Ask Paul: January 26 (Premium)

After a two-week absence, no one should be surprised by the epic length of this week’s “Ask Paul.” Let’s dive right in.

Yubikey part 3

Just a quick follow-up here: Way back in December, Polycrastinator asked me about Yubikey and why Microsoft doesn’t support the FICO U2F standard as others do. I told him at the time that Microsoft wouldn’t respond to a question like that over the holidays, and then he pinged me about it again the following week.

Long story short: I’ve now asked twice, and I will get back on this as soon as I get an answer. I’ve not forgotten you. 🙂

Excel v. default email

Simard57 asks:

When I use Excel and select Send by Email, it defaults to Outlook – I do not have outlook installed, I use Windows 10 Mail & Calendar. Can this be configured someway to work to use the Windows 10 Default program instead of the Office Default? If not, where can I change the Office default email program?

As someone perhaps inadvertently alluded to in the comments, I’m not an Excel expert. And, sure enough, I don’t see a way to configure it to use another email application.

But why not just turn this on its head? I realize it may be slightly more efficient to try and send an Excel document from that application. But is it really that hard to open Windows Mail, create a new email, and then attach it from there? In thinking about this, that’s how I attach everything: I start with the email application, not the app I used to create the attachment.

If your brain isn’t wired that way—we all do things differently—you might consider sharing the document via some other means. In Windows 10, for example, there is Share functionality built right into the shell. So you could right-click that document and choose “Share,” and Windows Mail is one of the options.

Speaking of which, if you save your documents to OneDrive or OneDrive for Business, you can use the Share functionality in Excel 2016 to share it with others that way. Note that you’re sharing the live document, however. If you choose “Send as attachment” from the Share pane, yep, Microsoft Outlook is the only choice.

I’m surprised Office 2016 doesn’t natively support Windows 10 Share. That is a curious oversight.

The real risk from Spectre and Meltdown

Polycrastinator asks:

I’m still having a hard time quantifying the risk of running a system that’s not been patched for Spectre in the BIOS. For a desktop or laptop, is this something you’d say you shouldn’t worry about, or is the risk great enough that you should stretch the finances to replace an older system?

My understanding is that there are no known attacks that are using these flaws. But that is only a matter of time, and it’s pretty likely that some are in the wild already, but are undetected. Regardless, the risk, for now, is low, I think.

Obviously, keeping your systems up-to-date is generally good advice. I have always, as a matter of course, installed whatever BIOS/firmware updates that my PC makers have provided. This past week, however, we learned that doing so with the Intel-provided BIOS/firmware patches have resulted in system instability issues and even spontaneous rebooting in some cases. It’s pretty clear that the rush to patch these flaws has resulted in some buggy patches. To be fair to Intel, they did say up-front that these issues would be addressed with multiple patches over time. We’ll be re-patching for a while, I bet.

For now, I think you are OK ignoring these first patches, but in general, it is still the right policy to update your PCs. I previously highlighted an excellent Steve Gibson utility that can detect whether a PC is vulnerable to Meltdown or Spectre. What I didn’t mention about this tool, called InSpectre, is that it can also toggle those chipset protections on and off on the fly, so if you’re worried about performance issues in certain circumstances, you have the option of being protected and flipping the switch as needed.

Day drinking

Brad Sams asks:

Why did you have the bartenders phone number in Las Vegas?

This is an excellent question.

I ended up spending perhaps too much time in the hotel bar on the day I arrived in Las Vegas for CES. In my defense, I had arrived in Las Vegas for CES.

There were two major topics of conversation that were interesting. Both included a technology fail.

One, the bartender was from just north of Dublin, Ireland, and I told him I had done a home swap near there several years ago but couldn’t remember the name of the town, which had a gorgeous beach. I thought it was “Bally-something.” No problem, I thought, I will just use Google Photos to find the place. This always works.

Nope. For some reason, searching for “Ireland,” “Dublin,” and even “beach” turned up nothing. So I called my wife and asked. It was called Bettsytown. “Ah yes,” the bartender said. “That place has a beautiful beach!” Yes. Yes, it does.

The second one involved the name of a bar that is located two hotels away from where we were (Monte Carlo, soon to be renamed MGM Park), in the Cosmopolitan. The guy sitting next to me at the bar, who was in on the Ireland conversation, was asking for a good bar recommendation in that hotel. So I said, you have to go to this place, they make custom cocktails based on what you like, and it is called… I have no idea what it is called.

No problem, I thought. I took pictures of it when I was there a few years back for a DevConnections show and had been staying at the Aria, which is between the Monte Carlo and the Cosmopolitan. I will find it with Google Photos.

This only sort-of worked. I did find a picture of a cocktail that I believed was from that location. But nothing with the name of the bar. So I texted my friend Sean, who had been with me there, because I knew he would know.

Before Sean could write back, the guy next to me decided he needed to get to the Cosmo, and he said he’d hunt for the bar. I told him I thought it was in the lobby area, and that if he gave me his number I’d text him the name if I got it. He did so, and he then complained that he’d have to walk all the way out to the street to make it over to the hotel. But I told him all the hotels on the Strip (for the most part) have connecting hallways and that he could get there more easily and quickly that way.

So he left. Sean texted me the name, which is Vesper, and I forwarded that to the guy. Who texted me back later, saying, thanks, that he found it. And thanks even more for the hallway tip: I was right, and he made the entire trip indoors. (It was raining that day.)

Also, Brad and I later went to Vesper and saw a prostitute at the bar. It was pretty terrible.

Point being, I didn’t get the bartender’s phone number. And yes, it was a guy.

Outlook questions

MattHewitt asks:

Do you know if Outlook.com or the Office 365 for Business web clients support notifications in Edge or Chrome when you receive a new message? If they do I can’t seem to get it to work. Looking forward to that happening if we’re going to get to the PWA future.

They do not. My expectation is that they will.

Also, I was wondering if you had heard any news on the Outlook for Desktop client UI update that was scheduled sometime this year.

That UI prototype was only quickly shown at Ignite and never mentioned again. My guess is that it will debut in Office 2019, and that this is as close as Microsoft will get to unifying its various and too-numerous Outlook clients in the short term. By which I mean, only on a surface/UX level. Which isn’t a terrible place to start.

On a related note, both of these issues would be “fixed” if Microsoft reimagined Outlook (and the rest of Office) as a cross-platform PWA.

On-device machine learning

Chris_Kez asks:

Any chance we’ll see Microsoft and PC makers make a push for on-device machine learning/AI? Apple is doing some of this already (on device image recognition and tagging; the new “neural net” underlying FaceID; the CoreML framework that lets developers use the graphics processor for ML tasks) to bring the some of the benefits of AI/ML while mitigating some of the privacy concerns. Google is even doing this with their imaging co-processor in the Pixel 2.

You’ve spoken before about how Microsoft uniquely addresses both local and cloud computing, so it seems to me they’re in a good position to do something like this as a way to further differentiate the more powerful PC platform. Many folks actually have much more computing power than they need or use, so it largely sits idle. What if the computer could use “downtime” to develop user-specific knowledge locally without needing to send everything back to MS? Or perhaps send back just some anonymized meta-data. I’m sure smarter people than me could come up with a dozen uses; it just seems like there might be something there at the intersection of AI/ML, privacy and powerful but underutilized computers.

You are correct on all counts. And the answer is yes.

I sort of addressed this recently in Serious About Software? Make Your Own Hardware!, when I noted that the fascination that platform makers have about making their own hardware is often misunderstood. That is, it’s not just about making a device—an iPhone, Pixel phone, or Surface Pro—but rather about making unique components for those devices that differentiate them from the competition. (And each of those devices does have that kind of componentry, so they are great examples.)

When Apple first started talking up their on-device machine learning capabilities, I was dismissive: This is Apple making up for the fact that they don’t have a great AI/ML cloud infrastructure like Google and Microsoft; they have do most of the work on the device instead. This is why Apple’s latest processor is branded as “Bionic”: It includes a so-called “neural engine” that is used for on-device machine learning.

As it turns out, though, Apple was on to something, and both Google and Microsoft have also talked up the need for on-device machine learning. In the Microsoft world, this is the “intelligent edge” part of “intelligent cloud, intelligent edge” catch-phrase. (Which is itself the successor to “cloud first, mobile first.”) What Apple still lacks, of course, is that cloud prowess, so where both Google and Microsoft can provide both pieces of the puzzle, we can and should continue to be dismissive of Apple’s capabilities here.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see whether Microsoft’s (and Google’s) increased usage of ML-capable components in only their own hardware will further divide them from their partners. I wrote about this on the Google end in OK Google, Why Should We Trust You to Make Hardware?, but it applies to Microsoft, too: I feel that Microsoft’s big strength here is its software strength, and that any resulting hardware components should be provided to its partners, too. After all, HP (as an example) already licenses Windows. Might they not also want to license the superior Surface Pro componentry that makes the active pen work better on that one device?

For now, I don’t see that happening. But if Surface, in this case, continues to evolve and differentiate with custom hardware, the rift with PC makers could spring open again and threaten Windows, which is the more important business here. And I think Microsoft will eventually to open this stuff up to its partners.

Which video provider can you trust?

GeekWithKids asks:

Where do you buy video content? You recently said that except for occasional rentals you don’t like getting if from Google. Microsoft is limited to the X-Box and windows machine, so that seems bad. And iTunes is limited to Apple devices. What’s left?

As noted, a rental is a one-off thing. You can rent from anywhere. Look for the best deals (Google has had a string of $1 rentals recently, for example) and just enjoy.

Buying is more problematic. But it’s getting better: Thanks mostly to a newish service called Movies Anywhere, much of the content you buy, from most of the video services, will now appear everywhere: In Movies Anywhere, in iTunes/Apple, in Google Play Movies & TV, and elsewhere. As important, these cross-compatible movies will play virtually anywhere: Android and iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Kindle Fire, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast. And on Windows, but streaming-only. (There’s no app.)

So here’s what I do.

I typically buy from Apple first. I will also buy from Google. I did buy some content from Microsoft, mostly for testing purposes, but I’ve long advised people to not do so as I don’t trust Microsoft to keep this service going. I have bought a few things from Amazon too.

I buy from Apple first for a simple reason: I watch video content on my TV at home, where I can use an Apple TV 4K, and on an iPad when I’m on the go. So that content is always available to me. I can download it for offline use (on a plane or whatever), or just stream from home.

But the Movies Anywhere compatibility has really opened things up. Of the hundreds of movies I’ve purchased on Apple, about two-thirds are available via Movies Anywhere too. And that means they show up in Google Play Movies & TV, Amazon Prime Video, and elsewhere. Hopefully, the entire industry will embrace this model, but I’m pretty happy with the situation as-is.

The devices you use may be different, so you’ll need to choose accordingly. And that may involve buying another device: Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV all have some inexpensive options.

Linux

helix2301 asks:

Paul we have read about your feelings on Windows, Apple, ChromeOS, Android we love to get your thoughts on Linux on desktop or Linux as an OS. That OS is still a competitor for Windows and at one time the open source desktop market was a big thing just your thoughts.

I’ve been testing Linux again recently, mostly Ubuntu, and I do have a few thoughts. I will likely write something formal on this topic, so let me just chime in with two things here, for now.

First, there’s a running gag about how I hate Linux, or that Microsoft is adding Linux environments to Windows 10, or opening up more generally. I feed this gag, so I have no one to blame but myself. But the truth is, I am fascinated by all of these things (and in the case of Microsoft, love this new direction). It’s easy to get pigeonholed into something like this—“Paul hates Linux, har har har”—but it’s just done for fun. Linux has never really taken off on the desktop, and probably never will, but it’s a big deal. And as a technology fan, I’m platform curious, if you will.

Second, in re-evaluating Linux recently (I also tried Neverware to put Chrome OS on older PCs), I am struck by how well it works. I don’t just mean that it basically works with the hardware, I mean that it even correctly handles all of the special function key capabilities (Volume and screen brightness up/down, keyboard backlighting, etc.). With Linux, you’re in kind of a Windows 10 S-type situation, where you’re dealing with web apps and a limited range of store apps, so it’s not exactly comparable to “full” Windows. But as an alternative to S or Chrome OS or whatever … it’s interesting.

Linux is also more familiar, if you’re a Windows user, than is macOS or Chrome OS. And that, too, is very interesting, and it suggests that Windows users—assuming they can handle the app situation—might find Linux an easier path, in some ways. Even typing that feels weird.

Anyway, I will continue looking at Linux and thinking about what I could possibly offer with regards to writing about it. But this is something I do on an ongoing basis, and it’s on the list for 2018.

Windows 10 Enterprise on ARM?

StudBen asks:

Curious, is there any word for an enterprise version of Windows 10 ARM, or if the standard Windows 10 S ARM will be just as configurable as the enterprise version. I’m actually not sure what options Windows 10 S has given that was directed towards the education market, for all I know the standard Windows 10 S might already have advanced configuration options with SCCM and Intune and the likes. Still curious how much or little you may know on this?

Microsoft will almost certainly bring every mainstream version of Windows 10 to the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (and to ARM generally, since they plan to open it up to other versions of ARM too). But to answer your question, yes. It is making Windows 10 Enterprise for Snapdragon immediately, along with Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Pro.

There is some confusion around this for some reason, but the point here is that there are not special versions of Windows 10 for ARM, and this isn’t just about Windows 10 S. If it’s available on Intel (for the most part), it will be available for ARM too. And each edition will have identical capabilities, according to Microsoft. If you haven’t done so, you should watch the Channel 9 video Always Connected PC – January 2018. I believe they explicitly mention Windows 10 Enterprise

Microsoft Edge on Xbox One

Finley asks:

Will Edge on Xbox be PWA compatible?

So I don’t know if Microsoft “will” make Edge PWA-compatible on Xbox One. But since it is almost certainly based on the same code-base as the Windows 10 version, it obviously could be. The question is whether this functionality makes sense on Xbox.

I believe that it does. And for the same reason as it does on Windows 10 PCs: Here is powerful apps platform with legs, one that could and should instantly catapult a currently-lackluster app store into something worth using. It could help brings apps that may never have otherwise come to Xbox to the platform.

Do you think media devices like Xbox or Roku will benefit from PWAs?

Yes, and for the reason(s) noted above: Currently, app development on otherwise popular devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV is curiously limited and/or unprofessional. This is a way to leverage the cross-platform capabilities of PWA in a way that will benefit everyone. It is much easier to tailor a single PWA for multiple platforms than it is to create and maintain new apps on each.

Shane asks:

Microsoft Devices ‘ReFresh’

I know you have mentioned this topic before. But why don’t Microsoft do a mid cycle refresh of their devices. I am looking to replace my Surface Pro 4, as I have mentioned in the past. I want another Surface Pro but paying for a premium device that is behind in certain ways why should I. Surely Microsoft would do even better if they did refresh their products as all other manufacturers do. What is there reason behind this. What illogical reason do they give.

We can only guess as to the logic. I will just point out that Microsoft remains a boutique PC maker, and only sells several million PCs per year. This constrains what it can do: Consider that the 15-inch version of Surface Book 2 wasn’t even sold outside of the United States at launch. This just isn’t one of Microsoft’s top priorities.

Another issue, though, is that Surface is no longer predictable. After many delays in 2016, Microsoft spent 2017 destroying its historic release schedules, and it’s no longer possible to do more than guess when or if they may rev their devices.

Finally, consider that Microsoft is clearly plotting a future platform change in which it finally breaks with the Surface Connector and adopts superior Thunderbolt 3 technology. It will need to do this across its devices family, and it’s a big undertaking for a small PC maker. Should it focus on that, or should it take its existing devices, many of which are already long in the tooth from a design standpoint, and just swap out the previous-gen dual-core Intel processors for new-gen quad-core processors?

Also, there’s ARM: Microsoft will almost certainly release at least one new ARM-based Surface PC this year, and I feel that some Surface models (Laptop, Pro) are ideal candidates for ARM versions too. That’s a lot of new stuff.

Consider just a single product, like Surface Laptop. You can point to all kinds of things that are wrong with this thing as-is: Older, dual-core processors, single USB port, Surface Connector. Do you just update the processor and leave the other mistakes intact sometime in 1H 2018, delaying any next-gen version to next year? Or do you wait and ship a new design, with a new architecture, later in the year?

I guess we’ll see. For now, we can only guess. Welcome to my world. 🙂

Podcast timing

Stoffel asks:

With the rise of personal assistants to control your home. From lights, to thermostats, to controlling your media on TV. Is it possible for you guys to cut the long wait before the live episode on Fridays? Starting the podcast by telling Google Home to play it on TV. you have no real controls to forward, other than telling Google Home to skip x minutes. So it becomes an awkward game of guessing when the episode will start.

I know i could just start it from somewhere else and have all the controls, but that’s no fun when you can just tell your GH to start playing whatever you want. 🙂

I don’t personally have any control over this, but in case this isn’t clear, he is referring to our Friday live podcast, which includes a bunch of dead space at the beginning of the recording. So there’s no way to know when the actual podcast starts.

I asked Brad about this, and he said that he does post a version of the podcast later that does not include this dead space, and that you only see that if you hit the live stream on Friday after the show is over. If you wait about an hour—say, 2:30 or 3:00 pm ET Friday—that dead space should be gone.

Tablet Mode

Chris_Kez asks:

At what point might we see Microsoft turn their attention to improving Tablet Mode (or put another way, make Windows 10 work better on small screen devices)? In a recent forum post, THEJOEFIN highlighted some major shortcomings in using the Surface Pro as an actual tablet. I’ve encountered similar problems. If we believe rumors about the Andromeda device coming within the next year, surely Microsoft has to improve this experience. Right?

I read that post with some fascination. I don’t personally use Tablet Mode almost ever, and my short-take on it is that it works pretty well for what it is, and given the limitations of the desktop environment. (I assume some are still claiming that Windows 8.x was better in this regard. I find that opinion to be borderline insane, but whatever: I don’t use Windows as a tablet.)

So, I don’t have any hard news on this. But given the Andromeda rumors, which include this notion of a “thing that is not Windows 10 Mobile, but is in some way a more mobile version of Windows,” I think it’s plausible. There is this confluence of things—Windows 10 S, Andromeda, Qualcomm Snapdragon compatibility, Always Connected PC—that is pointing to such a future, for sure.

CalDAV and CardDAV support

RobotRaccoon asks:

Do you think Windows 10 will ever get simple out-of-the-box support for caldav and carddav in the native Calendar and People apps? I don’t even see the option to purchase a $30 first-party dongle to make table-stakes functionality possible.

I thought that this was happening. This article states that it is currently working. (I’ve never heard of this site, however.) But my understanding is that it’s not there now. This is crazy, when you think about it.

I will ask Microsoft about this.