15-09-2015 17:42 - edited 07-10-2015 10:11
15-09-2015 17:42 - edited 07-10-2015 10:11
Hello
Microsoft are holding a special event on 6 Oct in New York with a huge agenda of equipment including:
Full run down can be found at:
Hope this is of interest
DD
Taken from the event live:
Hololens
The event opened with Microsoft Hololens being formally announced with development kits being priced at $3k and available for developers in Q1 2016. There was a huge display of holograms in your living room - a lot of new future fun! Onwards...
Microsoft Band2
It was stated that it is user feedback that has improved it - it must curve around the wrist was one feedback.
It has guerilla glass and improved touch as well as all the original features that people liked. Cortana integrated as part of the Microsoft Band2/Health apps.
Customers asked for something specific - how to track elevation. This was resolved with an 11th sensor - the barometer, which tracks height in real time.
Microsoft say it is clear that the band is providing data for users to track their own health which customers are using. There is a lot of data available, from running routes to calories burnt, sleep patterns, heart rate... it is a long list. The new band2 has constant and immediate access to all the data applicable to the owner - Microsoft Health enables people to dig in and track where they ran and what they achieved. You can also access this via your Microsoft Health apps on phone and in Windows10.
An amazing new and very clever feature is VO2 Max whih is enabling people to identify maximum volume of oxygen they can consume. Top sports athletes do this - now you can too. Only the Microsoft Band2 does this outside of the lab.
Golf also benefits - it provides shot detection to help identify types of swing, based on built in sensors to track and monitor your game, discounting practise swings and knowing where you are.
Band2 will continue to work with all of the operating systems still. Microsoft have brought in a large number of new partners including Uber, Facebook, MyFitnessPal - all one touch away. Weight loss company "Lose It!" announced as joining at this event.
Price and Availability:
Band2 available Oct 30, $249 - £199 in the UK Pre-order available from today.
Surface and Lumia
Surface is now worth $3.5Billion each year, with other hardware vendors selling Microsoft. Lumia is now considered as an opportunity to reinvent the smart device category. More businesses are taking on Lumia (key - business).
Panos Panay introduced the Mobile Device Section.
New phones:
There is a huge desire within the team to bring great devices to market. 110 million devices in 8 weeks running Windows 10. Desire to bring that fresh consistent updates to the Windows 10 on Phone. Full office, including full Outlook on a phone. The Lumia 950 family brings all this.
Hardware specs confirmed:
"Nothing more important than the camera at the moment. " - so with that, the following was noted.
Other hardware information included:
Continuum for phone empowers the user to use the phone like a PC.
Microsoft Display Dock turns the phone into a PC, with a proper PC experience. It's a PC in the pocket... and the phone remains the same whilst using continuum - you don't lose the phone when it becomes your PC. Copy and paste is still available - all the keyboard shortcuts work like it really is a PC.
Microsoft OneDrive and Cloud integrated. USB drives will mount within the phone using the Microsoft Display Dock - enabling people to connect thumb drives to their phone.
A surprise announcement was the Lumia 550 - a budget Windows 10 device and will be available in December. Prices around £100 (from the suggested $139) and is likely to be as popular as the 430 or 530. No specs yet.
Lumia 950 and 950XL - how much and when:
Available in November.
950: £499
950XL: £549
Carriers to be confirmed, although O2 are listing the device on their forthcoming sheets.
Lumia 550 - how much and when:
Available in December. $139.
Surface Pro4
Challenge for consumers over purchase of laptop vs tablet - its now gone with the Surface. Surface Pro3 has helped people grow with it and the way people have adapted to use this product.
Performance is key to the surface - 30% faster than the Surface Pro3, 50% faster than MacBook Air.
Surface connection dock:
Two 4k display ports
4 USB 3.0
Ethernet
One productive connection.
New Type Cover
Lighter type cover, backlit, scissor desgin, precision glass trackpad - Pro3 compatible. 1.3mm key travel. 40% larger track pad. Fingerprint reader integrated for those who don't have or want Hello (Pro3 compatible)
Windows Hello
Windows Hello will log in a user without having to change user log ons. No need for shared user accounts! Integrated into Pro4.
Prices and availability:
Starts at $899.
Available for pre-order now, out Oct 26.
SurfaceBook.
Customers wanted a bigger screen - hence the SurfaceBook. It features a unique hinge with backlit keys. Microsoft bill this as "The Ultimate Laptop". It was clear from the presentation that they view this as a direct head to head MacBook Pro competitor, with demonstrations of the high end GPU capabilities. Editing 3D images and 3GB movie files in Premiere live on stages was done with ease. It was also clear that although planned, the laptop was not just going through motions - it was something that the customer could do, too.
Key facts:
Surface Dock works with the SurfaceBook as well. The hinge is called "Dynamic Fulcrum Hinge". Then the real "cool" factor was shown - it can act like a Surface tablet - detachable from the keyboard (using muscle wire). It was also pointed out that the GPU is in the base, not the screen where the PC is - so take it off the keyboard, it will loose the GFX power, even though it maintains the other bits like processor, memory, sdd, in the tablet element.
It does make the device quite thick... does that really matter though?
Performance:
In comparison to Macbook Pro - 2x faster.
Prices and availablity:
$1499, Pre-order now, out Oct 26
21-09-2015 18:03
21-09-2015 18:03
21-09-2015 18:16
21-09-2015 18:16
21-09-2015 18:37
21-09-2015 18:37
Blimey...I will give you two bottles of champagne then @Daddydoink if that's all it takes?
Veritas Numquam Perit
26-09-2015 22:16
26-09-2015 22:16
More excitement on WindowsCentral.com
I wonder what @Toby or @Chris_K know?
28-09-2015 13:30
28-09-2015 13:30
@Daddydoink wrote:
More excitement on WindowsCentral.com
I wonder what @Toby or @Chris_K know?
I know lots of things, but this isn't one of them I'm afraid. We're excited with the rumours and speculation surrounding these but as yet we don't have any dates or confirmation. As always though i'll keep my eyes peeled and keep everyone updated.
Also as always, make sure you register here for updates > https://www.o2.co.uk/getupdates
01-10-2015 16:52
01-10-2015 16:52
02-10-2015 20:07
02-10-2015 20:07
So - tonights update - have some high-res renders and the news of there being a dual sim variant prototype:
Enjoy your dribbling - I did from the 18:06 Exeter to Paddington...
02-10-2015 20:14
02-10-2015 20:14
02-10-2015 20:22
02-10-2015 20:22
05-10-2015 21:15
05-10-2015 21:15
As I warm up for tomorrow (very excited) - have a look at what others want to see... http://www.windowscentral.com/lumia-950-950-xl-what-we-want-to-see