Earlier today, Microsoft held an event in New York city to talk about devices that support Windows 10. Most of these devices (Surface Pro 4, SurfaceBook, new Lumia phones, Microsoft Band v2) will be released in the next few weeks, while the Hololens will likely be out next year.
Personally, I am most excited by the new phones (Continuum is amazing) and by the upcoming SurfaceBook (which I did not know about before today), but there was impressive news in every category.
Below are my notes while watching this event:
- Keynote
- 110+ Million devices now running Windows 10
- Facebook, Audible, Uber building universal apps for Windows 10
- Upgrading all Xbox Ones to Windows 10
- Xbox One will play Xbox 360 games
- Hololens
- Mixed reality
- "Project X-Ray" mixed reality game
- Holograms you can hold: Gauntlet that moves with his arm
- Robots know where the walls and furniture are
- Holograms interact with each other and the real environment
- Spatial sound
- No wires; no phones; no connection to a PC required
- Applications accepted today for Hololens dev kit. Starting Q12016. $3000
- Microsoft Band
- New version released
- Comfort: Curved screen; no hard edges
- New Barometer sensor
- Estimates VO2 Max: Maximum oxygen intake
- Golf app
- Tracks golf strokes
- Recognizes practice swings
- Knows which tee you are on
- Microsoft Health app works across phone, PC, tablet
- Available 10/30: $249 retail (Pre-order today)
- Microsoft Lumia (phone)
- 950 and 950XL available in November
- 2 antennas
- LED screen
- 500 dpi
- 5.2" and 5.7" display
- Camera
- Triple LED RGB Natural flash: better color; no red eye
- Stabilizer
- Quick charging: <30 mins = 50% charge
- Windows "Hello" (biometric ID) now in Beta on phone
- Continuum
- Microsoft Display dock
- HDMI and display port
- 3 USB ports for accessories
- Plug in mouse and keyboard
- USB access
- Keyboard shortcuts (CTRL+C; CTRL+V; ALT+TAB)
- Taskbar
- Displays open apps
- Highlight current app
- Task View
- Full apps (e.g., Word, PowerPoint)
- Phone experience not interrupted while Continuum is active
- Surface Pro 4
- Available 10/26. Pre-order now.
- Starts at $899
- 98% of people who use Surface Pro 3 recommend it
- Faster processor
- 30% faster than Surface Pro 3
- 50% faster than Macbook Air
- Up to 16GB RAM; 1TB storage
- Thinner than SP3 (8.4 mm)
- 12.3" diagonal (larger screen but same footprint)
- Fingerprint reader
- Screen
- "PixelSense" technology - pen and touch
- Cover glass: 400 microns thick gorilla glass
- 267 ppi screen (5 million pixels) 60% more pixels than SP3
- G5 chipset
- Pen
- 1034 points pressure
- 1 year battery life
- Built-in Eraser
- Magnetic pen storage
- Hold down pen: Calls Cortana
- Interchangeable pen tips (fine-line, felt tip, etc.)
- Surface Pro docking station
- Works with SP3 and SP4
- Connects to USB
- Keyboard
- Light
- Works with SP3
- Backlit
- Trackpad
- 40% larger
- 5-point multi-touch larger track pad
- SurfaceBook
- First laptop built by Microsoft
- 6 million pixels
- 13.5" diagonal
- "Pixelsense"
- Thin gorilla glass
- Trackpad - 5 touch points
- 12 hours battery life. Doesn't burn battery while closed.
- 2x faster than MacBook Pro
- Works with docking station
- Starts at $1499
- Available 10/26. Pre-order now.
- 1.6 lbs.
- 7.7 mm thin
- Detachable screen
- GPU is in the base
- Supports pen and touch
- "Muscle Wire" locks and unlocks screen