A first look at Microsoft's new Surface tablet

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/06/a-first-look-and-feel-of-microsofts-first-pc/

Not actually a Surface.

Microsoft has unveiled Surface: a pair of tablet PCs and a pair of covers-cum-keyboards, designed for, and designed around, its Windows 8 operating system.

Microsoft's intent with the Surface tablets is to create hardware that puts the software front and center, to provide the hardware necessary to allow Windows 8's strengths to really come to the foreground. At the launch event, however, the software took the back seat. This was all about the hardware and with good reason.

The Surface tablets are smart, good-looking, carefully considered, well-built, slick pieces of kit, and there's nothing even close on the market today. Of course, they're not on the market today either, but unless the PC OEMs inject a serious dose of quality in their build and design processes, the Surface units will stand alone when they eventually go on sale.

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Wacom outs the Bamboo Splash: the Connect's hardware with a new software bundle

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/wacom-bamboo-splash/

For those looking to get their feet wet with a Wacom pen tablet, but not looking to make an Intuos-sized investment, the company's Bamboo family has been a solid choice. The outfit has now added one more option to the entry-level peripheral line with the Splash. Sporting hardware identical to the Connect tablet that's already available, the latest offering includes an updated software duo in the same box. Art Rage Studio offers painting that'll keep your shiny new MacBook Pro clean while Sketchbook Express provides tools for good ol' sketching. In case you need a refresher on the Bamboo accessory's specs, the pen tab plays nice with both Windows and Mac, offers a 5.8 x 3.6 inch active area, USB connectivity and a pen that touts 1,024 pressure levels. The good news is that the new bundle won't cost you a penny more, as the kit will remain priced at $79. Truth be told, the Splash is actually a solid pick-up for someone looking to test drive a graphics tablet without committing a larger sum of cash.

Gallery: Wacom Bamboo Splash hands-on

Continue reading Wacom outs the Bamboo Splash: the Connect's hardware with a new software bundle

Wacom outs the Bamboo Splash: the Connect's hardware with a new software bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US 3G and 4G networks face off once more, Verizon just squeaks out win over AT&T

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/us-3g-and-4g-networks-face-off-once-more-verizon-just-squeaks-win/

Competition for the US cellular speed crown is certainly fiercer than it was last year, when Verizon's 4G LTE let it walk over the competition unimpeded. With AT&T's LTE in the running, though, have the ranks changed? No, but only just barely: as PCMag discovered in its annual countrywide testing, Verizon mostly trumped its fellow telecom giant in upload speeds and reliability. AT&T could once more claim to be best in a category with the fastest downloads, although it's counterbalanced by having a considerably smaller LTE network. For everyone outside of T-Mobile and its still very respectable HSPA+ network, it's better luck next year. We'll be most intrigued then, quite frankly -- in addition to 2013 giving us a genuinely functional Sprint LTE network, that's when we could see a blistering-fast T-Mobile LTE-Advanced produce an upset victory.

US 3G and 4G networks face off once more, Verizon just squeaks out win over AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sassor wants to let users know just how much electricity their gadgets are wasting (hands-on)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/sassor-power-meter/

Everyone knows that their game consoles, appliances and HDTVs are energy vampires, and while Energy Star-certified products tell us which gadgets are more green-friendly than others, we still don't know just how much juice they're actually sucking down in a given day. Enter Sassor, a start-up from Japan that's created a system to monitor the electrical consumption of anything plugged into a wall outlet -- from PCs to refrigerators. It tracks power consumption using current sensors clamped onto power cords, which communicate wirelessly via ZigBee with a module (based on an Arduino design) that uploads the info to the cloud.

Gallery: Sassor electricity monitor system hands-on

Through the web portal, users can track energy consumption on a per-device basis in real-time, letting them figure out which gadgets are most responsible for their sky-high utility bill -- and take appropriate steps to correct the problem. Currently, it's aimed solely at businesses, but once Sassor's on its feet, funding-wise, the plan is to also put them in people's homes. The company told us it'll ditch ZigBee in favor of a WiFi solution in such future iterations, and it'll make an SDK and the system APIs available to all so that people can program for the platform and improve it in ways currently not contemplated. Alas, there's neither a timetable nor a price for the consumer version just yet, but you can see some pictures of the hardware's innards below.

Sassor wants to let users know just how much electricity their gadgets are wasting (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with Microsoft Surface for Windows RT, Touch Cover and Type Cover (update: video!)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/hands-on-with-microsoft-surface-for-windows-rt/

We're here live at Microsoft's press event in Los Angeles, where it just unveiled not just the rumored tablet you were hoping for, but two tablets: Surface for Windows RT, which has an NVIDIA chip inside, and Surface for Windows 8 Pro, which runs off Ultrabook-grade Ivy Bridge processors. (Yes, Surface here is the name of a tablet line, not software optimized for large touchscreens. Get that out of your system now.) Though the two differ slightly in dimensions, with the Pro model measuring in slightly thicker, both have a slim kickstand, about as thick as a credit card, that folds out of the backside like the tail of a photo frame. Both are made of magnesium and, perhaps most importantly, work with either of two magnetic covers that double as keyboards (one with multitouch input, and one with physical, three-dimensional keys).

No word on pricing -- just that Surface for Windows RT will cost about what you'll end up paying for other Windows RT tablets, and that the Pro version will fetch similar prices as Ultrabooks. We saw Surface for RT as well as both keyboards on display at the demo area here following Microsoft's big press event. We've got a gallery of hands-on shots, as well as impressions past the break.

Gallery: Microsoft Surface for Windows RT hands-on

Continue reading Hands-on with Microsoft Surface for Windows RT, Touch Cover and Type Cover (update: video!)

Hands-on with Microsoft Surface for Windows RT, Touch Cover and Type Cover (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait, there's a tablet too? Microsoft announces Type and Touch Covers

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/06/wait-theres-a-tablet-too-microsoft-announces-type-and-touch-covers/

Microsoft unveiled two covers during its announcement, including the keyboard-toting Touch Cover.

Microsoft

Yes, Microsoft unveiled the hyper-rumored tablet during its Monday announcement. But the surprises came when the company continued to showcase new hardware in the form of two accompanying tablet covers: the Type and the Touch.

Microsoft's Touch Cover for the Surface tablets is 3mm thick and comes in four available colors: cyan, orange, magenta, and gray. The real trick is that it doubles as a keyboard and trackpad, both on the inside of the cover. The Surface tablet can recognize when the cover is attached, and users can't miss when trying to connect through its use of magnets.

The cover comes with an accelerometer, so it can measure the force of each finger. This allows users to both rest hands on the computer and type, with the hardware distinguishing between the actions. Microsoft claimed typing is twice as efficient here as opposed to glass, and that the keyboard samples 10x faster than any actual keyboard. The Surface OS can also recognize when it's folded behind the back of the tablet (indicating the keyboard should be switched off). Microsoft touted 30 years of mouse technology and 15 years of keyboards went into this design.

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Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-surface-tablets-the-differences-between-rt-and-window/

Surfaces. Turns out, the plural form of Microsoft's new tablet range rolls off of the tongue with ease, but understanding the differences between the first two models may not be quite as easy -- particularly for the everyman, or folks intimately familiar with Microsoft's other Surface. Two editions -- Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro -- were unveiled today in Los Angeles, and while the exterior of each one looks nearly identical, the innards expose major differences in architecture. Let's break it all down after the break, shall we?

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Glamour Shots

Continue reading Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models

Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft announces Surface for Windows 8 Pro: Intel inside, optional pen input

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-for-windows-8-pro/

Microsoft didn't just announce one Surface tablet today -- it's announced one for each of the main varieties of Windows. That includes the Surface for Windows 8 Pro, which is slightly larger and decidedly more Intel-based than its ARM-fueled counterpart for Windows RT. In addition to the more full-fledged OS, it packs a larger 42 W-h battery, an Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor (at least in the model on display today), USB 3.0 ports instead of 2.0, and your choice of 64GB or 128GB of storage (double the standard offerings of the RT Surface). You'll also get a higher 1080p resolution from the 10.6-inch ClearType display, but it comes wrapped in a package that's 13.5 mm thick and weighs 903 grams (compared to just 9.3 mm and 676 grams for the RT). That's apparently not big enough to disqualify it from Microsoft's new keyboard-laden covers, though, and it even gets another accessory of its own: a pen with "Palm Block." As for pricing and availability, Microsoft is only going as far to say that it will be "on par with Ultrabook-class PCs" and available about three months after the Windows 8 launch (when the RT model will be available).

Microsoft announces Surface for Windows 8 Pro: Intel inside, optional pen input originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft unveils Surface tablets, powered by Windows 8

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/06/microsoft-unveils-surface-tablet-powered-by-windows-8/

Microsoft

The Earth-shattering Microsoft announcement we've been waiting for is finally here. As several pre-event rumors suggested, Microsoft is indeed building its own tablet.

Make that two tablets. One Windows RT tablet runs an NVIDIA Tegra 3 ARM processor, and the other Windows 8 Pro tablet runs Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i5 chips. One thing that looks really cool are new magnetic covers that are quite reminiscent of Apple's "Smart Cover" for the iPad. But they're a lot smarter—Microsoft's covers actually include a multitouch trackpad and a keyboard. There are two, as we explain in this story: a Touch Cover with virtual keys and a Type Cover with a tactile keyboard and touchpad.

Typing on the cover is twice as efficient as typing on glass, according to Microsoft. There's also a stylus.

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Microsoft one ups other tablet 'smart' covers with Surface's Touch Cover and Type Cover

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-one-ups-other-tablet-smart-covers-with-surfaces-key/

What's 3mm thick, crafted from the finest Polartec and attaches to a tablet magnetically? If you guessed an iPad smart cover you might be right, but right now we're pretty enamored with Microsoft's Touch Cover for the newly announced Surface. See, it works almost exactly like that other "smart" tablet shield, but this one actually earns it's smart moniker. When you peel the plastic shroud back it turns into a fully functional keyboard and touchpad. Obviously, being a thin plastic sheet, the cover is relying on touch for key presses, not the actual depression of mechanical switches. So, while that means it's theoretically possible to touchtype on this bad boy, it remains to be seen just how pleasant of an experience it actually is. Our guess -- it'll be fine for quick emails and Google Bing searches, but we probably wouldn't have to write the Surface review on one.

Now, the Type Cover on the other hand, perhaps we'd consider drafting lengthy posts on. It's safe to assume this one is thicker and heavier, turning your tablet into something more closely resembling an Ultrabook. But, it does have a traditional keyboard with solid plastic, separated keys as opposed to a pressure sensitive pad. Perhaps one of the more interesting features though, is their ability to force Win 8 to color coordinate with your chosen shade of folio. Click the blue Touch Cover on to the Surface and the background switches to a soothing shade azure. There's even an accelerometer inside those 3mm-thin softer covers -- which is an impressive feat of engineering. The Touch Covers can easily distinguish between you simply resting your hands on the keyboard and actually typing, which should help minimize accidental key presses. We'll be back as soon as possible with some hands-on.

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Covers

Gallery: Surface Touch Cover

Microsoft one ups other tablet 'smart' covers with Surface's Touch Cover and Type Cover originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-tablet-announced/

Here at its mysterious, last-minute press event in Los Angeles, Microsoft just confirmed it will sell its own Microsoft-branded Windows 8 RT tablet under the Surface badge. Measuring just 9.3mm thick, the Surface for Windows RT is built around an angled, all-magnesium VaporMg case that weighs just under 1.3 pounds, with an NVIDIA-made ARM chip powering the whole affair. Microsoft's hardware partner has also gone all-out on extra touches, such as a built-in stand, twin 2x2 MIMO antennas for WiFi, and a 10.6-inch optically-bonded, Gorilla Glass 2-covered HD display. Not unlike Apple's last two generations, there's a magnetically attached cover, but it's more than just a protector: here, it includes a full multi-touch keyboard and trackpad. As for expansion, you'll get one each of HDMI, microSD and USB 2.0 (sorry folks, no 3.0) as well as either 32GB or 64GB of storage, while software includes the usual Windows 8 accoutrements and a newly Metrofied version of Netflix. The Surface for Windows RT should arrive roughly in step with Windows 8, but Microsoft is only promising pricing "competitive" with similar ARM tablets -- and you're looking for a tablet with more grunt, you can spring for the Intel-packing Surface for Windows 8 Pro.

Be sure to check out our hands-on with the Surface!

[Thanks to everyone for the product link]

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Unveiled

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Glamour Shots

Continue reading Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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