Senior Designer @Windows
United Kingdom
Joined November 2014
- Tweets293
- Following631
- Followers3.3K
- Likes12.9K
Michael West retweeted
We made something special for you, inspired by the extraordinary engineering of the Surface Laptop Ultra.
Save your favorite wallpapers below. ↓
ALT A smooth, sleek black surface curving elegantly against a dark background, creating a sense of depth and fluidity.
Michael West retweeted
A couple weeks ago, we introduced Surface Laptop Ultra, including our new magnetic USB-C power connector.
One of the things we spend a lot of time on in Surface is getting the feel of an interaction just right. With this connector, it's about how the magnets guide it into place, the sound and LED that let you know it's connected, and how easily it releases.
The team built hundreds of prototypes, experimenting with magnet sizes, positions, forces, and cable alignment.
One of my favorite details: moving the magnets just 0.7mm changed the experience from needing a final push to smoothly finding its way into place.
Once we found the right feel, the next challenge was making it repeatable. The team selected a prototype that captured the experience we wanted, then worked through simulations and multiple manufacturing iterations to reproduce that feel in production.
And it had to hold up. Thousands of connection cycles, off-axis pulls, and tests for the kinds of forces a cable might experience when someone trips over it.
The cable has another useful detail: flip it around, and you can charge other USB-C devices, like your phone.
A lot of work across industrial design, mechanical engineering, reliability, and manufacturing to make one small interaction feel right.
Michael West retweeted
Friday’s Windows tip of the day!
If you use a Windows PC with a touchpad and spend a lot of time scrolling through long documents, webpages, or code, this one’s for you.
Three touchpad improvements we’ve been working on: accelerated scrolling, edge scrolling, and single-finger scrolling. Small details that make everyday navigation feel more natural and comfortable.
Accelerated scrolling is available today, with edge scrolling and single-finger scrolling coming next week to WIP.
Here’s a quick look at them in action:
Michael West retweeted
A faster, more responsive Windows experience is here. See what's new and what's coming next: msft.it/6018atTYi
Michael West retweeted
Last week, we shared the new Windows Search experience and how Search is moving from finding to doing.
The team put together a Beyond the Build makers video, where @YashMisra12 and some of the team share the design and engineering decisions that shaped the experience.
We’ll share more at today’s NYC Insider meetup. See you soon.
Michael West retweeted
What’s new in Windows 11: Everyday experiences, reimagined
msft.it/6018atDoC
The team really focused on craft in the new Windows Search: motion, inline previews, even how the action button updates to reflect what will happen.
It’s fast 💨 For lovers of keyboard shortcuts: Win + S and immediately start typing.
And of course use Win + F to send feedback!
Searching for new WIP builds today? We have you covered!
Beta: aka.ms/WIP-Beta-10-7-2026
Experimental: aka.ms/WIP-Experimental-10-7…
Beta (26H1): aka.ms/WIP-Beta26H1-10-7-202…
Exp (26H1): aka.ms/WIP-Experimental26H1-…
Exp (Future Platforms): aka.ms/WIP-ExperimentalFP-10…
ALT Windows Search showing recent files, apps, settings, and an inline action to turn on do not disturb
Michael West retweeted
Incredibly proud of the team! 🎉
blogs.windows.com/windows-in…
Michael West retweeted
Today marks a new chapter for Windows, as we bring unmetered intelligence to every desk and every home, and make every PC a place where agents can work securely on your behalf.
Some highlights of what we announced:
• MAI-Code-1.1 Flash: 137B parameter coding model w/ 256K context window, which is now optimized to run on your PC!
• GitHub Copilot now hands off work to local models like MAI-Code-1.1 Flash, helping projects cost a lot less without sacrificing quality.
• With Hybrid Intelligence, Copilot can now take action directly on the PC and keep sensitive work on your device.
• And with Code in Copilot, you can essentially build any software you need on your desktop, without any cloud token spend, and it’s just super at it. You’re no longer limited to what’s in an app store! Your PC becomes an infinite software factory.
• Security is foundational to all this, which is why we are also bringing together Windows and Agent 365 so agents can work within secure boundaries on-device, including MXC a local sandbox for agent execution. Windows becomes your secure agent box!
• All this comes to life on a new generation of devices, like Surface Laptop Ultra, powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark.
Can’t wait to see what you build with all this.
Michael West retweeted
Come join us. We’re live!
Windows, Surface, and NVIDIA are coming together to talk about RTX Spark, new possibilities, and more!
We kick things off at 10:00 AM PT: msft.it/6017aogxN
ALT Large blue gradient text reads "Join now" across a white background, fading out as it reaches a laptop rising from the bottom of the frame. The laptop screen shows a glossy black abstract wave.
Just under an hour to go. Can’t wait for you to see what the team has been cooking. 🔥
Tomorrow, see what’s next from Windows, @surface, and @NVIDIARTXSpark.
Tune in live at 10:00 AM PT: msft.it/6011aoEeW
ALT Text reads "Tomorrow 10.07" in large slate blue numbers that fade to white at the bottom, on a white background.
Michael West retweeted
Sleek. Style. Power.
October 7 at 10am PT. Tune in: msft.it/6018aWT9r
ALT Close-up of two Surface Laptop Ultra edges showing slim ports and keyboard keys, reflected on a glossy black surface.
ALT Silhouetted person in dark clothing holding a closed Surface Laptop Ultra under their arm against a pale gray backdrop.
ALT Silhouetted hands typing on an open Surface Laptop Ultra balanced in one palm, its screen showing an abstract gray wallpaper.
ALT Two black Surface Laptop Ultra devices on a glossy black surface, one propped partly open and one nearly closed, against a soft white backdrop.
Michael West retweeted
Are you ready?
ALT A blurred, shadowy figure in a dark blazer stands against a pale gray backdrop, holding the Surface Laptop Ultra against their side. White pixel-style text in the center reads "SOON."
Michael West retweeted
The team has been busy building. Looking forward to showing you what’s next for builders and creators.
Tune in Wednesday, 10/7.
youtube.com/live/ilmBGeGldrI
Save the date: October 7 at 10:00 AM PT. Windows. @Surface. @NVIDIARTXSpark. Come see what's next.
Tune in on YouTube: msft.it/6014alDuy
ALT "10.07" in large white numbers above a Surface Laptop Ultra with a dark abstract wallpaper.
Michael West retweeted
We’re building Copilot as a new OS for work that spans every model, every form factor, and every task. Today, we’re announcing our biggest update to Copilot to date, bringing four things together:
· Autopilot: proactive and long-running agent built for the enterprise
· Code: build apps with Copilot, hosted inside your company’s tenant
· Home: Chat + Cowork together
· Office: now fully embedded in Copilot (and Copilot embedded in Office, of course!)
Plus, you can invoke Copilot in Teams, and we’re introducing Today, a proactive experience that surfaces the most important information from across M365 without needing to ask for it.
The way we work is changing and so are our workflows. This update brings AI into that flow, from answering a question, to building an app, to getting work done on your behalf.
Michael West retweeted
Today we’re introducing the next Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch with Snapdragon X2 Plus. Catch a vibe with Bolo the DJ and Surface Pro 12-inch.
Pre-order now: msft.it/6013agSp7
Michael West retweeted
Today, we introduced Project Zenith, a ready-to-code Windows experience on developer-class hardware. Alongside @jackhuynh I also shared that Project Zenith will first be available on systems powered by @AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo. With more devices from our partners coming in the months ahead. blogs.windows.com/windowsdev…
Michael West retweeted
Your physical game library is more than a collection of discs. It holds years of memories and stories worth preserving. Starting next week, XBOX Insiders can unlock a digital entitlement for supported physical games. We’ll start with thousands of titles and add more as we can.
Michael West retweeted
File Explorer is where a lot of everyday Windows work happens.
Opening folders. Renaming files. Moving between local and cloud content. Right-clicking to take the next step. When those moments feel slow, interrupted, or cluttered, you notice.
In today’s Windows Insider release: faster launch, fewer hangs and delays, better everyday details, and a right-click menu that’s simpler, faster, and more customizable.
Read more: blogs.windows.com/windows-in…
