Microsoft News Roundup: Ads in File Explorer, HoloLens struggles, and more

We report on a broad range of news related to Microsoft and Windows. It's easy to miss a few stories, especially if you also try to keep up on general tech news. Each Friday, we recap the biggest items of the week covered at Windows Central.

This week included the controversial appearance of an ad (or promo, if you prefer) within the File Explorer and poor expectations for the version of HoloLens that will soon enter testing with the U.S. Army. We also saw the announcement of a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2, a popular Reddit app being optimized for Surface Duo, and news about Intel's first Arc GPU.

Microsoft struggles with HoloLens for U.S. Army

Microsoft's HoloLens teams have reportedly run into issues in recent times. The HoloLens 3 was canceled and the entire division appears to have questions regarding its future. This week, a report indicated that Microsoft's augmented reality headset for the U.S. Army isn't expected to meet expectations. Its name is IVAS.

Sources close to the project expressed fear that the U.S. Army may ditch its $22 billion deal with Microsoft for AR headsets altogether. Negative feedback is expected for the current IVAS units, which are due for field testing in May.

New Surface Hub 2S Smart Camera

Microsoft announced a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2S this week. The camera was designed for the hybrid work experience. According to Microsoft, it is the first webcam powered by artificial intelligence. It features a 12MP 136-degree sensor that can capture people as close as 0.4 meters away or as far as 8 meters.

The Smart Camera costs $800. That is more than the best webcams that people are used to for consumer usage, but it is actually cheaper than some competing products in the enterprise space. Logitech has a similar camera that costs $1,000. The camera is also included with the purchase of a $22,000 Surface Hub 2 after May 31, 2022.

Ads appear in Windows 11 File Explorer

Controversy brewed this week when some Windows Insiders ran into ads in the File Explorer. There was some debate on if the ads were indeed ads, with some arguing that they were just "self-promotion." Regardless of what people chose to call the banner in question, its existence in File Explorer caused frustration for many.

Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc later explained that the ads in File Explorer were not meant to be externally published. Notably, he did not promise that there would never be ads in the File Explorer. Instead, he said that this specific implementation was not meant to be tested publicly.

Sync Reddit app optimized for Surface Duo

Sync, a popular Reddit client on Android, was optimized for the Surface Duo this week. The app now takes advantage of both screens of the device, allowing Redditors to browse through topics on one screen while reading comments on the other. The new functionality is in the Dev release of Sync, which costs just a penny under $5.

First Intel Arc GPU launching this month

Intel shared a few more details about its first Arc GPU this week. The company will hold an event for its new GPU family on March 30, 2022. On that same day, the Intel Arc A370M will launch. The first Arc GPU will deliver up to double the performance of integrated graphics, according to Intel.

Intel Vice President and General Manager Lisa Pearce explained that the first Arc GPUs will be on mobile PCs, such as laptops. More powerful devices will have Arc graphics in the future.

Samsung giving free monitors with Galaxy Book2 orders

Preorders for the new Samsung Galaxy Book2 lineup are live. You now can order the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Book2 Pro, or Book2 360. If you preorder either of the pro models, you'll also receive a 32-inch Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor, which is a value of $329.

The new Galaxy Book laptops have similar names but varying specs. To make sure you order the right one, check out our breakdown of the new Galaxy Book2 devices from the end of last month.