MICROSOFT today unveiled "Surface" - a new tablet which will acts as the head of a "whole new family of Microsoft computing devices," CEO Steve Ballmer announced at a mystery event in California today.
The tablet will run on Windows 8 and deliver touch and gesture recognition.
It is the first tablet to come with an "ultra rigid" full magnesium case, Ballmer told the crowd.
It comes with a built in stand and an attachable keyboard.
"If you use your PC to design and create things, this is for you," Ballmer said.
It comes with a built in stand and an attachable keyboard.
"If you use your PC to design and create things, this is for you," Ballmer said.
At less than two pounds and less than 14mm thin, "it's a full PC", he said.
The "Vapor MG" casing is scratch resistent "the first of its kind".
Ballmer said Microsoft was working with Intel to release Surface as their next iteration of tablets.
"Imagine if we built this so we could use all the apps you're familiar with," he said.
The demonstration didn't come without a few hiccups. The first tablet didn't work properly so Ballmer had to run off-stage to use a second one, Mashable reported
The venue for the invite-only announcement was shrouded in secrecy and was reminiscent of tech mega rival Apple's media-frenzied unveilings, was disclosed to participants only hours before the event itself.
The venue for the invite-only announcement was shrouded in secrecy and was reminiscent of tech mega rival Apple's media-frenzied unveilings, was disclosed to participants only hours before the event itself.
Journalists - who last week received an invitation teasingly telling them "This will be a major Microsoft announcement - you will not want to miss it" - were told to turn up at the Milk Studios, in downtown Hollywood.
The Milk Studios website describes it as "one of the world's premiere photography studios, (which) stands at the crossroads of fashion, photography, art and media" - although it was unclear what link it has with Microsoft.
The Hollywood location has fueled speculation that the announcement could involve entertainment industry content.
But beyond the venue there were still few concrete details of what was in store at the 3:30pm. (8.30am AEST) event, which has triggered an array of reports, some contradictory.
Last week, the entertainment website The Wrap said it had learned Microsoft would unveil its own branded tablet powered by Windows in a head-on challenge to Apple.
Technology news site TechCrunch said the announcement would not involve a device with the upcoming Microsoft 8 operating system, but a co-branded tablet with Barnes & Noble, the struggling bookseller and maker of the Nook tablet.
The device, according to TechCrunch, could allow consumers to link to the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console for streaming movies and other entertainment.
Microsoft in April announced a $300 million investment in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary which includes the Nook business.
But the business website Benzinga said Barnes & Noble indicated it was not part of the Microsoft announcement.
The brokerage firm Canaccord said "sources close to the matter" indicate Microsoft would unveil a tablet running the next version of Windows under its own brand, departing from its strategy of partnering with computer makers.
"Microsoft has been working with computer makers in the production of the tablets, looking to win share of the tablet market from the dominant iPad," the brokerage said in a note to clients.
Some others speculated Microsoft might announce a deal to buy online video service Hulu and weave it into the Xbox Live online entertainment service linked to the Redmond, Washington-based company's leading Xbox 360 videogame consoles.
The fact that the press event will be held at a yet-to-be disclosed venue in Los Angeles hinted heavily that entertainment industry content would be in the spotlight.
"It's in LA, so they are going to talk about media," said independent Silicon Valley analyst, Rob Enderle.
"It could be about hardware, but after the Kin failure and the Zune failure I can't picture the person at Microsoft who has the balls to pitch a Microsoft tablet."
Kin was a youth-oriented mobile phone from Microsoft that was pulled from the market after just weeks, while Zune was the longtime Apple rival's now-abandoned MP3 device that unsuccessfully challenged the iPod.
Some analysts were speculating about an early release of Windows RT, the Microsoft operating system to power tablets or other mobile devices running on ARM chips, which allow mobile devices to run more efficiently.
Microsoft earlier this month stepped up its quest to be at the heart of home entertainment by syncing Xbox 360 videogame consoles to smartphones and tablets while adding more blockbuster content.
Via :the Telegraf
Via :the Telegraf
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