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  • A Look at Microsoft’s New Windows 10 Devices

    Microsoft just unveiled new Surface, Lumia, and Microsoft Band devices including the new Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Microsoft Band 2, Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 550.

    A spokesperson for the company says, they’re all “built to be the ultimate hardware for Windows 10, which is now running on more than 110 million devices worldwide.”

    “With Windows 10 and these new Microsoft devices, you are at the center of magical new experiences,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “We’re moving people from needing to choosing to loving Windows, and these devices promise to fuel even more enthusiasm and opportunity for the entire Windows ecosystem.”

    The Surface Book is a new laptop with pen and touch support. It has a 6th generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processor with up to 12 hours of battery life.

    “The 13.5-inch optically bonded PixelSense Display delivers a high-contrast 267 dpi display with improved latency and parallax, making it not just beautiful to look at but natural and fluid to write on,” Microsoft says. “The screen also detaches, so it can be used like a clipboard to sketch, take notes and benefit from Windows programs like Microsoft Edge. An optional discrete GPU allows Surface Book to harness the full power of hardware-accelerated graphics for seamless video editing, fast rendering or immersive gaming. Surface Book starts at $1,499.”

    The company calls the Surface Pro 4 a tablet that can replace your laptop.

    The phones are described as follows:

    With Continuum capability for phones enhanced by the new Microsoft Display Dock accessory, connect the phone to a monitor and transform it for larger-screen entertainment, or add a keyboard and mouse to work like a PC with Windows 10 apps like Microsoft Office, while simultaneously taking calls or performing other tasks. With the latest-generation PureView cameras with 20-megapixel sensors, triple LED natural flash and 4K video capture, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL enable faster focus and crisper images and videos even in challenging conditions. Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL will become available in select markets in November; local retailers or operators can give pricing and availability.

    Lumia 550, Microsoft’s most affordable 4G LTE smartphone running Windows 10, also joins the Lumia family. For people who value affordability, uncompromised quality and signature Microsoft services, Lumia 550 combines superfast Internet, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor with ultrafast LTE speeds, and the best of Microsoft services for just $139. Lumia 550 will begin rolling out in select European markets in December, with additional markets to follow.

    Microsoft Band 2 has a new curved display, which the company says makes it more comfortable. It features Cortana and lets you reply to texts or set reminders. It has a continuous optical heart rate monitor and onboard GPS. The band tracks calories burned, deep exercise and sleep quality (which the old one did), but not also tracks floors climbed. It has two-day battery life. It costs $249.

    Microsoft also announced that HoloLens opened applications for the Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition.

    The company also showcased a new Xbox One experience, which is described as a completely reimagined interface that integrates the speed of Windows 10, as well as Xbox One Backward Compatibility, so people can play their Xbox 360 games for free.

    Microsoft’s Terry Myerson discusses all the new stuff more here.

    Images via Microsoft

  • CNN Talking Heads Use Product-Placed Surface Tablets As iPad Stands

    Once again, Microsoft is having a hard time controlling the variables of its product placement.

    You may have been watching CNN’s election coverage last night. If so, you may have seen a bunch of shiny, new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablets resting upright in front of the various commentators.

    What you may not have seen were the iPads, which the talking heads ‘hid’ behind the Surface tablets.

    Sneaking around your personal iPad by using the product-placed tablet as a shield is one thing. But using it as a stand? That’s some cold-ass shit right there.

    This sort of thing is becoming a trend. As they do with CNN, Microsoft also has a deal in place with the NFL to exclusively use the new Surface tablets on the sidelines during games and on the commentators’ table during, well, commentating. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone 100 percent according to plan, as Microsoft has had a hard time getting announcers to stop calling them iPads.

    Image via @adamUCF, Twitter

  • NFL Announcers Keep Calling Microsoft’s Product-Placed Surface Tablets ‘iPads’

    NFL Announcers Keep Calling Microsoft’s Product-Placed Surface Tablets ‘iPads’

    Oftentimes, a brand can become so ubiquitous that people stop thinking of it as a brand of a specific product, and instead begin to associate the brand as inherent to said specific product. You probably do it all the time – sometimes without noticing.

    For instance, in the south, it’s common to call any soft drink a “Coke”. Not just Coca-Cola, but anything from a Diet Pepsi to a Dr. Pepper – hey can you grab me a coke?

    How about Kleenex? I’m sure most people simply refer to all tissues as “Kleenex”. The brand has become synonymous with those soft tissues you use to blow your nose. The list of these brand takeovers goes on and on. Hey, can you Xerox this for me? Turn off that damn Nintendo!

    Another brand that’s reached this status? The iPad. To many people, all tablets are iPads, and this is becoming painfully (and hilariously) obvious in the context of the NFL.

    Last May, Microsoft signed a $400 million deal with the National Football League, and part of that deal included making the Microsoft Surface tablet (Microsoft’s iPad) the official tablet of the most popular sport in America. You’ve probably seen the results of this deal – coaches and players looking at tablets on the sidelines instead of old-fashioned playbooks. As part of the deal, NFL teams are now utilizing Microsoft’s Surface in reviewing on-field actions and formulating strategy.

    Good product placement, right?

    Well, in theory.

    That’s an NFL announcer twice referring the the Surface tablet as an “iPad.” Whoops.

    Business Insider reports that this is not a singular screwup – but an alarming trend (if you’re Microsoft).

    From BI:

    In a separate incident, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints was spotted by Fox commentator John Lynch using a Surface on the sideline. Lynch remarked that Brees was “not watching movies on his iPad.”

    Lynch did seem to realize his mistake when he later noted that players now have “iPad-like tools” at their disposal. However, at no time during the discussion was Microsoft or the Surface mentioned by name.

    It appears that Microsoft needs to have a talk with the NFL and the NFL needs to, in turn, have a talk with its broadcast partners and their announcers. Otherwise, Microsoft spent a pretty penny to give Apple a wonderful product placement deal.

    Image via Vine, screenshot

  • iPad Pro Potentially Hitting Markets in 2014

    With the dawn of a new year comes ever-constant speculation from tech websites about what the newest gizmos and gadgets will be for the upcoming year. Thus far, most rumors point toward the excitement of a potential iPad Pro, rumored to be announced in the fall of 2014.

    The rumors received some credence and legitimacy when Evercore Partners‘s Patrick Wang released his thoughts on Apple’s newest project:

    Arriving in fall ‘14, Apple goes Enterprise with an 12” iPad. Powered by the A8 chip (perhaps 4C), this expands ARM’s reach and, once again, transforms the traditional notebook market as we know it. Expect a 2-1 hybrid – think iPad + MBA – similar to how most iPads are used in the workplace and in the same spirit of MSFT’s Surface. We discussed A7 in detail, the benefits of 64b, and why it makes sense in our note. Two obstacles: (1) Microsoft Office not just Office 365 and (2) local storage. This would hit Intel in an area of strength – enterprise NBs – and open up the monopoly to price competition, a common theme for Intel in 2014.

    By going “enterprise”, Wang does not mean that Apple is going to follow in Star Trek‘s footsteps and “boldly go where no man has gone before,” but rather that Apple is going to develop a product to cater more toward businesses.

    The move makes sense if one can believe the rest of the rumors surrounding the technology which is planned to be used in the iPad Pro. Apple recently announced its intentions to switch to 64-bit ARM architecture in its newest CPU, allowing for the creation of a new device which could accommodate the RAM necessary to make use of the better processor.

    The new 64-bit ARM architecture, coupled with the proposed 12-inch screen, could be used to “create a hybrid-style device that could serve as both a tablet and a notebook, and would make the iPad lineup more appealing to business customers,” according to Neil Hughes, a writer for Apple Insider.

    If Hughes’s prediction is correct, then iPad Pro would be a direct competitor with Microsoft’s Surface, a product which Microsoft recently had to take a $900 million write down on due to paltry sales.

    However, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has previously stated his disinterest and dislike of Microsoft’s Surface multiple times, most recently stating that “Our competition is confused. They’re turning tablets into PCs and PCs into tablets. Who knows what they’re going to do next?”

    One thing is for certain: If Apple decides to create a hybrid notebook-tablet in the iPad Pro, it will be a higher end, luxury product marketed toward those with deeper pockets. And considering the iPad Pro would be an enterprise device, Apple would most likely succeed where Microsoft has failed.

    Image via YouTube

  • Microsoft Found Somebody To Buy The Surface 2

    Last month, Microsoft revealed the next step in its plan to dethrone the iPad – the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Out of the two, the Surface 2 is the most interesting as Microsoft is distancing itself and the product from the ill-received Surface RT. Some analysts don’t think a rebranding is going to help much either. Despite all this, Microsoft has found at least one buyer.

    On Sunday, Microsoft announced that Delta Airlines will be purchasing 11,000 Surface 2 tablets for its pilots. The Surface 2 will be custom tailored to a pilot’s needs with what the airline is calling the “electronic flight bag.” The goal is to have all Delta cockpits go completely paperless by the end of 2014.

    Never one to miss out on a photo op, Microsoft put together a quick video showing how Delta is using the Surface 2 tablet:

    So, what have we learned from all of this? The major takeaway is that the Surface 2 is a great enterprise device. Big surprise there, right? Microsoft’s bread and butter is in enterprise so it only makes sense that it’s able to sell its devices to enterprise customers.

    Unfortunately, that’s not going to cut it for Microsoft as it transitions into a devices and services company. Enterprise will remain an integral part of its business, but Microsoft needs to get consumers on board as well. The Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 have the hardware and look of a mass market device, but the lack of apps and the high price will continually push consumers to the competition.

    Look, it’s great that Microsoft is already finding big enterprise buyers for its Surface 2 tablet. Hopefully, it won’t have to write off $900 million worth of unsold Surface 2 stock next year. It’s just that Microsoft is going to have to do more if it wants to properly complete in a marketplace that’s all about either being the cheapest or having the most apps. At this point, Surface can’t win on either of these fronts.

    [Image: Surface/YouTube]

  • Report: New Surface Tablets Won’t Help Microsoft

    One week ago, Microsoft announced its updated Windows tablet lineup, the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2. The announcement was greeted with little fanfare, but proved that Microsoft is pushing ahead with its tablet plans, despite the failure of the first generation of Surface tablets. The company took a $900 million inventory adjustment in its latest quarterly report due to an abundance of unsold Surface RT tablets.

    Now it’s looking as if the second-generation Surface tablets might suffer the same fate as their predecessors. A new DigiTimes Research report is predicting that the new Surface tablets will not help Microsoft make inroads into the tablet market.

    The most obvious reason for this prediction is price. DigiTimes points out that even less expensive Windows 8 tablets from other manufacturers have failed to ignite sales of the devices. The Surface 2’s $449 price is unlikely to make it competitive with a variety of less-expensive tablets.

    Some other factors were also mentioned. These include the fact that Nokia (which Microsoft just acquired) is set to release new Windows 8 Lumia tablets soon, and the assertion that Microsoft Office is also experiencing slow adoption on mobile devices.

    Though these factors certainly play a role the main problem, according to DigiTimes, is that Microsoft is using its PC OS as the jumping-off point for its mobile development. With PC sales now falling, Microsoft could be left struggling in the mobile sector.

    (Image courtesy Microsoft)

  • Microsoft Rumored to Ship 3 Million Surfaces Next Year

    Earlier this week, Microsoft unveiled its next-generation tablets, the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2. The upgraded tablets are relatively conservative improvements on Microsoft’s Surface lineup, and the company did not significantly drop the price of the tablets.

    DigiTimes today reported that Microsoft is expected to ship a combined 3 million units of its next-generation Surface devices in the next year. The report’s unnamed “upstream supply chain” sources state that Surface tablets will likely account for just over 1% of global tablet shipments in 2014.

    Three million Surfaces is significantly fewer than Microsoft manufactured last year, when the company expected its tablets to truly compete with Apple’s iPad and Android-based tablets in an already crowded market. Market research firm IDC, as quoted by DigiTimes, has estimated that Microsoft sold just 1.2 million of its current-generation Surface tablets during the first half of 2013. In July Microsoft showed just how badly it had overestimated its tablets’ potential success, taking a $900 million charge for excess stock of Surface RT tablets.

    With the tablet market only getting more crowded with newer low-priced mini-tablets in a variety of sizes, even three million might seem optimistic for Microsoft. The high price of the Surface Pro 2 ($899) makes it a particularly hard sell for consumers shopping for tablets. Though the tablet market is still expected to beat out sales of traditional PCs this holiday season, there are signs that the tablet market’s explosive growth is already slowing. With western markets on the cusp of saturation, the emerging markets where analysts predict strong growth in the coming years are not the same markets where relatively expensive Surfaces are likely to sell.

  • Microsoft’s Updated Surface 2 Officially Announced

    Though Microsoft was expected to unveil a smaller mini-tablet device at today’s Surface event, in order to compete more closely with popular tablets from Apple, Google, and Amazon. Instead, Microsoft revealed relatively conservative updates to its Surface and Surface Pro tablets. While the Surface Pro 2 will maintain that device’s high $899 price tag, the Surface 2 is the more affordable iPad competitor device.

    The Surface 2, as with all the new Surface tablets, has a 10.6-inch display. Underneath the display the tablet has a Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, and includes an HD video out port along with USB 3.0 support. The tablet will come in one of two configurations, one with 32GB of storage and another with 64GB of storage. In addition to launching with the Windows RT 8.1 operating system, Microsoft is putting Office 2013 RT on all Surface 2s, which includes an RT version of Outlook. The device also comes with 200GB of SkyDrive cloud storage.

    The Surface 2 will be released on October 22 and will retail for $449. Pre-orders will be taken starting tomorrow, September 24.

    During Microsoft’s big Surface presentation in New York today, the company focused on the new Surface tablets being “faster,” “thinner,” and “lighter.” The company’s first bizarre ad for the Surface 2 highlights these themes substantially:

    In addition to all of the buzzwords, Microsoft seems to be stressing the fact that the new kickstand on its Surface tablets now has two positions. The new kickstand, along with other features, is highlighted in the product overview video also released by Microsoft:

  • Microsoft Expected to Announce Surface Mini Tablet

    Microsoft’s attempt at a first-party Windows 8 tablet lineup was a failure. A year on from the launch of its Surface tablets, the company took a $900 million adjustment on unsold Surface RT tablets during its fourth quarter. Significant price drops for Surface tablets followed, and Microsoft even took to getting rid of its unsold Surface tablets through its “Bing For Schools” initiative.

    Today, Microsoft is expected to push ahead with its tablet initiative, announcing an updated lineup of Surface tablets at an event in New York. This time, however, the company may have learned at least one lesson. Rather than focus on new full-sized, relatively expensive tablets, Microsoft is rumored to be preparing a smaller-sized Surface tablet.

    The Associated Press is reporting that the small Surface tablet could be sized to compete with 7- and 8-inch tablets from Apple, Google, and Amazon. The report also states that the new Surface could have an Intel Haswell processor.

    Since Amazon unveiled its Kindle Fire device in 2011, smaller tablets have taken over the tablet market. Google quickly followed suit with its Nexus 7 device, and even Apple was forced to keep parity by releasing the iPad Mini. Smaller tablets seem to be the form-factor most in demand from consumers, with prices under $200 being a major factor in their success. For Microsoft to find success in the already-crowded mini-tablet market, the company will have to price its Surface Mini at a significantly lower price than its previous-generation Surface tablets.

  • Microsoft Offering Excess Surfaces to Schools Through Bing

    As the price cuts for both the Surface RT and the Surface Pro indicate, the Surface hasn’t challenged the iPad in the way Microsoft hoped it would. In fact, Microsoft announced a $900 million inventory adjustment charge for the millions of Surface RT tablets it now has sitting around in warehouses. The company obviously overestimated the popularity of the Surface, and now third party manufacturing partners are beginning to abandon Windows RT altogether.

    So how will Microsoft get rid of $900 million worth of Surface RTs? Offer them to educators, evidently.

    Microsoft this week announced its new “Bing for Schools” initiative. The new program will offer free Surface RT tablets to schools that use the “Bing Rewards” program. Schools that earn 30,000 Bing Rewards credits can cash them in for a free Surface RT. The credits can come from anyone signed up for Bing Rewards, including parents, with credits being put toward the school of their choice.

    The Los Angeles Unified School District and Atlanta Public Schools are already signed up as partners for the Bing for Schools pilot program. These schools will be using a special version of Bing developed specifically for education. According to Microsoft, the modified Bing will have no advertisements in its search results and will have “strict” adult content filters in place. It will also have “augmented” privacy protections.

  • Touchscreen Notebooks Reportedly Languishing

    For Microsoft, Windows 8 was supposed to bridge the gap between traditional PCs and the growing tablet market. The operating system was designed to run smoothly on tablets, sporting a tile-based home screen. Microsoft also sold manufacturers on the idea that customers would love the Windows 8 interface so much that they would want touchscreens in both their PC monitors and laptop displays.

    It’s been clear for months now that Windows 8 failed to spur growth in the traditional PC market. More recently, it has also become apparent that the Windows 8 OS was not enough to save Microsoft’s underperforming Surface tablets. Now, touchscreen manufacturers are predicting that touchscreens on laptops have not become the hit Microsoft and its partners had hoped.

    DigiTimes today reported that orders for touch panels used in notebook computers are expected to soften in the second half of 2013. The report’s unnamed “industry sources” stated that this is despite large price drops for panels during the first half of 2013. Touchscreen notebook adoption is only predicted to hit around 10% by the end of this year.

    The report mentions Windows 8 specifically as a disappointment for manufacturers, who had hoped the OS would open up a new market segment. The low demand, combined with pricing wars between Chinese manufacturers, means that notebook manufacturers are now rumored to be releasing their 2013 holiday products later than expected.

    (via DigiTimes)

  • Still Can’t Find A Surface Pro? Check Back Again Later This Week

    The Surface Pro is selling out pretty much everywhere. Consumers hoping to grab Microsoft’s latest tablet/laptop hybrids have been met with disappointment after stores across the nation sold out almost immediately. Now Microsoft is working to get more stock into stores by the end of the week, but you still might not get one.

    In a quick post from the Surface team last night, the group acknowledged that “some retail and online locations have been low or out of stick of Surface Pro.” Here’s what the company will be doing to ensure stock will be back in stores by the end of the week:

    In the U.S., we are shipping additional units of the 64GB SKU to Best Buy, Staples and Microsoft Store now. We are shipping 128GB SKU later this week to retailers, with some units available by the end of the week. Our priority (and that of our retail partners) is to fulfill orders from customers who made a reservation first. Canada is following a similar timeline but may take an extra few days to start arriving.

    As you can see, those who had reservations will be taken care of first. That means the stragglers may have to wait more than a week to get their hands on the Surface Pro.

    The team concludes that they’re “working as quickly as [they] can to get Surface Pro to market.” If you find that stores are still out of stock, they ask that you just wait a few days for more to show up.

  • Microsoft Surface Pro May Cause Spontaneous Office Dance Offs

    The Surface RT’s ad campaign was defined by one thing – synchronized dancing. It was a little strange considering the ad didn’t even tell the consumer what Surface was or what it could do. It just showed a lot of hip youngsters (and a sweet, old couple) getting down with their new tablet/PC hybrid. People must have liked the ad though as it’s back again in the new Surface Pro advertisement.

    The new Surface Pro ad features a similar dance routine as before, but now it’s set in an office environment. The new setting raises a whole host of new questions. Will the Surface Pro lead to spontaneous flash mobs during the quarterly meeting? Will it inspire the vice president of the company to take up beatboxing? Microsoft seemingly confirms all of these scenarios to be the case.

    Now, this latest ad may have you running off to pick up a Surface Pro, but I feel that I must temper your expectations. A report from CNET says that the 128 GB Surface Pro is sold out nearly everywhere. Microsoft may have intentionally understocked the Surface Pro after seeing the Surface RT’s weak retail performance. That seems to have not been the case, however, and now the company is “working with [its] retail partners” to get more 128GB models into the hands of consumers.

    If you can find one, let us know if it causes spontaneous office dance offs.

  • Tablets Top Holiday Buying Survey, But Not the iPad Mini [Infographic]

    The results of a new Tech Bargains survey were released today, and they show that Apple may not be the big winner in the mini-tablet market this holiday season.

    The survey shows that 53% of consumers will spend more than half of their holiday shopping budgets on electronic devices. Of the tech gifts people expect to buy, tablets are, not surprisingly, the most-wanted items of the year. What is surprising is exactly which tablets customers are expecting to buy. 33% of those surveyed expect to buy Google’s Nexus 7 tablet, while only 30% expect to buy an iPad. The iPad Mini and Kindle Fire HD are tied in the survey, with 24% of respondents expecting to buy each. Bringing up the rear is Microsoft with its Surface hybrid laptop/tablet device (12%).

    It’s surprising to see Apple products that are less desired than other manufacturers’ devices. Of course, the customers who use the Tech Bargains website might not be Apple’s main customers. The website is the same one that one month ago released a survey showing that the iPad Mini isn’t particularly desired.

    Still, the high price of the iPad Mini and the low screen resolution have combined to make Apple’s smallest tablet just another mini-tablet in the new product category. Just this week a new report on shipment data shows that Apple’s overall share of the tablet market (including the iPad proper) has slipped to just over 50%, while Amazon and Asus (the makers of the Nexus 7) are gaining. The Nexus 7 is coming close to selling 1 million units per month and Amazon is confident enough in the superiority of its Kindle Fire HD that it is running homepage ads comparing it to the iPad Mini.

    Tech Tops: Holiday Shopping Lists

    Source: October 2012 Holiday Shopping Survey by TechBargains.com, your best source for deals and coupon codes.

  • Microsoft’s Surface Tablet Price Ball-Parked by Ballmer

    This weekend The Seattle Times published an interview with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in which he discusses the future of Microsoft, especially regarding Windows 8. In the course of the interview, Ballmer gives a ball-park estimate for how much Microsoft’s highly touted Surface tablets will cost: from $300 to $700 or $800.

    Ballmer justified the price by saying that the Surface, which was announced back in June, will be a “very competitive product from the features perspective…” He also critisized the Kindle Fire, saying that no one would ever use one to do their homework.

    Of course, the Kindle Fire is almost entirely designed to be a content consumption device, specifically for Amazon content. It is also only $199 for the New Kindle Fire HD. While a rumored $200 price would have put the Surface in clear competition with Amazon and Google in the mini-tablet market, a $300 or more price puts it in direct competition with Apple’s iPad, which might be a harder market to jump into.

    Aside from his tablet market evaluation, Ballmer also made predictions on where Microsoft is going. He stated that Windows 8 is one of the biggest things to ever happen to Microsoft. From the interview:

    “You know, Windows 95 was certainly the biggest thing in the last 20 years until now. I think Windows 8 certainly surpasses it. It’s a little hard to compare things like the founding (of the company) and the introduction of the first popular PC and the system that popularized it, but it’s at that scale.”

    Of course, Ballmer isn’t known for his accurate predictions. Back in 2007 he predicted that the original iPhone would be a failure due to its high price.

    (via BGR)

  • New Windows Tablets Will Have To Prove Their Merit Against Surface

    New Windows tablets are an interesting proposition. The current tablets that sport Windows 7 are not exactly the greatest thing ever and the costs are too high to justify a purchase. With Surface, Microsoft is issuing a challenge to both OEMs and those who look down on Windows 8.

    It’s no secret that OEMs are unhappy with the announcement of Surface. These companies were open about their ambitions to build the first line of Windows 8 tablets that took advantage of the Windows 8 UI. They probably never expected Microsoft to jump into the hardware market. They’re now getting into the PC hardware market with tablets and it could be just the thing that these OEMs need.

    Let’s go back to the Windows 7 tablets. Windows 7 wasn’t really built for tablets and the hardware itself wasn’t exactly anything revolutionary. It was just as disappointing to see the planned Windows 8 tablets and realize it’s the same hardware with a different OS.

    The problem stems from OEMs becoming complacent with the status quo. Say what you will about Apple, but at least they’re always tweaking the design and making hardware more fashionable and functional. The PC market never really tried to appeal to anybody outside of enterprise and students. That’s a problem and Microsoft has obviously had enough of it.

    When the Surface launches on October 26 alongside Windows 8, don’t expect demand iPad-like demand. What you should expect is a Windows tablet that gets the hardware and price right. Even more exciting is that Microsoft has taken the lessons they learned from the Xbox and Xbox 360 and have applied them to Surface. Microsoft knows entertainment and how it works. That’s going to be the Surface’s greatest strength as it emerges into the tablet market.

    That’s what these traditional OEMs are scared of. They’re not very good at making hardware that complements the software. Microsoft is showing them how it’s done. They should stop complaining about Microsoft entering the OEM market and instead do something about it. It’s kind of sad that it took competition from Microsoft to make OEMs seriously reconsider how they make hardware.

  • Microsoft Surface Will Launch At The Magic Price Of $199 [Rumor]

    Every industry has a magic price. It changes with the industry as fads come and go, but it usually stays around the same spot for most of the time. Until Amazon launched the Kindle Fire at $199, it was unheard of to see a tablet selling for that little. Google joined the $200 club with the Nexus 7 and Microsoft is rumored to join soon.

    A source speaking to Engadget said that Microsoft will be launching the Windows RT version of the Surface for only $199 on October 26. If you recall, October 26 is the same day that Windows 8 launches. Having a one-two punch of Windows 8 and a cheap tablet would do wonders for Microsoft’s marketing of the device.

    Microsoft reportedly detailed their plans for the Surface at their TechReady15 conference. The conference is a technical conference for Microsoft employees. Information relating to the launch of Surface would be undoubtedly broken there first and then disseminated among the mainstream press at a later date.

    So what would a $199 Surface mean for Microsoft? It could get Microsoft into the tablet market in a big way. At that price point, people really only have two options – Google or Amazon. A Microsoft built tablet running Windows 8 would be a huge temptation for those wanting a cheap tablet that also has plenty of muscle.

    The rumored price of $199 would probably not make any of Microsoft’s OEMs very happy. Acer chairman JT Wang said that Microsoft needs to create a price chasm between Surface and their own products. A $199 price tag would definitely eat into the market share for Acer and others. It also wouldn’t be limited to their Windows 8 tablets either. A cheap Surface would eat into the market share for Acer and others’ Android tablets. Why go with a $500 Android tablet when you can go with a $199 Windows 8 tablet?

    As always, none of this is confirmed yet. Microsoft has yet to actually release the official price for the Windows RT version of the Surface. They would be smart to at least say something about the price since it’s only two months away from launch.

  • Job Posting Points To Microsoft Already Working On Surface Successor

    We’re still a few months out from the launch of Windows 8 and Microsoft’s Surface tablet. Microsoft is most likely finalizing details on the tablet, including the elusive price. Some job postings that appeared on Microsoft’s career Web site seem to suggest that Microsoft may be working on more than just the first Surface.

    Techradar found some hard evidence that Microsoft is working on whatever the company will make after the Surface. For now, they’re dubbing it the Surface 2, but I would love for them to call it the Surface 360. Either way, the relevant job postings went up on Microsoft’s Web site between the months of June and August. They were looking for a few good men and women to help them build “devices that fully express the Windows vision.”

    So what exactly is the Windows vision? The job posting was looking for an engineer with knowledge of touch displays, small and large. The large may be a hint that Microsoft’s acquisition of PerceptivePixel may lead to more large touchscreens in the home, not just at the office or school.

    The postings also seem to suggest that Microsoft will be working just as fast as their competitors to push new tablets and other devices out the door. Apple, Samsung and others currently operate on annual cycles with consumers being able to look for a new product every year. Would Microsoft stick to such a strict product lifecycle? If they wanted to compete with the likes of Apple, they would have to.

    The most interesting part of the postings was in the actual hardware design. It looks like Microsoft is looking for engineers who will work “metals, ceramics, plastics and thin films.” The current Surface already uses a new method of metal sculpting. A cover involving ceramics would be equally interesting.

    The Surface has a lot to prove this year. This is Microsoft’s fist major foray into consumer electronics beyond the Xbox. Microsoft has already been able to convince everybody to buy an Xbox 360 for Kinect. Will they be able to do the same with the Surface when everybody already has an iPad?

  • Microsoft Surface Launches With Windows 8 On October 26

    During the Microsoft Surface event back in June, Microsoft said that the Windows RT version of the device would launch alongside Windows 8. Now that we know Windows 8 will be launching on October 26, does that claim still hold up?

    Microsoft announced via an SEC filing that they would be launching the Microsoft Surface alongside Windows 8 on October 26. Here’s the exact wording that was found in the filing:

    The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices.

    While it doesn’t exactly specify, we can assume that Microsoft will only be launching the Windows RT version of the tablet in October. During the Surface event, Microsoft said that the Windows 8 Pro version of the tablet would launch in early 2013.

    The Windows RT version of the device will be the tablet of choice for most consumers. Despite a listing on a Swedish retailer site that claimed the cheapest Surface would go for $1,000, the Windows RT Surface will be more in line with the cost of an iPad. For the price, you’ll get a 10-inch tablet powered by an ARM processor. Tablets will come in 64GB or 128GB varieties.

    With the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini presumably launching in September, Microsoft will have to double down its efforts with the Surface this holiday season. Launching at the price of a typical tablet may not be enough. If Microsoft really wants to get Surface into the hands of consumers, they might have to sell the device at a loss for at least the first few years.

    [h/t: BGR]

  • Microsoft Surface’s $1,000 Price Tag Was All A Ruse

    Windows fans were concerned when news came out that a Swedish retailer was listing the Microsoft Surface at $1,000. The price was too steep for what was essentially an iPad in terms of performance and it made us question whether or not Microsoft was out of touch. Fortunately, it turns out that those prices were all fake.

    The fine folks over at Techie-Buzz confronted the retailer about the prices and got the real story. It turns out that Webhallen had not received any pricing information from Microsoft. They were simply setting the price high to encourage pre-orders.

    Here’s the official statement Webhallen sent to Techie-Buzz:

    Our customers are very interested in pre-ordering these products, so we have set a high preliminary pricing for the lineup so that they may be able to pre-order them.

    Just to clarify, we have not recieved any pricing from Microsoft regarding MRSP or purchasing net cost, and any people who have booked the Surface at this high price will of course have their order adjusted before any product is shipped. So we’re not going to overcharge anyone for being an early adopter.

    I’m sure that Windows fans will be the happiest to hear that this is nowhere near official pricing. If Microsoft wants Windows 8 or the Surface to go anywhere, they’re going to have to make it affordable for all. That means selling it under production costs just like Google is doing with the Nexus 7.

    If Microsoft is able to garner enough business and good will with Windows 8, they then might be able to command the high prices (and high profit) of trusted companies like Apple. An affordable price is the first step towards that and a $1,000 price tag is asking too much, even for the Ultrabook-like Windows 8 Pro version that will be sold starting in 2013.

  • Alienware Thinks The Surface Won’t Be Much Of A Gaming PC

    There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding Microsoft’s Surface tablet. We know the specs and the general look of the device, but we don’t know the launch date or its true capabilities. The Windows 8 Pro version of the Surface is especially mysterious because it’s a full-fledged Windows laptop, but Microsoft hasn’t shown anything beyond Metro applications for it yet. Can its Intel i5 processor run high-powered applications like gaming? One hardware manufacturer certainly doesn’t think so.

    In an interview with PC Games N, product manager with Alienware, Eddy Goyanes, spoke on the potential of Microsoft’s Surface as a gaming machine. The company is known for making quality gaming PCs so they know how to judge the relative power of a PC. Microsoft’s Surface seems pretty powerful so what does Goyanes think about it?

    He can’t pass judgment just yet as the hardware has not been used to play any games yet, but he says that it’s not going to be able to compete with gaming PCs, especially those from Alienware:

    “It’s a really neat device actually. I think it’s pretty cool. But we’ve yet to see its capabilities in the gaming space, it will be really interesting to see how Microsoft enters that arena, if at all. We’ll be keeping our eye on the pulse of that device. If it does try to get into the gaming space, it’s definitely not going to complete on the level of any of our products. If you look at it from a wattage perspective, it’s not going to be capable of high-performance class gaming.”

    The man makes a valid point. The utter apathy that Microsoft has shown towards gaming in the past makes it seem like they won’t be doing much in the way of pushing it for Surface. Of course, social and mobile gaming has exploded in the past few years so Microsoft is definitely going to want to get in on that. The fear is that Microsoft will only cater to that audience instead of the core gaming audience. Sure, the mobile gaming audience is huge, but they want free games. The core gaming audience is willing to spend $60 per game for the experience.

    We don’t exactly know whether Microsoft will actually cater to the core with the Windows 8 Pro Surface, but they would be wise not to ignore it. I think I speak for many PC gamers when I say what that we want a more portable solution to take games on the go with us. Sure, the Surface wouldn’t replace our desktops or high-powered gaming laptops, but a gaming tablet specifically catered toward core gamers is a new concept that could go a long way.

    I’m sure we’ll find out more as we approach the launch for Surface, but we’ll keep you up to date on all Surface news until then. This is Microsoft’s big break to get into the personal computer hardware business so they need all the help they can get. Gamers usually make up most of the early adopters and power users so catering to them would not be a bad thing at all.