Fox announcers screw up description of Microsoft Surface Pro 2 during NFL telecast

Early last month, we told you about the $400 million deal signed between Microsoft and the NFL. Under the terms of the deal, each NFL stadium will have a fleet of modified Microsoft Surface Pro 2 tablets that would be handed out to coaches during each NFL game. The slates replace the Polaroid cameras that teams often used on the sidelines and in the press box in order to capture various views of the opponent's offensive and defensive formations.

The tablets, protected from impact by a heavy duty blue case, were spotted during telecasts of Sunday's opening weekend of games. Unfortunately, Fox must have decided not to make sure that their announcing crews understood exactly what the Surface Pro 2 is, and what it does. For example, during Sunday's contest between New Orleans and Atlanta,  Saints Quarterback Drew Brees was spotted on the sidelines, looking at one of the Surface Pro 2 tablets. The announcers in the booth described the tablets as "iPad-like tools."

No doubt that infuriated the guys in Redmond. When you shell out  $400 million and agree to supply a number of your tablets to every NFL stadium, you expect to get some positive promotional value out of it. Instead, it was Apple that received the free mention. No doubt Fox announcers are getting a crash course in tablets this week before next weekend's slate of games.



source: TheVerge via MicrosoftNews via WMPoweruser