cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Microsoft Windows 10, Lumia 950/XL and Band 2

Daddydoink
Level 15: Gaining a Reputation
  • 450 Posts
  • 41 Topics
  • 3 Solutions
Registered:

Hello

 

Microsoft are holding a special event on 6 Oct in New York with a huge agenda of equipment including:

  • Surface Pro 4
  • Windows Lumia 950/XL information (and potential launch dates)
  • Microsoft Band 2
  • Hololens
  • and more

Full run down can be found at:

http://www.windowscentral.com/source-code-microsofts-october-press-event-page-seems-confirm-product-...

http://www.windowscentral.com/what-expect-microsofts-windows-10-devices-event-nyc?utm_medium=slider&...

 

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:

  • 2 antennas in the product to give best connectivity to the mobile (cellular) network. 
  • Octacore (XL) and Hexacore (950) processes confirmed with liquid cooling technology.  
  • 5.2 inch (950)
  • 5.7 inch (950XL)
  • OLED
  • 564, 518PPI
  • Glance screen technology (as per the earlier Windows phones), using 0 battery life.

"Nothing more important than the camera at the moment. " - so with that, the following was noted.

  • 20MP sensor
  • Triple LED RGB Natural Flash to remove red eye and ghosting
  • "Great in lowlight"
  • Dedicated camera button
  • 5th generation optical image stabilisation.
  • 32GB storage
  • Memory expansion with MicroSD (theoretically up to 2TB)

Other hardware information included:

  • USB-C on the bottom of the device - 30 minutes for 50% charge, so rapid charge is making the most of the USB-C connectivity.
  • Windows Hello for Iris security.
  • Devices can dock with Continuum, meaning that you can connect your phone to the TV, a monitor, USB, etc. 

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.

 

  • PixelSense is key to this
  • 0.4mm Gorilla Glass
  • All year battery life in pen
  • Microsoft Pen and Touch
  • Erase on the top of the pen (dig here at Apple Pencil not having eraser)
  • 50% of people using Surface Pro3 use Microsoft Pen.
  • 1024 points of pressure in the Pen
  • Batteries can be changed manually.
  • Pen will stick to the Surface Pro4 - pen storage.
  • OneNote in one button.
  • DoubleClick the pen will let OneNote make a decision to take a screen grab for you to ink on
  • 16GB RAM, 1TB storage.
  • Demonstration of creating sheet music (StaffPad)
  • USB retained.
  • 5 Pen Colours and interchangable pen tips to change the type of ink/drawing/writing.
  • Cortana integrated into the pen - hold the button down and it calls up Cortana
  • Edge integrated into the SurfacePro4

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:

  • Nivdia Graphics, USB, SD etc
  • 13.5 inch screen, 6 million pixels, 267dpi.  
  • Pixel Sense integrated.  Touch Experience.
  • Optically bonded to give better colour, contrast, clarity.
  • Typing experience - best-in-class stroke, backlit keys. 1.6mm of travel within the keys.  
  • Trackpad optimised, with glass and 5 points of touch.  
  • Ultimate performance - Latest Core processor, GDDR5 memory, 12 hr battery life.
  • "Fastest 13 inch laptop ever made"
  • No drain when the laptop is asleep.  

 

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 

Windows 10|SurfaceBook2-512|Lego|Wheelchair Reviews
Sony Xperia ZX Premium (because I loved the Try The Tech phone so much)
Sony Xperia XZ
Message 1 of 156
20,122 Views
155 REPLIES 155

ianh
Level 3: Thinker
  • 68 Posts
  • 1 Topics
  • 0 Solutions
Registered:

You can now preorder the 950 and 950 XL via Carphonewarehouse

Message 81 of 156
6,539 Views

ianh
Level 3: Thinker
  • 68 Posts
  • 1 Topics
  • 0 Solutions
Registered:

@Toby@Chris_K

 

Are either of you able to confirm that the 950 XL is not coming to O2?

Message 82 of 156
6,455 Views

Chris_K
  • 1851 Posts
  • 404 Topics
  • 161 Solutions
Registered:

@ianh wrote:

@Toby@Chris_K

 

Are either of you able to confirm that the 950 XL is not coming to O2?


That is correct. Currently there are no plans to range this device but would always recommend you register your interest in 'Windows Phone' devices here, should this position change in the future: https://www.o2.co.uk/getupdates


iPhone 15 Megathread //  Don't fall for scams  //  How to get Volt benefits
Contact us on Social MediaFacebook // Twitter // Instagram
Message 83 of 156
6,452 Views

Daddydoink
Level 15: Gaining a Reputation
  • 450 Posts
  • 41 Topics
  • 3 Solutions
Registered:

@Chris_K wrote:

@ianh wrote:

@Toby@Chris_K

 

Are either of you able to confirm that the 950 XL is not coming to O2?


That is correct. Currently there are no plans to range this device but would always recommend you register your interest in 'Windows Phone' devices here, should this position change in the future: https://www.o2.co.uk/getupdates


This is bad news for some of us who have been holding off contract renewals - I'll now have to consider our options with other MNOs...

 

Why has O2 waited so long to say this?  

Windows 10|SurfaceBook2-512|Lego|Wheelchair Reviews
Sony Xperia ZX Premium (because I loved the Try The Tech phone so much)
Sony Xperia XZ
Message 84 of 156
6,459 Views

Chris_K
  • 1851 Posts
  • 404 Topics
  • 161 Solutions
Registered:

New hardware ranges aren't always straight forward unfortunately and it's only recently that it's been confirmed we won't be ranging this. I have sent feedback to our portfolio team on this though, as I know the 950XL is a device many of you have been excited about and been looking forward to.


iPhone 15 Megathread //  Don't fall for scams  //  How to get Volt benefits
Contact us on Social MediaFacebook // Twitter // Instagram
Message 85 of 156
6,453 Views

Daddydoink
Level 15: Gaining a Reputation
  • 450 Posts
  • 41 Topics
  • 3 Solutions
Registered:

@Chris_K wrote:

New hardware ranges aren't always straight forward unfortunately and it's only recently that it's been confirmed we won't be ranging this. I have sent feedback to our portfolio team on this though, as I know the 950XL is a device many of you have been excited about and been looking forward to.


Could you please feedback as well that it's not just the disappointment, it is the time taken to inform customers and potential customers.  Considering the range of Apple and Samsung devices carried by the network, the 'flagship device' which is a profit generator should be given the opportunity to succeed.  O2's own reputation as a market leader for all devices will suffer from this.  The Lumia 950 may be seen as a "popular option", the XL would also be a popular device, especially for those looking to achieve secure email and better mobile working. 

Windows 10|SurfaceBook2-512|Lego|Wheelchair Reviews
Sony Xperia ZX Premium (because I loved the Try The Tech phone so much)
Sony Xperia XZ
Message 86 of 156
6,451 Views

ianh
Level 3: Thinker
  • 68 Posts
  • 1 Topics
  • 0 Solutions
Registered:
I'm really disappointed how long it has taken to get this answer. I kind of suspected you wouldn't be getting it when only the 950 was listed. Why can't O2 just be upfront about it. I appreciate that you guys might not know either, and it might be an internal communication issue. Whatever it is, it needs to be sorted out. I'll be looking at other networks now
Message 87 of 156
6,436 Views

xma1e_
Level 2: Apprentice
  • 50 Posts
  • 7 Topics
  • 0 Solutions
Registered:
That's very disappointing to hear O2 not supporting Windows users. This'll be the 2nd time I've been forced off the network due to their lack of commitment to Windows
Message 88 of 156
6,356 Views

Anonymous
Not applicable

My Contract expired in October and I've been holding out to hear news on whether o2 will supply the 950xl.. after hearing that new I'll have to weigh my options as I really want the 950XL

Message 89 of 156
6,317 Views

Anonymous
Not applicable

Goodbye o2, its been a long relationship, but all good things come to an end. You can continue to suuport Samsung and Apple, but i am a windows phone user and fan, so i want the best, the 950XL. Goodbye, thank god i am out of contract!

Message 90 of 156
6,313 Views