The Surface tablets will replace Polaroid photos that are printed out to show quarterbacks and other players what went wrong during a previous play. Surprisingly, this is still the case in 2013 — players don’t have access to instant replay displays on the sidelines, so they’re given printed-out photos instead. It works, but it’s really inefficient.

The tablets will not only be more convenient (as well as more interactive) but they’ll also cut down on costs for laminated paper and ink used for the hundreds of photos that are printed out each week. Coaches will also be able to use Surface tablets to replace their playbooks, although it might be a difficult transition for them, as printed-out playbooks have been the way for many years.

However, some coaches already use iPads on the sidelines during practices, and the Microsoft partnership won’t stop them from doing so, although they’ll be required to cover-up the Apple logo whenever they use them in a game, while Surface tablets won’t need covering up. In fact, even the replay booths that officials use to make a call will now have Microsoft branding on them.

Previously, the NFL had banned any kind of recording device or video player from being on sidelines, which is probably the reason behind all of those Polaroid photos being printed out, so using tablets during games was against the rules, since they can play back video and capture video as well. However, it seems the NFL is coming around to the idea of allowing such devices on the sidelines, and the NFL said that they’re all-in on changing the rules if it means bringing more innovation to the game.

SOURCE: BusinessWeek

Panay, who led the Surface project, and is a corporate VP at Microsoft, took to Twitter to confirm that he had been testing out the latest Wacom beta drivers. “Cool to see Pen pressure in Photoshop” he commented, along with the promise that the software update would be “releasing soon.”

That was then followed by the quiet release from Wacom of what’s described as an “Enhanced Tablet Driver“, v7.1.1-12. Although the driver makes no specific mention of Surface Pro, the details given around what, exactly, it does for a Wacom digitizer-enabled system does sound just like what Panos was talking about:

“Expand the capabilities of your tablet computer with the enhanced tablet driver for systems that use Wacom Feel IT technology! Installing this driver will provide many advanced pressure-sensitive features that Wacom pen tablet users have come to enjoy. The driver supports advanced features such as pressure-sensitivity in graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. It also allows you to adjust the pen tip pressure sensitivity and to program the side switch of the pen for a wide range of alternative settings and functions” Wacom Feel It driver documentation

Microsoft is yet to confirm whether this is, in fact, the relevant update, though given there have been mixed messages around why pressure sensitivity does not work properly in all apps in the first place, that’s arguably not a surprise. Anecdotal reports from Surface Pro users have indicated that it the driver does, indeed, address the issue, ZDNet reports.

One proposed explanation is that Microsoft scuppered third-party support by forcing the Surface Pro to use its own InkAPI drivers for the Wacom digitizer, whereas others have blamed Adobe for not building the necessary support into its software. Adobe has been pushing for the WinTab API drivers instead.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is tipped to be preparing a new line of “Surface 2″ tablets, potentially including a smaller, roughly 7- to 8-inch model, for reveal at its BUILD 2013 developer conference this year. So far, Windows RT and Windows 8 have been reserved for 10-inch tablets or bigger, leaving the smaller scale touch market to the iPad mini and various Android-powered options.

Word from upstream supply chain sources speaking with Digitimes have suggested that BUILD will be the place where a new generation of Surface tablets will likely appear first. They’ve added that the first generation, having sold what they claim is 1.5 million units total for the first two releases of the tablet (RT and Pro). This being half of the expectations the company had, a “cautious attitude over promotions” has been initiated for the 2nd generation.

This second generation has a series of components largely the same as the first run, with what these same sources say are parts from LG, Samsung, NVIDIA, Intel, and Pegatron. Changes would be in the chassis of the tablet switching from what was manufactured by China-based Chungnam Precision Casing to Ju Teng. At the moment there’ve been no confirmations from any of the named manufacturers on a second-generation Surface model.

The final bit of information this source spoke about this week was the idea that this generation of the Surface tablet would feature between a 7 and 9-inch display, this matching up well with the trend for larger and smaller than 10.1-inch tablet standard sizes in the industry.

Currently, the Microsoft Surface RT tablet is available in 25 markets, including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. On April 25th, 2 days from now, the Surface RT will become available in Malaysia. It will then head to Mexico by the end of May, and finally to Korea and Thailand by the end of June.

The Surface Pro on the other hand is only available in the United States, China, and Canada. So Microsoft has decided to do a drastic move and launch the Surface Pro into 24 more markets. These markets include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Most of the markets will receive the Surface Pro by the end of May, while Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand will get the tablet by the end of June.

Microsoft puts more emphasis on the Surface Pro, stating that its very hard to keep the tablet in stock. Before, the product would sell out constantly in the United States and in Canada, but now sales have stabilized. Microsoft assures consumers that there will be enough stock of its tablets at its retail partners to ensure a smooth and successful launch. The Surface tablet has been praised as the “one device people use to work and play”. To see if the tablet(s) are right for you, be sure to check out our reviews for both the Microsoft Surface RT and the Microsoft Surface Pro.

[via Microsoft]

A radio station in China, China National Radio, decided to go after Microsoft’s warranty policy for its Surface Pro tablets. The radio station stated that the Microsoft Surface Pro should follow the nation’s law of having a 1-year warranty for replacing the entire device, and 2-year policy for replacing its parts. Currently, Microsoft offers a 1-year warranty for both replacing the entire device as well as replacing separate parts.

This follows news that Microsoft has just released a special version of its Surface Pro tablet for China, which includes a free copy of Office 2013. The radio station attacked Microsoft shortly after Apple issued its apology for its own warranty policies. Doug Young, author of “The Party Line: How the Media Dictates Public Opinion in Modern China”, says,

It sounds potentially worrisome; it looks like a copycat of the whole apple thing. China National Radio is trying to jump on the same bandwagon. Most western companies already provide much better after-sales service than Chinese companies.

Pan Yi, a reporter for China National Radio, stated that their story had no relation to CCTV’s story on Apple’s warranty. Pan said that “a lot of foreign companies are not very familiar with China’s after-sales policies”. Microsoft’s spokesperson in Beijing has yet to respond to China National Radio’s report. Many other companies have faced criticism in China, like KFC and Volkswagen, though Volkswagen was warranted because its cars in China were equipped with “substandard direct-shift gearbox systems”, resulting in many car accidents. We’ll keep you updated when Microsoft responds to the criticisms. In related Microsoft Surface Pro news, be sure to check out our review for the device here.

[via Bloomberg]

The Outlook RT app was spotted by Windows SuperSite’s Paul Thurrott, who says that the app is in “shipping form”. Many sources have stated that Outlook RT was not initially released with Windows RT devices due to two issues. One issue was a firmware bug with the ARM chipset that would result in constant crashes and hangups with Outlook. The second issue was related to excessive battery drainage. Both issues are reportedly fixed.

A source has also told ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley that Outlook RT has become a “top enterprise request”, and has become a top priority for Microsoft’s Office team. When Outlook RT becomes available to the public, it won’t be released for free, or bundled with future Windows RT devices. You will most likely have to subscribe to Office 365 for the app. Outlook RT is also expected to be rolled out during Microsoft Office’s Gemini update, as well as the release of Windows 8.1 Blue.

It’s also speculated that once Outlook RT is finally rolled out to the public, the chances of Microsoft Office becoming available to iPad devices will drastically improve. The main reasoning for this is because many believed that it would be a terrible move for Microsoft to release Outlook for iPad devices before it released it for its own devices. Once Microsoft releases Office apps for iPads, it could possibly generate $2.5 billion in revenue. In related Windows RT news, be sure to check out our review for Microsoft’s Surface RT.

[via ZDNet]

Where the regular Pro tablet comes with a one month trial of Office 2013 Home and Student, however, the Chinese Edition gets the full package. That’s despite the local variant being priced the same for the 128GB model, even though Office 2013 would usually be 699 yuan ($113).

However, there are some limitations too, not least from the underlying restrictions on Windows 8 for China. The biggest is likely to be language support, since the OS can only be used with the Simplified Chinese UI language pack; you’ll need a full (paid) copy of Windows 8 if you want to use any others.

Whether the third variant of the tablet will improve sales for Microsoft, or just confuse them, remains to be seen. The inclusion of the full copy of Office suggests Microsoft is looking to combat software theft – something the low-cost, download-only Windows 8 for China was also intended to do – but having it on sale alongside, rather than instead of, the regular Surface Pro could end up puzzling potential buyers.

Preorders of the new Surface Chinese Edition are open now, priced at 6588 yuan ($1,062) for the 64GB model and 7388 yuan ($1,191) for the 128GB model. They’ll begin shipping come April 10.

[via istartedsomething]

With the Surface RT selling just over a million of that total number and the Surface PRO version of the tablet coming in at somewhere around 400,000 in the short time they’ve been on the market, Microsoft may not be reaching projected numbers. According to these sources, Microsoft had originally ordered about 3 million Surface RT tablets for sale by this time – not quite the same as less than half that amount they’re claiming have been sold thus far.

The Surface PRO appears to be doing a bit better in the much shorter time since they’ve been revealed, but compared to such titans as Apple’s iPad, the big M is nowhere close. According to Apple, 22.9 million iPads were sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 alone.

Have a peek at the timeline below which includes our review of both of the Surface devices and decide for yourself if you’ll be joining the party. Down there you’ll find more information on what Microsoft has been doing to push the Surface family through to the future, along with the full Windows 8 software universe.

That’s a blow to Microsoft, seeing as it means those would-be tableteers simply browsing the shelves at PC World or Currys are unlikely to actually see the Surface RT and add it to their list of contenders. Both retailers stock the iPad and iPad mini in-store, for instance, giving Apple’s tablet an instant boost in impulse-purchase appeal.

Still, given retailers and manufacturers alike were concerned that there would be no interest whatsoever in Surface when Microsoft first announced its intentions to enter the tablet hardware business, even getting PC World and Currys onboard is arguably a success. Microsoft is still yet to announce any official sales figures; the Surface RT showed up in the UK first in John Lewis stores.

Meanwhile, there’s no sign of the Surface Pro – which runs the full version of Windows 8 – showing up at the two new stores. Released last month, the Surface Pro comes with a special digital stylus for handwriting recognition, sketching, and more, though is significantly more expensive than its RT-based sibling.

Currys and PC World will be selling the Surface RT from £399.99 for the 32GB tablet-only, while adding in the Touch Cover takes that to £479.99.

DelBene would emphasize that iPad owners could use the online versions of the Microsoft Office apps, but the web applications are known to have their fair share of problems, which is something that could be remedied with an official app. DelBene replied to one of the questions with, “Do we need to have the PC software that’s running on every single device?. We look very much at ‘What is the experience that we are looking to have on those devices’.”

Reuters brings up a great point when they stated that putting Microsoft Office on iPads would prove to be detrimental to the sales of the Microsoft Surface tablets. One of the major pulls of the Microsoft Surface tablets is its amazing productivity aspect, and a major component of that is the native Office apps installed on it. It’s arguably one of the best tablets for productivity, compared to Android tablets and iPads. To take away one of its major selling points would be counterproductive.

DelBene continued to emphasize the web versions of its Microsoft products, saying “We have enhanced the web applications pretty substantially, in partnership with Apple.” DelBene didn’t state specifically that they weren’t going to ever release Microsoft Office onto the iPad. Perhaps when the Microsoft Surface tablets, and Windows 8 tablets in general, start getting enough traction, iPad owners will get their Office apps.

[via Reuters]

Bill Gates says he and CEO Steve Ballmer are “2 of the most self-critical people”. He says that “There were a lot of amazing things that Steve’s leadership got done with the company in the last year. Windows 8 is a key to the future, the Surface computer, Bing – people are seeing as a better search product, Xbox“. Gates says that due to the self-critical nature of both him and Ballmer, they feel like they could better.

Bill Gates also discusses sleep and that he needs at least 7 hours of sleep, or else his “IQ begins to drop”. He wishes that he could be like other people who can thrive off only 4 hours of sleep. He is a night person and he “gets very excited about something that’s going wrong or right”. He would sometimes stay up until 2:00 A.M., which would prove to be difficult if he had an appointment early in the morning.

Alongside the talks of Microsoft, Bill Gates says that he wants to introduce a new high school course that brings together Science and History. He is also working on innovations in cheap and clean energy. While they weren’t able to get the lead on the mobile market, it seems that Microsoft is doing well in catching-up in the industry. Their Windows 8 mobile devices are starting to get traction in the industry, and hopefully with the release of Windows Blue, they’ll be seen as a major competitor.

[via CBS]

Obviously, you’ll still be able to use the Surface Pro long after that date, but many owners of tablets and computers rely on regular updates, and some consider it to be something that they need before considering buying a new product. While four and a half years seems like a long time, there still may be customers who buy a Surface Pro two years from now when prices go down — those people will have an even shorter amount of time with the support lifecycle of the product.

Another interesting facet is that Microsoft usually applies “extended” support for business devices specifically, but the Surface Pro is currently listed as “Not Applicable” under that category, suggesting that while Microsoft advertises the new tablet as a business device, the company may be catering it more towards the everyday consumer in the long run.

Then again, cutting off support for a device a few years in isn’t anything new. Apple has done that with their older iOS devices, including the first-generation iPad and older iPhone and iPod Touch models, which were all shafted of an iOS 6 update. Then again, this may just be the nature of the beast, and the older devices get, the less likely they are to run more complex software as time goes on.

[via PC World]

Essentially the advertisement is a lot similar to past Surface ads we’ve seen, where the users perform cool trucks with the tablets, and in this case, breakdance with the tablet in hand. In the ad, we see what the Surface Pro can do for only a few split seconds, like take notes with the stylus in business reports, and even create music by plugging in a microphone.

However, the ad doesn’t really get the point across of what the main differences between the original Surface tablet and this new Surface Pro. Sure, tech enthusiasts like you and me (aka geeks) know the differences between the two, but everyday users really only know that the “Pro” tacked on at the end must mean it’s better, without knowing the details.

Of course, the tablet is definitely an improvement over the original model, and it seems Microsoft is just going to leave it at that. The Surface Pro is available now in stores and online with prices starting at $899 for the 64GB version and going up to $999 for the 128GB variant.

Microsoft’s own webstore also shows the 128GB version of the tablet as out of stock, with no indication as to when it might return to availability. The 64GB model – particularly criticized for the relatively small amount of storage space left over, once the OS, preloaded apps, and default recovery partition have their way – is still listed as in stock.

That could indicate a surprising degree of demand for Microsoft’s own-brand tablet; however, as Business Insider flags, there are also counter suggestions that Microsoft merely failed to anticipate interest in the slate, and didn’t provide enough to retailers. Comments at Microsoft’s own Surface blog and at Reddit complained of minimal stock, with some Staples and Best Buy stores supposedly claiming to have only been provided with two units each, none of which were the 128GB variant.

If that’s true, it’s unclear whether Microsoft faced production delays or simply didn’t make enough to cater to demand. The Surface Pro – like its RT sibling, released last year – uses a precisely machined “VaporMg” case material, which could be causing the company problems in manufacturing. Meanwhile, initial reception to the $899+ price of the full-Windows tablet had been lukewarm, and it’s possible that Microsoft had been hedging its bets in case of minimal demand.

Meanwhile, pre-launch reviews also proved mixed. While we were impressed by the usability of the stylus and the flexibility of the Surface Pro’s battery life, others were less convinced.

Shortages do make for good headlines, but they don’t help contribute to Microsoft’s market share, and when the company is trying to compete with the best-selling iPad and iPad mini – both for end-users and for developer consideration – that’s not good news. Microsoft is unlikely to comment specifically on its supply chain, but whether the lack of devices is down to production mishaps, poor planning, or even artificial limits, the company is probably kicking itself now over the loss of goodwill incurred.

Did you buy a Microsoft Surface Pro at the weekend? If so, did you get a 64GB or a 128GB? Let us know in the comments!

The new tablet starts at $899 for the 64GB model and goes up to $999 for the 128GB variant. Both versions use Intel’s Core i5 processor and integrated HD 4000 graphics. There’s also 4GB of dual-channel memory, and a 10.6-inch Clear Type display on top, which features a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. The screen also supports both 10-point multitouch and digital inking thanks to the special stylus.

The 42Wh battery has been one of the big talking points for the new tablet, however. We averaged about five hours, and sometimes even six hours during some occasions. Obviously, for a tablet, this isn’t quite what people were expecting, but Microsoft is hinting at some kind of battery add-on, which means users may soon be able to bump up the battery life a bit.

Of course, you can read our full review of Surface Pro to get a better idea of what you’ll be in for, but if you’re set to buy one right now, you can get one at any Microsoft Store in the US or Canada, as well as Staples and Best Buy in the US, and Best Buy and Future Shop in Canada. And of course, the tablet will also be available online.

Microsoft’s head of the Surface division, Panos Panay, tweeted that he would personally not be able to make it to New York City because of the snowstorm, and Neowin has confirmed that Microsoft has cancelled the event altogether, but the tablet will likely go on sale anyway at retail stores and online.

So far, at least 3,800 flights to New York City have been cancelled, with the possibility of even more to be cancelled later on. All public transportation has also been shut down in Boston, and in Rhode Island, non-essential state employees have been sent home by the governor. While the storm has yet to hit at full capacity, it looks like it’s going to be a big one.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro is the second Surface tablet that the company is releasing. They initially released the Surface RT back in October, which comes with a modified version of Windows 8, while the new Surface Pro comes with a full version of Windows 8, as well as better display and 128GB of storage.

[via Neowin]

Panos Panay, Microsoft’s corporate vice president working on the Surface tablet, recently hosted an AMA session (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit about the new Surface Pro. When asked if the company had any plans for an external battery of some kind, Panay said that this “would require extending the design of the accessory spine to include some way to transfer higher current between the peripheral and the main battery.”

Luckily, that’s exactly what Microsoft did. The company added new connector plates to the bottom of the Surface Pro, which aren’t being utilized yet, but Panay hinted at the fact that the company may introduce some new accessories down the line that would take advantage of these new connector plates, which may even include an external battery/keyboard hybrid.

Of course, nothing is set in stone, but it sounds like we should be looking forward to some Surface accessories at some point in the future, whether or not that includes an external battery of some kind. It sounds like a battery-equipped keyboard can be done, though, so it doesn’t sound completely farfetched, but we’ll have to wait and see what Redmond has in store for us later this year.

[via PC World]

In our review of the Surface Pro, we saw the battery life hovering between 4.5 and 5 hours with the display on and media streaming. Those numbers increased a bit to 6 hours when the device was used for a mix of Web surfing and media streaming. Some other users are reporting lower numbers, however, sometimes under four hours, prompting criticism.

Not surprisingly, Panay came to the Surface Pro’s defense, stating that when looked at relative to the device’s size, the Pro’s battery life is best in its class. According to him, Microsoft elected to use a smaller battery to keep the device thin, but not to the detriment of performance. The battery choice resulted in a device “thin enough to take advantage of our [Microsoft's] great Windows work for inking and give you a great inking experience,” says Panay.

He also addressed the issue of storage space, which has also been a source of complaints from some users. The larger 128GB version of the Surface Pro has 83GB of available space, while the 64GB version only has 23GB available. According to Panay, this was necessary. Those who need more space can use a microSD card for more space.

[via BGR]

Hardware and Design

You could easily mistake the Surface Pro for the ARM-based Surface at first glance, given how aesthetically similar each tablet is. Look a little closer, though, and the key differences become apparent. Microsoft has used the same VaporMg treated magnesium alloy for the casing, and it still feels great in the hand: smooth and easy to hold, but still sturdy and scratch-resistant.

Surface Pro is a little bigger than the original Surface: at 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches, it’s slightly taller and noticeably thicker, a side-effect of accommodating PC-class components and a bigger capacity battery. That makes it heavier, too, a smudge under 2lbs versus the 1.5lbs of Surface. It’s still comfortable to hold, but for single-handed use we found ourselves cradling the slate in the crook of our arm, rather than gripping it by the bezel as we might do with an iPad. The fact that Windows still prefers landscape to portrait orientation emphasizes that too.

Microsoft’s approach to cooling is an interesting one. Rather than a patch of obvious grills for ventilation, there’s a slot that runs all the way around the edge of the Surface Pro, and from which warm air is pushed out while cool air is pulled in. Two fans, rather than one, have been used to dynamically adjust the airflow depending on what’s hottest and how you’re holding the tablet. Altogether, the design makes it difficult to figure out where, exactly, the tablet is venting from; plus, it helps mask the noise of the fans. In regular use, the Surface Pro is near silent, in fact.

On the back, there’s a kickstand to prop the Surface Pro up on your desk. It actually snaps out to a slightly different angle – a little further reclined – than the stand on the Surface RT, though whether you’ll notice the difference in day-to-day use is questionable. More interestingly, there’s a change in the selection of ports Microsoft spreads around the slate: you now get a full-sized USB 3.0, rather than USB 2.0, as well as a Mini DisplayPort instead of the Surface RT’s HD video output. Otherwise, there’s still a headphone jack and a microSDXC card slot, along with a magnetic cover port for attaching the same Touch Cover or Type Cover keyboard accessories as we’ve seen before.

Specifications

Where the Surface RT ran its pared-back Windows on NVIDIA’s Tegra 3, the Surface Pro has far more familiar fare inside. An Intel Core i5 3rd-gen processor is the tablet’s beating heart, with Intel HD Graphics 4000 driving the 10.6-inch display (more on which later). Memory is doubled, to 4GB, while two storage versions are offered: 64GB and 128GB.

Here, though, is the first of the issues the Surface Pro runs into. Windows is a notorious drive hog, and when coupled with the default applications and the mandatory recovery partition – provided in-lieu of recovery discs or, as Apple includes with its recent driveless notebooks, a USB stick with the OS – there’s a surprisingly small amount of space left for users themselves. On the 64GB version, in fact, only around 23GB of space is actually available, while the 128GB model does a little better with 83GB free.

Microsoft points out that owners wanting more capacity can throw in a memory card – a 64GB microSDXC can be had for around sixty bucks – but it’s still likely to be a surprise for those expecting closer to the number printed on the box. There’s also cloud storage, such as Microsoft’s own SkyDrive, which could help fill in the gaps, though without an integrated cellular modem you’d need to be within range of a WiFi network in order to actually access it. It’s possible to create your own bootable USB drive, and then delete the recovery partition manually, but we can’t help wishing Microsoft had done this for us.

In addition to the USB 3.0 port, the Surface Pro has WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Inside, there’s an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a digital compass, though no hardware GPS. Microsoft has found space for stereo speakers, as per the Surface RT, but only a single microphone against the RT version’s dual mic array. The pair of 720p HD cameras – one on the front, one on the back – remain.

Pen and Display

Microsoft had high hopes for its ClearType-blessed display on the original Surface, but we found the 1366 x 768 resolution to be underwhelming in comparison to better-than-HD panels on the iPad and Nexus 10. Happily, the Surface Pro brings with it a far better screen: still 10.6-inches and 16:9 widescreen, but running at 1920 x 1080 Full HD.

The difference is vast. Where once we had slightly fuzzy text, everything is now crisp. Viewing angles seem better too, and we’re impressed by the richness of the colors. It might not be the Retina-level resolution of the latest iPad, but it’s far more in keeping with what, at upwards of $899, is most definitely a premium tablet.

The Surface Pro’s talents don’t end at a great display, though. In addition to 10-finger multitouch – double what the Surface RT can recognize – there’s also pen support. Not the fake-finger capacitive styli offered for the iPad and other tablets, but a special pen that works with an active digitizer embedded in the screen.

Usually, the pen clings to the right side of the tablet, magnetically attached. It’s a firm grip – Microsoft says it purposefully increased the magnet strength from what holds the keyboard on – and should keep it in place even if you drop the whole thing into your bag. As the nib gets within a few millimeters of the display, the usual capacitive touch is shut off and everything is controlled via the pen instead: you can wave it above the surface of the screen to move the mouse pointer, and then tap to mimic a left mouse click. A button on the side does right mouse click duty.

On the opposite end to the nib is an “eraser” which, as long as the app recognizes it, allows you to rub out mistakes. Just as you’d expect, there’s palm-rejection that means you can lean your hand on the screen and not have it skew your digital ink. The pen is battery-free, too, getting its power from the digitizer layer in the Surface Pro itself.

Microsoft obviously intends for the pen to play a big role in the Surface Pro experience: it’s included as standard in the box, whereas the Touch Cover and Type Cover are both optional extras. Windows tablets aren’t exactly unfamiliar with stylus control, but in the early years of the iPad modern tablet use got associated with finger control, and the technology fell from favor. Since then Samsung has restarted interest in what can be done with a digital pen, with the Galaxy Note series, and the Surface Pro can wear its stylus with pride.

Windows 8

Special screen and VaporMg chassis aside, the Surface Pro is basically just another Windows PC. We’ve already comprehensively reviewed Windows 8, though it’s worth noting that the tile-based UI makes far more sense when you’re swiping and tapping through it with your fingers than it does when navigated using a mouse.

As you’d hope from a Core i5 processor and 4GB of memory, there are no noticeable slow-downs and the Surface Pro handled any app we threw at it. Capacity concerns aside, Microsoft’s use of flash storage also lends a welcome boost to software load times, while multitasking is instantaneous, flipping between apps without delay.

Slot on a Touch Cover or Type Cover, meanwhile – the same accessories for the Surface RT will work with the Pro – and you’ve got a workable ultrabook alternative. We still prefer the Type Cover for anything more than the basics of text-entry, mind; the zero-profile keys of the Touch Cover, while an improvement over on-screen typing, nonetheless lack the responsiveness that makes extended use comfortable.

An alternative to both is using the Surface as the hub of a desktop setup, something that’s easy to achieve if you opt for a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The Surface Pro is more than capable of powering a large display over Mini DisplayPort, leaving the USB 3.0 port free for hooking up an external drive or other peripherals. Since this is full-fat Windows, there’s no making sure that your accessory of choice is on Microsoft’s “approved” list, as is the case with Windows RT.

When the Surface Pro really comes into its own is when the pen gets involved. Frustratingly, Microsoft hasn’t really done everything it can to demonstrate what benefits a stylus brings: the obvious showcase app would be OneNote, which was offering Evernote-style digital notetaking functionality long before Evernote sprouted in the cloud, but Surface Pro buyers will need to cough up $69.99 for a copy (or get it as part of Office 2013 or an Office 365 subscription).

It’s worth it, though, as is trying out a digital art app, such as the copies of Autodesk SketchBook Express Microsoft and Fresh Paint Microsoft had loaded onto our review device. The Wacom stylus can differentiate between 1024 different levels of pressure, automatically adjusting the thickness of the on-screen ink depending on how hard you press, for instance, and it’s a far more user-friendly way to sketch out ideas (even if your art skills fall short). Surface Pro also supports being turned into a graphics tablet of sorts: hook up an external display and you can tell Windows 8 to map your pen movements on the tablet to the external screen by default, mimicking a standalone Wacom tablet.

More patchy are plain Windows apps, which lack distinct touchscreen support and, as a result, can be a little more difficult to control with your fingers. Browsers are a good example: Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer gives the best touch experience, while others – Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. – generally expect you to be using a mouse, and hence navigate by using the scroll bars on the side of the screen rather than flicking and pinch-zooming. In the traditional Windows desktop you can optionally enlarge the scroll bars to give yourself a bigger target, but it still lacks the immediacy of, say, the iPad’s Safari browser.

Where the Surface Pro’s internet experience does pull ahead is in speed. We expected strong browser performance from the grown-up processor and full OS, and sure enough the SunSpider results – the test of JavaScript performance, where faster results are better – delivered. In IE, the test was complete in 144ms, while Safari and Chrome took a little longer, at over 240ms apiece. Contrast all three results, though, with the 4th-gen iPad with Retina display, which took 879ms to complete the same test.

The Surface Pro’s integrated graphics – rather than a discrete GPU – preclude any serious gaming or video editing, unfortunately. Still, we were able to load up Photoshop and complete some of the more day-to-day tasks without the tablet stumbling to a halt.

It’s in day-to-day use that the Surface Pro arguably shows its full hand. The combination of the kickstand and the broad display viewing angles meant the tablet generally followed us around the home, stood up on whatever surface was nearby. The kitchen counter was a particular favorite, at which point the Windows 8 Live Tiles showed their merit. Surface Pro sits quietly updating, flagging up new messages and the like; however, it’s also a great at what we’d call “natural discovery,” where content you might have forgotten about or overlooked is brought to the fore.

A good example of that is the photo integration. Windows 8′s abilities to bring online galleries through to the Live Tiles and cycle through photos meant we rediscovered whole folders-worth of images, including those shared by friends. It’s an engaging way to interact with the Surface Pro, and helped by the fact that software in the Metro-style interface co-exists neatly with what’s running on the traditional desktop. So, we could have the full Spotify app playing music in the background, while using the more finger-friendly UI to browse the web and flick through galleries.

Battery

To say Microsoft is shy on making battery life predictions is an understatement: beyond the confirmation that it’s a 42Wh pack inside the Surface Pro – up from the 31.5Wh of the Surface RT – there’s little indication of what sort of runtime owners might expect. Still, with specifications akin to a mainstream ultrabook, it comes as little surprise that the Surface Pro manages roughly ultrabook-length longevity.

In a test with the display permanently on, and playing streaming media constantly, the Surface Pro lasted for between 4.5 and 5 hours. In a slightly more mixed test, with a combination of web browsing while listening to Spotify, as well as streaming via Netflix and YouTube, that rose to six hours.

Both of those scenarios are probably some of the biggest battery challenges the Surface Pro might be expected to take on. More typical daily use, then, could see the tablet run for a few hours more, especially if you’re predominantly web browsing, emailing, and using art apps.

Wrap-up

With a new 128GB iPad with Retina display on the scene, it’s easy to make comparisons between Apple’s tablet and the Surface Pro. In practice, however, they’re very different beasts. The iPad is focused resolutely on the mass market, and if you want one you have to be willing to concede to Apple’s Way: their decision about what apps are worthy of the App Store, their decision about what accessories can be used, their decision about what, exactly, you can do with the tablet you just spent more than a few hundred dollars on. In contrast, the Surface Pro is a paragon of freedom. If you have unusual requests of it, you can probably find the software and/or hardware to achieve them. It is, after all, a touchscreen ultrabook wearing a different costume.

If you actually need a full Windows PC that you can strum with your fingers is the question. Not being limited to pared-down versions of apps is a big bonus if there’s particular software you need access to; however, that flexibility comes with its fair share of compromises, such as the limitations on battery life compared to ARM-based slates, the increase in bulk, and the higher price.

The Surface Pro is slickly designed, its digital pen a joy to use – if you have the need of it – and it comes without the software niggles that dampened our enthusiasm about the Surface RT last year. Think of it as a touchscreen notebook with an optional keyboard and it makes the most sense. That may be semantics, but it also means the Surface Pro is more likely to cannibalize ultrabook sales than eat into Apple’s iPad market. Whether that’s the market Microsoft was aiming for, we’re not sure, but the Surface Pro makes considerable sense for the prosumer.

This is not the first we’ve heard of a Nokia tablet in the works. One of the more interesting hints came back in March of 2012 where Nokia design chief Marko Ahtisaari confirmed a tablet with the choice quip, “we are working on it.” It was back then that we also saw supply chain sources claiming Nokia would be using Microsoft’s Windows RT system (not quite named that back at the time) for its future first tablet delivery. Elop back then also noted that Nokia wouldn’t create a tablet until it could bring something unique to the space.

We also saw notes about a Nokia Windows RT tablet in December of 2012 complete with a keyboard cover containing a separate battery for the unit. Here in February of 2013 we’ve got Elop once again speaking up (with AFR) saying, “we haven’t announced tablets at this point, but it is something we are clearly looking at very closely.” Elop went on to note that the Nokia is “studying very closely the market right now as Microsoft has introduced the Surface tablet,” making it clear that they are “trying to learn from that and understand what the right way to participate would be and at what point in time.”

Be sure to read the post Where’s Nokia’s tablet strategy? from Chris Davies posted all the way back in July of 2012 to see another guide on this situation that holds true to today. It’s not just about Windows RT, Windows 8, or even Windows Phone 8 here, it’s about Nokia and their lovely Lumia lineup only existing as a smartphone-sized solution. Should Nokia stick to this form for a handheld unit, or does a company with such a massive name need a massive touchscreen offering as well?

On January 16, we reported that the Surface Pro’s production is going full steam ahead, with the first units having come off the production line a couple weeks ago. The product will be officially available on February 9, so even if you find a display model at a local retailer, you (probably) won’t be able to buy it.

The Surface Pro will kick off with a special midnight launch event by Microsoft at Best Buy in New York. The tablet, then, will also be available at midnight, if you’re really eager to own one and can’t wait until morning. The event is only open to individuals who have received an invitation to attend. Although we know it isn’t a press event, it wasn’t specified who will be there.

For those who don’t know, the Surface Pro features Intel hardware, rather than the Surface RT, which features ARM hardware. Because of this, the Surface Pro can run Windows 8 instead of Windows RT, something that has contributed to the RT’s lackluster sales, as consumers aren’t clear on the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8. The Surface Pro will be available at Best Buy and Staples starting at $899.

The reason? According to the sources, there’s an ongoing debate within Microsoft about whether Outlook RT should exist, or if the existing Mail client is enough. It seems odd for Microsoft not to offer the client, considering that it offers an RT Office suite, which has most of the applications one would expect – except Outlook. Variety of choice is always a good thing.

It’s said that some within Microsoft think the existing Mail app should be left as-is and renamed to Outlook. Other are said to be in favor of releasing Outlook RT for consumers to nab if they want it, while finally there are those who don’t think doing this would necessarily be in the company’s best interest.

Of course, the information comes from unidentified sources, and as such, it may be incorrect or only show part of the story. Microsoft hasn’t offered any official statements on the rumors, and unless the client becomes reality, we may never know if it ever existed. If you’re a Surface owner, would you like to see Outlook RT, or is Mail good enough? Let us know in the comments!

[via CNET]

During the earnings call, Microsoft CFO Peter Klein suggested that more Windows RT devices will be available in the future, including cheaper models. Klein said that the company is “working closely with chip partners and OEMs to bring the right mix of devices,” and added that Microsoft is looking to “expand the product lineup” and provide “a greater variety of devices at a bigger variety of price points.”

As it stands, the Surface Pro, which Microsoft plans to release on February 9, starts at $899, and the original Surface starts at $500, and comes with a stripped-down version of Windows 8, called Windows RT. While $500 is certainly competitive, it seems Microsoft wants to make budget tablets that could compete on price with Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Google’s Nexus 7.

Microsoft didn’t address specifically any sales numbers on Surface tablets in its earnings report, but analysts estimate that the company most likely sold anywhere from 600,000 to one million Surface tablets during the quarter, which is about 3% of Apple’s iPad sales during the same quarter.

[via Seeking Alpha]

The Microsoft Surface Windows RT (see our full review right this minute) is available in a number of countries and regions already, including the UK, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Australia, and France. Starting in the coming weeks we’ll be seeing this machine available in the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland as well. That’s one heck of a roll out there for this soon to be massive beast.

The newest accessory set for the Surface family begins with the Surface Edition Wedge Touch Mouse, which will be coming with specific design cues made to complement the Surface experience complete with four-way Touch scrolling and a finish that replicates the Surface’s VaporMg casing. This mouse will be available for $69.95 on February 9th, the same time as the Touch Cover Limited Edition. This new cover will work with customizability, offering unique laser-etched designs in red, magenta, or cyan – each available for $129.99 USD.

Finally the next version of the Surface Windows RT will be released in a 64GB edition, this version coming with – you guessed it – 64GB of internal space right out of the box. Important to note is the fact that this version of the tablet does not come bundled with a black Touch Cover. Microsoft makes it clear that this means users will be open to purchasing their own cover of their choice, be it a Touch Cover or a Type Cover, rather than paying the extra cash for the Touch Cover even if they don’t want it in the box. This version of the tablet will be available “in all markets in which Surface Windows RT is currently sold.”

Both versions of the Surface Pro will use Intel’s Core i5 processor and HD Graphics 4000 GPU; they will have 4GB of dual-channel memory. Up front is a 10.6-inch Clear Type display running at Full HD resolution, 1920 x 1080, and supporting both 10-point multitouch and digital inking thanks to a special stylus.

Connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a full-sized USB 3.0 port, microSDXC memory card slot, headset jack, a Mini DisplayPort, and a connector for Microsoft’s magnetically-attached keyboard-covers. There’s also a microphone, stereo speakers, and a pair of 720p webcams, one on the front and another on the back.

The whole thing is wrapped up in the same sort of Vapor Mg casing as the Windows RT-based Surface RT we reviewed last year. That includes a useful pop-out kickstand for desktop use, and the Surface Pro measures in at 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches and tips the scales at “under 2lbs” according to Microsoft.

The 42Wh battery is recharged using a special 48W power supply that includes a 5W USB port for rejuicing accessories. Microsoft will be offering Surface Pro through its retail stores and its online store, as well as through Staples and Best Buy in the US.

Of course, if Surface sales came in under expectations, that also means Microsoft’s earnings for the quarter will suffer as well. We don’t know what those earnings are yet, but Microsoft should be revealing them at least relatively soon now that we’re halfway into January. In any case, Thill cut his earnings per share projection for the quarter by 8 cents, which brings it down to 75 cents per share – not the biggest of losses to have to sustain, but one we doubt investors will be pleased with anyway.

So, if Surface RT really is disappointing like so many whispers are saying, then it’ll be up to Surface Pro to wow the tablet crowd. Surface Pro is easily the more desirable of the two tables (despite its higher price tag), and luckily for us, the company announced this morning that the first Surface Pro tablets were rolling off the production line. Microsoft is intending to launch Surface Pro sometime later this month, but with only two weeks left before February arrives, we still don’t have a release date to speak of.

Then again, there may not be anything to these rumors and speculation about Surface RT. Microsoft recently announced that it was ramping up Surface RT production and would be putting the tablet in more retail stores besides its own, so that could mean that sales are within expectations. We’ll have to wait until Microsoft makes an announcement on the matter before we find out how Surface is really doing, so stay tuned.

[via Bloomberg]

Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the company said that the Surface Pro would be available around 90 days after the release of Surface RT tablets, which occurred on October 26, so the 90-day window is quickly coming to a close, and we should expect the new tablets arrive at the end of this month or the beginning of February.

The Surface Pro will be available in two versions: A 64GB version will sell for $899 and a 128GB version will cost $999. The main differences between the Surface Pro and Surface RT is that the Surface Pro will run more like a traditional laptop, and will be able to run any Windows 8 and Windows 7 application, giving Pro users a wider variety of software options.

The new tablets will come with an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, a 16:9 ClearType display sporting a 1920×1080 resolution, and several different types of external ports, like a Mini DisplayPort that will be able to drive an external display with up to a 2560×1440 resolution. And of course, the new tablets will come with a full version of Windows 8.

[via ZDNet]

Instead of Apple products, Buzz Marketing – a youth marketing firm – says teenagers are going crazy for Samsung’s Galaxy line and Microsoft Surface these days. “Teens are telling us Apple is done,” the company’s Tina Wells said. “Apple has done a great job of embracing Gen X and older [Millennials], but I don’t think they are connecting with Millennial kids. [They’re] all about Surface tablets/laptops and Galaxy.”

Indeed, Samsung’s Galaxy S III launched last year to massive success, seemingly only matched by the success of the iPhone 5, which launched later in the year. One explanation for Apple’s decrease in popularity with teenagers could be the price of it’s devices – since iPhones are typically more expensive than the competition, parents hand off their old iPhone to their child. We can name more than a few teenagers who aren’t interested if it isn’t brand spanking new, and the lower price point of Android devices means that these teenagers have a better shot at getting a new phone all to themselves.

While we don’t doubt some teenagers would rather throw in with Android before Apple these days, we also have to point to the number of disappointed teens who took to Twitter late last year after they discovered they wouldn’t be getting the iDevices they craved for Christmas. The sheer amount of complainers suggests that Apple is still pretty popular in the teenage space, so ultimately, Apple my not be losing as much ground as this report suggests. We’ll just have to wait until we have some data that’s more solid before making the final call, if that data ever comes at all.

While we didn’t hear much from Microsoft immediately after the jailbreak landed, today the company is telling The Register that it is “actively investigating” Jailbreak RT. What that means exactly is anyone’s guess but it isn’t hard to imagine that Microsoft is looking to fix the flaw that this hack takes advantage of. After all, it doesn’t necessarily take a genius to figure out that Microsoft would like as many users as possible buying apps from the Windows Store.

Jailbreak RT takes advantage of a hack that was published just a few days prior by someone by the name of C.L. Rokr. Though Microsoft didn’t pay much attention to the original hack, this new batch file seems to have caught the company’s eye. The Register suggests that’s because Netham45′s method makes it easier for less technically-inclined folks to jailbreak their tablet, which of course means more unauthorized apps running on its Surface devices.

On the other side of the coin, there is the possibility of this jailbreak tool potentially helping Surface sales. The homebrew community seems at least relatively big, and those who like tinkering with their devices might pay more attention to Surface RT now that a jailbreak tool has been delivered. Therefore, it might be a wise idea for Microsoft to just look the other way, especially since we’ve been hearing that Surface RT sales have been lagging.

Of course, the news and rumors never stop, and with one show behind us, it’s time to begin looking toward the next one, with new whispers claiming that Huawei will unveil a new 8-core processor and a new P-Series phone at MWC 2013. The HTC M7 and Sense 5 UI suffered another leak today, and we heard that Facebook is testing a new $100 charge to message strangers. The CST-01 watch hit its Kickstarter funding goal in just 48 hours, with HP and Lenovo facing a tough battle in the PC sales space in Q4 2012.

The Lenovo IdeaTab A2107 has landed at AT&T for $199, and iOS hacker Pod2g has launched PodDJ for iPad. Nokia has confirmed that HTTPS traffic is temporarily decrypted on its servers, and a new Windows RT jailbreak is getting some potential Surface homebrewers excited. There’s also new hack that could turn Cisco desk phones into a way to secretly listen in on conversations you probably shouldn’t be hearing, which is very unsettling news indeed.

The Nexus 4 is getting updates to Jelly Bean 4.2.2 in some countries, and Mojang said today that Minecraft sold more than 15 million copies across all platforms in 2012. Black Ops II was unsurprisingly declared the best-selling game of 2012, while the Xbox 360 has the distinction of being the best-selling console for two years running. Of course, we have plenty of hands-on posts from CES 2013 that went up today, including looks at the Pentax MX-1 digital camera, the Moen MotionSense Touch-Free Faucet, a pair of Galaxy S III cases from Pelican, Ion Scratch 2, Vizio’s new Windows 8 Tablet, and finally, the company’s upcoming Windows 8 all-in-ones and notebooks. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the weekend everyone!

According to CNET, several Microsoft retail store employees expect the Surface Pro tablet to make its appearance at the end of the month. Starting at $899, the Surface Pro will sport an Intel Core i5 processor and a 1080p HD display. It will also run a full version of Windows 8, unlike the Surface RT running on tablet-optimized Windows RT.

Microsoft originally opened up pre-orders for its Surface RT tablet 10 days before the tablet’s release on October 26. If the company is to follow a similar pattern, then we’ll likely see an official announcement shortly after CES, with pre-orders starting at that time as well.

The Surface Pro will act more like a laptop than the regular Surface tablet, which was more of a hybrid. Of course, you’ll still have the ability to easily use the Surface Pro as a tablet, but using either keyboard attachments will no doubt give the Surface Pro more credit as a powerful laptop of sorts.

[via CNET]

As the follow up to the wildly successful and much-loved Windows 7, Windows 8 made plenty of enemies before it even released. This was thanks to the consumer preview that had every chattering well before Windows 8′s launch. Throughout all of 2012, we were hearing about what people liked and what they hated about Windows 8, with debate springing up all over the place and anticipation for Microsoft’s new version of the Windows OS riding high.

Then, at the end of October, it was finally time to launch the beast. Windows 8 was released to the world on October 26, garnering plenty of criticism and praise alike. We liked Windows 8 quite a bit, and while it isn’t perfect, we’re excited to see what Microsoft does with this news direction for the OS in the future. Others didn’t exactly share our enthusiasm though, bemoaning the new user interface at every chance. Some PC manufacturers even blamed perceived low demand for Windows 8 for their lagging sales, so Microsoft definitely made some enemies by releasing this very different version of Windows.

Whether you like it or not, that doesn’t change the fact that we saw some really impressive Windows 8 machines springing up shortly after launch. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 was one of them, leaving Windows RT in the dust in favor of the fully featured Windows 8 and a sporting a 360-degree hinge that lets you fold the laptop into all kinds of orientations. The Samsung ATIV Smart PC is another Windows 8 device worth checking out, though in a rather strange turn of events, we were only able to review half of it. Acer has been putting out some solid Windows 8 products as well, launching the attractive Aspire 7600U All-in-One and the excellent Aspire S7 ultrabook. In other words, it’s been a good few months for those who are enthusiastic about Windows 8 and want some good hardware to run it on.

Despite all of the doom and gloom surrounding Windows 8, the simple fact of the matter is that we won’t know just how well it’s doing with consumers for a while yet. Microsoft announced a little earlier in the year that it had sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses, which certainly doesn’t seem to mesh with the idea that Windows 8 is off to a bad start, but there are plenty of retailers and PC partners who are quick to say that Windows 8 has been underperforming.

Make no mistake, Microsoft changed a lot with Windows 8. While the Windows we’re used to is still mostly intact, it’s hiding behind an all new Start screen, which serves as a replacement to the Start menu that was introduced with the release of Windows 95 all those years ago. Windows 8 signals an entirely new direction for the Windows brand, but Microsoft embraced that change as a company, revealing an all-new logo in 2012. This new logo is a lot cleaner than the old one (some might say “boring” rather than “cleaner”), featuring the live tiles that have been so controversial among lifelong Windows users. With this new logo, Microsoft showed us that it’s ready for an all-new era of Windows.

Of course, 2012 wasn’t all about Windows 8. Microsoft launched its new Surface tablet alongside Windows 8, and with it comes Windows RT. In our review, we declared that Surface was a solid start for Microsoft’s tablet business, though there may be a few sticking points with consumers. We won’t really get to see what Microsoft can do in the tablet space until the Surface Pro launches next month, but unfortunately, Surface Pro still doesn’t have a solid release date despite its January 2013 launch window.

In the meantime, Surface has been causing some controversy of its own. Some love it, some can’t stand it, and we’ve heard plenty of rumors that claimed Microsoft was scaling back on Surface production. Those rumors implied that Surface wasn’t as big a hit as Microsoft was hoping for, but then the company surprised us all by announcing that it had ramped up Surface production and would be offering it through a number of third party retailers. Not only that, but it also announced that a number of the temporary retail stores it had opened for the holiday season would become permanent fixtures, so at least in that respect, it would appear that Microsoft has found success.

While Surface will need some time to grow into a tablet that can challenge the likes of the iPad and the significant number of quality Android tablets, there was one new Microsoft release in 2012 that everyone was excited for: Windows Phone 8. Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform had failed in the past to capture a sizable portion of the smartphone market, so Microsoft poured a lot of resources into Windows Phone 8.

That effort shows, too. In our review of the mobile operating system, we said that Windows Phone 8 was much improved over previous installments, and that it was a mobile OS that everyone – Windows Phone veteran or otherwise – could enjoy. However, we also pointed out that regardless of how good Windows Phone 8 is, it’s quality hardware that will ultimately bring people to the platform.

Windows Phone 8 is still very young, but already we’re seeing a bunch of really solid WP8 devices. HTC is entirely on board with the platform, releasing the Windows Phone 8S and Windows Phone 8X. Nokia is naturally there too, giving us plenty of handsets to get excited about with the Lumia 920 and Lumia 810. It’s too early to tell if Windows Phone 8 can perform well enough to keep Apple and Google on their toes, but if these early handsets are any indication, then the future is bright indeed.

In fact, if there’s one thing Microsoft’s 2012 encourages, it’s looking toward the future. Windows 8 and Surface may be off a relatively shaky start, but they lay the groundwork for some truly exciting releases in the future. On the other hand, Windows Phone 8 is off to a great start, but good initial reaction doesn’t mean anything if the OS can’t perform in the long run. Ultimately, Microsoft set the stage for years to come in 2012, so even though it’s difficult for us to label the year as a success or failure, we should be seeing some very interesting things as time goes on.

John Lewis is selling the 32GB Surface RT variant for £479 and the 64GB model for £559. Both variants come with a black Touch Cover, and you actually don’t have any choice in the matter. Whereas Microsoft offers Surface RT with the option of the Touch Cover, John Lewis is including it along with every Surface purchase. That’s not a bad deal, considering that the Touch Cover seems to be a pretty big part of the Surface experience.

We’re not sure if Microsoft will get Surface in other UK stores, but for the moment, John Lewis is it. Also unclear is whether or not John Lewis will get the incoming Surface Pro, but with Surface RT now on the store’s shelves, it seems likely it’ll be among the first stores to get Microsoft’s beefier Surface model.

Microsoft recently announced that it had increased Surface RT production, and that its temporary holiday stores here in the US will stay open into the new year. Some of those temporary stores will even transition into permanent retail locations, but Microsoft has yet to announce which ones will be hanging around. Check out our story timeline below for more on Surface RT!

[via Windows Phone Central]

Microsoft will be announcing additional retailers “soon.” Rumor has it that the Surface RT will also be available at Best Buy and Walmart. This will mark a big moment for the Surface RT, which is currently only sold at Microsoft’s grand total of 31 stores, plus online. Staples, meanwhile, has about 1,900 stores, giving the device a big boost in exposure.

Staples’ Executive Vice President of Merchandising Mike Edwards offered this statement. “Staples is excited to provide this innovative product to customers just in time for the holiday season. Staples is a leader in offering the latest technology for small businesses and consumers, and our customers can now experience Surface in store or online.”

Anyone who buys the Surface RT via Staples can utilize the company’s “8 Way Easy” offer, which provides Windows 8 training, support, and startup for free. The Surface RT comes with Office Home & Student 2013RT. The 32GB model is priced at $499, while the 32GB with the Black Touch Cover is $599 and the 64GB model is $699.

This information comes from Twitter user @MS_Nerd (protected account), who says that Microsoft could launch all three of these devices as early as next year. Details are pretty slim, but we hear that Surface 2 comes equipped with a 8.6-inch screen and is powered by a Qualcomm processor. Surface Pro 2 can reportedly boast an 11.6-inch display and an AMD Temash processor, while Surface Book is outfitted with a 14.6-inch screen and an Intel Haswell processor, leading some to believe that it could be a convertible notebook/tablet.

Digital Trends points out that the Haswell and Temash chips aren’t scheduled to launch until later next year, so these new devices would almost certainly launch in late 2013 if Microsoft is indeed plotting to release them next year. As we said above, that Microsoft is planning follow ups to Surface RT and Surface Pro is no surprise, but it’s important to remember that Surface Pro doesn’t even have a solid release date yet – we’ve only heard that it should be out sometime in January 2013. With that in mind, it’s probably a good to remain on the skeptical side with these rumors.

Just as well, we recently learned that Microsoft cut Surface orders in half due to underwhelming demand, so whether or not these projects actually get off the ground could depend on how well Surface Pro does when it’s released next year. We’ll just have to wait and see, and don’t expect Microsoft to begin talking about these new Surface devices for months yet. In any case, keep it tuned here to SlashGear, as we’ll update you once we hear more.

Smaller tablets – the roughly 7- to 8-inch category have had a mixed history, starting out life as simply oversized phones, but developing into legitimate devices in their own right in 2012. Best value for money is Google’s Nexus 7, delivering the pure Android experience from $199 (and with an unlocked 3G model for those wanting proper connectivity on the move), though we also rate Barnes & Noble’s NOOK HD. Again priced from $199 (though with less storage than the Nexus 7: 8GB versus 16GB) the NOOK HD has an excellent display and a customized interface that’s arguably better suited to ebook and multimedia consumption.

The iPad mini was a late entrant into the small tablet space, but by sticking with the legacy resolution – albeit in a 7.9-inch display – Apple has made sure its new model has access to all the old apps. That’s a compelling argument when the holiday gift wrap comes off and eager owners want to explore the capabilities of their new toy. At $329 for the cheapest model (from $459 for the 4G version, which we also rate) it’s not inexpensive, but it’s an all-round package you can rely on.

Bigger tablets have been dominated by the iPad with Retina display, and Apple’s 9.7-inch model (from $499) is still a strong contender. Like the iPad mini, it has a wealth of app options, but it also throws in an excellent display while still managing 10+ hours of runtime. Its screen, meanwhile, gets some impressive competition from Google’ new Nexus 10, undercutting the full-sized iPad by $100 and out-pixeling it with a fantastic 2560 x 1600 display. We’re yet to see apps that take full advantage of that resolution, however, though the Nexus 10 does a great job with multimedia and web browsing.

Microsoft’s Surface RT is an odd beast. The Windows RT tablet starts from $499, but arguably only really makes sense when you pair it with a Touch Cover keyboard-case, taking the starting price to $599. If you’re a Windows fan then the Surface makes sense, as does using it as a laptop alternative, though a paucity of apps means it struggles to compete like-for-like with the iPad still. Consider an expensive IOU for the Surface Pro, which runs full Windows 8 (and thus all legacy apps too) from $899 in the new year.

Honorable Mention: Is it a tiny tablet? Is it a massive smartphone? Is it somewhere in-between, and one of the best arguments for mobility convergence around so far? Samsung’s Galaxy Note II pushes the envelope with its 5.5-inch display, and while probably fitting more into the phone category, deserves highlighting for those that want some of the benefits of a tablet’s bigger screen but still would prefer to carry a single device. From $300 with a new, two-year agreement (or $650 on a T-Mobile pre-paid) it’s not cheap, but it’s definitely capable.

Still need more tablet inspiration? Check out our full tablet reviews hub!

The $899 and $999 models will be the “standalone” versions, meaning you’ll have to crank out more cash if you want the keyboard attachment. However, it’ll come with the pen/stylus in the box. As you can see, the device looks very similar to the regular Surface tablet, including the same type of casing and built-in kickstand. Plus, it also boasts the same 10.6-inch display with the 16:9 aspect ratio.

However, a lot of differences are coming to the Surface Pro. For one, the screen will feature a full HD 1920×1080 resolution. It’ll also bypass ARM chips altogether and will opt for an Intel Core i5 processor, as well as a Mini DisplayPort that can output a 2560×1440 resolution, a full-size USB 3.0 port, and a copy of Windows 8 Pro with support for traditional desktop applications.

The Surface Pro will act more like a laptop than the regular Surface tablet. Of course, you’ll still have the ability to easily use it as a tablet, but using it with either keyboard attachments will no doubt give the Surface Pro more credit as being a true hybrid, thanks to a full version of Windows 8 Pro instead of just Windows RT.

The team at Piper Jaffray spent a total of ten hours on Black Friday, monitoring both the Apple Store and the Microsoft Store at the Mall of America, which are across the hall from one another. They noticed that there was almost 50% less foot traffic at the Microsoft Store than there was at the Apple Store. They also noticed that consumers bought 17.2 items per hour at the Apple Store and only 3.5 items per hour at the Microsoft Store. What’s perhaps even more fascinating about that fact is that all but two of the Microsoft purchases were Xbox 360 games.

However, probably one of the most interesting statistic that the research team came up with during their time at the mall, was that Apple sold around 11 iPads per hour, while Microsoft didn’t sell a single Surface tablet. Then again, the team only spent two hours at the Microsoft Store, but during those two hours, Apple sold 22 iPads.

According to Piper Jaffray, which did the same exact observation and survey last year during Black Friday, traffic at the Apple Store was up 31% from last year’s Black Friday. However, sales of Macs and iPads were down in 2012. Last year, Apple sold an average of almost 15 10-inch iPads per hour at the Mall of America, while this year only saw 6.7 per hour. Mac hourly averages were down 60% since last year as well.

[via Fortune]

HP’s PC chief took some time out of his day to talk some smack about Microsoft Surface, while Google started sending out emails that said some Nexus 4 orders have been placed on backorder for three weeks. We learned today that 4G LTE networks are surprisingly easy to bring down, and Dell’s earnings for Q3 are showing a pretty big decline year-over-year. Usage of Microsoft’s SkyDrive has doubled in six months (and there are new features on the way), while a new survey is telling us that consumer demand for Windows 8 is a little on the low side.

We learned that the Steve Jobs biopic will be comprised of a collection of pre-keynote footage, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk talked about the future of space exploration. Steve Ballmer had some harsh words for the likes of Android and Apple today, while we learned that thieves made off with a shipment of 3,600 iPad minis. The HTC Deluxe was leaked today, leading us believe that it’s the international version of the HTC DROID DNA, and a new augmented reality game called Google Ingress was officially revealed.

Microsoft will be holding Windows Store app labs in 30 different cities to help Windows 8 developers make apps for the new OS, Xbox Live celebrated its 10th birthday. Spotify confirmed that its web app beta is rolling out to select number of users today, and Bethesda shared a bunch of new screenshots from its upcoming Dragonborn DLC. Finally tonight, Don Reisinger asks why the music industry seems to dislike fairness, while we go hands-on with the new Samsung Galaxy Camera – it’s a cool little device, so you’re not going to want to miss that one! That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

“We’re not entering the consumer tablet fray any time soon. We’ll be doing something next year, but you won’t see a consumer tablet from HP before Christmas” Bradley confirmed. “You’ll see convertibles that are focused on how you use the device, keyboard, clamshell.”

Although specific OS and processor is undecided, Bradley is “not a big [Windows] RT fan either.” The company confirmed back in June that it had frozen plans to release its own ARM-based RT slate, though it denied that the decision had been prompted by Microsoft’s surprise announcement of its own Surface project.

“I’d hardly call Surface competition … One, very limited distribution. It tends to be slow and a little kludgey as you use it. I just don’t think it’s competitive. It’s expensive. Holistically, the press has made a bigger deal out of Surface than what the world has chosen to believe. If you want to go to any of the 30 Microsoft Stores in the United States to buy one, I think you should probably do that” Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP

Of course, it’s somewhat ironic that HP should dismiss Surface after the dire HP TouchPad launch, though Bradley says that the company’s own failures, if anything, give him better insight. “I’m saying that as somebody who understands the consumer market pretty clearly” he argued. “Obviously the decision by our board to shut down the WebOs business caused us to have a significant delay in our tablets. We’re catching up slowly, both with tablets and with convertible devices.”

Those convertible devices – and HP’s other Windows 8 hardware – may well attempt to bridge the traditional divide between enterprise and consumer hardware, and instead try to be all things to all users. Asked about what HP has planned for 2013, Bradley says we can expect to see “a lot of work with devices in the enterprise that are broadly ubiquitous, getting away from commercial and consumer and just having one set of IT products.”