Computex gave us a glimpse at how computing will evolve

One thing was very clear at Computex: It’s going to be a transformational year for computing. We’re seeing several trends from the past few years — like the move towards thinner and lighter laptops, and the rise of mobile computing — evolve in new and intriguing ways. It was a surprising revelation for a trade show that’s sometimes regarded as irrelevant. But, in some ways, it makes plenty of sense. Computex has always been the place to see the groundwork being laid for technology industry’s next steps. It just so happens that this year was particularly ripe with innovation.

Microsoft is betting big on Always Connected PCs

Expect to hear plenty more about “Always Connected” PCs over the next year. It’s an initiative spearheaded by Microsoft, along with partners Intel and Qualcomm, to develop PCs that are never without an internet connection. Key to Qualcomm’s strategy is bringing Windows to Snapdragon SoCs (system-on-a-chip), which can ultimately lead to lighter and longer lasting devices with gigabit LTE built-in. Another important element is e-SIM technology, which allows you to easily update your carrier details without juggling SIM cards.

Speaking of e-SIM, it’s also going to be integrated into all of Intel’s modem’s going forward. Intel mentioned at Computex last year that it would be trying to build up its modem business, and this is one way it can make that happen. While it might just seem like a minor convenience, Microsoft says e-SIM could make it much easier for consumers to get their PCs online whenever they want. When you buy a new PC, for example, you could conceivably sign it up for data service without calling your carrier. Even better, it could lead to the idea of “snackable” mobile data, where you can buy a gigabyte or two only when you need it. That could eventually be the sort of thing you seamlessly buy on the Windows Store, representatives said.

Microsoft and its partners are basically hoping to make ubiquitous networking as important as WiFi to consumers. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Microsoft explore this idea with a whole new Surface device — perhaps with the long-rumored Surface phone, or a small tablet. It would be similar to how, with the original Surface devices, the company jump-started the idea of laptops that can double as tablets. Not surprisingly, Microsoft reps wouldn’t comment when we asked about a potential Surface Always Connected device.

Gaming laptops get thin

NVIDIA’s Max Q design philosophy is focused on one thing: Making sure gaming laptops are significantly lighter and thinner than before. The company is aiming to make GTX 1080-equipped laptops almost as thin as Ultraboooks, with a weight around five pounds. That’s hefty when you’re judging against typical productivity laptops, but that’s incredibly impressive for something that can go toe-to-toe with gaming desktops.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus, one of the first machines to benefit from the Max Q philosophy, is the thinnest gaming laptop we’ve ever seen. Acer, meanwhile, revealed that its sleek Triton 700 was also built with Max Q in mind. Obviously, these are going to be expensive machines. But they’re a huge change from the 10-pound behemoths that we used to call gaming notebooks. If you can afford it, Max Q means you won’t have to compromise as much with portability if you constantly need to feed your Overwatch addiction.

Meet the first 18-core desktop CPU

If you’ve got $2,000, you’ll soon be able to stuff Intel’s 18-core i9 Extreme processor into your rig. Aside from giving you bragging rights, it’s also Intel’s first consumer CPU to offer a teraflop worth of computing power. The company is targeting it at “megataskers” who do things like play games in 4K and broadcast them in HD simultaneously. It’s not the sort of thing many people need yet, but it’s a good sign for the power hungry among us.

Intel’s plan for smart devices is modular

The Compute Card doesn’t look like much. But inside Intel’s credit card-sized sliver is everything you’d need to make a functioning computer. There’s a processor, memory, storage and networking capabilities. It’s the first fix we’ve seen for the smart device dilemma — and it’s only a matter of time before your connected devices become obsolete. If manufacturers bite, the Compute Card could be used to power things like TVs, all-in-one PCs, laptops and intelligent displays. Once things start to get slow, you can just pop in a new card.

Intel isn’t the only company to take a stab at modular computing. But it’s the only one that has the clout to get device makers aboard. So far, Intel’s partners include Dell, LG and Lenovo. Based on the brief demos we saw, they’re all still experimenting with the platform. But there’s clearly room for unique ideas. Dell, for example, built a monitor stand with a Compute Card slot. All you need to do is add a monitor of your choosing for an instant all-in-one.

Looking ahead

Not all of the big ideas we saw at Computex will succeed, of course. But what makes this year different compared to most others is that they’re rooted in clear consumer need. We all want computers that can get online anywhere. Gamers want sleeker devices that can pack in a ton of power. And consumers don’t smart devices that won’t become obsolete in a few years.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Computex 2017!

Watch Ariana Grande’s benefit concert live on Twitter and YouTube

Pop star Ariana Grande is hosting a benefit concert on June 4th to help victims of the Manchester terrorist attack, and you’ll have plenty of ways to both watch and contribute online. The gig will livestream at 2PM Eastern (7PM local time) on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and iHeartRadio. If you want to pitch in, Twitter will have a dedicated donation tab alongside the concert feed. You can also contribute directly to the British Red Cross’ Manchester fund if you’d prefer to skip the concert altogether.

Online charity concerts are nothing new, but Grande’s (which includes big names like Coldplay, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams) is notable for the sheer range of viewing and listening options. Combined with conventional broadcasts, it should be easy to tune in regardless of where you are. The circumstances prompting the internet move are heartbreaking, but there may be a silver lining if it leads to greater support for good causes.

Source: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook

Get a discounted or free iPhone 7 with these hot deals from the top carriers

Update: We added the latest carrier deals from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, and removed the expired T-Mobile offer.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have been available for some time now, and the latest offers from carriers can save you some money on Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone. Read on to see how you can get a new iPhone 7 at a discounted rate – or even for free.

Verizon

Your best bet for saving on a new iPhone through Verizon is to either switch to the carrier or, if you are already a Verizon customer, to add a new line to your account. The company is currently offering up to $650 per line in the form of a prepaid Visa card when you sign up for a new plan and trade in your current device.

You can get an estimate of how much your current phone will be worth online by checking out Verizon’s trade-in page and entering your carrier, device, and model. You’ll ger a rough estimate on the spot; the actual value of the phone isn’t finalized until you ship it in.

After you order your new iPhone, Verizon will send you a box for you to ship your trade-in device in, and you will then be able to claim your offer. Upload a copy of your final bill from your current carrier and Verizon will give you up to $650 via a prepaid Visa card if you have an outstanding balance. This is enough to cover the cost of your brand-new iPhone 7. If you don’t have an outstanding balance with your previous carrier, you will still receive a tidy $350.

See offer on Verizon

Sprint

Sprint’s promo is similar to Verizon’s in that you need to purchase an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus in order to quality for the offer, but Sprint will throw in an additional iPhone 7 completely free. Through the company’s current promotion, if you buy a 32GB iPhone 7 at $27 for 24 months or a 32GB iPhone 7 Plus at $32 for 24 months and then add a second line, you’ll get another 32GB iPhone 7 for free.

Note that this offer requires you to have two lines on your plan: Either switch to Sprint and sign up for two plans (one for your first iPhone 7, and a second for your free iPhone) or, if you have a Sprint plan already, purchase a new iPhone 7 and then add a second line to receive your free one. As a bonus, you will also be automatically enrolled in Sprint’s iPhone Forever plan, which will let you upgrade to the newest iPhone after 12 lease payments.

See offer on Sprint

AT&T

AT&T is offering its own “buy one, get one” deal similar to Sprint’s, with one catch: The company will give you a 32GB iPhone 7 for free when you switch to AT&T and have a monthly subscription to DirecTV, which is its live-TV streaming service. To get the offer, you must have both phones on AT&T Next.

To get the free phone, you must purchase a qualifying wireless service for $50 per month or more for the first line (a second line can be added for as little as $20 per month) and have a DirecTV service that starts at $30 per month. The monthly bill credits start within three billing cycles, and after you’ve earned a total of $650 in credits, another iPhone 7 will be yours for free.

See offer on AT&T

Keep in mind that each of these promotions basically tie you into a 2-year contract, in which the $650 price of the iPhone 7 is distributed over the course of 24 months or so. If you leave your contract early, any free credits disappear and you’re on the hook for whatever portion of the phone hasn’t yet been paid.

One final note: If you’re going with a trade-in, read all the fine print before you sign off on anything, double-check that trade-in credits can be used in combination with other offers, and remember that the carriers have the final word on how much you’ll get for current phone.

See iPhone 7 offers on:

AT&T Sprint Verizon

Save 15% on the Ticwatch 2 Active Smartwatch

We have everything we need right on our phones, but sometimes pulling out your phone can be cumbersome, impolite, or just downright annoying, especially if you’re being bombarded by unimportant notifications or simply need to see who’s calling or be alerted by a reminder.

Get the Ticwatch 2 for $170 Learn more

A smartwatch is a great way to keep connected without having to constantly look at your phone. You can use multiple apps, get notifications, send texts, make calls, track workouts, and much more, but some of the more popular Android Wear brands are just too expensive. If you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, then consider this:

The Ticwatch 2 Active smart watch is an alternative to Android Wear and Apple Watch, and it runs on its own proprietary Ticwear OS. Right now, you can get it at Android Central Digital Offers for $169.99, down from $199.99. Thought not completely waterproof, you can still take Ticwatch 2 out for a rainy jog, since it has an IP65 rating, making it dust tight and able to stand up to jets of water.

The Ticwatch 2 lasts about 2 days on a single charge and can be fully recharged in about 80 minutes, meaning you’ll never have to spend very long without this wearable. It features a dynamic heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, an accelerometer for movement tracking, and more. With a simple and clean user interface, this watch is perfect for people who don’t want to drop an arm and a leg on the latest and greatest wearable but still want something fully functional and useful. Check it out at Android Central Digital Offers for only $169.99 and save 15%.

Get the Ticwatch 2 for $170 Learn more

Using Alexa Conversations to make calls

You can make calls through Alexa! But what does that actually mean?

Alexa Conversations is Amazon’s way of offering a way to contact other Alexa users with either your voice or an app, and it works great as long as you remember where everything is. It also helps if you have lots of friends and family who also use Alexa.

Want to send messages with Alexa? Here’s your guide!

Here’s a quick how-to on Alexa Conversations!

How to make a call with Alexa Conversations

Calling friends with Alexa Conversations can be done in two different ways. The first was is using your voice, which goes a little like this:

Alexa, make a call.

Saying this will cause Alexa to ask you who you want to call. From here, you can speak the first name of anyone in your Alexa contacts list. This list is created when you install the Alexa app on your phone. The Alexa app checks your contact information and checks to see if any of those people have an Alexa account. If they do, you’ll see their name in the contact list and be able to speak their name to your Echo.

Once you say a name, the call will begin. The recipient’s Alexa devices and apps will start ringing. This means the call can be answered from an Echo or an app on a phone with the same basic result.

The other way you can make a call is directly through the Alexa app on your phone. It’s simple enough to do, as long as you know where all the buttons are.

Open your Alexa app
Tap on the Conversations tab at the bottom of the app
Tap the People icon in the top right of this page
Tap the contact you want to call
Tap the Phone button in the top right

This will start the call, after which everything is the same as using your voice. When a call is over, you’ll see the call details next to the contact in your Conversations tab with any messages you’ve sent.

Here’s updated mapping vehicle paves way for self-driving cars

It may have been a while since we last we came across a Here 3D mapping vehicle, but that’s not to say the company hasn’t been using its cars lately. In fact, the Here True collection vehicle is now in its third revision, and I got to hop on one — based on a Volkswagen Golf Variant 280 TSI Highline — during Computex. The ride features much faster D-GPS tracking that no longer requires a half-hour calibration (to reach an accuracy of under one meter), along with a Velodyne LiDAR with an accuracy of better than 2cm (within a range of up to 70 meters) and four 16.2-megapixel MARS panoramic cameras. This set of gear is almost identical to what we’ve seen before, so the real highlight this time is the updated backend to support high-definition mapping.

For HD mapping, Here’s fleet is currently involved in over 20 projects worldwide and covering over 48,200 km per week, with each collection vehicle contributing around 500 km or over 1TB worth of data. The hard drives are then sent off for data processing, quality assurance plus final 3D modeling. With this 3D spatial data, future self-driving cars will not only be able to navigate around better, but they will also know the curvature and elevation of the roads, which can already help improve engine efficiency and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) well before autonomous driving goes mainstream.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see a live demo of Here’s HD mapping due to heavy rain. This was partly to do with the higher brightness requirement for HD mapping, and precipitation does affect LiDAR performance unless special algorithm is applied. I did, however, get to sit inside the collection vehicle to get a feel of how the driver would operate the mapping system: the computer was housed in the legroom of the front passenger seat, and it was linked to the sensors at the top via three cables sticking out of the car door — hence the rainwater leak, though both the driver and the demonstrator seemed unfazed. Positioned beside the driver was a Windows tablet which was running the mapping system’s interface. The driver would use it for navigation as well as checking the cameras, LiDAR, GPS and hard drive.

Here envisions a future where any car or even drone equipped with similar sensors can contribute to a “reality index” on the go, which would allow us to search for ground, air and ultimately atmospheric data that are indexed in time. One potential smart city use case here is before deploying fire trucks to a site, the station can send off drones to survey the site and potential routes, and then it can use real-time 3D data from the drones plus cars in the area to adjust traffic light behavior, in order to optimize the route for the fire trucks. Another concept involves using this 3D data from cars to spot vacant street parking spots, though this will need a certain volume of properly-equipped cars to make this service viable.

This is obviously a long way to go, but the Here reps say the European countries — Germany, in particular — are well ahead of the game, and the firm is determined to help them put our feet, hands and eyes off the car in the very near future. So whether you like it or not, Here has already transitioned from a company that was helping drivers to one that’s now helping to get rid of drivers.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Computex 2017!

Recommended Reading: ‘Wonder Woman’ is timely superhero movie

Wonder Woman,
Heroine of the
Post-Truth Age
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic

Wonder Woman may be set in the time of World War I, but the movie’s themes are particularly relevant right now. The Atlantic analyzes how a female superhero rescues a solider on the run before taking on a much bigger foe — and what all of that means for in the present day. That Lasso of Truth sure would come in handy for us in 2017.

We flew to Taipei to see how HTC made the U11

HTC just turned 20 years old and the company celebrated its birthday with the U11, it’s latest, and shiniest phone ever.

From humble beginnings with Windows Mobile, HTC built a reputation as an innovator and then seized the opportunity to truly evolve from white label manufacturer to global brand as an Android pioneer.

By 2011, the company was riding high, and closing in on market leaders Samsung and Apple, combining quality and innovation with a cool, underdog image. Things have taken a downward spiral since then. It has been a few years now since HTC released a hit smartphone, and it has been even longer since the Taiwanese company’s smartphone division turned a profit. Still, HTC is determined to prove that it’s still a force to be reckoned with on the smartphone scene. We flew around the world to find out what it has planned.

Flying into Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, means you’re actually landing in Taoyuan City. It’s part of a bustling urban sprawl that also includes New Taipei and the old city. More than 7 million people live here, and it’s also home to HTC.

We’re here for the launch of HTC’s latest flagship smartphone: the U11. It’s a successor to the HTC 10, but it’s a part of the company’s new U series. Earlier this year, HTC launched the U Ultra, the first entry in the new series, to mixed reviews. Following in LG’s and Samsung’s footsteps, HTC is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at its headquarters, design laboratory, and a factory where its smartphones are made. This is the first time these doors have opened for the press.

On the factory floor

Our tour begins in Taoyuan City at HTC’s factory. It’s an unassuming building that looks an office block. A sea of mopeds stretches as far as the eye can see in the large parking lot out front. There’s no billboard, or even a big shiny sign to mark out the birthplace of HTC’s smartphones — just a subtle logo on the main doors to the factory. We’re stripped of cameras in the big, airy lobby, before ascending to the production line. After donning a white coat, some shoe covers, and a fetching hairnet, it’s time to hit the factory floor.

Anything less than perfection is rejected.

We’re guided in small groups by a taciturn foreman who points out each stage in the journey of an HTC U11, from simple metal frame to shiny, packaged smartphone. The assembly line starts with stacks of components and chips, which are organized into trays. A series of protective glass cases houses robot arms busily slotting components into place and drilling or soldering them together. Every so often, there’s an inspection station with an HTC employee sitting behind a huge magnifying glass. Diagrams and charts indicate what each set of components should look like — anything less than perfection is rejected. It’s a noisy, robotic environment, but the automated precision is mesmeric.

The next step involves 12 human workers sitting before a conveyor belt, diligently fitting more components into what is starting to vaguely resemble a smartphone. Each worker has a few seconds to complete the unit in front of them before it passes along to the next. It doesn’t look like a very fun job, but someone has to do it. There’s no time to chat, or even glance at the press invasion, as we shuffle along. At the end of this section, the HTC U11 is nearly complete — it’s only missing its liquid glass back.

HTC

HTC

HTC

HTC

Another army of robot arms put the new phones through their paces. The displays show a QR code, which is scanned, before the screens are calibrated and other functions like the Optical Image Stabilization are tested out. All the phones are connected to a central server via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth during this stage, so they can send diagnostic data back from each test and any problems can be quickly flagged. They appear to be running stock Android. It’s hard to see how defects can slip through a stringent system like this, but smartphones are complex beasts, and problems with early production runs are all too common across the industry.

The handsets are then plugged in, so the appropriate software (and carrier bloatware) can be installed for each market. Packaging is next, as workers wearing microfiber gloves apply the appropriate logos to the incredibly shiny liquid glass backs and polish them to a sheen. The workers apply a protective sheet of plastic to the display — the one that’s so fun to peel off — and then accessories join the finished handset in a curved white box that bears the HTC U11 legend.

Palettes of brand new U11’s are rolled away, but a random sampling of 15 percent are set aside to be tested. Rows and rows of newly boxed phones are piled up outside the test lab, which is tucked away in a side room at the end of the line. A grinning supervisor proudly explains the testing procedure. Workers unbox the new phones and put them through a variety of tests, connecting to Wi-Fi, testing apps, charging them up, and then factory resetting the phones that pass. Each one is then carefully polished, and repackaged for shipping. We ask how many fail and the supervisor laughs, shakes his head, and, after a pregnant pause, says less than 0.01 percent.

HTC’s high-tech headquarters

The next part of the tour involves grabbing a bus to HTC’s gleaming headquarters. It takes around an hour to get there, passing out of Taoyuan through a valley flanked by imposing, lush green, mountains, and into the vibrant metropolis of New Taipei.

The shining, white building is in the Xindian district nearer to old Taipei city. You can see it from quite a distance, and this time the familiar, green HTC logo is proudly displayed at the top.

HTC

HTC

The lobby is vast and clad in white marble, with an open space above that spans seven stories, with internal walkways criss-crossed in either direction and the company canteen at the top. There’s deliberately no air conditioning in the lobby of this eco-friendly building, but the marble and the space combine to reduce the 104-degree Fahrenheit heat from outside to a comfortable level.

We take a glass elevator up to the 16th floor, where HTC’s main design department is situated. It’s a funky, open space with glass everywhere, and a lot of shiny, white furniture. Casually dressed youngsters mill around. HTC relies mainly on this facility to come up with new phones, but there’s also a San Francisco design department to ensure a mix of cultural sensibilities.

We can only wonder what potential smash hits or disastrous flops lie forgotten in these drawers.

Beneath the phones laid out for our inspection, there’s an intriguing bank of mysterious drawers. They contain previous prototypes, and abandoned research directions. HTC’s design head opens one up to show us a prototype of a gaming smartphone with a D-pad at one end and a screen that slides up to reveal buttons. It was a concept for hardcore gamers that never got past the mock-up phase, which is probably for the best.

Everyone is keen to explore, but we’re not allowed to look in any other drawers. Instead, we learn how the U11 was developed and get a look at the finished handset next to 15 alternative prototypes with slight differences, like bigger camera modules, alternate button placements, or highlights in the frame. One of the designers tells me it’s a very small sample of all the prototypes they went through before arriving at the final design. When asked for a number, he just exhales loudly and rolls his eyes.

It’s clearly a stringent, pain-staking process to narrow down the winning design. Everything from the original Desire to the Evo 4G LTE to the HTC 10 passed through here, but then again, so did the Rhyme and Evo 3D. We can only wonder what potential smash hits or disastrous flops lie forgotten in these drawers.

Research and development

The final space is an unremarkable office block where HTC rents a few floors. After passing through a lobby where some men have set up a folding table to sell children’s toys, we take the elevator to a cubicle-filled office to find the sound department, where we are handed the tiny metal speaker that you’ll find inside each U11. A sound engineer admits that each department has to negotiate over the amount of space they have to work with. A bigger speaker might mean a smaller battery, so things can get heated.

The sound department is pleased with the speaker space it secured in the U11. At the launch event the next day, HTC has demo areas set up to show off the quality and volume of the BoomSound speakers and the active noise-cancelling capabilities of the USonic earphones that ship in the box.

Back at the R&D department, we are ushered into an echo-less, sound-proofed chamber. You can feel the sound disappear the moment it comes from your mouth. Thick corrugations remove every hint of echo and even extend into the floor beneath a metal grate. It’s an eerie vault and contains a single, talking mannequin with a realistic model of a human ear. She introduces herself to us and explains that the phone’s speaker is tested here, held to the mouth in a few typical user positions, to ensure call quality is high.

HTC

HTC

HTC

HTC

The next chamber is angled, with another mannequin in the middle. This one is male, and our guide jokes that he’s dating the girl next door. There’s a surround sound system in here that plays traffic noises, background conversations, the clank and clatter of plates in a restaurant amongst other sounds, to test the noise cancellation technology in the U11.

Our tour ends in a completely black room, where a serious group of camera designers test various aspects of the U11’s camera technology. They have a DxO Mark light box, and some other machines to test things like white balance. While our eyes can see white as white, even when bathed in different color temperatures, but a camera sensor can’t. It has to be programmed and adjusted. The U11 has a Sony camera sensor in an LG module, but HTC’s designers hone the performance to their liking, aiming for a realistic color representation. The hard work obviously paid off, because we later learn that DxO Mark scored the U11 camera at 90 — the highest score a smartphone camera has received so far.

A fresh start

So ends our tour of the U11’s design and construction process. It’s been an enlightening peek behind the curtain of an innovative company that rarely explains itself. We’re left with the feeling that the U11 has real potential, but HTC will have to convince the public as well as the press. After all, last year’s rave reviews for the HTC 10 didn’t translate into stellar sales.

As a bus pulls up outside, the sky opens with an impressive downpour, and HTC staff are lined up to hand us umbrellas. It seems fitting. It’s been a stormy few years for the company, but perhaps the impossibly shiny U11 can break through the clouds and offer a glimmer of sunshine for HTC’s fortunes.

Transform your Surface Pro into the ultimate mobile workstation with these accessories

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro straddles the line between laptop and tablet by offering users a full-featured computing experience in a compact package. It’s a powerful device, but right out of the box it can seem a little barebones; without a keyboard or Surface Pen, it’s just a Windows-based tablet. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of everything you’ll need to get the most out of your new Surface Pro.

Surface Pen ($60)

The Surface Pen is such an essential part of the Surface Pro experience that previous versions just included it in the box. Unfortunately, Microsoft opted to include it only as an add-on to the most recent Surface Pro, but it’s such a killer creative tool that it’s definitely worth the price of entry. Without it, the Surface Pro is a powerful Windows-based tablet, but with the Surface Pen, it’s a mobile sketchpad, notebook, and professional-grade artistic suite.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Surface Pen Tip Kit ($20)

On its own, the Surface Pen is a versatile tool for note-taking or artistic endeavors, but it’s still not quite as tactile as a real pen or pencil. With the optional tip kit, however, it comes remarkably close to the real thing. These optional tips allow users to customize the friction and drag of their Surface Pens, based on use or just personal preference. One emulates the frictionless glide of a ballpoint pen, while another provides the crisp and slightly-resistant drag of a number two pencil. Plus, it’s a handy kit to keep around just in case you lose your Surface Pen’s tip.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Surface Dial ($100)

Surface Dial! This thing’s weird, and it might not be for everyone, but it’s really cool. Have you ever adjusted the volume on a high-end stereo system and experienced that ever-so-slight resistance and smooth scrolling action? Well, Microsoft had the crazy idea to put that kind of user experience into a unique peripheral designed for use with its high-end desktop, the Surface Studio. The Surface Pro doesn’t have quite the screen real-estate as the Studio, but the Dial is still a worthy companion. On its own, it can be used to adjust system volume, rotate images, and scroll seamlessly through options in professional creative suites like Adobe Photoshop.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Surface Arc Mouse ($80)

Even if you spend most of your time using the Surface Pro as an artistic tool, now and then you might need to use it as a standard laptop — that’s where the Surface Arc mouse comes in. Sometimes you just need a mouse to easily navigate browser tabs, or all those fiddly little options in Microsoft Word. To make sure it’s always with you on-the-go, the Surface Arc actually bends to a flat position, so it’s easier to toss into a messenger bag pocket than a typical wireless mouse. When it’s time to get some work done, just snap it into mouse-mode, with a comfy little curve for your hand. From there, just pair it up with Bluetooth and start clicking through those browser tabs that are definitely not just Reddit posts debating the finer points of Overwatch lore.

Read our full review.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Surface Type Cover Signature Edition ($160)

What use is a mouse without a keyboard? Well, a lot of use actually, but that’s beside the point. The Surface Pro can be used with just the on-screen keyboard, but try typing your way through anything longer than a quick email and you’ll start to feel the limitations of the touchscreen keyboard. Naturally, Microsoft developed its own ultra-fancy keyboard cover for the Surface Pro that turns an ordinary tablet into a portable — and super-soft — workstation. Clad in luxurious Alcantara material, the Surface Type Cover will set you back about $160, but for usability’s sake, it’s definitely worth it. The Surface Pro is marketed as an alternative to a standard laptop, but without an external keyboard like the Type Cover, it just doesn’t get the job done.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Brydge 12.3 Keyboard Cover ($150)

Assuming the Surface Pro has you firmly in its grasp, and a laptop isn’t an option but you still need some features missing from the Surface Book or Surface Laptop, you might want to consider the Brydge 12.3 keyboard cover. This thing turns your Surface Pro into a legit laptop, complete with keyboard, trackpad, durable hinge and rock-solid aluminum build. It’s nearly as expensive as the Type Cover but it can be kitted out with 128GB of onboard SSD storage, to further expand your Surface Pro’s utility as a mobile workstation.

Buy one now from:

Brydge

Outback Solo 2.0 Case for Surface Pro ($160)

Now that you have all this extra stuff to turn your Surface Pro into a mobile workstation, you probably need something to carry it in, right? Well, San Francisco’s own Waterfield has you covered. With the Outback Solo 2.0, you can easily carry around your Surface Pro (with or without Type Cover), an external mouse, and a few other everyday carry items. The nice thing about this particular messenger bag — compared to the thousands of other messenger bags out there which would easily fit your Surface Pro — is that you can just remove the strap entirely for easy carrying as a particularly luxurious Surface Pro sleeve.

Buy one now from:

Waterfield

Jack Spade Zip Sleeve ($80)

Tempting as it is to go out and buy brand-new accessories for every new device in your life, sometimes the ones you have get the job done just fine. The Surface Pro will probably fit in your existing messenger bag or backpack without any trouble, but even with a cover on it, you’ll want to make sure that big glass display is kept safe from any hazards floating around in there — like Chapstick, stain-remover pens, and paperclips. The Jack Spade Surface Sleeve is an excellent companion to an existing messenger bag or backpack, and does just that. By enclosing your Surface Pro — and a few small accessories — inside, it’ll be safe from anything else in your bag.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft

Surface Dock ($200)

The Surface Pro is marketed as a potential laptop replacement, and it can definitely get the job done, but not without a little help. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around, but it has a notable lack of ports. This device aims to remedy that, but don’t judge it by its high price — $200 is a lot for what amounts to a USB hub, but this thing is more than that. The Surface Dock sits on a desk and plugs directly into the Surface Pro, charging it while offering extra USB ports, two Mini-DisplayPort plugs, and an ethernet jack. Paired with an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard and this thing turns your Surface Pro into a portable desktop workstation.

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Microsoft

Transform your Surface Pro into the ultimate mobile workstation with these accessories

Microsoft’s new Surface Pro straddles the line between laptop and tablet by offering users a full-featured computing experience in a compact package. It’s a powerful device, but right out of the box it can seem a little barebones; without a keyboard or Surface Pen, it’s just a Windows-based tablet. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of everything you’ll need to get the most out of your new Surface Pro.

Surface Pen ($60)

The Surface Pen is such an essential part of the Surface Pro experience that previous versions just included it in the box. Unfortunately, Microsoft opted to include it only as an add-on to the most recent Surface Pro, but it’s such a killer creative tool that it’s definitely worth the price of entry. Without it, the Surface Pro is a powerful Windows-based tablet, but with the Surface Pen, it’s a mobile sketchpad, notebook, and professional-grade artistic suite.

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Microsoft

Surface Pen Tip Kit ($20)

On its own, the Surface Pen is a versatile tool for note-taking or artistic endeavors, but it’s still not quite as tactile as a real pen or pencil. With the optional tip kit, however, it comes remarkably close to the real thing. These optional tips allow users to customize the friction and drag of their Surface Pens, based on use or just personal preference. One emulates the frictionless glide of a ballpoint pen, while another provides the crisp and slightly-resistant drag of a number two pencil. Plus, it’s a handy kit to keep around just in case you lose your Surface Pen’s tip.

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Microsoft

Surface Dial ($100)

Surface Dial! This thing’s weird, and it might not be for everyone, but it’s really cool. Have you ever adjusted the volume on a high-end stereo system and experienced that ever-so-slight resistance and smooth scrolling action? Well, Microsoft had the crazy idea to put that kind of user experience into a unique peripheral designed for use with its high-end desktop, the Surface Studio. The Surface Pro doesn’t have quite the screen real-estate as the Studio, but the Dial is still a worthy companion. On its own, it can be used to adjust system volume, rotate images, and scroll seamlessly through options in professional creative suites like Adobe Photoshop.

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Microsoft

Surface Arc Mouse ($80)

Even if you spend most of your time using the Surface Pro as an artistic tool, now and then you might need to use it as a standard laptop — that’s where the Surface Arc mouse comes in. Sometimes you just need a mouse to easily navigate browser tabs, or all those fiddly little options in Microsoft Word. To make sure it’s always with you on-the-go, the Surface Arc actually bends to a flat position, so it’s easier to toss into a messenger bag pocket than a typical wireless mouse. When it’s time to get some work done, just snap it into mouse-mode, with a comfy little curve for your hand. From there, just pair it up with Bluetooth and start clicking through those browser tabs that are definitely not just Reddit posts debating the finer points of Overwatch lore.

Read our full review.

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Microsoft

Surface Type Cover Signature Edition ($160)

What use is a mouse without a keyboard? Well, a lot of use actually, but that’s beside the point. The Surface Pro can be used with just the on-screen keyboard, but try typing your way through anything longer than a quick email and you’ll start to feel the limitations of the touchscreen keyboard. Naturally, Microsoft developed its own ultra-fancy keyboard cover for the Surface Pro that turns an ordinary tablet into a portable — and super-soft — workstation. Clad in luxurious Alcantara material, the Surface Type Cover will set you back about $160, but for usability’s sake, it’s definitely worth it. The Surface Pro is marketed as an alternative to a standard laptop, but without an external keyboard like the Type Cover, it just doesn’t get the job done.

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Microsoft

Brydge 12.3 Keyboard Cover ($150)

Assuming the Surface Pro has you firmly in its grasp, and a laptop isn’t an option but you still need some features missing from the Surface Book or Surface Laptop, you might want to consider the Brydge 12.3 keyboard cover. This thing turns your Surface Pro into a legit laptop, complete with keyboard, trackpad, durable hinge and rock-solid aluminum build. It’s nearly as expensive as the Type Cover but it can be kitted out with 128GB of onboard SSD storage, to further expand your Surface Pro’s utility as a mobile workstation.

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Brydge

Outback Solo 2.0 Case for Surface Pro ($160)

Now that you have all this extra stuff to turn your Surface Pro into a mobile workstation, you probably need something to carry it in, right? Well, San Francisco’s own Waterfield has you covered. With the Outback Solo 2.0, you can easily carry around your Surface Pro (with or without Type Cover), an external mouse, and a few other everyday carry items. The nice thing about this particular messenger bag — compared to the thousands of other messenger bags out there which would easily fit your Surface Pro — is that you can just remove the strap entirely for easy carrying as a particularly luxurious Surface Pro sleeve.

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Waterfield

Jack Spade Zip Sleeve ($80)

Tempting as it is to go out and buy brand-new accessories for every new device in your life, sometimes the ones you have get the job done just fine. The Surface Pro will probably fit in your existing messenger bag or backpack without any trouble, but even with a cover on it, you’ll want to make sure that big glass display is kept safe from any hazards floating around in there — like Chapstick, stain-remover pens, and paperclips. The Jack Spade Surface Sleeve is an excellent companion to an existing messenger bag or backpack, and does just that. By enclosing your Surface Pro — and a few small accessories — inside, it’ll be safe from anything else in your bag.

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Microsoft

Surface Dock ($200)

The Surface Pro is marketed as a potential laptop replacement, and it can definitely get the job done, but not without a little help. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around, but it has a notable lack of ports. This device aims to remedy that, but don’t judge it by its high price — $200 is a lot for what amounts to a USB hub, but this thing is more than that. The Surface Dock sits on a desk and plugs directly into the Surface Pro, charging it while offering extra USB ports, two Mini-DisplayPort plugs, and an ethernet jack. Paired with an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard and this thing turns your Surface Pro into a portable desktop workstation.

Buy one now from:

Microsoft