Microsoft expands Surface RT availability to 29 markets and Surface Pro to 27, promises more stock for 128GB

Microsoft on Tuesday announced it is expanding the availability of its Surface RT device to 29 markets and the Surface Pro to 27 markets. All the launches will be taking place over the next two months, meaning by summer a significantly larger number of consumers will be able to buy the company’s computers.

Currently, the Surface RT is available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the US.

Microsoft plans to bring the Surface RT to Malaysia on April 25, to Mexico by the end of May, as well as to Korea and Thailand in June. The company wouldn’t reveal specific dates for the last three markets.

The Surface Pro meanwhile is currently available in just three countries: the US, Canada, and China. Microsoft thus hopes to increase that number nine-fold for its higher-end device.

Microsoft plans to bring the Surface Pro to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK “before the end of May.” It will launch in Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand “before the end of June.”

Last but not least, Microsoft admitted that one of its “biggest challenges” has been keeping the 128GB Surface Pro in stock. The company has been working hard to increase availability, and is now confidently saying that “most retail partners” in the US and Canada as well as the Microsoft Store now have the 128GB flavor “consistently in stock.”

Whether Microsoft will be able to keep this promise in other markets remains to be seen. The 128GB flavor is sought after so much because the device is being advertised as more than just a tablet: if it can be used for work and play, consumers want as much space as possible to store all their productivity programs as well as their personal files.

Source: thenextweb.com

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Microsoft is reportedly working on a 7-inch Surface tablet that could go into production this year

Microsoft could be working on developing a mini-version of its Surface tablet. According to the Wall Street Journal, the software giant has begun developing a lineup of new tablets that some believe will go into mass production later this year.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the motivation behind this move is that Microsoft is eager to move its company forward in order to “counter urgent threats to its $75 billion software empire.” Naturally it makes sense for the company to produce a mini tablet — after all, Samsung, Amazon, and Apple all have miniature versions of their tablets and they have been selling well.

Interestingly, it was earlier today when research firm IDC announced that PC shipments hit a new low in Q1 2013, down 13.9 percent compared to the same quarter in 2012. In its report, IDC Program Vice President of Clients and Displays Bob O’Donnell placed the blame on Microsoft’s Windows 8 launch:

…it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market. While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market.

If Microsoft is believing what O’Donnell is saying, then it might be thinking that a new type of Surface and an updated operating system would be the next logical thing.

At this time, no additional details have been discovered about the new Surface, but there are some that speculate that because of Microsoft’s recent “adjustment of the Windows 8 specification“, a mini tablet is in the works. In addition, the news comes just a few weeks before Microsoft is set to put on its Build 2013 event in San Francisco where there is speculation that it will feature Windows Blue, what is believed to be the major update to Windows 8 and RT.

The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that Microsoft is planning on dropping the price for its Windows and Office software in a move it hopes will motivate the creation of lower-cost touchscreen devices powered by its software.

You can read our review of the Microsoft Surface Pro here.

Photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Source: thenextweb.com

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Microsoft releases Surface RT and Pro updates, aims to fix WiFi issues again

Surface RT devices have already scored two updates that aim to fix problems with 'limited' WiFi connectivity, and now Microsoft is pushing out a third patch that aims to put its wireless troubles to rest. Redmond's fresh code also beefs up support for a "wide range" of access points and stomps out system crashes caused by some WiFi issues.

As for Surface Pro, its own April update smoothes out Surface Type and Touch cover connectivity kinks, adds support for Japanese keyboards on North American hardware, stomps a bug that disables the WiFi driver when airplane mode is toggled and addresses an issue with touch navigation in the UEFI boot menu. Microsoft's remedy should get sucked down to your slate automatically, but you can grab it by hand through Windows Update as well.

Source: engadget.com

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PCs learn new tricks, but can tablet/notebook hybrids rescue Windows 8?

No, the PC industry isn’t vanishing anytime soon. But it has reached a level of maturity where year-over-year growth in sales has stalled, and most new purchases are replacements.

Devices that we traditionally think of as PCs - towers, all-in-ones, and clamshell-style laptops with a keyboard and pointing device - are still selling by the hundreds of millions every year. After decades of steady growth, however, those numbers are now declining year over year, as consumers (and to a lesser extent businesses) choose tablets and smartphones as secondary devices instead of buying an additional PC.

The net effect? The overall population of computing devices is expanding tremendously, with the mix shifting toward devices that are more mobile and require less management.

That’s the environment into which Microsoft released Windows 8 last fall. In a world where mobility is king, the single most important feature is the ability to work well as a tablet, when a touchscreen is the only input device. For this new generation, Microsoft and its partners are betting you want that same device to work as a PC when conventional input devices (and maybe a large monitor) are available.

It’s a bold attempt to redefine the PC. These new hybrid devices have the innards of a conventional PC, making them compatible with existing software and peripherals, while still being capable of acting like tablets.

Microsoft’s vision of this dual-purpose device is the Surface Pro, which can go from tablet to full-strength PC with a click of its innovative keyboard/cover combos. But it’s not the only competitor in this new hybrid category.

Last September, at the giant IFA tradeshow in Berlin, I saw three hybrid devices from three of the world’s largest PC OEMs. Each one tries to tackle the same problem as the Surface Pro, with very different design decisions. For the past month, I’ve been using the final, production versions of these three machines in real-world work settings.

Here are the contenders:

• Samsung’s ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T looks like a slightly clunky, generic black Ultrabook at first blush. Until you detach its keyboard base, that is, and it turns into a sleek and powerful tablet with better battery life than a Surface Pro.
• The Dell XPS 12 is a premium Ultrabook, exquisitely engineered and more powerful than many desktop PCs. It can also transform into a tablet with a quick flip. It’s a large, not-so-light tablet with modest battery life. But does that matter?
• HP’s Envy X2 isn’t the most powerful portable PC you will ever find. But if long battery life is tops on your wish list, you might not care. This Atom-powered hybrid is thinner than an iPad, and it can do real work all day, all night, and well into another day.

To some extent, the fate of all of these devices is tied to Windows 8. If you're put off by Windows 8's landscape orientation, or if it doesn't have the apps you like, or if you're already heavily invested in another platform, these devices could be too little or too late or both.

But Microsoft and its PC-making partners hope that there are enough PC loyalists out there who are ready for a Windows-powered tablet that's also a PC.

In this post, I look at each of these devices with an emphasis on the overall experience. Does the tablet-to-PC-and-back-again transition work? Are they mobile enough? Are they simple enough? Can any of these devices deliver the Holy Grail of portable computing: a single device that handles work and play without unnecessary compromises?

Source : zdnet

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Microsoft Surface Pro receives worst tablet repairability score

Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet is out and the folks from repair firm iFixit have got their hands on one and taken it apart so we can see what makes it tick!

Getting into the Surface Pro presented far more of a challenge than the Surface RT tablet did. Microsoft has used copious quantities of tar-like adhesive to hold the tablet together, a mess which required the iFixit team to use of a heat gun and a handful of guitar picks to gain access to the guts of the device.

Once inside the Surface Pro, things don't get much better. Not only is the tablet held together by more than 90 screws—a number which iFixit's Chief Information Architect Miroslav Djuric describes as "a tad crazy"—but the battery is buried behind the motherboard, and held to the case with adhesive.

Adhesive prevents the battery rattling, but it also means that there's a risk of puncturing it during removal.

On the plus side, if you do feel like tackling the adhesive to get into your Surface Pro, the removable solid state drive—which, in the 64GB model turns out to be a Micron RealSSD C400—is user-replaceable.

Inside the Surface Pro is a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of Micron 2LEI2 D9PXV RAM, a Marvell Avastar 88W8797 wireless chipset, and a whole host of other top quality parts. There's no denying that the Surface Pro is a quality piece of hardware.

This is a notebook in the clothing of a tablet.

The tablet is kept going by an LG Escalade 42Wh lithium-ion power pack, rated for 7.4V and 5676mAh, capable of going 5 hours between charges.

A lot of thought has been given to cooling the Surface Pro. Because it has an x86 processor at its heart as opposed to an ARM part powering the Surface RT—needed to power the full Windows 8 Pro operating system—there's a lot more heat to get rid of. The plastic top-rear bezel of the Surface Pro has been engineered to doubles as a vent for all the air being pumped over the heat sink's two radiators that keep the silicon cool.

The Surface Pro is a quality piece of hardware, but as with most devices nowadays, you can forget about easy repairs and upgrades. The use of adhesive, along with the dozens of screws and fasteners, means it is a nightmare to get into. As a result of this the iFixit team has awarded the Surface Pro the lowest repairability score it has awarded any tablet—1 out of ten. 

So, the bottom line is that the Surface Pro is an awesome device, but any repairs are best left to a professional.

Source : zdnet

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REVIEW: Microsoft's New Tablet, The Surface Pro

Microsoft isn't finished improving the Surface tablet.

This week, the company will release an advanced version of its first tablet called the Surface Pro that's essentially a full-fledged Windows 8 computer crammed into a tablet form factor.

There's an important distinction to be made here: The Surface Pro isn't an iPad or Android tablet competitor like last year's Surface RT. If anything, the Surface Pro is an alternative to thin and light laptops like the MacBook Air and the slew of other Windows-powered Ultrabooks. The cheapest Surface Pro model costs $899, which is in line with many other laptops.

But the Surface Pro is a brand new product category: a funky not-quite-tablet-not-quite-laptop laptop alternative.

So does it work? Keep reading for the full review.

What Is The Surface Pro?

The Surface Pro is just like the first Surface except it's thicker, heavier, costs at least $400 more, and has about half the battery life. It looks like a tablet, but you can snap on an optional (but essential) keyboard cover that turns the Surface Pro into a pseudo-laptop.

So why would anyone buy that?

Unlike the Surface RT, the Surface Pro is powered by an Intel chip (like a lot of regular Windows laptops) and can run older Windows 7 apps. That means if you're still using the old version of Microsoft Office or any other program, you'll be able to run them on the Surface Pro without a problem. There's even a "Desktop" mode that lets you work in a classic Windows 7-like environment instead of Windows 8's touch-friendly tile Start menu.

But that's a small added value for a laptop replacement that doesn't do a great job at replacing your laptop.

You can't rest the Surface Pro comfortably on your lap without it flopping around. You can 't adjust the angle of the screen when it's propped on a table with the built in kickstand. You need to spend at least another $100 to get the full laptop-like experience with one of the special keyboard covers. At 10 inches, the screen feels a bit small for traditional desktop computing. The cheapest model only has 23 GB of free storage, so you'll have to buy a separate memory card because you'll definitely need more than that.

And so on.

That's the biggest problem with the Surface Pro. Between the pricing and the form factor, it feels like the Pro would only appeal to a limited number of people.

Using It

The Surface Pro runs on Windows 8 Pro, Microsoft's top-of-the line PC operating system. Windows 8 was designed to run primarily on touchscreen devices like the Surface tablets, so it does take a lot of noodling around to get used to how everything works.

I've been using Windows 8 off and on since it launched last fall, and I've only just now figured out all the nuances and tricks of the new OS. There's a steep learning curve with Windows 8, but I was flying once I got the hang of it. Windows 8 really is a fun platform to use, and it's a refreshing take on the stuffy old desktop.

But when you have a tablet-friendly operating system like Windows 8, you need tablet-friendly apps to go with it. Unfortunately, Windows 8 can't offer that.

Microsoft wouldn't tell me how many Windows 8 apps are available now, but the number doesn't matter. What matters is I couldn't find many of the apps I wanted. Most notably, there still aren't apps for Twitter and Facebook, which forces you to use those services in a browser. That doesn't work very well if you're using the Surface Pro in tablet mode.

Yes, the Surface Pro can still run all the older Windows apps in the classic Desktop mode, but they don't look so great on a tiny screen. For example, the text in TweetDeck is too tiny to read. I had the same experience with most of the other legacy Windows 7 apps I tried in desktop mode, with the exception of Microsoft Office.

 

In short, it's just awkward to work in an old-school computing environment on a modern device. It's more like working on a netbook or one of those old pre-iPad Windows tablets that never took off.

The Hardware

The Surface Pro has some impressive hardware specs for such a unique form factor. It can go toe-to-toe with any other thin and light laptop. You won't have to worry about performance. In fact, it outperformed my 13-inch MacBook Air in many respects.

 

The Surface Pro boots up/shuts down a lot faster than my Air, and it wakes up from sleep mode before I can get to "two Mississippi." In that respect, it felt more like using a traditional tablet than a regular laptop. Very nice.

On the other hand, the Surface Pro suffers from some of the same problems as other Intel-powered machines. Battery life is pretty bad, for example; I was only able to use my review unit for about four hours on each charge.

The Surface Pro also comes with a stylus for doodling and taking notes on the screen, but I found no use for it. There aren't many good apps for Windows 8 that take advantage of a stylus, but I did test it out using Microsoft Office's One Note program. (I also like that you can delete items by using the "eraser" at the bottom of the stylus). I doubt many Surface Pro owners will find a use for the stylus though.

Conclusion

Microsoft created a very strange product category with the Surface Pro, one that will likely only appeal to a slim number of people who want to try a funky form factor but still work in a classic desktop environment when they need to.

My experience with the Surface Pro was nearly identical to the one I had with the Surface RT, which makes it tough to recommend a pricier and heavier device with bad battery life. If the Surface intrigues you, check out the RT model first.

Source: businessinsider.com

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Microsoft Surface Pro features touted by Microsoft

Earlier this week we talked about the gaming performance capability that the Microsoft Surface Pro has, considering it is equipped with integrated graphics via an Intel HD 4000 chipset. The jury is still out on that topic, but after Microsoft finally confirmed a solid release date for the upgraded tablet, the company has now released a promo video explaining some of the other features on offer.

We think they have their work cut out as well, as it certainly isn’t a cheap upgrade at $1000 if you opt for the $128GB version especially when Microsoft are not including any of the key touch or type pad accessories. With that said though, it’s still a lovely tablet and is now likely to go head to head with the recently announced Sony Xperia Z Tablet that is also geared towards premium consumers.

Microsoft has released an official Surface promo, giving you a brief look at some of the features available. You may not be aware, but Surface Pro also offers touch input via Pen and we’re glad to see that there is a Surface Pen included with the Pro purchase. There’s also a glimpse at how you can view media in 1080p resolution and transfer your display straight to the TV for large screen viewing.

You can also access full Windows 8 desktop mode with the press of a button, letting you switch between the two different UIs depending on what tasks you are you looking to perform. Unlike the Surface with Windows RT, the Surface Pro comes with full Windows support so you’ll be able to run any application that you normally would with a PC.

Take a look and let us know your thoughts on the upgraded Surface tablet. Is it worth $899-1000 in your opinion or is it simply too expensive for you at the moment?

Source: product-reviews.net

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Microsoft’s Surface Pro optimism over imminent release

All the signs are there that the release of the Surface Pro is just a matter of weeks away now, and looking at the less than impressive sales figures of the Surface RT, Microsoft is surely counting down the days now? We had assumed that we would already be enjoying the new Windows 8 tablet for professionals by now, but we’re still within the 90-day limit of when the RT was first released.

According to analyst Brent Thill, he believes that Microsoft should be feeling far more optimistic in regards to the release of the Surface Pro when compared to the RT model because the former device will be available in retail stores, unlike the latter tablet. He also believes that it will be more of a match for the iPad, which is currently the tablet to beat, although that could change just as the smartphone market has in the last year or so.

Do you consider the Surface a success or not? There has been a mixed reaction in regards to the Surface RT because while some users suggest that the user interface is lacking in key areas and it could expect the same success as the Zune, others believe that it is far better than carrying a laptop or an iPad because of how much lighter it is, as well as the fact that the Surface comes with one of the most important apps, and that is Microsoft Office.

Going by the rule that the Surface Pro would be released 90 days after the RT model like Microsoft indicated, then we could expect Microsoft’s latest tablet to be released next week sometime, although there has been speculation of January 30.

Source: product-reviews

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Microsoft's Surface needs a reboot: Here's how

How many Surface tablets has Microsoft sold? Other than a select few who pace the corridors at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, WA., no one is really sure. But that doesn't stop the speculation. In fact, the absence of any figures from Microsoft is fueling speculation that sales have fallen short of expectation.

While I see little point in pulling a specific number out of the air, it's clear from both supply chain chatter and the fact that a major OEM has decided to give Windows RT tablets a wide berth that sales have not been stratospheric.

Many of the problems facing Microsoft's Surface platform are the same problems that are stagnating the entire PC market:

• PCs are no longer sexy, whether they be desktops, notebooks, or tablets. Product branding -- such as Apple, Android, iOS, and so on -- is what seems to sell, not form factor;
  
• Companies that were once helping to drive the massive PC juggernaut forward -- Intel, Dell, HP, et al -- have been sidelined as we move from the era of the PC into the post-PC era;
  
• A polarization in how Windows 8 has been received by consumers. Users seem to either love Windows 8 or hate it, with the majority disliking the changes that Microsoft made;
  
• By extension, Windows is not seen as sexy. For most, Windows is simply the software that has to boot up before they can fire up a browser;
  
• The price tag of a PC -- and the Surface in particular -- is hard for consumers to swallow in the face of cheap tablets such as the Kindle Fire HD.

There are also Surface-specific problems facing the tablet.

• Surface and Windows RT are new brands that Microsoft has to push into an already crowded market;
  
• Windows RT is "Windows" in name only, and doesn't offer the backward-compatibility and legacy support that people associate with the Windows name;
  
• Microsoft made it known that Windows RT-powered Surface tablets would be followed later by Windows 9-powered Surface Pro devices that would offer the backward-compatibility and legacy support that Windows is known for, dampening interest in Surface.

Surface is important to Microsoft's Windows 8 strategy because it shows OEMs and consumers alike what Microsoft thinks a Windows tablet should be like. Given that Microsoft has put so much emphasis on touch in Windows 8, it needs a platform that demonstrates the benefits of touch. If Surface fails then it would cast doubt over Microsoft's entire Windows 8 strategy.

What should Microsoft do? It should reboot Surface. Here's how:

• Alleviate some of the market confusion by renaming Windows RT. Windows Tablet is a name that springs to mind. The "RT" of Windows RT is nebulous and fails to convey anything about the operating system.
  
• Shift focus away from Windows RT and onto Windows 8-powered tablets. Unless Microsoft can price Windows RT hardware closer to that of Android, the platform is likely dead in the water. There's not enough value in the platform as it stands to justify the price.
  
• Cut the price of Surface hardware. Microsoft still tries to pull in PC-level license fees in a post-PC world. For an emerging platform with no track record, and a patchy app ecosystem, that's possibly too optimistic.
  
• Give Surface more of an enterprise focus. To do this Microsoft might need to employ the help of an OEM like Lenovo or Nokia. At present the hardware has a consumer vibe with an enterprise price tag -- a combination that makes it a hard sell to either markets. The success of the iPad with enterprises -- in particular the penetration is has made into Fortune 500 companies -- shows that there is great enthusiasm for the right tablet. Redmond should work on bringing this enterprise tablet to market.
  
• Extend the Surface branding to a select number of tablets from other OEMs. This would help give the brand more traction and help it grab market share faster.
  
• Hardware needs an ecosystem. Not just apps, but also tablet-specific services that help to reduce out reliance on desktop/notebook systems. Think iCloud, but for Windows.

I like the Surface hardware, and think that the mobile market needs a third player to keep iOS and Android on its toes. And with a little tweaking, Surface could offer just that.

Source : zdnet

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Windows RT mod boosts touch response on your Surface

If have are running a touch-based Windows 8 machine, you might have noticed that it can be difficult to select certain elements of the operating system, most notably the ones that are not designed for your fingers: Explorer in desktop mode, for example.

Happily, a new hack has cropped up on the XDA Forums that is worth your testing. TNW implemented the registry change, and found it to be a positive adaptation, but that could be due to the fatness of our fingers. Your mileage will vary. Specifically, XDA denizens reported improved keyboard response, and better “small item manipulation.”

However, it is worth trying out. You can find the changes specified below in the following packet. Here are the directions in case you want to implement the new values yourself:

• Edit key for latency from 8 to 2.
• Edit sample time from 8 to 2
• Restart

Users in the thread have reported that the hack will result in decreased battery life, as Windows 8 has to ping the touchscreen more often. If you are a Surface owner, you have enough battery power to make it through, I would guess.

The battery power point is likely the precise reason why Microsoft didn’t itself place the settings in this manner, as it wanted to ensure that devices running its operating system were competitive from a battery life perspective.

It’s Saturday, so you owe it to yourself to try something new. Get to it.

Top Image Credit: mjtmail (tiggy)
Source: thenextweb.com

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Sorry Microsoft, I am breaking up with the Surface

I'm a tablet guy by anyone's definition. I'm also a mobile tech guy. When a new gadget or technology rolls around I get all excited and grab it to give it a go.

I did just that when the Surface RT tablet from Microsoft became available months after the surprise announcement last year. I tracked the shipment with anticipation after placing my order. When it arrived I excitedly opened the box and fired it up.

Sadly, that was the pinnacle of my excitement. After too many hours trying to make the Surface fit into my daily work routine, I have placed it on a shelf while I use other devices to go about my business.

It's not that the Surface isn't a fine device, it is certainly a nice bit of kit. It's not that it lacks innovation, the slate form with the keyboard cover pushes the envelope.

No, it's not for a lack of effort on Microsoft's part that the Surface doesn't work for me. It's because I require the gear I use to do everything I need and without fuss. The Surface fails me in this regard despite a big effort on my part to make it work.

My inability to leverage the Surface may just be me. I know quite a few owners who absolutely love their Surface and I am happy for them. Perhaps my needs in a mobile computer are so unique that I am the exception rather than the rule.

Whatever the reason, I am tired of constantly trying to get stuff done with my Surface, only to put it away after a few hours in sheer frustration. I can pick up any other gadget in my possession, and that's quite a few, and easily get things done with little effort.

Why does the Surface frustrate me every time I use it? The lack of good apps plays a big role. I have bought too many apps in the hope that one of them will be the one that turns things around, but to no avail. Even the apps that I end up using regularly aren't as good as the apps I use on every other mobile platform. They lack features, waste screen space, and most importantly they insist on grabbing my attention when all I want to do is get things done.

That even applies to the Internet Explorer browser in the Metro interface. There's something about it that has it taking my focus away from whatever I'm doing. It's a touch on the screen that doesn't register as it should or one that causes the accursed charms bar to fly out unintended.

It's the URL address bar at the bottom of the screen instead of at the top where every other browser/platform puts it. It's the way IE keeps open tabs hidden from view and makes me cause them to display to get where I need to be. It's the way that bar stays open at the top until I specifically make it get out of my way.

Many will say these are little things and I agree with that assessment. But they all add up to constantly grab my focus when I need to be doing stuff. Maybe I'm overly sensitive about this but that's the way it is.

I insist that any mobile device I use for work stay out of my way while I'm doing it. I don't want to be thinking about how to get something to happen, I want to just reach out and make it so. I don't want to stop and think if a control is on the left, the top, the right, or at the bottom of the screen. I want it to be totally intuitive so I am always thinking about my writing.

I am sure some will think I'm too sensitive or that I haven't given the Surface with Windows 8 enough time. That may be but I've given it far more time and effort than I've given any other platform and device I've used. It's left me in a continual state of frustration every time I've used the Surface to work and I just can't take it anymore.

It's not you Microsoft, it's me. I know you've given your best effort to make this relationship work but it's in vain. I wish the best for you in the future. You'll get along fine without me.

Source : zdnet

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Best Microsoft Surface apps available right now

Microsoft Surface is very new to the game and is seen as a great way for those to replace an old desktop, even though there are limitations to these touch devices. The tablet is perfect for a great number of applications, along with surfing the net as well, but there does seem to be a lack of apps. There is currently not a great deal of developer support, even though Microsoft has come up with a more lucrative profit share scheme when compared to their rivals.

However, this has yet to persuade those devs to increase the number of Microsoft Surface apps available, and what shocks us even more is the fact that there is no Facebook app on the Windows App Store. While this may sound worse than it is, one has to go back a few years because Google faced the same issues with Android, now look how that mobile OS is dominating the market. It is hoped that once the Windows Surface Pro finally launches this should hopefully stir more interest from developers, only if the new tablet is a susses though.

Knowing that it takes time to get into gear there are still a number of great apps available, so we thought we would point you in the direction of a couple of articles that have been looking at the best Microsoft Surface apps available right now. One such article has pointed out what they believe to be the 5 best apps on the Windows App Store, with Toolbox for Windows 8 being right up there on the list because the utility offers all what a user would need, such as a clock, weather, voice notes, a calculator and much more.

Another great app is PDF Touch, which is an essential application to have on any such device, but there’s an added benefit rather than just opening up a PDF file, you can also write on the document using the touchscreen of your Surface device as well.

Business Insider has listed the Netfilx apps as one of their top apps for Microsoft Surface because it allows you to gain access to all that great content. They also know that consumers will use this as an e-reader, so feel that the Kindle app is well worth the download. However, we do like the old school look of the Wikipedia app, as it’s laid out like an old encyclopedia, making it much easier to read over.

What do you feel are the best Microsoft Surface apps available right now? If you don’t agree that any of those apps mentioned above are the best Microsoft Surface apps, then view the video below for even more choice.

Source: product-reviews.net

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Surface Pro 64GB to start at $899, coming in January

Microsoft’s Surface RT release has left many people, myself included, yearning for a more powerful machine with Windows 8 Pro on board. The Surface Pro has been teased, but never officially announced until now. In January, Microsoft will begin selling the 64GB Surface Pro for $899, with a 128GB version for $999. The Surface Pro is nearly identical in design to the already existing Surface RT, but what you find under the hood and running on that SSD is a lot more impressive.

Staring with a 1920×1080 resolution ClearType display with a Mini DisplayPort that can push 2560×1440 thanks to the onboard Intel HD Graphics 4000, the Surface Pro is a big bump in specs compared to the RT. Coupled with a Core i5 and 4GB of RAM, the Surface Pro more closely resembles last year’s Ultrabooks opposed to what you would typically expect to see in a tablet. This is all pretty close to what we expected to see in the Surface Pro, including the Surface pen, USB 3 port, and 2×2 MIMO WiFi antennae. The trade-off for this hardware is a slight increase in weight, and while Microsoft wasn’t willing to provide an exact figure, they noted that the tablet was still less than two pounds and 14mm thick.

Finally, the Surface Pro will come with Windows 8 Pro optimized for this hardware. This resolves many of the issues that users found with Surface RT, especially the inability to install apps from places other than the Microsoft Store. Surface Pro will function in Desktop Mode as a touch Ultrabook, and as a tablet when you choose to use Modern UI. It also means you could just take advantage of the great hardware and install a Start Menu replacement if you want to ignore Modern UI altogether.

Microsoft hasn’t announced what day in January the Surface Pro will release, or if pre-orders will be made available. The Surface RT launch featured pop-up stores in major cities, and there are now Surface Kiosks in every mall I have been to in the last month. Microsoft will undoubtedly leverage these same resources for the release of the Surface Pro, and with any luck the relatively poor opinion of the Surface RT will not stop early adopters from trying the new PC out.

Source : geek

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Reboxing: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface

(Disclaimer: I've been using Apple hardware for almost 30 years and have covered the company, including here at The Apple Core, for 17 years, so I have a definite inclination for its products. This blog post is written from the perspective of an Apple user and is one man's opinion.)

Over the weekend I was at an impasse: the 30-day return window on my Microsoft Surface was closing and a I had to make a decision -- and I decided to to return it.

I pre-ordered a Surface with Windows RT at launch because I was super-excited to use Microsoft's answer to the iPad. The hype on Surface was incredible and I had every intention of keeping it. For me it looked like an ideal second machine to my MacBook Pro and a way to get some exposure to Windows and Windows apps.

While it's a credible device with a lot of potential, it felt a little premature and not ready for the big leagues. Here are some of the reasons why I returned my Surface instead of toughing it out and waiting for things to get better.

 

 

1. It's slow. The best example of the Surface's slowness is when switching from portrait to landscape mode. It's painfully slow, sometimes taking a couple of seconds. Orientation switching on the iPad is instantaneous and smooth, rotate the device and the screen follows. That's the benchmark that Microsoft has to meet. (Some users have complained about keyboard latency in Word [video], but I didn't notice it and my colleague Ed Bott notes that it was addressed in a software update.)

 

 

2. Lack of apps. One of the first apps that I installed on the Surface was Tweetro, the Twitter client for Windows 8. The problem is that two days later, Tweetro got shut down after it hit Twitter's 100,000 token limit. Sure, that was a Twitter issue, but the bigger problem is the limited pool of apps for Windows 8 right now. 

 

3. Wi-Fi only. The Surface lacks mobile broadband, so there's no 3G or 4G. This limits Internet access to Wi-Fi hotspots, which can be difficult for anyone planning to travel with Surface as a primary/only computer.

4. It's rough around the edges. Literally. Microsoft built a kickstand into the Surface that works remarkably well, but the compromise comes in the form of its hard edges. While the iPad's curves make it easy to hold, the Surface industrial design is more like the iPhone with sharp, square edges. As a result it's uncomfortable to hold in your hands and it feels unnecessarily boxy while reading on the couch or in bed. 

All's not lost, however. 

Windows 8 stands out the most to me, it very customizable and user-friendly. While die-hard Windows users may not like the Metro UI, it's simple, clean and a total departure from everything before it. It's also the first mainstream mobile OS that's not a complete ripoff of iOS, which is a nice change of pace. Maybe Apple will finally learn that there are benefits to having live, interactive widgets on the homescreen.

The Type Cover was a surprise for me and worked better than expected. It was easy to adapt to coming from the flat, thin-profile keyboard on my MacBook Pro and Apple wireless keyboards, and the trackpad worked well too. It's not easy to type on while on your lap, but that not what it's designed for, either. 

The Surface is a strong first effort at stealing marketshare from the three "A's" (Apple, Android and Amazon) and with a little time, apps and polish it could pose a formidable threat. But until a few of the intial issues are addressed, mine's going back. 

What's your take on the Microsoft Surface?

Source : zdnet

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Microsoft commits to Surface with Windows RT for at least four years

Although Windows RT was officially released nearly a month ago on Microsoft's Surface and on a handful of PCs from its OEM partners, Microsoft has been quiet about its support policy for RT.

Now, the mystery is partly resolved. In an update to its support lifecycle page, Microsoft has officially declared that it will support its initial Surface release for four years. That is, not coincidentally, long enough for a determined undergraduate to get through a conventional university degree program.

Normally, Microsoft supports consumer and business versions of Windows for five years (the so-called mainstream support phase) with business versions getting an additional five years of extended support.

Because Surface with Windows RT is a hardware-software combo, it plays by a different set of rules. Microsoft has decreed that its Mainstream Support End Date will be April 11, 2017, which is nearly 4-1/2 years after the product's initial release date. Because this device is considered a consumer device, there's no Extended Support End Date.

Update: On a separate page (see the Support Lifecycle Policy heading), Microsoft has updated its policy to provide additional support details for consumer hardware.

Microsoft's current policies offer "a minimum of ... four years Mainstream Support for Consumer Hardware products."

During the Mainstream Support phase, "Hardware repairs or replacements and parts are available throughout the support lifecycle. Services are free for products under warranty and available for a fee for products out of warranty. ... Updates are available for the software/firmware and OS that is embedded into the hardware (except for Surface devices, which is covered by the support lifecycle policy for the Operating System on the device)."

Additional details are available in this FAQ, which notes: "For Surface devices, any Surface software installed, embedded or downloaded on the device is subject to the software lifecycle support policy for that software (unlike other HW devices such as Xbox). ... The hardware support lifecycle policy applies only to the Surface hardware (and as stated above not the Surface software). For Surface devices, that policy affects only the tablet device and hardware based accessories (and for example not to soft goods accessories such as cases)."

That means that anyone who buys a Surface with Windows RT can expect firmware updates until at least April 2017. Support for Windows RT and for the included Office Home and Student 2013 software should be available for the minimum five-year period defined for consumer software. And there's ample precedent for Microsoft to extend that end date.

That support schedule, while a trifle skimpy by Redmond's normal standards, is downright generous compared to tablet rivals. Apple's original iPad, released in early 2010, no longer qualifies for iOS updates, security or otherwise, and it's barely 2-1/2 years old. Similarly, anyone who buys a Google Nexus 10 has no idea how long it will receive updates. The same is true for tablets from Google's many Android partners, including Samsung. Given Google's track record with orphaned Android devices, it's hard to believe these devices will be supported for more than a couple years.

Likewise, both Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are in uncharted territory in terms of support.

Surface isn't the only Windows RT device, of course. A handful of OEM partners, including Dell, Acer, and Samsung, are (or soon will be) shipping devices with Windows RT. So far, Microsoft’s support lifecycle page is mum on their expected support dates. Presumably, Windows RT, as a consumer operating system, will be supported for five years per the current policy. But as of today, the official Windows RT Product Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ doesn't list any support lifecycle dates. Instead, it simply says:

Microsoft will make software updates, including security updates, available for Windows RT. Additional information regarding the Windows RT lifecycle policy will be communicated as available.  … Office Home and Student 2013 RT has the same lifecycle policy as Windows RT.

Source : zdnet

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My daughter wants an iPad mini and my son wants a Surface

My precocious 11-year old daughter announced a few days ago that she wants an iPad mini for Christmas. Although she occasionally uses my iPad 1, she's never seemed particularly interesting in one of her own. I think part of the appeal is the cuteness of the mini. Although I don't see any particular purpose for the thing, she seems to love it. I think she'll probably just use it to play games and to watch Dr. Who* on Netflix but there's hope that she might read a few books too along the way. And, yes, I've tried to convince her to get a Kindle or Nook instead but she seems bent on having me purchase one. I just hope that it has a longer support life expectancy than my iPad 1 did.

My oldest son, now a freshman at Oklahoma State University, wants a Microsoft Surface. He texts me about them on an almost daily basis and how the Surface is all the buzz at OSU. He also tells me that I should write about the fact that students there are all wanting one. I keep thinking that he should have gone to a better school. That and I just bought him a laptop before he went to college. Apparently, a lot of students are taking their tablets to class to take notes on or to do whatever. When I was in college, a lot of the students would bring their cassette recorders to class so that they could record the pearls of wisdom with the hopes of playing them back later. I was too busy paying attention and writing my own notes to bother with all that nonsense. But, whatever. I certainly don't want him to be the only one not being geeky in his classes. Be it far from me to prevent that.

Personally, I think they'd both be better served to do the following:

My daughter should take possession of my Acer One netbook that has Windows XP on it. She can play games, watch Netflix and have Microsoft Office on it for the rare occasion that she would do any real work on it. Additonally, it has a full keyboard and it cost under $300 when it was new.

My son should take my iPad 1. Hey, isn't everything retro cool now? Sure it is. Let's go with that. Plus, it's Apple. I mean, isn't that what kids at cool colleges are into?

Problem solved.

I presented this idea to both of them, separately. 

The response to both ideas was met with irritation and mild disgust that I would even think of such a thing.

So, my well thought out plan that would result in a lot of savings for me and cool (OK, sufficiently cool) technology for both of them. It was a win-win situation.

Besides, since I am the technology writer in the family. I should get the new stuff. However, I wouldn't buy an iPad mini for myself nor would I necessarily buy a Surface.

I think the mini is too expensive. I think the Surface is too expensive. And, yes, the regular iPad is/was too expensive too.

Both are way overpriced for what they are. You can buy a nice laptop for the price of the mini and two laptops for the price of the Surface. My wife sees their requests as easy Christmas gifts but I see them as a waste of my hard-earned money.

The bottom line, of course, is that it will be a very merry Christmas for both of them and a bleak one for dear old dad.

What's that? You want to know about the middle child? The red-headed, 6-feet two-inch, 225 lb. 16-year old wrestler middle child? Oh, he probably wants a gun or sword or another pair of cowboy boots or something. He doesn't care about technology. He'd rather have gas for his pickup than anything with a screen on it--unless it's a bug screen for the pickup. He hasn't told us what he wants yet but I'm sure he will. No one really seems to hold back in the "I want" department.

Alas, poor me. I guess I'll wait until next year to ask for what I want. This year's budget is blown. Thanks, Apple. Thanks, Microsoft. The least someone could do is send me a coupon or something.

*Yes, Dr. Who. And, she makes my wife and me watch it with her. She's hooked on it, thanks to the oldest son.

Source : zdnet

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Oprah Endorses Microsoft Surface Tablet: ‘It’s Like a Mercedes!’

Microsoft’s Surface Tablet launched last week to mostly positive reviews, though it hasn’t yet attracted the kind of fervor that attended the iPad — and the company won’t yet say how well it’s selling.

But the Redmond giant can now bask in one potentially game-changing endorsement from Oprah Winfrey, who has declared the Surface one of her “Favorite Things” of 2012.

“It feels like a Mercedes-Benz to me, people!” gushes Oprah in the December issue of O, on newsstands Nov. 6. Her “Favorite Things 2012″ list was released online Thursday.

“The full-size keyboard built right into the cover makes work easy, the very smart kickstand makes watching a movie or Skyping a friend a delight, the less than a pound-and-a-half weight makes a great alternative to a laptop,” she adds.

“Now, that’s a wowser!”

The Surface is arguably the only mainstream gadget on the “Favorite Things” list, though Oprah does also tout a $1,800 Jetson electric bike and a $5,000 Bose TV.

Apple fans can take heart, however — the iPad made Oprah’s “Ultimate Favorite Things” list in 2010, the last year it was also featured on her longrunning daytime show.

“Words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent device,” the talk show queen said at the time. “I really think it’s the best invention of the century so far.”

Compared to which, calling a tablet a Mercedes-Benz may qualify as damning it with faint praise.

Will Oprah’s endorsement help move the needle for Surface sales? Give us your take in the comments. 

Source : mashable

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Acer Delays Windows RT Tablets, Wants to See Surface Reaction First

Acer announced Tuesday that it is delaying the launch of its Windows RT tablets until at least Q2 2013.

The Taiwanese PC maker was originally planning on releasing an ARM-based Windows RT tablet in early 2013, however the company has decided to delay those plans in light of some of the reviews of the Microsoft Surface tablet.

Acer President Jim Wong told Reuters, “originally we had a very aggressive plan to come out very early next year but because of Surface, our R&D development doesn’t stop, but we are much more cautious.” Instead of Q1 as a target, Acer has pushed the date back to Q2 or beyond.

Back in August, Acer was one of the companies that criticized Microsoft’s decision to create its own hardware. At the time, an Acer spokesperson told the press that the company believed “Microsoft’s launch of its own-brand products is negative for the whole PC industry.”

Wong expanded on his thoughts to Reuters, saying:

“We are watching how Surface is doing … How is RT accepted by customers, how Microsoft is aggressive on RT and on Surface, we don’t know… We want to see.”

While Windows 8 is already a success — with more than 4 million upgrades in just the first three days of availability — the verdict is still out for both Surface and Windows RT.

Some users love Surface and the ideas of convergence that it brings to the table. Others are less convinced of the ecosystem and the new interface paradigms.

Although Surface is the most prominent Windows RT device currently on the market, it isn’t the only device currently available. Asus has already released its own Windows RT device, the Vivo. I’ve been reviewing that unit for the last week and find that it offers a good Windows RT experience.

Microsoft is entering new territory with Surface in that it is directly competing with its own OEM partners. While Steve Ballmer can talk up Microsoft’s strong relationship with “partners” ad nausea, the business reality is still uncomfortable.

It’ll be interesting to see if Acer’s plans to delay Windows RT tablets have any impact on other OEMs. Let us know what you think about the decision in the comments.

Source : mashable

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Microsoft Surface inward review

There are a number of technology websites that are in the process of their Microsoft Surface review, which would normally focus on providing insight into the Microsoft Surface specs and if the price is worth it when compared to alternatives. Then we have another website well known for loving to take apart the latest technology, which means their Microsoft Surface review will show you how good this tablet is from the inside.

You can see the look inside Microsoft Surface here, or look below at a number of photos revealing part of this process in action. The reviewer even gives you a step-by-step guide for taking the new tablet apart, but strangely they also warn users not to use their instructions as a way to disassemble the Microsoft Surface tablet. We’re sure some people will brave it, but this would obviously be done at their own risk.



 If you want to see how the iPad 4 vs. Microsoft Surface compare then you can see our visual review here, which is supported by a few videos taking a more in-depth look at the operating system behind the Microsoft Surface tablet and also a closer look at the 4th generation iPad. It is worth noting that the iPad 4 has been up for pre-order, although there won’t be any full hands-on reviews just yet until it sees a release date next week. You can also see an early look at the Apple iPad mini from the weekend that compares the 7.9-inch tablet with the Google Nexus 7.



Google had to cancel their event that had been scheduled for yesterday in New York, which had to happen thanks to Hurricane Sandy although they did update their blog with all the details. This had been the wish of fans that didn’t want to wait until Google had time to plan another press event, so feel free to check out the full Google Nexus 10, 7, and 4 details in this article.



We’ll be sure to publish a full Microsoft Surface review roundup at a later date, but for now take a look at the teardown via the above link and let us know if you’re thinking about purchasing the Microsoft Surface tablet?

Share this story below.

Source: product-reviews.net

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iPad 4 vs. Microsoft Surface by visual review

Are you still finding it hard to make a decision between the Apple iPad 4 and Microsoft’s new Surface tablet? The general consensus is that the Surface appears to be a lot better than consumers had expected, but the one area that Microsoft may be vulnerable in for the moment is software, an area which you’ll know that Apple excels in.

We have a series of videos to show you now, giving you yet another glimpse at both devices up close and personal if you have yet to see a video review of one. One key question that a lot of consumers ask when picking up a tablet, is whether it can withstand significant damage from a fall or not.

The first video we have for you gives you a straight answer to this, as there are already numerous ‘drop’ videos for the Microsoft Surface emerging online, confirming that it definitely can take a beating if you accidentally drop the device. This is due to the combination of magnesium and aluminum materials used on the Surface and although the iPad 4 isn’t out yet, we have a feeling that Microsoft could be the clear winner in this category.

Having said that, software is very important on a tablet device and certain concern has already spread among early adopters, who are unhappy with the lack of incompatible apps that don’t have support for Surface yet, with a free copy of Microsoft Office unlikely to win consumers over.

The iPad on the other hand has no such problems in this area, with millions of apps available from the get go – making it easy for those who want to pick up the newest tablet on the market that has the most content available straight away. With the innovative design for the Surface though, Microsoft has given consumers the very pleasant conundrum on whether the Surface is still better than the iPad or not.

Apple seems to be happy keeping the same design formula over and over again, but it works for them. If you are someone who likes to pick up the ‘best looking’ devices each year, then again we would have to say that the Surface looks like the more stylish out of the two – especially with all of the changeable colors available.

Take a look at the series of videos below and let us know your own opinions on which tablet is better.

Have you already pre-ordered either the Surface or iPad? If so, let us know what you chose and why you came to that decision.

Share this story below.
Source: product-reviews.net

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