While the Surface Pro 2 was shown off with a set of power upgrades earlier today, the Surface 2 is set to return with a collection of slim-downs. This starts with a thinner body, a lighter body, and a silver option (so you’re not just stuck with black.) This device is coming with a Full […]
As promised, Microsoft has just revealed the Surface 2 here at its Surface-themed press event. Whereas the new Surface Pro 2 makes subtle changes to the original Pro, the Surface 2 is being billed as a revamped version of the Surface RT. As rumored, it moves up to a higher-res 1080p ClearType display — the same one you’ll find on the new Surface Pro 2. Performance-wise, the tablet now has a Tegra 4 chip (versus Tegra 3 in the last generation). Microsoft also says it’s doubled the BUS speed for the WiFi and the memory, and the CPU speed has increased “dramatically” as well. Additionally, there’s now a USB 3.0 port on board, a step up from the USB 2.0 connection used on the original. All told, says Microsoft, the new model should run three to four times as fast as its predecessor, and the battery life should be 25 percent longer too (up to 10 hours of video playback).
As for the design, this looks similar to last year’s RT, at least from a few feet away, but it’s thinner (8.9mm), lighter (676g) and built from two pieces of magnesium, not three. And, of course, it sports the same two-stage kickstand as the new Surface Pro 2, which should make it easier to balance in your lap. As you’d expect, it also works with the new Touch Cover 2, which Microsoft also announced today. Oh, and it’s available in white now too; not just black. Moving on, Microsoft also added a third-inch camera sensor to the front of the product to help manage the light in webcam videos, especially those recorded in dim light. Speaking of video chats, Surface owners will enjoy a year of free international calling and Skype hotspot access. Not enough freebies for you? Microsoft’s also throwing in 200GB of SkyDrive storage, free for two years.%Gallery-slideshow89979%
This week the folks at Microsoft have introduced the Surface family in a bit of a reboot, starting with the Surface Pro. As the company is making clear this week through their own Panos Panay, “reinventing the wheel is not the goal, making it better is.” In other words, this isn’t going to be a […]
Microsoft’s big Surface reveal today is packed with plenty of spec bumps, but its most important improvements might come from its accessories. Especially its new battery-packed Power Cover.
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The Surface RT’s full-fledged Pro counterpart just got an update. Today, Microsoft unveiled the follow-up to that x86 / Windows 8-compatible tablet: the Surface Pro 2 and it still comes with a stylus. According to Microsoft’s claims, this new tablet boasts 50 percent more color accuracy, better graphics performance, an improved speaker setup and some speed gains — it’s purportedly 20 percent faster than the original.
For those wondering, the Pro 2’s display has been kept consistent with the original, which means it remains a 10.6-inch 1080p panel, and it’s even been ported to the new Surface 2. Battery life has gotten a significant 75 percent boost as well thanks to the 1.6GHz Core i5 Haswell processor inside and now runs much quieter. The Surface Pro 2 can also be paired with Microsoft’s new Power Cover to give the tablet 2.5x its standalone battery life or the Type Cover 2, which is now 1mm thinner and backlit.
The kickstand has also been revised for the refresh, as it’s now a two-stage affair, addressing the issues many users had with the old Pro’s awkward angle. As for ports, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 2 is loaded up with support for three USB 2.0, one USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio in/out and, of course, charging. The Surface Pro 2, when docked, can output up to a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution on an external display and is capable of editing 6K video, backing up the company’s repeated assertion that this tablet is actually a “full power PC.”
Pre-orders for both of Microsoft’s next-gen Surface tablets go live tomorrow, the 24th, at 8AM EST with units set to ship to 21 markets on October 22nd. Pricing for the base Surface Pro 2 (i.e., 64GB / 4GB RAM) starts at $899 (the same as the original Pro), although that retail sticker shock will climb depending on the model — it’ll be available in configurations of up to 512GB / 8GB RAM.
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About this time last year, Microsoft made some major promises about ushering in the future of computing. One year and two Surface tablets, later the future Microsoft’s been dreaming of isn’t quite here. Maybe the second time’s the charm.
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Welcome to Microsoft’s Surface 2 event in NYC! We’ll be on hand to deliver updates on new hardware, pricing, keyboard covers and whatever else Redmond has in store. Stay tuned!
It seems that on September 23rd, Microsoft is not going to hold back on the upcoming Surface 2 range of tablets, and the folks over at Neowin have managed to pick up some vital information concerning such tablets, as well as the different accessories that these tablets will come with, courtesy of some alleged insider information.
Apparently, Microsoft has had plans for an updated Type Cover which should most probably arrive in a range of colors for the first time. So far, Neowin has managed to get hold of blue and purple Type covers, and who are we to say that there will be no other different colors down the road? After all, to churn all of these out in a bevy of rainbow shades is a simple matter considering how one just needs to spray the plastic with a new color. Apart from that, there are also whispers of a white/silver Surface 2, although it remains to be seen whether this is a result of a prototype, or is it yet another brand new color that will hit the market.
The press-only event that is set to happen tomorrow will also include another peripheral or two which has been making its way around the rumor mills, although there is nothing more concrete to continue from there. All in all, we just have to sit tight and stay tuned!
Microsoft Rumored To Unveil New Surface Tablets Soon original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Microsoft’s new recycle-for-reward initiative doesn’t target one of its own devices — instead, it focuses on another company’s popular gadget: Apple’s iPad. The US trade-in program offers at least $200 in exchange for a “gently used” iPad 2, 3 or 4. You can probably get more than $200 in other places, especially for the newer slates, and you can even get cash instead of the Microsoft Store gift cards Redmond’s giving out. However, outgoing CEO Ballmer and Co. are hoping you’ll find the project helpful if you’ve been wanting to buy their products anyway — particularly the Surface tablets, as evidenced by their prominent placement on the program’s page. Before you surrender old iPads to give Surface a chance, know that the trade-in scheme will run until October 27th, which gives you time to see Microsoft’s next attempt.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Source: Microsoft
There’s no doubt in the fact that Microsoft sees the iPad as a big hurdle in the way of the success of its Surface tablets. The company has made ads that pit its Surface tablets against the iPad, it has gone to lengths to prove that they’re better than Apple’s popular tablets. Microsoft is now offering a new deal which is available in select Microsoft retail stores in the U.S. and Canada. The company will give you a minimum $200 gift card if you trade-in your iPad.
There’s actually no compulsion on customers to put that gift card towards the purchase of a new Surface tablet, though they’re welcome to do so. Gift cards can be used to purchase other products available on Microsoft Store. Tablets that qualify for trade-in are “gently used” iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4 units. This deal actually kicked off on September 5th, it runs until October 27th. The timing is certainly interesting, considering that Microsoft is going to unveil its new Surface tablets on September 23rd. The new tablets are expected to be released in the market soon after the announcement. Does the company think it finally has a tablet that’ll make people turn in their iPads, so its just giving them a nudge in the right direction through this deal?
Microsoft Will Give You Minimum $200 Gift Card For Your iPad original content from Ubergizmo. 
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