Oct 16
Ahead of its launch, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is building between 3 and 5 million Surface tablets to sell on the run-up to the holiday season. Clearly, it means business. More »
Oct 15
Microsoft airs its first Surface tablet ad, focuses on keyboard, kickstand and… dancers?
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Considering how interested we are in trying out Microsoft’s new Surface Windows 8 tablets, it turns out we should’ve been practicing the art of dance instead of blogging. The first TV spot for the tablets aired tonight during Dancing with the Stars, fitting, since it featured an entire troupe of dancers and was directed by Jon Chu, best known for his work on flicks like the Step Up series and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. While it didn’t expose any deep details about the hardware, its potential pricetag or the software running on it, it appears Microsoft will separate itself from the pack based on that slick Touch Cover, Type Cover and kickstand. At the end it teases “coming 10/26” and promises a future behind the scenes video from the ad, but that’s it. Check out the minute-long spot itself embedded after the break and let us know if you spot any new information about the slate.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Microsoft airs its first Surface tablet ad, focuses on keyboard, kickstand and… dancers? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 11
Microsoft customers can look forward to more Microsoft-made hardware in the future
Posted in: Today's Chili
Based on our first impression of the Microsoft Surface tablet, we have to say that we were pretty pleased with it, namely with its high quality build. That being said these sentiments were shared by many who got to try it out themselves which has us wondering if Microsoft could be looking to create more of its own hardware in the future. Recent rumors have suggested that Microsoft could be looking to make its own Windows Phone handset despite Microsoft’s initial denial, but it looks as though Microsoft-made hardware could start popping up more frequently in the future.
This was revealed by Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, in a shareholder letter where he basically stated that Microsoft’s customers should expect a “fundamental shift” in the future, and that they should also expect to see Microsoft make “specific devices for specific purposes” from time to time (think Microsoft Surface tablet and the Xbox gaming console). Of course there was no mention of a Windows Phone device, but seeing where this could be headed, it’s not a possibility we will rule out for now. In the meantime what do you guys think? We doubt Microsoft’s manufacturing partners will be too pleased to hear about this!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft Surface advertisement: Legit or not?, Google and Microsoft to expand Nexus 7 and Surface lines [Rumor],
Oct 09
Microsoft CEO Ballmer braces us for a ‘fundamental shift’ in strategy with more Microsoft-designed devices
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Microsoft’s Surface tablets could already be considered warning shots across the bow, signalling that a change in strategy was underway. For anyone who was in doubt, however, CEO Steve Ballmer has clearly spelled out in a shareholder letter that Microsoft now sees its own devices as crucial to the company as anything else. There’s a “fundamental shift” in how the Redmond-based crew works, he says, and investors should expect that Microsoft will periodically make “specific devices for specific purposes” (like Surface or the Xbox) that show off services in the best light possible. Ballmer adds that plans in the long run focus on new device types and learning interfaces. The message is ostensibly a rosy one for the company’s future, but there’s also a subtext for hardware makers that have complained about competing against their OS partner: get used to it. Ballmer sees Microsoft-designed hardware like Surface as complementary to what third parties do, and his company isn’t about to reverse course anytime soon.
Filed under: Gaming, Tablets, Microsoft
Microsoft CEO Ballmer braces us for a ‘fundamental shift’ in strategy with more Microsoft-designed devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Oct 05
Those of us who follow the tablet industry closely would know that Microsoft is gearing up both of their highly anticipated Surface tablets sometime before the year is over, with other sources touting an October release date in tandem with the Windows 8 operating system release. Well, reader Yoni Heisler shared this seemingly bizarre advertisement that more or less depicts both of Microsoft’s upcoming tablets, plastered at the side wall of a car wash in Chicago.
Surely this could be a clever piece of street art, as it definitely does not seem to smell like Microsoft at all, having a coffer that is filled to the brim with billions of dollars, only to fall back upon a rather unconventional way of advertising an upcoming device. Perhaps Microsoft has decided to go down the path of guerilla style marketing. After all, guys who send their rides to the car wash in that area will most probably walk around to stretch their legs a bit while waiting for the job to be complete, and surely they would not miss such a different marketing campaign that touts both Surface tablets from Microsoft. There’s no shame in going old school, you know.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google and Microsoft to expand Nexus 7 and Surface lines [Rumor], Microsoft-branded Windows Phone handset expected in first half of 2013 [Rumor],
Oct 04
We all know for sure that Microsoft will be rolling out their very own Surface tablet device in due time (at the end of this month, actually) which will run on the Windows RT operating system. Well, before any piece of consumer electronics are released in the US, they will first need to receive relevant approval from the FCC – and it seems that this is just what happened with the Microsoft Surface tablet via a post on the FCC website that depicted uploaded documents which parade a “tablet PC” of sorts that was running on Windows RT. Of course, this is by no means confirmation that it is the Microsoft Surface tablet itself, considering how the tablet is known as “Model 1516″ in its FCC filing, and the world is not aware of any other Windows RT tablets coming to the market other than the Surface.
“Model 1516″ will also come with Bluetooth and 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to a stand and a keyboard peripheral which will be membrane-based. All in all, patience is the operative keyword here as it is just three weeks or so before the Microsoft Surface launches, and we do look forward to the end of October with anticipation.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Office 2013 arrive on Windows RT tablets this November, Nokia Windows RT tablet in the works [Rumor],
Oct 04
Well well, it looks like Microsoft’s getting all its Windows 8 ducks in a row today. First, it sends out the invite for the Windows 8 launch event and a save the date for a Windows Phone 8 party, and now it looks like one of its Surface tablets has garnered FCC approval. Dubbed the Model 1516, the device in question can’t be confirmed as a Surface slate, but we do know it’s running Windows RT and has a membrane keyboard peripheral thanks to the docs submitted to Uncle Sam. We also know that it’s got a stand, as the FCC label will be residing on the back panel beneath it, and the radios on board are of the Bluetooth and 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi variety. Does that add up to a Surface RT tablet? We sure think so, but see the evidence for yourself at the source link below.
Filed under: Tablets
Microsoft Surface Windows 8 RT tablet hits the FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Oct 04
Nexus 7 is to Google as Surface is to Microsoft, so what happens when there are whispers being thrown about the industry, touting that Google as well as Microsoft fully intend to extend the Nexus 7 and Surface tablet ranges to comprise of more than just tablets, but rather, to include smartphones as well in order to increase the level of penetration of their respective platforms to the masses. Just like the ancient proverb that says, all roads lead to Rome, so too, will both of these technology giants implement their respective strategies in a different manner.
Google wants to include smartphones based on their Nexus 7 platform while working with hardware vendors who have vast experience in the world of smartphones such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony Mobile Communications and HTC being likely candidates, whereas Microsoft is tapping up ODM maker Pegatron to deliver smartphones that are powered by Windows Phone 8 sometime in the first half of 2013. All of the above are not confirmed just yet, so we will be playing close attention to how the rumors will unfold down the road – whether they will be gospel truth or otherwise.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google Nexus 7 32GB spotted in Carphone Warehouse listing, Microsoft-branded Windows Phone handset expected in first half of 2013 [Rumor],
Oct 02
Microsoft-branded Windows Phone handset expected in first half of 2013 [Rumor]
Posted in: Today's Chili
Considering that Microsoft surprised many, their manufacturing partners included, with the release of their own branded hardware the Microsoft Surface tablet, many speculated that Microsoft might attempt to do the same thing with their Windows Phone platform and release a Microsoft-made smartphone. Microsoft of course denied those rumors, but we hardly expected that to slow down the rumor mill, with the latest rumor coming from China Times. The publication has suggested that Microsoft has been working on their own hardware for the past few months with different assembly partners and that we can expect a Microsoft made Windows Phone device in the first half of 2013.
Of course given that this is merely a rumor at this point with no hard evidence backing it up, we suggest taking it with a grain of salt for now. However would such a device be completely out of the question? According to Garter analyst, Roberta Cozza, it would make sense especially if Microsoft had gain a reputable and sizeable following from its Surface tablet, although Cozza also noted that Microsoft might have some difficulty against other manufacturers who are most established, such as Samsung, HTC, Motorola and etc. There is also the issue of burning bridges where their manufacturing partners are concerned, and such a move would only be a “last resort” according to IHS Screen Digest analyst, Ian Fogg, but what do you guys think? Would you like to see Microsoft follow in Apple’s footsteps and start releasing their own brand of hardware and software for mobile devices?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft employees enjoy a very Windows Christmas, Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform gaining on RIM over in Europe,
Sep 17
Microsoft has remained coy about the pricing details for their Surface tablets that will be released in the near future, but according to what the Seattle Times managed to wring out of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, it seems that the Surface tablet will be competitively priced to go up against the new iPad from Apple instead of spending time duking it out with far more affordable tablets such as the Nexus 7 from Google or the Kindle Fire HD. In fact, Ballmer mentioned that he expected different Surface models to sell from “probably $300 to about $700 or $800″, and a lot of this depends on whether they come equipped with Windows RT or Windows 8 Pro as the operating system of choice right out of the box.
Microsoft does not seem to want to entrench themselves in a price war with Amazon or Google be entering into the affordable 7” tablet arena, as the Surface tablet was specially designed to target the professional segment, and when one wants to kick back their legs, relax and enjoy after a hard day at the office, use the Surface tablet to watch movies or listen to their favorite music tracks.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Microsoft employees enjoy a very Windows Christmas, Office 2013 arrive on Windows RT tablets this November,
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