! According to a recent Intel Corporation study, 71% of those polled anticipate to see at least one smart-home gadget in every home by 2025. Another 68% believe that smart homes will be as prevalent as smartphones within the next decade.

Smart lights, such as the Philips Hue bulb, and thermostats that can be controlled remotely are examples of IoT at home. Amazon dash buttons are another outstanding example. If you're not familiar with them, they're Wi-Fi-enabled devices that allow you to re-order your favourite goods with the touch of a button. Dash Replenishment Services go even farther, automatically ordering things when they detect that inventories are getting low.

  • Smart Cities

Cities all over the world are capitalising on the expansion of IoT to improve lives, service delivery, save costs, and maximise revenue. Actually, according to a Juniper Research research sponsored by Intel, smart cities have the ability to "give back" 125 hours to each citizen per year!"

Barcelona was one of the first cities to invest in IoT, using responsive systems as early as 2012. The city, like most other smart cities, uses IoT in sectors like public transportation, street lighting, parking, water, electricity, and trash management.

If you are in town and need to park, you will not have to look far. The parking system will display available parking spaces nearby, saving you energy and time. These sensors will also collect statistics to assist the city in maximising parking revenue.

Smart bins in trash management monitor waste levels and optimise collection routes. This will assist the municipality in lowering the costs of monitoring every bin along every route. Some advanced bins may even detect dangerous or unpleasant water!

  • IoT in Agriculture

The Internet of Things has considerably enhanced agriculture in terms of both farming and animal management. Farming sensors collect massive amounts of data on soil quality, weather conditions, crop progress, and livestock health. This information is then utilised to track performance, equipment, and treatment efficiency, among other things. The data can also be used to forecast production output, allowing farmers to determine how to share their produce.

Because farmers will have more control over the production process, IoT will also assist manage costs and eliminate waste. The automation brought about by IoT in activities such as fertilising, irrigation, and pest management also contributes significantly to cost and waste reduction. Farmers may now enhance productivity while maximising profit thanks to IoT in agriculture.

Also Check: 6 Ways A Software Development Business Can Utilize Blockchain Technology In 2023

  • IoT in industry

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is quickly expanding and presently accounts for the majority of IoT spending. According to Accenture, IIoT could add $14.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030. The Internet of Things (IoT) is most commonly utilised in manufacturing, where it focuses on the use of cyber-physical systems to monitor and control production processes, as well as use the obtained data to make educated decisions.

One of the most important applications of IIoT is reducing energy usage, which is typically the most expensive expense for manufacturing enterprises. Because bills only show the overall power consumed within the factory, it can be difficult to detect inefficient devices. IIoT is used to collect and analyse data at the device level. Any underperforming devices will be detected and repaired in this manner.

Predictive maintenance is another significant advantage of IoT in the industrial business. Without IoT, businesses just do routine maintenance based on time or the history of an equipment. Because of the related guesswork, this results in unneeded expenses. Sensors in IoT typically monitor various machines and report on their status or if an issue emerges. This saves time, labour, and money, and early failure indicators are always reported. This reduces downtime, and the better manufacturing process will undoubtedly result in higher product quality.

  • IoT in Health

The application of IoT in healthcare has delivered exceptional benefits, improving the quality and efficiency of treatments and overall patient health.

Several lives have been saved thanks to real-time monitoring technologies. When a patient is in danger of developing heart failure, diabetes, or an asthma attack, smart medical devices often collect data and alert the carer before sending it to the appropriate medical personnel via a connected smartphone. Normal-situation data is also highly beneficial to health experts in advising on any activities that need to be made to improve the patient's health or to take preventative measures.

Using data acquired by medical devices such as heart monitors and insulin pumps, hospitals using IoT-connected devices can remotely monitor a patient's health. They can always detect early indicators of problems and take preventive measures this way.

IoT and Data Security

The industry with the most concerns about data security is the one closest to home.

According to data undertaken for the Internet of Things Report, 193 million smart home gadgets are expected to be shipped this year. This represents a 224% increase over 2016, when 86 million gadgets were shipped. Smart home appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, and so on), smart home energy equipment such as smart lighting and thermostats, and smart home safety security systems such as cameras, monitors, sensors, and alarm systems are examples.

While the majority of it is intended for businesses and governments to better consumer and citizen service delivery, it can also be utilised by harmful parties. Because of the large number of points, such groups have more opportunity to hack and infiltrate a system in order to steal a user's personal information or cause mischief to whatever is connected.

Also Check: Top Real Estate App Development Companies in Dubai

Collecting information from your home

Amazon Alexa is available on tens of millions of Amazon devices as well as devices manufactured by third-party manufacturers. Google Home is another IoT device that functions similarly and is quite popular among users. With so many individuals connected, so many are vulnerable at the same time.

Since the introduction of these IoT "voice assistants," there have been concerns raised concerning user privacy and security. The topic of whether they can be used to spy on you is frequently posed, and there has yet to be a definitive answer.

Securing your home data

Whatever IoT gadget you use, it will undoubtedly collect data about you. Because different IoT devices pose different types of dangers, the only way to assure overall home security is to encrypt data using a VPN.

A VPN functions as a shield for your personal data, keeping it safe and secure. ExpressVPN is a good example of a VPN that uses AES 256-bit encryption to secure your security and privacy at all times. This VPN secures your traffic by encrypting it and tunnelling it to a server of your choice. Your data will not be routed through your ISP in this manner, keeping it safe and secure from hackers.

However, keep in mind that many IoT devices do not natively enable VPN installation. Using a router-based VPN is the best approach to ensure that even those devices are safe. Both of the VPNs mentioned above offer pre-installed VPN routers directly from their websites.

The Last Wise Words

IoT has grown at an exponential rate over the years and will continue to do so through 2023 and beyond. Connectivity of ordinary devices provides numerous benefits while also raising numerous security risks.

WHAT IS NEW IN UPCOMING INFINIX HOT 20 PLAY

The Infinix Hot 20 Play, a brand-new smart phone with the newest features and specifications, is available on the market. The smart phone uses the Android 12 operating system to run its applications and movies, and it is powered by MediaTek Helio and an Octa core.

 Although the weight and proportions indicate that it is slightly larger than average, it is still portable and convenient. The Infinix smart phone is available in the market in the colors black, blue, green, and purple and supports dual SIM cards. It is equipped with 4G capable bands, uses GSM, LTE, and HSPA network technologies to carry out operations, and has strong resolutions.

This device's screen size is close to seven inches, and it has an IPS LCD display as far as display technology is concerned. Customers may study the Infinix Hot 20 Play specifications and receive updates on its features.

With its dual camera configuration and MediaTek Helio chipset, the Hot 20 Play smart phone is used to record Infinix Hot 20 Play videos. This cell phone has the most up-to-date LED flash characteristics, which can increase its efficiency. The front camera has an 8 MP resolution, which can be used to take stunning selfies.

The features, which are shared with the viewers and offered at the most reasonable price range, will be appreciated by them. Customers can read Infinix Hot 20 Play reviews, and connectivity options allow for internet browsing.

SPECIFICATIONS OF INFINIX HOT 20 PLAY

·         The Infinix Hot 20 Play, a new smart phone from Infinix, will be unveiled in Pakistan. The phone uses an Android 12 OS-based operating system called XOS 10.6. With a Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37 chipset, this phone has an Octa Core processor.

·         Dual SIM and Dual Standby modes are available on the phone. It can operate on 2G, 3G, and 4G network bands. Race Black, Luna Blue, Aurora Green, and Fantasy Purple are just a few of the colors this phone will come in.

·         34 GB/128 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM are both features of the Infinix Hot 20 Play. A 6.82-inch IPS LCD Capacitive Touch screen serves as the screen's display.

·        

The phone's back camera has two 13 MP + QVGA cameras with a quad LED flash. The phone's front camera has an 8 MP sensor and a Dual LED flash. This phone's battery has a 6000 mAh capacity and supports rapid charging up to 18W. You may view Pakistani Infinix mobile phone prices.

·          You can use the internal storage, which comes in two sizes with 64 GB or 128 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM, to store an increasing amount of data. By inserting a memory card into the card slot, the storage can be increased.

·         Customers may locate the Infinix Hot 20 Play price in Pakistan, and this cell phone is made at a reasonable cost. The phone contains appealing sensors including faces unlock, proximity, and fingerprint.

·         The current list of official Infinix mobiles dealers and warranty providers shows that the Infinix Hot 20 Play is available for the lowest price in Pakistan at Rs. 28800 Pakistani Rupees (PKR). This price is valid throughout Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Muzaffarabad.

·         Purchase a fresh Infinix Hot 20 Playpen pack from one of the top online retailers or a nearby Infinix Hot 20 Play retailer, whichever offers the greatest deal.

·         Prior to purchasing an Infinix Hot 20 Play from a local store or online retailer, always double check the device's specifications, features, warranty, shipping costs, and delivery time with the seller. Price indicated in grey denotes "no warranty."

·         The list of current Infinix Hot 20 Play prices in Pakistan was updated using information from authorized Infinix retailers and warranty providers.

·         Price in Grey denotes price without guarantee. These phones are typically sold without any warranty, whether it be a manufacturer's warranty, an in-store warranty, or a warranty from a shoddy, nonexistent firm.

·         In Pakistan, the official warranty version of the Infinix Hot 20 Play is anticipated to cost Rs. 29,999 (without a discount), while the device's black market price is N/A.

·         The price listed above is applicable throughout Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Muzaffarabad. Slight variations are to be expected; always check your local store to confirm Hot 20 Play specifications and for accurate local costs.

How to Make Your Own Animated Cartoon Character Video

Video content having animated characters are an important source of marketing your brand. The animated videos are engaging and entertaining as they build a  bond with your target audience. As more people now prefer watching attractive and eye-catching brand videos, different types of cartoon animation videos are getting popular. A few minutes of 3D animated video aim to build a relationship with customers to get more conversions, increase engagement, and build brand loyalty. The videos humanize the brand by creating a personal tone that enthralls customers. The cartoon video in short product trailers and commercials focuses on brand imaging, giving businesses a good ROI. For instance, cartoon advertisements have great memories. Some of the ads that you watched in childhood give you nostalgic feelings. Consequently, these amazing videos deliver a captivating marketing message that makes the audience delightful. A short, alluring, and fascinating video create a favorable and lasting impression on customers.

 In cartoon animation, outstanding storytelling explains a complex idea or product engagingly. As these animated videos explain the product's benefits to the users, they are more likely to watch the entire video than read the content on the website. Consequently,  animated cartoon videos attract new potential customers, build online brand visibility and increase brand awareness. Video production animation services use visual resources to make promotional, informative, and engaging product videos aligned with the business's goals. 

Today, video animators know how to keep the content fresh. Therefore, they change the brand message or visuals by editing or reshooting the entire video. Hence, cartoon animation is a powerful marketing tool that retains existing clients, engages new audiences, and drives more conversions to the site.

How You Can Create Your Own Animated Cartoon Character Video 

  • Select your preferred animation type

Many cartoon animation services select the more appropriate animation type to create their desired cartoon video. Some prefer whiteboard animation or 2D animation, while many animators employ 3D animation videos that prove outstanding and impactful for the audience. To make a Whiteboard animation video, a black pen or a pointer is used to create the entire cartoon character. In contrast, 2D and 3D animation videos are created using two-dimensional and three-dimensional frameworks. Today, marketers are opting for 3D animation that looks real. Moreover, 3D animated cartoon videos have a compelling and engaging story that enthralls the audience. For instance, video animators include a main character that informs customers about the product and solves their problems.

  • Create a storyboard Script

The script is the foundation of your video that helps you analyze your objective, target audience, the impact of the video on the viewers after watching, and the core message the video aims to deliver. The animators convert the core message into an appealing short story that will grab the audience's attention. The storyboard is helpful for inexperienced video animators to know the effectiveness of the concept and script that creates compelling animation videos. Creating an animated storyboard video helps organize your video scene by scene.

  • Decide which   Animation Maker you like to use

The next step allows animators to instantly select a convenient animation software to create  efficient animated videos. Finding the right tool will help you create your animated cartoon without hassle. 

  • Make animated videos by editing a template

If you find it tough to create a video from scratch, you can opt for a ready-to-use template. Browse the online gallery and look for easy-to-use templates. There are 1000+  templates available; you can choose the one that can work comfortably. You can edit, change and refine the template as well.

  • Make a Cartoon Character

To create an appealing cartoon character, choose a pre-made cartoon character template, and customize it using the images, icons, and characters you like. Then, select the right character for your brand. Next, you can edit the character by slightly changing the character's avatar. For instance, you can change the hair color, hairdo, facial features, and color of the character's eyes. You will notice the action as you click on the character on the scene.

Moreover, you can change the action of the character. You can select characters, king/queen, Kid characters, and animal characters using the Expressions tab. Hence, you can also build your character from scratch and replace it with the existing character.

  • Use Supportive Elements to make the cartoon appealing

If you choose a template design, you may require additional elements such as icons, images, signs, and drawings to refine the video. For instance, you can add supportive elements, such as bubbles, rainbow, and animated figures to give a humorous tone to the video. Moreover, add mini animated graphics to create a professional video. Today, businesses focus on using supportive elements that increase the likeability of the video. Short, appealing cartoons grab viewers' attention.

Moreover, watching these memorable cartoons allow the audience to share their emotions. Some audience laughs and enjoys remembering the mesmerizing music or engaging tone of the video or interesting jingle, a short song or tune that excites them. Hence, attractive and immersive cartoons increase brand promotion and customer engagement.  

  • A Voiceover / Music

Enter a search and choose your favorite musical track for the video. Ensure you select the music that matches the tone and concept of the video. Moreover, use a suitable voiceover that the audience can easily grasp. Either you can use your voiceover or ask someone else to do it. To record the best voiceover, you can employ online tools and utilize them with clarity in recording. The tools will further assist in editing and incorporating the voiceover in the video as required. Adding a voiceover makes the cartoon video more fascinating. Consequently, character cartoon animation will grab the audience's attention and mesmerize them completely. 

To Recapitulate 

If you have the passion and interest to create animated videos at your own pace, let's jump into the animated methods illustrated in the article. First, you can create a favorite cartoon animation using animation tools and software. Then, start creating an animated video from scratch, review the video and see if you have left any loopholes, and check the text alignment and the organization of the voiceover. Creating fascinating cartoon animation videos is an art that captures visitors' attention toward the brand. The immersive cartoons create brand awareness and emotionally connect clients with the brand. Ninety percent of online consumers purchase a product after watching these attention-grabbing cartoon videos.

How To Unlock A Blacklisted iPhone

If you own a Blacklisted iPhone, there’s a good chance that Apple has blocked your device’s cellular and Wi-Fi communications. You may be able to unlock your phone if you can prove to Apple that the phone is yours and that it shouldn’t be barred from connecting to the internet. There are several ways to do this, but the process is difficult and requires some technical know-how.

If your iPhone is locked, it won’t let you use any of the features that Apple provides for free. There are a few ways to unlock an iPhone that is locked by Apple, but they’re all pretty difficult. This guide will show you how to unlock an iPhone using a third-party tool, which is much easier and faster.

Can You Unlock The Blacklisted iPhone? 

Can you unlock the blacklisted iPhone? This question has been on everyone's mind since the release of the new iPhone. The phone, which is not available to purchase through Apple's official store, has been banned by some government organizations because of its security features. Many people are curious about how to unlock the phone, and whether or not it's possible. 

But Is Unlocking The Blacklisted Iphone Really Possible? 

According to experts, there is no way to bypass the phone's security features without Apple's help. In fact, even if someone did manage to unlock it, they would still be vulnerable to hacking and data theft. 

So should you attempt to unlock the blacklisted iPhone? There is no easy answer—it all comes down to personal discretion and whether or not you're interested in risking your security. As compared to Android device which can be easily unlocked by using universal unlock pin for Android, iPhones comes with high unbuilt security. So it is always a doubtful question that if you can unlock blacklisted iphone or not.

How Do I Remove My iPhone From On Blacklist?

If you have been flagged for a reason and would like to remove yourself from the blacklist, there are a few steps that you need to take. You can contact Apple or your service provider to ask for help removing yourself from the blacklist. 

Apple does not allow users to remove themselves from the blacklist without their permission. If you have forgotten your password or if you have lost your iPhone, you will need to contact your service provider and provide them with the device's serial number and IMEI number. 

Your service provider may be able to help you get off of the blacklist if they are aware of the situation. However, most service providers do not have access to Apple's tools so they may not be able to completely remove you from the list.

What I Can Do To Unblock My Blacklisted iPhone?

If you are having trouble unblocking your iPhone because it is on a blacklist, there are a few things you can do. 

First, consult with your carrier or Apple support to see if they can remove the blacklist from your iPhone. 

Second, try using a different VPN service or app. 

Finally, try using Apple's built-in Unblock feature in Settings to remove any blocks that may be preventing access to specific apps or websites.

If you have been blacklisted on an iPhone, then there are a few things that you can do to try and unblock your device, you will want to make sure that you are using the most up-to-date iOS software. This will help make sure that any blocking done by the iPhone carrier is less likely to occur. You can also try using a different carrier or using an alternate phone number. If none of these solutions work, then you may need to take further steps to unblock your device. There are various ways to do this, and it largely depends on what kind of blocking has been put in place.

Who can unblock blacklisted iPhones?

If you want to unblock a blacklisted iPhone that is not currently supported by Apple, there are several methods that you can use. 

The first option is to use a VPN service and use a 3rd party service. This can be a paid or free option, and the main advantage of using a third-party service is that it may have more up-to-date compatibility with blacklisted iPhones than Apple’s own solutions. 

The second option is to try and unlock the phone yourself. This can be done by following specific instructions posted online or by asking someone who knows how to do it. However, this method is not always successful, and it can also be time-consuming and difficult that can bypass the blacklist. Finally, you can use a jailbreak tool to remove the blacklist from your iPhone.

Can I Unlock The Blacklisted iPhone For Free?

If you have an iPhone that is designated as being "blacklisted" by the Apple corporation, there may still be ways to unlock it for free. In order to find out if your phone is designated as blacklisted, you will need to go to the Apple website and sign in with your account information. Once you are logged in, click on the "Report a Problem" link located on the top right of the homepage. From here, you will be able to select which type of problem you are having with your device (i.e.imei not recognized, iPhone won't turn on). If your phone is designated as blacklisted, it will appear at the bottom of this list under the heading "Blacklisted Devices." 

If you do not want to pay for an unlocking service, there are still several methods that you can use to get your phone unlocked.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are blacklisted and need to unblock your iPhone, there are a few steps that you can take. Firstly, you will need to find a VPN or virtual private network service. Once you have connected to the VPN, you will need to search for a port-forwarding server that is compatible with your device. Finally, you will need to open up the port forwarding settings on your iPhone and add the VPN server address.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 to Look Out for in 2022

It has been nearly a decade-long journey for Microsoft as a developer of the Windows tablets, and like any other story, this one has had its downsides too. First, let us consider the example of the first generation "Surface" that they had launched, in which the Windows RT was a significant flop among customers. Later, after many years of persistence and attempts at iterative updates, Windows finally has delivered the sweeping upgrades in the form of Surface Pro 8. This newly launched device features smaller bezels, an improved battery life, a larger 120Hz display along with a phenomenal back camera. On September 22, 2021, Microsoft released its latest Surface Pro 8 tablet, aiming to be a trendsetter and stand out from the crowd.

With a 13-inch touch screen display and a resolution of 2880x1920 pixels, this tablet says out loud why it is different from its predecessors.

A quad-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU powers the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. It offers 8GB of RAM. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 runs Windows 11 and comes with 128GB of internal storage. The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 weighs 889.00 kilos and has dimensions 208.00 x 287.00 x 9.30mm (height x width x thickness). It came in two colors: Graphite and Platinum.

However, a frequently asked question here is if the Surface Pro 8 is really worth the price that Microsoft has set. With the increasing number of competitive alternatives in the market to choose from, what makes Microsoft's latest launch tablet special? Let us dive deeper into the features and specifications of this device to get a better understanding of whether the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a device worth your money or not. Is it to pursue, or is it to pass?

 Design - The Look and Feel

The Surface Pro 8's design strikes a balance between being readily recognizable while still offering a proper update. Even if you are confined to the same two color selections – Platinum (silver) or Graphite (black) – its magnesium alloy build looks and feels as great as ever. A matte coating provides excellent grip while preventing apparent fingerprint smudges. It also means that the Pro 8 may be used as a tablet without a case, but at 891g, you'll want to prop it up for extended use. Although many users argue that there are no differences between the Pro 7 and this model, a solid metal hinge gives it a surprisingly robust and sturdy feel.

The 5MP front-facing lens is of comparable quality, making it an excellent choice for video conversations. In addition, it can record in 1080p, which many built-in laptop webcams still can't equal. Many Surface laptops excel at this, especially when combined with dual studio mics.

The most noticeable design change is the substantially smaller bezels, which allow for a more prominent 13-inch display in a nearly identical footprint. This makes it feel more like a laptop than ever before, even though the tablet is much lighter. On the sides of the tablet, the power button, volume rocker, 3.5mm headphone socket, and docking station for keyboard coverings are all standard fare.

Although you may use either of the USB-C connections instead, Microsoft has stayed with the proprietary Surface Connect charging technique. As a result, the USB-A port has been removed, although Thunderbolt 4 is supported for rapid data transfer.

Accessories - The Extended Must-haves

Despite the keyboard being an essential purchase for most consumers, Microsoft continues to sell all of the Surface Pro 8 peripherals separately. The business, on the other hand, is pairing the updated Signature Keyboard with the new Slim Pen 2. Above the keyboard, there's even a built-in storage area for the stylus, which also charges it. This is preferable to a pen that magnetically attaches to the device's top, especially since the new design keeps it out of the way when typing.

The Surface Pro 8's size means that a full-size keyboard may now be used. The Signature Keyboard provides a good typing experience, similar to the Surface Laptop 4. Both are covered in a soft-touch Alcantara fabric, and the backlit keys give them a leg up on the competition. With Windows 11's full range of gestures, a somewhat large trackpad is also more usable now. But if you are someone who spends longer durations with your device, we suggest using a Bluetooth mouse.

Screen & Speakers - The See and Hear

The display of the Surface Pro 7 was scarcely a flaw for many, but Microsoft has made it a priority to improve it. The screen size has increased from 12.3 inches to 13 inches, although it still has a 3:2 aspect ratio. That means the resolution has been bumped to 2880x1920, though the 'PixelSense Flow' display is still LCD rather than OLED.

At the launch of Windows 11 in 2021, Microsoft announced a Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) feature that would allow the Surface Pro 8 and a few other devices to modify refresh rates depending on the situation automatically. This should assist in saving battery life. The Pro 8 retains its dual 2W stereo speakers, which are visible through big grilles on both sides of the tablet. They produce a deep, powerful sound that you wouldn't expect from a device of this size. The bass is adequate and does not become distorted at high volumes, and Dolby Atmos' capability allows for room-filling sound. Audiophiles will still need to use headphones or external speakers, but for casual users, it's a fantastic experience.

Specs & Performance - The Keys

Microsoft has improved the internals of the Surface Pro with each version, and this is no exception. The Pro 8 is powered by Intel's 11th-generation processors, which were released before Intel's newest CPUs were announced in January 2022. The Core i5-1135G7 and Core i7-1185G7 are the options here, although I can only comment on the latter. Performance on this mid-spec machine is superb, thanks to the Iris Xe integrated graphics and 16GB of RAM.

From online surfing and email checking to video chats and multitasking, the Pro 8 excels at all of the most basic productivity tasks. Even with many apps running at the same time, there were no stuttering or app crashes observed.

Software - The Soul

The Pro 8 comes with SSD storage in all configurations. However, the entry-level model is limited to just 128GB. This and the 256GB models, on the other hand, include a detachable SSD, allowing them to be easily replaced when they reach capacity. Unfortunately, if you choose 512GB or 1TB of storage, you won't get that functionality.

Since its launch, Microsoft has addressed many of the faults with Windows 11, but it still has a considerably different appearance and feel than Windows 10. Unfortunately, there's also no tablet mode, so touch interaction is still treated as an afterthought in comparison to cursor-based navigation.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Battery Life & Charging - The Life Savers

Microsoft has not provided a battery capacity for the Surface Pro 8. However, SurfaceTip claims it is a 50.2Wh cell. That's reportedly a little less than the Surface Pro 7+, but a significant improvement over the Pro 7's 43.2Wh battery. Microsoft claims that you'll get 'up to 16 hours of regular device usage' but doesn't elaborate. When the battery runs out, the 65W converter provided in the box will get you back up and running quickly. You can charge 95% of the battery within 90 minutes, which is commendable. 

In today's scenario, where much of it happens from behind the screens, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is one of the best tablets for working from home. You will not only look great but will also sound better because of its 5-megapixel front-facing camera that can shoot video in 1080p and two far-field studio microphones.

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