What to expect from Microsoft’s Windows 10 device event
Microsoft may be tight-lipped about what will be revealed at its October 6th device event, but that doesn’t mean that everything is a mystery. In some cases, a slew of leaks have telegraphed Redmond’s plans in advance. More Lumia phones, anyone? However, there are still a few questions left. What about the fabled Surface Pro 4? When does Windows 10 reach your existing phone? And will there be any wearable tech? We’ll answer as many of those questions as we can so that you have a good idea of what to expect when Microsoft’s execs take the stage.
Windows 10 phones: the Lumia 950, 950 XL and 550
The Lumia 950. Image credit: Evan Blass, Twitter
If there’s anything that’s a lock for the Windows 10 event, it’s the launch of new Lumia smartphones. Microsoft promised that Windows 10 Mobile would arrive later this year, and you know that it wasn’t going to let a major operating system release go by without introducing some hardware to match. We’d add that Microsoft is overdue for releasing high-end Windows phones under its own name — its last flagships were the Nokia-branded Lumia 930 and Icon from early 2014.
Thankfully, it looks like you’ll get just that. Numerous leaks (including one from Microsoft’s UK store) point to Microsoft unveiling two range-topping Windows 10 phones: the 5.2-inch Lumia 950 and 5.7-inch Lumia 950 XL. Both should bring the Lumia series into the modern era with sharp Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) displays, 32GB of storage, iris scanning (for secure sign-ins) and refined 20-megapixel PureView cameras. The biggest expected differences are the processor choices (a Snapdragon 808 in the regular 950, an 810 in the XL) and possible pen support on the larger model, so your choice may boil down to whether or not you want a Galaxy Note-style experience. It’s not certain when these latest Lumias will ship (possibly when the New York City store opens on October 26th), but we wouldn’t count on immediate availability.
And what if you don’t have a lot of cash to spend? You may be covered there, too. Leaks have hinted at a Lumia 550 that proves you can run Windows 10 on budget hardware. While it won’t be a powerhouse, it could represent the first significant bump in specs for the 500 series since the Lumia 535 and 540 — the claimed 4.7-inch, 720p screen and quicker Snapdragon 210 chip would definitely be noticeable. The only real unknown is the value for money. Microsoft currently asks $149 up front for the Lumia 535, but it’s hard to say for sure that the 550 will carry a similar price.
Windows 10 for existing phones
Windows 10 Technical Preview on a low-end Lumia phone.
Of course, the Windows 10 Mobile rollout isn’t just about shiny new hardware. Microsoft also vowed to update many current phones to Windows 10, and there’s a possibility that you’ll hear something about the upgrade schedule on October 6th. If history is any indication, the new OS will see a staggered rollout that’s dependent on both the particular phone you have and your choice of carrier. Factory-unlocked phone models are most likely to be first in line. You may be waiting weeks (or months) longer if your phone is tied to a carrier, especially if that provider tends to be pokey with updates.
The Surface Pro 4
The Surface Pro 3.
Let’s not beat around the bush: If you’re reading this, you probably came here to read something about the next Surface Pro (most likely called the Surface Pro 4). The Surface Pro 3 was a hit among Windows fans, and the combination of early rumors with official price cuts has fueled anticipation for months. Microsoft will surely unveil a fourth version of its high-performance tablet on October 6th, won’t it?
Well, probably. The climate is certainly right for one. Intel recently released faster, more power-efficient sixth-generation Core processors that would be a good fit for a new Surface Pro, and it’s been roughly 16 months since the Pro 3 arrived. However, there’s been a conspicuous lack of solid leaks — we’ve seen just a trickle of relatively trustworthy info. The most credible claims are that the Pro 4 will tout a very high-resolution display (possibly 4K), a more portable design, improved pen recognition (thanks to the N-trig acquisition) and features that take advantage of Windows 10, such as biometric logins.
After that, it gets sketchy. One rumor from Digitimes insists that Microsoft is developing two Surface Pro models, one at the familiar 12-inch size and another at 13 to 14 inches. The site has a decidedly hit-or-miss track record, though, and the same rumor also discussed a 12-inch Amazon tablet that hasn’t materialized. Another site, W4pHub, is making an even more extravagant claim: It talks about a “smart frame” that would shrink the tablet’s size in tablet mode, and expand it in laptop mode. We’re not completely ruling out these rumored features, but there’s nothing to support them beyond the say-so of their respective sites.
Wearables: the new Band and VR Kit
The rumored Band 2. Image credit: MicrosoftInsider
Although the event is likely to revolve around phones and PCs, there’s a real chance that wearables will play a big role. If so, the centerpiece is likely to be the next Band (for sake of reference, the Band 2). The second-generation fitness device is rumored to track additional stats, like stair climbing, but its biggest improvement may simply be in the looks department. A curved display and metal accents could make the Band 2 something you’d like to wear, rather than the slightly clunky wearable you see today.
On top of this, you might hear more about VR Kit, the answer to Google Cardboard that makes its official debut sometime this month. The hoopla isn’t so much about the virtual reality viewer itself (surprise: It’s foldable cardboard) as the software that will go with it. Microsoft would no doubt want to talk about how the peripheral brings VR to Lumia phones, but a camera cutout suggests that augmented reality will also play a part. You could see the company frame VR Kit as a primer for HoloLens, giving you a taste of that hybrid real-plus-digital experience without having to either wait or spend a ton of cash.
Wild cards: Xbox and beyond
The Xbox One.
Microsoft occasionally pulls rabbits out of its hat at events. Who’d have thought that it would unveil a holographic headset like HoloLens, or an 84-inch touchscreen computer? While there’s no guarantee that it’ll have similar surprises in store for October 6th, you should be prepared for the unexpected.
What could the company unveil that isn’t already anticipated, though? New Xbox hardware is one option. It’s been nearly two years since the Xbox One reached stores, and the Windows 10 underpinnings of the system’s next update make the console eligible for an announcement. You could see new peripherals, new software-based functionality or even a redesigned system to mark that two-year anniversary. With that said, we’re not counting on anything. Microsoft usually saves its big Xbox news for E3, and the gaming expo already had its share of new gear.
There are other possibilities, too. It wouldn’t be out of the question to see Surface hardware beyond tablets, especially if there’s any truth to that rumor of a 13- to 14-inch device. New accessories (for the Surface or otherwise) would make sense as well. Also, Microsoft may use its event as an excuse to showcase Windows 10 machines from other companies, giving the overall platform a boost as it enters its first holiday shopping season. While we wouldn’t bet money on any of these showing up when the event should already be chock-full of gadgets, they’re not so far-fetched that we’d rule them out altogether.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson (Satya Nadella); Evan Blass (Lumia 950); MicrosoftInsider (Microsoft Band)]
Google’s Pixel C tablet is Android’s official answer to the Surface
You may have tuned into Google’s event expecting Nexus phones, but Google just threw a big (if not entirely unanticipated) wildcard into the mix: meet the Pixel C. The 10.2-inch Android Marshmallow device is the first tablet Google has designed completely in-house, and it’s a not-so-subtle attempt at competing with Microsoft’s Surface line, Apple’s iPad Pro and other high-end tablets that turn into makeshift laptops with the right add-ons. In this case, there’s an optional smart Bluetooth keyboard ($149) that docks with the Pixel C when you’re bent on getting work done, clings to the back of the tablet when you’re not using it, and charges when closed with the tablet attached. And much like the similarly pro-minded Chromebook Pixel, the Pixel C is using a USB Type-C connector — you can even share chargers with the new Nexus phones if you’re so inclined. Slideshow-323771
As you might guess, the device is a beast under the hood. As leaks revealed earlier, it’s powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 (the same chip you find in the Shield TV), and you’ll be looking at an extra-bright (500 nits), 308 pixels-per-inch display. Google is shy about saying just when and where the Pixel C will be available, other than that it should arrive in time for the holidays. However, the pricing is about what you’d expect for a slate in this class: it’ll cost $499 for a version with 32GB of storage, and $599 for a 64GB version.
Source: Google
Microsoft reports a $2.1 billion loss in Q4
Microsoft’s earnings for the fourth quarter are in, and they show an operating loss of $2.1 billion, despite $22.2 billion in revenue (compared to $23.3 billion last year). A lot of that is due to the previously announced write-down for Nokia (and 7,800 job cuts) that caused an $7.5 billion hit. Of course, we knew that was coming, but the other news is that revenue and operating income were slightly down from last year too. Microsoft sold 8.4 million Lumia phones in Q4 (compared to 5.8 million last year), but revenue dropped 38 percent to $748 million, As the company looks forward to Windows 10, revenue for that division dropped 22 percent, a figure that it attributed to XP’s end-of-support cycle.
The net loss in Q4 amounted to $3.2 billion, which Bloomberg reports is its biggest loss ever. This occurs as Microsoft under new CEO Satya Nadella changes its approach to segments like hardware, and the cloud. It made more money from hardware, as revenue for Surface grew to $888 million and Xbox claimed a 27 percent gain. Even Bing is making more money, and says its market share in search has grown to 20.3 percent.
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Filed under: Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Surface 3 tablet with LTE reaches AT&T on July 24th
Microsoft promised that there would be a version of its entry-level Surface 3 tablet with LTE data, and it’s finally here… well, almost. AT&T has announced that the cellular-equipped Windows slate will launch on July 24th for $30 per month on a 20-month Next plan ($600 total), or $400 if you buy one alongside a Lumia smartphone. This is the basic version of the Surface 3 with 64GB of storage, but that always-available internet connection will help a lot if you’re just looking to check email or stream music before you get to the coffee shop. Just be prepared to perform a lengthy software upgrade after you get it — although the Surface 3 LTE arrives mere days before the Windows 10 launch, it’s still shipping with Windows 8.1.
Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, Microsoft, AT&T
Source: AT&T
Microsoft is putting the Surface in more stores
Microsoft announced today that it is expanding the distribution channels for its Surface tablet line ahead of the upcoming Windows 10 global rollout. The Surface is currently sold through “a couple hundred” authorized Surface device distributors, as Gavriella Schuster, General Manager of Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Program, explained in a statement, but will soon grow to a few thousand. Any partner distributor can reportedly sign up for the expanded program assuming they qualify on volume sold. “We expect to get a few thousand resellers to jump on this,” Schuster told ZDNet.
Take note, only the Intel-based Surfaces — Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3 — will be getting Windows 10 proper. The ARM-based Surface RT and Surface 2 however will receive a borked Win10 “feature subset” and Microsoft has no timetable for when the subset will be made available.
Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Internet, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Source: Microsoft (Surface Blog)
Future Range Rovers could tell the city about local potholes
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed that it’s working on technology that’ll alert the authorities whenever your car finds a bump in the road. It’s one of several high-tech initiatives the outfit has been working on, including heads-up displays in the windshield and “transparent” cars. Once an issue, like a pothole or broken drain, has been discovered, its location will be uploaded to the authorities who can then send a maintenance crew to come fix it. In the meantime, the information can be shared with nearby vehicles so that motorists in the vicinity can avoid damaging their car.
The company has been testing this system out with a specially modified Range Rover Evoque. It’s hoped that, with the addition of a forward-facing camera, the ride will even be able to spot potholes in the road ahead. That way, the fancy SUV can adjust its suspension settings to ensure that well-heeled passengers won’t feel a bump. Of course, this crowdsourced data will also be useful in making self-driving cars aware of future problems so that they can steer around them. Right now, of course, this is just a fancy tech demo allied with some lofty promises, but maybe in a few decades time we’ll see this tech in real Range Rovers — if so, we’d better start saving up right now.
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Jaguar
Microsoft will give you cash to ditch your old Surface for a new one
Haven’t had much luck offloading your older Surface to help pay for a Surface 3? Microsoft thinks it can help. Similar to its Surface Pro-oriented effort from a few months ago, it’s launching a US trade-in program that will give you up to $150 toward a Surface 3 if you turn in a Surface RT or Surface 2. The discount likely won’t compare to what you’ll get if you drive a hard bargain on Craigslist or eBay, but it’s guaranteed cash — if you’re only concerned with upgrading to the latest tablet as painlessly as possible, it might do the trick. Just be sure to decide quickly, since you have to give up your old device by May 31st.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: Surface Blog
Source: Microsoft Store
Microsoft snaps up the technology behind the Surface Pro 3’s pen
In love with the Surface pen? You’re not the only one. Microsoft confirmed on its Surface blog this morning that it acquired the pen-sensing technology that helps power the Surface Pro 3 from the company that created it, Israeli tech outfit N-trig. If you’re the type who pays attention to Israeli business newspapers, this whole thing might not come as a shock – Calcalist reported earlier this year that Microsoft was eyeing N-trig for a full-on acquisition that would see the company’s 190 employees folded into the Microsoft mothership at some point. That’s not the case anymore, though: We’ve been able to confirm the folks in Redmond just bought the technology, and not the whole company.
So, aside from a little M&A intrigue to spice up your Friday morning, what does this mean for you? Well, the Surface Pen is one of those bits of the Surface experience that seems totally extraneous at first, and then more-or-less lovely after you’ve gotten to play with it. It’s far from perfect — N-trig’s pen ditched its predecessor’s ability to erase stuff by flipping the thing around — but the purchase signals Microsoft’s commitment to making pen input something that could feasibly replace the traditional thumb-punching and finger-poking touchscreens have attuned us too. It shouldn’t be long before we see some of N-trig’s tech in action, either Windows 10’s launch is just over the horizon at this point and we already know that some new Windows smartphones will play nice with pen inputs thanks to a feature called DirectInk. That we’ll be able to write on a broad swath of new devices soon was never a question, though there is one loose end we haven’t been able to tie up: What’s going to happen to the rest of N-trig?
Source: Microsoft Surface blog
Microsoft’s Surface sales are on the upswing once again
After a very slow start, Microsoft’s Surface finally seems to be hitting its stride. The company made $713 million from Surface sales last quarter, a 44 percent jump over last year, according to its latest earnings report. And yes, it’s attributing much of that to the Surface Pro 3, which also saw strong sales during the previous quarter. While any bump is good, it’s easy for Microsoft to report revenue growth when it’s starting from a low point. Apple sold around $9 billion worth of iPads during the last quarter, for comparison. It’s also worth noting that the company’s third quarter doesn’t include sales of the new Surface 3, which doesn’t ship until next month. It’ll be interesting to see if that model ends up helping its Pro sibling come next quarter. Before the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft’s Surface sales weren’t exactly pretty — at one point it had to write off nearly $900 million in unsold units.
During the company’s earnings call today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted that 64 percent of Surface Pro 3 users also use One Note. That’s not surprising, since that device’s stylus integrates directly into OneNote. Nadella pointed out that the Surface Pro 3’s OneNote penetration is also nine times that of any other touch notebook.
Microsoft’s Devices and Consumer group, which the Surface is a part of, saw an overall revenue bump of 8 percent compared to last year. It was also helped by strong Office 365 growth (up 35 percent, reaching 12.4 million subscriptions), Bing advertising gains (21 percent), and a 30 percent bump in Xbox Live usage. Oh yah, and it sold 8.6 million Lumia phones, down from 10.5 million from the holiday quarter. It was a different story for Xbox revenues, which fell 24 percent from last year, mostly due to price drops for the Xbox One.
Filed under: Mobile, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
Microsoft app gives you more control over the Surface Pro 3’s pen
The Surface Pro 3’s pen is arguably a defining feature, but you haven’t had official control over it so far. As of now, though, you finally get some say over the stylus’ behavior. Microsoft has posted a Surface Hub app that lets you customize both the pen’s pressure sensitivity and its top button. Right now, the software isn’t likely to please demanding artists and note-takers — you don’t have fine-grained sensitivity tuning, you can’t launch any app you like and the side buttons are strictly off-limits. The crew in Redmond is willing to add features based on feedback, so don’t be afraid to pipe up if you have dreams of launching Photoshop with a single thumb press.
Filed under: Tablets, Software, Microsoft
Via: The Verge, Surface Pro Artist
Source: Windows Store
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