Surface 2 release date, news and features
Microsoft has announced Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 at an event in New York.
Surface Pro 2 features Windows 8.1, while Surface 2 will feature the Windows 8.1 retread of Windows RT, known asWindows 8.1 RT.
Surface chief Panos Panay claimed the new tablets could continue Surface helping "people get away from their iPad and be more productive".
We're long-time fans of Surface on TechRadar, even if we thought that Surface Pro was too expensive and Surface RT was too limited (due to the Windows Store app-dependent Windows RT).
Surface 2 is the new Surface RT
The faster, lighter and thinner 10.6-inch Surface 2 comes in black and silver and now features a 1080p Full HD display as well as an Nvidia Tegra 4 ARM-based processor.
The Surface 2 is here
We'd expected it to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, due to that company's relationship with Nokia and Windows Phone. However, Nvidia has been a Windows RT (Windows on ARM) partner from the start.
Microsoft thinks you'll get up to 10 hours of video playback out of the battery. As for cameras, we're looking at a 3.5MP front-mounted snapper and a 5MP lens on the back. There's also USB 3.0.
We'd expected it to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, due to that company's relationship with Nokia and Windows Phone. However, Nvidia has been a Windows RT (Windows on ARM) partner from the start.
Microsoft thinks you'll get up to 10 hours of video playback out of the battery. As for cameras, we're looking at a 3.5MP front-mounted snapper and a 5MP lens on the back. There's also USB 3.0.
Surface 2 is lighter and thinner
"We've added the Surface logo. You're using a Surface, you want people to know you're using a surface," Microsoft's Panos Panay said optimistically.
Surface 2 is lighter and thinner than Surface RTSurface 2 comes with Office
Surface 2 still comes with Microsoft Office 2013 on the desktop, but now boasts a special version of Outlook 2013 - Outlook RT. Panay demonstrated the processing power of Surface 2 by showing us all four Office apps running simultaneously.
As with the original Surface RT, Surface 2 will come with OfficeSurface 2 price and release date
Surface 2 pre-orders open on September 24, with the 32GB model starting from £359 in the UK and $449 in the US. A 64GB model will also be available and it will cost £439 in the UK and $549 in the US.
Although you can pre-order pretty soon, there's a bit of a wait for the actual tablet to materialise: the Surface 2 release date is set for October 22 in 22 initial markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
China will follow in early November. Additional countries will be announced in the coming months, says Microsoft.
The back of the new silver Surface 2
Surface Pro 2 is the new Surface Pro
The latest-generation Intel Haswell Core i5-powered Surface Pro 2 features a 20 percent speed improvement and 50 per cent graphics bump as well as beefed up sound thanks to Dolby. The screen is the same ClearType HD display, but with 46 percent improved color accuracy.
Surface Pro 2 is the new Surface Pro
The latest-generation Intel Haswell Core i5-powered Surface Pro 2 features a 20 percent speed improvement and 50 per cent graphics bump as well as beefed up sound thanks to Dolby. The screen is the same ClearType HD display, but with 46 percent improved color accuracy.
The Surface Pro 2
The kickstand also has more angles it's positioned at 22 degrees, though you can readjust to 55 degrees), while battery power is 75 per cent up - we're pretty relieved about that, since the Surface Pro is pretty poor on battery life.
To demo the new and improved Surface Pro 2's PC-like capabilities, Microsoft edited raw 6K film, which has a resolution of nine times that of HD.
The Surface Pro 2 features 4GB/8GB memory configurations and 256GB and 512GB configurations.
The kickstand also has more angles it's positioned at 22 degrees, though you can readjust to 55 degrees), while battery power is 75 per cent up - we're pretty relieved about that, since the Surface Pro is pretty poor on battery life.
To demo the new and improved Surface Pro 2's PC-like capabilities, Microsoft edited raw 6K film, which has a resolution of nine times that of HD.
The Surface Pro 2 features 4GB/8GB memory configurations and 256GB and 512GB configurations.
Multitasking in Windows 8.1
But there will be new peripherals launched to go with the new Surface - including a Surface Docking Station, Surface Power Cover (with integrated 30W battery) and new colour Type Cover and Touch Cover colors. There's also a Car Charger with USB and an Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition.
The Docking Station is demonstrated
The Surface Docking Station comes complete with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 slot, a mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio In, audio Out and power.
The new color type covers
The backlit Type Cover has 1mm taken out of the travel of the keys, so it's now almost as thin as the original Touch Cover.
Microsoft says the Power Cover brings the Surface Pro into the realm of all-day use (improves overall life by 2.5x), while the Surface Pro simply slides in and out of the Docking Station.
It's the Power Cover!
Surface Pro 2 price and release date
The Surface Pro 2 price starts at $899 in the US and £719 in the UK, available in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM. Bump it up to 8GB of RAM and the Pro 2 can come in 256GB and 512GB flavors.
Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 come with free Skype calling
To help people get the most out of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, Microsoft says that buyers will also get free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year plus unlimited Skype Wi-Fi and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years. That's pretty cool.
You get a year's free Skype landline calling, too!
Original Surface problems
It seemed sure that a new Surface 2 running Windows RT was imminent due to price reductions and now Microsoft has sent out invites to the media for a New York City event which is now getting underway.
Despite the many problems and drawbacks, Microsoft says it is committed to Windows on ARM, although a cynic would say that Windows Phone also runs on ARM, so it could be that Microsoft is referring to.
Surface 2 accessories
But there will be new peripherals launched to go with the new Surface - including a Surface Docking Station, Surface Power Cover (with integrated 30W battery) and new colour Type Cover and Touch Cover colors. There's also a Car Charger with USB and an Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition.
The Docking Station is demonstratedThe Surface Docking Station comes complete with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 slot, a mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio In, audio Out and power.
The new color type coversThe backlit Type Cover has 1mm taken out of the travel of the keys, so it's now almost as thin as the original Touch Cover.
Microsoft says the Power Cover brings the Surface Pro into the realm of all-day use (improves overall life by 2.5x), while the Surface Pro simply slides in and out of the Docking Station.
It's the Power Cover!Surface Pro 2 price and release date
The Surface Pro 2 price starts at $899 in the US and £719 in the UK, available in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM. Bump it up to 8GB of RAM and the Pro 2 can come in 256GB and 512GB flavors.
Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 come with free Skype calling
To help people get the most out of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, Microsoft says that buyers will also get free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year plus unlimited Skype Wi-Fi and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years. That's pretty cool.
You get a year's free Skype landline calling, too!Original Surface problems
It seemed sure that a new Surface 2 running Windows RT was imminent due to price reductions and now Microsoft has sent out invites to the media for a New York City event which is now getting underway.
Despite the many problems and drawbacks, Microsoft says it is committed to Windows on ARM, although a cynic would say that Windows Phone also runs on ARM, so it could be that Microsoft is referring to.
By general concensus the Surface RT hasn't done that well, although we've never been crystal clear on how many slates Microsoft has sold with RT.
But the fact there's now a price cut amounting to $150 per model (equal to £98, AU$163) and a $900 million accounting writedown in the company's financials is a sure sign the numbers aren't stellar.
visit: www.abcoftech.com
No comments:
Post a Comment