Microsoft has announced a major software update for Surface Hub 2S, a large enterprise collaborative display, bringing an entirely new experience based on Teams Rooms on Windows. This new experience will be included out of the box with new Surface Hub 2S models starting later this year, but Microsoft will also be offering an upgrade path for existing Surface Hub 2S owners.
The Surface Hub 2S, similar to the original Surface Hub, initially launched with a special edition of Windows 10 called Windows 10 Team Edition, which was designed specifically for extremely large screens like this one. This has been the primary experience running these devices ever since, even after the release of Windows 11, so upgrading is a bit late at this point.
Teams Rooms on Windows is a software platform built around Microsoft Teams, designed to provide advanced meeting experiences in meeting rooms to connect participants in person and online. With this update, the Surface Hub 2S will become the first large touch screen tablet to be powered by Teams Rooms on Windows, since most current devices are simple screens that need additional hardware to be used to their fullest.
On Surface Hub 2S, Teams Rooms on Windows will retain the existing capabilities of the existing experience, including quick access to a virtual whiteboard, complete with dual inking support so two users can use them at the same time. However, it includes some upgrades as well. First, you can expect feature parity with the rest of the Teams Rooms platform on Windows, with development being much easier for Microsoft since the platform is unified across other devices. This includes features like front row and chat. Another plus is support for one-touch direct joining of meetings on platforms like Zoom and Webex, so you’re not limited to just teams.
It also provides enhanced management capabilities for IT administrators, so it’s easier to manage Surface Hub 2S devices in your organization. Finally, it also means that Surface Hub 2S will be compatible with other Teams Rooms hardware, such as speakers, microphone systems, and cameras, for a more advanced meeting experience.
Microsoft hasn’t announced specific availability details for this new experience, but it will appear first on new Surface Hub 2S devices later this year, and existing users will be able to upgrade their devices at a later date. If you’d rather stick with Windows 10 Team Edition or have an original Surface Hub, Microsoft says it will continue to support the platform with security updates and critical fixes until October 14, 2025, which is the same end of support date as Windows 10 in general.
source: Microsoft
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