Jul 01
Jul 01
First revealed late last month in Japan, the 256GB version of Microsoft’s Surface Pro appears to be going on sale in the US, although we haven’t heard any word from Microsoft on the matter. A 256GB variant has showed up on CDW’s website, which is one of Microsoft’s authorized retailers, so we at least know
Jul 01
Jun 12
May 29
May 29
A new 256GB version of Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet has been revealed, with the larger-capacity Windows 8 slate showing up in Japan. The new variant – which has not yet been added to Microsoft’s US listing for the 10.6-inch tablet – is otherwise identical to the 128GB Surface Pro we reviewed back in February, and will go on sale in Japan alongside the smaller-storage model next month.
According to the Japanese listing, of the 256GB of solid-state storage inside the tablet, around 208GB is available to the user. The rest is occupied by recovery images and other system files. Still, that’s a fair step up from the 128GB Surface Pro, which offers just 89GB of free capacity.
Otherwise, there’s the familiar 1920 x 1080 touchscreen, Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, and 4GB of RAM, while connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Ports consist of a full-sized USB 3.0, microSDXC memory card slot, headphone socket, Mini DisplayPort, and a docking connector for the magnetically-attached keyboards.
Japanese buyers will pay a 20,000 yen premium for the boost in storage. The 128GB Surface Pro will go on sale in the country from June 8, priced at 99,800 yen ($987), while the 256GB Surface Pro will be 119,800 yen ($1,184).
Both versions of the full-Windows tablet will come with a copy of Office 2013 along with Microsoft’s digital stylus, which can be used for sketching and handwriting on the slate. As for the keyboard-covers, the Touch Cover will be 9,980 yen ($99) while the Type Cover, with its raised keys, will be 10,980 yen ($109).
VIA: Neowin
Microsoft’s 256GB Surface Pro shows up in Japan is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 29
Microsoft’s Surface Pro Gets A 256GB Storage Option When It Hits The Japanese Market In June
Posted in: Today's Chili
Microsoft’s Surface Pro, the tablet/laptop amalgam device designed to perfectly showcase Windows 8, is getting a 256 SSD internal storage option, the biggest yet for the device. Previously, Microsoft has shipped the Surface Pro with either a 64GB or 128GB internal drive, but when it arrives in Japan June 7, it’ll come in 128GB and for the first time, 256GB flavors (via Engadget).
The 128GB model will retail for just about $1,175 U.S. in Japan, or just under $200 more than the 128GB version’s current retail price. The beefier version should help address some of the criticism levied at the Surface Pro for actually reserving a big chunk of on-board storage for OS components, which was particularly harmful in the 64GB capacity.
A 256GB option not only makes the Surface Pro more generally useful, it also gives Microsoft another way to compete with devices that consumers might look to instead, like the iPad, which introduced a high-capacity 128GB version shortly after the Surface Pro’s launch, and the MacBook Air, which offers up to 512GB of storage through customization options.
The Surface Pro spec bump will likely make its way to the U.S. and other markets eventually, as it seems like something that Microsoft could use to boost interest in its Windows 8 flagship slate. But there are also rumors of an entirely new Surface to ship in June, with a possible introduction at Build. I’d say it’s more likely we’ll see this spec bump touted at that conference, as the first-gen Surface is barely out of the oven as it is.
The Surface Pro reportedly hasn’t been selling at that well, with figures from March showing it hadn’t even broken 500,000 devices shipped at that point, based on sources close to Microsoft’s supply chain. That’s obviously not good by really any relative measure, so it wasn’t entirely clear that Microsoft would do much with the line in the future. This new storage option is proof that for now at least, Microsoft is still investing resources in the Surface Pro, even if it isn’t on the verge of releasing all-new hardware under the brand.
May 29
Microsoft Japan – Windows 8 Pro built-in Tablet PC “Surface Pro” is finally arriving in Japan next month
Posted in: Today's Chili
Microsoft Japan announced that they will release Windows 8 Pro built-in Tablet PC “Surface Pro” on June 7.
It is already being sold in other countries, however, “Surface Pro” released in the Japanese market will have “Office Home and Business 2013″ as standard and also 2 models (128GB and 256GB) will be available. Other countries are selling 2 models as well but they are 64GB and 128GB models.
Magnesium alloy is used for the body, which makes the body strong, thick and slick. ClearType full HD display (resolution 1080p) and Core i5 processor CPU are built-in.
128GB model – ¥99,800
246GB model – ¥119,800
In March, we announced the release of the Surface RT.
May 22
Yesterday when Microsoft announced the Xbox One, they also announced a partnership with the NFL that would see an immersive NFL experience come to the new console, as well as some Microsoft technology coming to sidelines next season. However, during the keynote, the company didn’t specify what exactly would be coming to sidelines, but now we that Surface tablets will hitting the NFL in a big way.
The Surface tablets will replace Polaroid photos that are printed out to show quarterbacks and other players what went wrong during a previous play. Surprisingly, this is still the case in 2013 — players don’t have access to instant replay displays on the sidelines, so they’re given printed-out photos instead. It works, but it’s really inefficient.
The tablets will not only be more convenient (as well as more interactive) but they’ll also cut down on costs for laminated paper and ink used for the hundreds of photos that are printed out each week. Coaches will also be able to use Surface tablets to replace their playbooks, although it might be a difficult transition for them, as printed-out playbooks have been the way for many years.
However, some coaches already use iPads on the sidelines during practices, and the Microsoft partnership won’t stop them from doing so, although they’ll be required to cover-up the Apple logo whenever they use them in a game, while Surface tablets won’t need covering up. In fact, even the replay booths that officials use to make a call will now have Microsoft branding on them.
Previously, the NFL had banned any kind of recording device or video player from being on sidelines, which is probably the reason behind all of those Polaroid photos being printed out, so using tablets during games was against the rules, since they can play back video and capture video as well. However, it seems the NFL is coming around to the idea of allowing such devices on the sidelines, and the NFL said that they’re all-in on changing the rules if it means bringing more innovation to the game.
SOURCE: BusinessWeek
Microsoft Surface to be used on NFL sidelines is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 10
Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is set to get its missing pressure sensitivity for the digital stylus in apps like Photoshop, with a Wacom driver update incoming to address the glitch. The Windows 8 tablet, launched back in February, shipped without full support for recognizing how hard stylus-users pressed with the pen in apps like Adobe’s Creative Suite. Now, according to Microsoft’s Panos Panay, the end is in sight.
Panay, who led the Surface project, and is a corporate VP at Microsoft, took to Twitter to confirm that he had been testing out the latest Wacom beta drivers. “Cool to see Pen pressure in Photoshop” he commented, along with the promise that the software update would be “releasing soon.”
That was then followed by the quiet release from Wacom of what’s described as an “Enhanced Tablet Driver“, v7.1.1-12. Although the driver makes no specific mention of Surface Pro, the details given around what, exactly, it does for a Wacom digitizer-enabled system does sound just like what Panos was talking about:
“Expand the capabilities of your tablet computer with the enhanced tablet driver for systems that use Wacom Feel IT technology! Installing this driver will provide many advanced pressure-sensitive features that Wacom pen tablet users have come to enjoy. The driver supports advanced features such as pressure-sensitivity in graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. It also allows you to adjust the pen tip pressure sensitivity and to program the side switch of the pen for a wide range of alternative settings and functions” Wacom Feel It driver documentation
Microsoft is yet to confirm whether this is, in fact, the relevant update, though given there have been mixed messages around why pressure sensitivity does not work properly in all apps in the first place, that’s arguably not a surprise. Anecdotal reports from Surface Pro users have indicated that it the driver does, indeed, address the issue, ZDNet reports.
One proposed explanation is that Microsoft scuppered third-party support by forcing the Surface Pro to use its own InkAPI drivers for the Wacom digitizer, whereas others have blamed Adobe for not building the necessary support into its software. Adobe has been pushing for the WinTab API drivers instead.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is tipped to be preparing a new line of “Surface 2″ tablets, potentially including a smaller, roughly 7- to 8-inch model, for reveal at its BUILD 2013 developer conference this year. So far, Windows RT and Windows 8 have been reserved for 10-inch tablets or bigger, leaving the smaller scale touch market to the iPad mini and various Android-powered options.
Surface Pro pressure support in Photoshop added with Wacom driver is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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