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20
May

Live from Microsoft’s Surface event in NYC!


Microsoft’s here in the Big Apple to announce a new Surface product or two, and we’re on site to bring you all the latest updates. It’s been a while since MS has announced updates to its tablet and PC lineups, so we’re expecting some substantial news here today. Stay tuned!

Microsoft’s here in the Big Apple to announce a new Surface product or two, and we’re on site to bring you all the latest updates. It’s been a while since MS has announced updates to its tablet and PC lineups, so we’re expecting some substantial news here today. Stay tuned!

So, we’re here!

FYI, you’ll be able to follow along with the livestream here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/may14/05-20webcast.aspx

Should be getting started within 15 minutes, but feel free to tweet your predictions in the meantime: we’re @danawollman @zachhonig and @sarahsilbert

Very standard Microsoft music here, Thievery Corporation-ish, Justice-ish but not actually either of those bands.

And also as usual we’re surrounded by fellow journalists from the Verge, Laptop, etc. And everyone’s in a great mood because we spent 45 minutes waiting outside in the sun.

Livestream should be live now. Again, that link is here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/may14/05-20webcast.aspx

Interesting observation from @nypxbaxx: https://twitter.com/nwpxbaxx/status/468765361475964928

Zach Honig is on photos. Dana Wollman is our Surface expert and she’ll be bringing you hands-on impressions of whatever’s announced today.

So…Microsoft Surface Mini? Is that the consensus about what to expect?

We’ve definitely heard that rumor on several occasions, and it would make sense, especially to compete with the 7.9-inch iPad mini. (Microsoft’s version is rumored to be 8 inches.)

Wouldn’t it be funny if Microsoft invited us to a “small gathering” and it wasn’t actually a pun, and there was no Surface Mini? Like, wouldn’t that be hysterical?

I really don’t envy the two men standing on stage looking out at all the stress going on in this room. But they seem to be….enjoying it?

“Please take your seat. We will begin in five minutes.”

(That thing where you’re dancing in your seat to the music pre-press conference, and you accidentally keep hip-checking the strangers sitting next to you.)

There’s a scale on stage, which makes us think that we’ll be seeing a comparison between the new Surface and Apple’s product.

“The presentation will begin in two minutes.”

It looks like this presentation is going to begin at 11 on the dot. Microsoft runs a tight ship.

I see one person in this room eating, and one person in this room wearing Google Glass. Yep.

So Dana and I would both love to show up to these events leisurely. Maybe even stroll in 5 minutes till showtime to a reserved seat in the front?

Satya Nadella is here!

“Welcome to our event in New York! It’s great to be on a different coast this time.”

“I want to start by talking about the journey we’ve been on.”

“Mobile first, cloud first” has been the company’s strategy.

He mentions Office 365 for the iPad, corporate-friendly applications. Also: a new data platform for “ambient, intelligent experiences.”

With Windows, the company is advancing with form factor, application — in all ways. Today, we’re looking at hardware.

“Empowering every individual and organization to do more and be more.” That’s the unifying philosophy across all divisions at Microsoft.

Nadella mentions scenarios like doctors making decisions regarding patients, parents keeping organized, students planning trips. MS wants to help with all of that.

“Over a billion users of Office.”

“Software services for productivity” — Microsoft is not alone; it’s joined by Adobe and other companies in bringing solutions to customers.

Sick Tim Cook burn there. #refrigerators #toasters

“We want to build experiences that bring together all the capabilities of our company.”

“The Nokia close gives us the extra strength” to bridge hardware and software to create compelling products.

“Today is a major milestone on that journey. It starts with dreaming the impossible. Can we design a device that combines the best of a tablet and laptop?”

He’s talking about a device that’s equal parts productivity and entertainment; watching a movie and making a movie in one device.

“The privilege to speak after Satya is always an extreme pleasure.” — we dropped off for a moment, but that’s the first thing Panay said.

We didn’t miss much; he’s just talking about the experience of working on the Surface lineup, blood and sweat, growing and learning, etc.

“We design the device for people who use the device every day,” not the weirdos in this room, he says.

We’re seeing a video that shows the types of people and stories that have inspired the development of Surface.

An architect says the Surface can handle the complexity that comes with his job.

The “Get Prepped” app is helping students, says Harvard.

An EKG glove combined with the Surface helps docs save lives.

Steve Gleason, former NFL player, says the device’s eye-tracking technology is important in helping him communicate.

Jeez, all the business applications in this video make me wonder if the larger-screened Surface is actually a thing.

“The marriage of a tablet and powerful computer in one powerful device.”

“Let’s take a step back and deal with some reality.”

“Three years ago, there were people in a room just like this writing stories.” They were talking about the tablet, and how it would kill the laptop, or so Panay says.

“Just look around for one minute. There are plenty of MacBook Airs here. What happened?”

He’s not poking at Apple, per say, just laptops.

“Tablets are designed for you to sit back and watch movies, snacking on apps. Laptops are not designed that way at all.”

This is a pretty familiar concept, yeah? Albeit one that hasn’t reached those few people who always show up to trade shows with their iPad as a camera.

96% of people who own an iPad also own a laptop, apparently.

Unclear where Panos Panay is going here, so let’s just roll with it.

He’s talking about a fork in the road, so to speak; do you buy a laptop or a tablet?

“What is that you want to do?” That’s how salespeople respond when you ask them what to buy.

So, Dana, correct me if i’m wrong, but i get the impression we’re going to be seeing a new Surface Pro. He’s really playing up the tablet and computer in one angle.

“Today we’re focusing on taking that conflict away.”

“To do it, you’d have to have everything in one package,” with no compromises. And all-day battery life.

“These small screens look small. And there’s a reason for that: they are.”

“I’d like to introduce you to Surface Pro 3.”

Familiar kickstand, it looks like. 9.1mm thin, with a stylus. USB 3.0.

“This is the tablet that can replace your laptop.”

It’s 9.1mm thin down from 10.1 or so.

It’s the thinnest Intel Core product ever made, he says.

Naturally it’s faster than the Surface Pro 2.

The screen is now 12 inches diagonally, a step up from the Pro 2. Panay says the larger display is best for productivity.

It’s a 2160 x 1440 resolution, with a 3×2 aspect ratio, highest contrast ratios in the industry.

The screen does look super crisp, viewed from about 7 feet away.

It also weighs just 800 grams, about 1.7 pounds.

Uh oh, Panay just compared the weight of the 13-inch MacBook Air and the new Pro 3. Guess which is lighter?

The 3 x 2 ratio and the scaling give you more room on screen than with the larger 13-inch MBA, Panay says.

There’s a Core i7 chip under the hood.

It was a challenge to bring that processor to such a thin design, he says.

The Surface Pro 3 is fan-less — “another way to say thin.”

There’s a perimeter vent around the Surface Pro 3. “You never feel it, hear it or see it.”

“Machined to fit — every single Surface Pro 3 that comes off the line is custom-machined.”

Panay says nothing’s been compromised to achieve all this. More than 20 percent battery life than previous Surface products, as well.

He just dropped the chassis. It didn’t break. So, the same high-quality, sturdy build of previous Surfaces.

Panay is giving Joanna Stern a Surface Pro 3 to feel how light it is. “That’s for you to keep, by the way.” Lucky lady.

Now we’re looking at the docking station, which adds a ton of ports and connections to the equation. It lets you display out to a 4K monitor as well.

He’s showing us how apps are grouped by profession — there’s artist, architect and doctor, for example.

Within the architect section, he’s zooming into a scaled model. Using the touchscreen, he’s also rotating it. Clearly, this machine is powerful enough to handle complex applications.

Photoshop is another important piece of software for Surface users, and Panay just teased some announcement on that front.

Michael Goff from Adobe is on stage to talk Photoshop. “If you take the power of Photoshop and you put it on a device like this, it’s a creative’s dream come true.”

“Our customers already love Surface Pro, but they told us they wanted Photoshop to take better advantage of the screen, pen and touch.”

Photoshop is now optimized for touch on the Surface Pro 3. Icons are larger and easier to get at with your fingers, pen input works better.

Pinch-and-zoom seems to work really well, too.

Lots of applause for this.

He hinted there’s a lot more coming with the partnership between MS and Adobe as well — “so stay tuned.”

Panay: “Now we’re going to talk about the kickstand.” He’s showing us a photo of his daughter Anastasia asleep in front of a Surface with the kickstand propped up.

So watching movies on the Surface with the kickstand up is “Anastasia mode.”

The original Surface angle is using the kickstand’s first stop. It’s a two-step kickstand, as a reminder.

The new Surface Pro 3 has an improved hinge, with more angle options including 150 degrees.

He just used the word “lappability,” referring to how well a device works in your lap.

Now we’re looking at the Type Cover detachable keyboard, which is now thinner than ever.

Microsoft put a ton of effort into improving the trackpad this time around. It’s 68 percent larger, has 78 percent less friction, etc.

He’s demonstrating lappability now.

With the Surface Pro 2, there’s some looseness in the hinge that makes using it in your lap less than ideal. With the Surface Pro 3, you can click in the cover to stabilize the screen.

It’s magnetically sealed to the screen, so you have a more solid, stable grasp on the machine. It’s definitely something you need to see with your eyes, and we’ll be getting you a video as soon as we can.

Panay says it’s things like this that are so important in getting the tablet to replace the laptop.

Really random applause, which you’ll notice if you’re following the livestream.

“We wanted to build something familiar, and what is more familiar than a piece of paper?”

…I have a feeling we’ll be talking about the pen.

Scratch that: he’s saying the 3 x 2 aspect ratio is similar to a piece of a paper, which makes it “familiar, seamless and personal.”

“When you hold it and a pen in your hand, it has to feel light.”

The pen — “it’s not a stylus” — is meant to be the weight of a normal pen you’d use with paper.

“But is anyone going to write on a PC? It doesn’t just mean writing; it’s experiences.” He’s opening the New York Times Crossword app.

Panay’s showing how you can write out the solution to a clue in your puzzle, and your handwriting will be digitized.

Now we’re looking at Final Draft, a movie-making app I believe.

Ach, this NYT guy two seats down is going to work on the puzzle. Can we change places please?

In Final Draft, we’re looking at how you can edit a script in real time with the pen. Palm rejection lets you rest your hand on the screen without any accidental input, and the pen tip works as it would if it was a non-digital one.

“This app is specifically designed and optimized for Surface Pro 3.” So, Hollywood, cozy up to Microsoft.

Now we’re going to hear the front-facing speakers.

We’re also seeing side by side computing. Two windows next to each other — Final Draft on one side, and a movie that corresponds with the open script on the other.

Sound through the front speaker seems pretty strong considering how big this room is.

“The power of Windows is letting me make a movie as I watch it.”

…This is gonna be a long presentation if we still have a Surface Mini on the docket for today.

Filed under: Microsoft

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20
May

Watch Microsoft’s Surface event livestream right here!


Microsoft is set to announce some Surface related news and we’ll have all the nitty gritty in our liveblog. But you can also watch the event live after the break or right here courtesy of the fine folks in Redmond. So follow along, while still reading our live coverage, of course.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

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Source: Microsoft

20
May

Engadget giveaway: win an Elite Edition AR.Drone courtesy of Riviera Partners!


Flying a quadcopter around the park all day sounds like fun, but it could be more than just a time killer. Today’s tech toy could be the gateway to tomorrow’s valuable job skill and even piloting a camera-enabled drone could lead to a farming or film career. Helping tech industry folks find work is what Riviera Partners is all about, and it’s graciously provided us with two Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition quadcopters for a couple of lucky Engadget readers this week. Riviera Partners is committed to building up the tech community by getting talented, innovative people like developers and engineers into jobs where they can see their potential blossom. Having someone in the know with clients like Twitter, Dropbox and LinkedIn to help you navigate the notoriously fickle world of tech certainly couldn’t hurt. Whether you’re full time or actively searching the job market, you should always make time for fun. So head on down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning one of these Parrot Elite Editions. An amateur drone camera operator for music videos could always be your fallback skill.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
  • Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  • Winners will be chosen randomly. Two winners will each receive one (1) Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition (Jungle; model# PF721802BI).
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
  • This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Parrot, Riviera Partners and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
  • The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
  • Entries can be submitted until May 21st at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt

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20
May

Microsoft announces its biggest tablet yet, the 12-inch Surface Pro 3


When Microsoft invited us to a “small gathering” here in New York City, we thought that meant a smaller-screened Surface Mini was in order. Instead, the company just announced a larger Surface, the 12-inch Surface Pro 3. Like the previous Surface Pro, it supports pen input, making it a good choice for creative professionals, especially with that extra screen real estate. In addition to being the biggest Surface yet, though, it’s also the thinnest-ever product with an Intel Core i7 processor. All told, the thing measures just 9.1mm (0.36 inch) thick, making it about as thick as one of the earlier iPads — incredible when you remember this is more akin to an Ultrabook than a tablet. What’s more, this thing is fanless, promising quiet performance throughout. Pretty standard for a regular slate, sure, but a fricking Core i7 laptop? Not quite.

In addition to being thin, the Surface Pro 3 is relatively lightweight, at 800g (1.76 pounds). And let’s be clear: when we say “relatively,” we mean compared to a comparable 12-inch laptop, or even a 13-inch Ultrabook; those would weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of three pounds. Even the 11-inch MacBook Air comes in at 2.4 pounds. Of course, the new Surface Pro 3 is still heavy next to an iPad Air or Samsung Galaxy Tab. But hey, the Surface Pro was never supposed to compete with those kinds of tablets anyway. No, this is and always was a laptop killer.

OK, so it’s just a bigger, surprisingly lightweight version of the last-gen Surface Pro, right? Not exactly. The third-gen model has a new kickstand on the back that allows the screen to sit at a near-flat angle of 150 degrees. The new Type Cover keyboard (that’s the one with the physical buttons) has been improved as well — especially with regard to the touchpad. Also, though the keyboard cover still “clicks in” the upper portion of the keyboard can now fold up and attach magnetically to the tablet’s lower bezel. We know, we know, this may be difficult to picture, but bear with us: By doing that, you’re effectively elevating the upper portion of the keyboard, creating a wedge profile similar to what you’d enjoy on a proper laptop. So, if you never got comfortable typing on the old Surface’s flat keyboard, maybe this is the ergonomic tweak you’ve been waiting for.

Developing…

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

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20
May

Microsoft wants its new pen to be a big part of the Surface Pro 3


Satya Nadella and his team are hosting an event in New York City, where Microsoft has already revealed its Surface Pro 3. Not surprisingly, the company’s placing a lot of focus in the integrated pen. “When you hold it and a pen in your hand, it has to feel light,” said Panos Panay on stage. “When you hold a pen in your hand, it has to be light.” But what is exactly is Microsoft doing to make this happen?

Developing…

Filed under: Microsoft

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20
May

Apple Predicted to Adopt NFC in iPhone 6 as Core Technology for Mobile Payments System


nfc_logoRumors of Apple incorporating near field communication (NFC) technology into the iPhone have become a yearly ritual, but Morgan Stanley analysts believe that Apple may finally be poised to adopt the technology as part of a push to break open the mobile payments industry. In a recent note to investors, analyst Craig Hettenbach points to possible licensing deals, company financial disclosures and patent filings as the basis for this claim.

Morgan Stanley believes NFC is ready to take off, and Apple could be the force that drives its widespread commercial adoption. Though Apple has been publicly silent on NFC and has in fact pursued alternative technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for short-range communication features like AirDrop and iBeacons, there is little doubt the company is exploring this short-range wireless technology. A recent patent application describes a secure, NFC-based wallet that allows customers to make purchases wirelessly through their phone, and Apple is in the process of updating its in-store point-of-sale system with one that supports NFC.

According to Morgan Stanley, Apple is choosing NFC as the key technology for its mobile payments system, with semiconductor company NXP likely providing the necessary wireless hardware. NXP has an existing relationship with Apple, supplying the M7 motion-sensing chip found in the iPhone 5s.

NXP is well positioned to participate in Apple’s mobile payments ecosystem. The company signed a licensing agreement with a customer in Q4’13, who we believe is Apple, related to its emerging ID business. A recent patent filing by Apple revealed potential use of NFC and secure element, which we think could be embedded. NXP has also accelerated R&D spend to support a new program related to the IP deal, with revenue expected in 2H, lining up well with the launch of iPhone 6. We see this potentially adding $250mn in sales and EPS of $0.25 in 2015.

A number of rumors have suggested Apple is actively working on a mobile payments system, with Eddy Cue allegedly approaching retailers about the company’s desire to handle payments in retail stores and elsewhere and longtime online store executive Jennifer Bailey shifting role to oversee the payments initiative. While stopping short of confirming mobile payments, CEO Tim Cook also admitted during a recent earnings conference call that mobile payments were “one of the thoughts behind Touch ID.”

Morgan Stanley is certainly not the only source to be sharing rumors of NFC support for the iPhone 6, with Brightwire citing its own sources earlier this month and high-profile KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo making his own claims last month.



20
May

Crash through buildings and zip line with a cane in Granny Smith [App of the Day]


granny_smith_720w

Debuting back in 2012, Granny Smith seemed to be one of those breakout games that would climb the app charts.  I thought the game was excellent, and I still do, but I never noticed anyone playing it and none of my friends or family asked about it.  The game has been successful, but has not quite reached the level of Candy Crush Saga, or Angry Birds.

Today, I would like to present to some and introduce to others, Granny Smith from Mediocre Games.

Granny Smith pits you (Granny) against an apple thief on skates, with the goal of getting to your apples before the thief does.  The game is fast-paced and the action starts from the beginning.  Get back your apples by skating, breaking through glass and other objects, flipping, and zip lining your way through the game.  The physics engine allows for shards and particles to fly everywhere as you bust through windows, walls and crates.

Coins are earned by riding over them while progressing through the various levels, and can be used to purchase equipment to help Granny along the way.

With close to 29,000 reviews, I’m sure this game has been played by some, but a game like this should be enjoyed by all. Get the word out. Tell your friends about this gem of a game.

Granny Smith (Playboard) | Granny Smith (Play Store)
Granny Smith Free (Playboard) | Granny Smith Free (Play Store)

The post Crash through buildings and zip line with a cane in Granny Smith [App of the Day] appeared first on AndroidGuys.

20
May

New telescopes could uncover a wormhole in our own galaxy


If you’re ever unlucky enough to be sucked towards a super-dense black hole, you’ll soon arrive at something called the event horizon — from which nothing can escape, including light. Thanks to a new “earth-sized” radio telescope, scientists may soon know whether you’ll become stretched out infinitely (“spaghetti-ized”) or merely vaporized. Knowing which of those gory fates is correct will help astronomers in their quest to unify Einstein’s theories involving planetary motion with sub-atomic quantum mechanics. Even more intriguingly, a separate telescope called the GRAVITY in Northern Chile may soon tell us if the Sagitarius ‘A’ black hole at the center of our own galaxy is actually a wormhole instead.

Leaving wormholes aside for a moment, the Event Horizon Telescope is designed to spy the structure of “regular” black holes. Located in Chile, it combines multiple radio telescopes around the world and an extraordinarily precise atomic clock to simulate one huge, earth-sized telescope. When trained on black holes, it should deliver pictures of a very bright ring of gas surrounding a circular dark spot, as close to “imaging” one as we’re likely to get (considering they emit no light). Along with pretty pictures, it may give insight about whether a black hole’s event horizon would allow matter in before elasticizing it or be an impenetrable “firewall” that incinerates anything foolish enough to enter.

The GRAVITY telescope, meanwhile, is designed to image black holes for a different purpose. Instead, it’s looking to see if our own Milky Way galaxy’s Sagitarius ‘A’ isn’t a black hole at all, but a wormhole. Both types of structures contain an impenetrable event horizon, but are otherwise very different. For instance, black holes theoretically take a long time to form following the collapse of large stars and can be massive. Wormholes are also permitted by general relativity, but if they actually exist, were formed in a split second after the big bang and would be small structures. And as any science fiction buff knows, wormholes aren’t bottomless pits like black holes but can join two vast sections of space-time, or even two separate universes. GRAVITY will detect the signature of our own black hole, and look for telltale energy signatures of wormholes created by orbiting plasma (see below). As for the rapid space-time travel, though, don’t hold your breath — while stabilizing a wormhole is theoretically possible, it wouldn’t be easy.

Filed under: Science, Alt

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Via: Medum.com

Source: Cornell University Library

20
May

Comcast and TWC voted most-hated ISPs in America’s most-hated industry


America’s Consumer Satisfaction Index doesn’t have a lot of nice things to say about Comcast or Time Warner Cable. The two business, which are currently trying to merge with each other, were found to be the worst ISPs in the most-hated industry that the index covers. Time Warner has the dubious achievement of making an all-time low score of 56 out of 100, with Comcast coming in just ahead of it with 57. On the other end of the scale, the 12,248 participants reluctantly gave their blessing to Verizon’s FiOS, with a score of 71, and AT&T’s U-Verse, which scored 65. What will this mean if Comcast and TWC do create a nationwide “triple play” behemoth? Mammoth profits for some, and red-faced calls for plenty of others.

Filed under: Internet, Verizon, AT&T

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Source: Ars Technica

20
May

Apple now letting UK customers trade in their iPad at retail stores


Seven months after it began letting customers trade in their iPhones at its retail stores, Apple’s expanded its Reuse and Recycle programme to include iPads. From today, anyone with an iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and iPad mini can walk into an Apple Store, hand over their tablet and receive credit towards a new iOS device. However, the company will not accept current-generation devices like the iPad Air or iPad mini with Retina display. As with its iPhone programme, Apple will assess the condition of devices before providing a trade-in value, so don’t expect a huge return if your iPad has seen better days.

Filed under: Mobile, Apple

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Via: 9to5mac

Source: Apple Retail

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