Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 tablet lands in 25 more countries
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 has only been available in a handful of places so far, but it’s about to get a much, much wider audience. As promised, Microsoft is launching its latest Surface in 25 more countries. Most of them are Asian and European nations, including China and the UK; if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you can snag a Windows slate for yourself. All five models are available, so you won’t have to settle for a device you don’t want. You’ll have to be a little more patient if you want the docking station, though. It’s available for pre-order today, but you’ll have to wait until September 12th to pick one up on impulse.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: Surface Blog
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Microsoft cuts prices for its Surface 2 tablet by $100
Have you been holding out for a price cut on the Surface 2 before taking the plunge? You now have your chance. Microsoft has slashed $100 off the price of its second-gen Windows RT tablet, regardless of the model you buy. It now costs as little as $349 for a base 32GB WiFi edition, while splurging on the 64GB LTE slate is slightly more reasonable at $579. Just be aware that the folks in Redmond aren’t doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. The Surface 2 is nearly a year old — Microsoft is very likely clearing inventory, whether it’s ahead of a new model or just to focus more attention on the Surface Pro 3.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: TechCrunch, Ars Technica
Source: Microsoft Store
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Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 to hit 25 more countries as losses mount
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 is set to arrive in 25 more countries including the UK, most of Europe and China on August 28th. It’s been up for pre-order in many of those regions for a while now, but will finally start to ship by month’s end. The 12-inch model has been treated more kindly in reviews than the previous two models, despite some keyboard issues. However, sales figures for the new model haven’t been released, and past versions have fared poorly — in fact, it just had to write off $38 million in unsold devices, including a model it didn’t even launch. And according to Computerworld, the damage goes even deeper.
Based on filings, the site estimates that Microsoft has burned through a total of $1.7 billion since the Surface series arrived in 2012. About $363 million of that red ink came from the most recent quarter, although it’s likely that the company had to spend a lot to ramp up production of the Surface Pro 3 that started shipping at the tail end of that period. It’s bound to recoup at least some of that investment now that the Pro 3 has hit US store shelves and will soon arrive elsewhere.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft to see if it has any commentary on the numbers. Provided they’re accurate, though, they suggest that the crew in Redmond has been willing to endure a lot to get its first in-house PC range off the ground. Such a sacrifice wouldn’t be out of character for the company, mind you. Its cloud services (including its Bing search engine) were money-losers for years; its game console division only really came into its own during the Xbox 360 era. Microsoft may not be so patient with Surface when new CEO Satya Nadella is focused more on services than hardware, but you shouldn’t expect these slates to disappear in the near future.
Steve Dent contributed to this report.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: Computerworld, SEC
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Buffalo Bills coach has issues in first NFL game with Surface tablets
Last night’s Hall of Fame game was the first NFL preseason matchup of the summer. It was also the first time that Microsoft’s new plan to replace binders of printed photos with a fleet of Surface Pros on the sidelines was put into effect. As you might expect, implementing the tech hit a few snags. The so-called Sideline Viewing System provides images for examining pre- and post-snap formations by the opposing team between series, but the option wasn’t in the lineup at kickoff for Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone. “I was told mine was going to work, and mine didn’t work,” Marrone said in a post-game interview. After remedying the issue, the coach was able to leverage the system during the second half, adding “I like it a lot.” Just like teams are ironing out on-field issues in the scrimmages leading up to week one, the new Surface system will need that time to smooth out kinks of its own.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: NBC Sports, WGR 550
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Here’s how Microsoft plans to take over NFL sidelines
Are you ready for some football? Because Microsoft most certainly is. To go along with the introduction of a new NFL app for Xbox One and Windows 8, the software giant has also revealed how it plans to help professional coaches and players during games. As part of an ongoing partnership with the National Football League, which began last year and was reportedly worth $400 million over five years, Microsoft created what it calls a Sideline Viewing System. Naturally, the company’s own hardware is a key component to this; the new system is powered by Surface Pro 2 tablets, and it allows NFL teams to review plays instantly on the sidelines and up in the booths. For instance, say the quarterback goes back to the bench, the Surface can then be used to see the opposing team’s defensive formation during the most recent drive — and the same goes for the coaching staff that keeps an eye on the game from higher ground. Players are also able to draw on these images, making it easier for other members of the team to see something which stands out and needs to be checked.
While the new system has the potential to replace paper-printed materials on the sidelines, that’s not what the Redmond-based company hopes to accomplish, not yet at least. The Sideline Viewing System won’t be required to be utilized by NFL teams, but they will all have it at their disposal week in and week out, should they choose to want to integrate it into their workflow. A representative from Microsoft told Engadget the company doesn’t “want to force anything,” adding that, ultimately, it is up to individual players and coaches to figure out what they want to do and use the methods best suited for them.
Moreover, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 2s are owned by the NFL and not the teams, telling us that the tablets were heavily modified inside and out. Sure, these devices are capable of handling water, snow and extreme heat temperatures, but here’s one thing they can’t handle: third-party apps. In other words, don’t expect Johnny Football to be Instagramming while he’s warming up on the bench. Along those same lines, the Surface tablets on the field operate under a private network created by the NFL, which is how the league plans to keep the sensitive photo-viewing app closed off and away from any potential intruders.
It’s worth noting this isn’t the first time Microsoft has made its way to NFL sidelines, as it had done so in the past through the placement of really, really big Surface logos everywhere, as well as many other things behind the scenes. For now, we’d say this is much better. The Sideline Viewing System is making its debut tonight, during this year’s preseason opener game, between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
[Image credits: Microsoft]
Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Microsoft
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Core i3 and i7 Surface Pro 3 now shipping to US and Canada
In addition to the $999 Intel Core i5-equipped Surface Pro 3, Core i3 and Core i7 options are now on sale in the US and Canada. Starting at $799, selecting the i3 nets you 64GB of storage while devices outfitted with an i7 processor tout either 256GB or 512GB of space at $1,549 and $1,949 respectively. Of course, that significant investment nets you a 12-inch display, Windows 8.1 and the ability to tack on Type Cover or Pen to further boost productivity.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: Microsoft
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The Surface Pro 3 is nigh-on impossible to repair, just like its ancestors
If you had dreams of upgrading your shiny new Surface Pro 3, you’d better shelve them. The crew at iFixit has torn down Microsoft’s latest slate, and it proves just as daunting to repair as both of its predecessors. About the only replaceable part is the solid-state drive, and there’s a good chance that you’ll destroy your tablet trying to reach that component — even iFixit cracked the glass while removing the display. Just about everything (including the screen) is held in place with adhesives, and unconventional connectors only add to the challenge. You may not mind the unrepairable design given that the Pro 3 is much thinner and lighter than earlier Surfaces, but this definitely isn’t the tablet for tinkerers.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Source: iFixit
Surface Pro 2 prices drop in the US by as much as $200
If you’ve been hoping to score a deal on the Surface Pro 2 knowing that the Pro 3 is on the way, it’s time to start spending. Much like it did in the UK, Microsoft has cut prices on its older Windows tablet, with the discount depending on the level of storage you crave. You’ll save $100 if you can make do with a the 64GB or 128GB models, which now cost a respective $799 and $899. Spring for the 256GB or 512GB editions and you’ll spend $200 less, with prices now sitting at $1,099 and $1,599. The cuts aren’t all that dramatic, but they may be enough to help you resist the temptation of a newer, shinier slate. It’s just as well — Microsoft is already seeing 10-day shipping delays on the Pro 3, so this may be your best shot at buying a high-end Surface for a little while.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Source: Microsoft Store
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