There's One Huge Problem With That Xbox Handheld Teaser From ASUS
This is not the Xbox handheld you're looking for...
Project Kennan, the codename for Microsoft's dedicated Xbox gaming handheld, only exists in the prototype stage and is likely a few years ago. But there's a firestorm of rumors swirling that the first phase of Microsoft's Xbox handheld plans will involve partnering with an existing PC manufacturer, similar to Valve's partnership with Lenovo for the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS. Those rumors strongly suggest ASUS is that partner. However, that new teaser trailer from the ROG Ally X maker isn't worthy of all the excitement it's generating.
The excitement is born from the expectation that such a handheld will feature Microsoft's streamlined gaming interface, a sorely needed change to Windows 11 that could make the handheld experience as elegant and intuitive as SteamOS. Microsoft promised the first iteration of it would land this year.
So, back to the teaser trailer in question (which is slick and entertaining on its own). It shows ASUS' robot mascot OMNI performing an experiment to upgrade itself, and ends with the existing ROG Ally X and the Raikiri Pro Xbox controller accidentally finding their way into a fusion pod with the mischievous mascot.
When ASUS shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), the official Xbox account immediately replied with the classic 'monkey side-eye' meme. That engagement, easily interpreted as a 'knowing wink' from Microsoft, immediately accelerated the hype machine, resulting in a bunch of articles proclaiming this as the first official product in this Xbox handheld partnership.
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
Well, not so fast. I don't think this is it. There are several moments in the trailer that point to this being an upgraded ROG Ally X, rather than some highly anticipated Xbox device with this new Windows UI for handhelds.
To begin with, the trailer highlights four upgrades: 'Marathon stamina, more capacity, faster speed, and fresh look.' So, let's translate that: it's a ROG Ally X with a larger battery, a larger storage drive, an upgraded processor (probably the Ryzen Z2 Extreme) and a new colorway.
Then there's the inclusion of the Raikiri Pro Xbox controller. If this were the fabled Xbox hybrid handheld, why wouldn't an Xbox Series S or Series X have been included?
All the evidence points to ASUS simply launching a ROG Ally X Pro.
This doesn't mean ASUS isn't Microsoft's hardware partner for that initial Xbox handheld with the SteamOS-like interface, but this teaser trailer isn't hyping the handheld we're all looking forward to.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
28 minutes ago
- The Hill
The tariff test: Big Tech's moment of truth in China
Imagine running your company out of a high-tech campus with armed guards at the gates, listening devices in the walls and a landlord who insists you turn over your blueprints to keep the lights on. Most executives would scramble for the exits. But for years, American tech companies made peace with that setup in China. Now, exposed by tariffs, they're feeling the consequences of their devilish bargain. One story of the tariffs has gone untold. While often criticized for their economic inefficiency, they've served a vital purpose. They've exposed how deeply compromised American tech giants are by their operations in China. By inviting scrutiny, the tariffs are forcing Big Tech to confront the vulnerabilities they long ignored: their excessive reliance on Chinese manufacturing, their reckless partnerships with companies connected to an authoritarian government and their transfer of sensitive technology into the hands of America's largest adversary. Caught off guard, Big Tech companies are retreating after decades of deep entanglement. On April 7, Chinese media reported that Microsoft would shut down its Shanghai-based joint venture Wicresoft with 2,000 layoffs. A month or two earlier — the date has never been publicly announced — Microsoft quietly shut down its celebrated artificial intelligence research lab in Shanghai. 'We don't see [China] as a major, major issue for us, quite frankly,' Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told CNBC in 2023, brushing off concerns about its presence in the country. But Microsoft was more than a business partner. It helped shape the very technological infrastructure now fueling China's rise. That disconnect between what Microsoft executives say publicly and what their company has built over decades speaks volumes. The reckoning is long overdue. The trail of collaboration is long. It all began in 2003, when Microsoft granted the Chinese government access to Windows source code as a condition for market entry. The agency that signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese government, CNITSEC, is now known to be operated by the Ministry of State Security, Beijing's civilian spy agency. In 2023, Microsoft's Bing became the most widely used search engine in China after a pattern of complying with state censorship requests. Google, meanwhile, exited China in 2010 and is now banned there after it refused to follow censorship orders. In 2012, Microsoft also signed a deal with the Shanghai government that allowed 21Vianet, a data center company in China, to operate its cloud service there. 21Vianet is now the sole operator of Microsoft cloud services in China. But 21Vianet admits in an SEC filing that 'the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time.' Microsoft is not alone in its exposure. Apple earns nearly a fifth of its revenues from China and produces most of its iPhones there. Bending to Beijing's demands, it has censored the App Store. Apple has depended on Chinese suppliers tied to forced labor and human rights abuses as recently as 2021. The results of the stress test of tariffs? They revealed that when forced to choose between shareholder returns and geopolitical alignment, many companies opted for market access — until that access came with a higher price. What we're watching now is not just a supply chain shift, but a slow unwinding of an obsolete idea: that American tech firms could cozy up to our adversaries without a moral or strategic cost. The next phase of globalization will be defined by their resilience. Microsoft's retreat is an acknowledgment of reality. The U.S.-China relationship is no longer a playground for growth. It's a minefield. Other tech giants would do well to take note. When you build your business in a fortress owned by a rival, don't be surprised when the drawbridge goes up. The tariff era forced a reckoning. And now, Big Tech is at a crossroads: double down on a compromised model or begin the long, necessary exit. Geoffrey Cain is policy director of the Tech Integrity Project and author of 'The Perfect Police State' (Hachette).
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mike Morse Law Firm Uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to Boost Legal Efficiency and Security
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mike Morse Law Firm, Michigan's largest personal injury firm, is transforming its legal operations with Microsoft 365 Copilot. By embedding AI across its workflows, the firm is streamlining document creation, improving communication, and enhancing security while increasing capacity and performance across its existing team. Chief Information Officer John Georgatos led the initiative, preparing the firm by adopting Microsoft 365 in 2022 and launching Copilot in 2024. "When I first heard about Copilot, I expected a steroid-infused Clippy," said Georgatos. "But it helps us orchestrate business processes, uncover insights, and bring out the best in our people." Attorneys and staff use Copilot in Word, Outlook, and Excel to automate tasks and create content faster. Georgatos says the technology has shifted the firm's growth strategy. "Our original plan was to grow to 500 employees. With Copilot, we can now enhance our team's efficiency and productivity, allowing us to handle more clients and deliver even better work," he said. Founder Mike Morse sees the firm's investment in AI as part of a broader strategy to rethink what a law firm can be. "We've always run our firm more like a business than a traditional law office," Morse said. "Leveraging AI through Copilot is the next evolution in how we provide best-in-class service to our clients." Appellate attorney John R. Nachazel Junior uses Copilot in Outlook and Word to draft legal documents with help from the CoCounsel Drafting add-in. "With Copilot and CoCounsel, I can write case documents without exposing client data to the internet. It's secure and saves me hours," said Nachazel. Jennifer Harvala, Chief Learning Officer and Head of Pre-Litigation, uses Copilot to streamline training content and foster firm-wide learning. "Copilot guides us through difficult conversations and eliminates the blank page," said Harvala. "It reviews internal documents and helps us work more efficiently." "Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to empower businesses of all sizes and industries, including law firms like Mike Morse, to achieve significant returns on investment," said Brenna Robinson, GM, SMB, Microsoft 365. "By leveraging AI, firms can streamline operations, enhance productivity, and focus on delivering exceptional service to their clients. We are thrilled to see Mike Morse Law Firm experiencing such success with its early results." The firm also uses Microsoft Defender, Intune, Entra ID, and Surface devices with biometric logins and conditional access to protect sensitive client data. To read the full Microsoft customer story, visit: About Mike Morse Law Firm Mike Morse Law Firm is Michigan's largest personal injury law firm, with over 250 legal professionals dedicated to helping accident victims win the justice they deserve. Since its founding, the firm has recovered over $2 billion for more than 100,000 clients. More information available at View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Jason Brown, PublicCity PR, jbrown@ 248-663-6166 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
39 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Mike Morse Law Firm Uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to Boost Legal Efficiency and Security
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mike Morse Law Firm, Michigan's largest personal injury firm, is transforming its legal operations with Microsoft 365 Copilot. By embedding AI across its workflows, the firm is streamlining document creation, improving communication, and enhancing security while increasing capacity and performance across its existing team. "AI is helping us handle more clients and deliver even better work," says Mike Morse Law Firm on its transformation with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Share Chief Information Officer John Georgatos led the initiative, preparing the firm by adopting Microsoft 365 in 2022 and launching Copilot in 2024. 'When I first heard about Copilot, I expected a steroid-infused Clippy,' said Georgatos. 'But it helps us orchestrate business processes, uncover insights, and bring out the best in our people.' Attorneys and staff use Copilot in Word, Outlook, and Excel to automate tasks and create content faster. Georgatos says the technology has shifted the firm's growth strategy. 'Our original plan was to grow to 500 employees. With Copilot, we can now enhance our team's efficiency and productivity, allowing us to handle more clients and deliver even better work,' he said. Founder Mike Morse sees the firm's investment in AI as part of a broader strategy to rethink what a law firm can be. 'We've always run our firm more like a business than a traditional law office,' Morse said. 'Leveraging AI through Copilot is the next evolution in how we provide best-in-class service to our clients.' Appellate attorney John R. Nachazel Junior uses Copilot in Outlook and Word to draft legal documents with help from the CoCounsel Drafting add-in. 'With Copilot and CoCounsel, I can write case documents without exposing client data to the internet. It's secure and saves me hours,' said Nachazel. Jennifer Harvala, Chief Learning Officer and Head of Pre-Litigation, uses Copilot to streamline training content and foster firm-wide learning. 'Copilot guides us through difficult conversations and eliminates the blank page,' said Harvala. 'It reviews internal documents and helps us work more efficiently.' 'Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to empower businesses of all sizes and industries, including law firms like Mike Morse, to achieve significant returns on investment,' said Brenna Robinson, GM, SMB, Microsoft 365. 'By leveraging AI, firms can streamline operations, enhance productivity, and focus on delivering exceptional service to their clients. We are thrilled to see Mike Morse Law Firm experiencing such success with its early results.' The firm also uses Microsoft Defender, Intune, Entra ID, and Surface devices with biometric logins and conditional access to protect sensitive client data. To read the full Microsoft customer story, visit: Mike Morse Law Firm is Michigan's largest personal injury law firm, with over 250 legal professionals dedicated to helping accident victims win the justice they deserve. Since its founding, the firm has recovered over $2 billion for more than 100,000 clients. More information available at
