Windows

Microsoft Surface tablet announcement meta-liveblog

posted by Ray S. / Jun 18, 2012, 4:34 PM

Microsoft Surface tablet announcement meta-liveblog

OK, people, there's a good and a bad news. The good news is Microsoft will be making some kind of a major announcement today in Los Angeles, and the bad news is that we don't know what it'll be about yet. Still, we'll find out soon enough, as the event will begin in about an hour from now. As you probably know, it's widely believed that the announcement will have to do with Windows RT - the tablet-optimized version of Windows 8, plus we might event get to see some new hardware. Meanwhile, there were also talks about Microsoft introducing a Windows-based reader device by Barnes & Noble, but the latter issued a statement that it won't take part in this event. So while you're waiting for the event to kick-off, why don't you refresh your memory by taking a look at our rumor round-up regarding Microsoft's big announcement?!

Unfortunately, we won't be able to attend this event, so we'll simply do a meta-liveblog, aggregating the info delivered by attending media. Stay sharp, as the event starts at: 3:30 PM Pacific | 5:30 PM Central | 6:30 PM Eastern | 12:30 AM Central European Time.

Live event tracker

19:01	This is Ray, signing off in 3, 2, 1...
19:01	OK, people, that's a wrap. Thanks for being with us for this announcement. Stay tuned for more coverage on Microsoft's new Surface tablet!
19:00	Apparently the company isn't ready to reveal release dates yet. Let's add another sad face... :(
18:59	Ballmer is now back on stage. Here's for hoping he'll mention something about availability.
18:58	Sorry guys, no specific prices yet. :(
18:57	The Intel Inside variant will come with bigger internal storage, and both variants will be priced "competitively"...
18:56	The ARM-powered Windows RT version of Microsoft Surface will come in 32GB and 64GB flavors.
18:55	Availability and pricing info coming in seconds!
18:52	"I love my wife, but Touch Cover is very important to me." Ha, we love this guy.
18:51
18:48	Is it just us, or this seems to be the first tablet to rival the iPad in terms of build quality?
18:47	The casing's tech is called Vapor MG.
18:46
18:45	Yeah, it does look like the kickstand will be part of the body.
18:44
18:43	Now they are rolling a video about the troubles Redmond went through while working on the new Surface.
18:41	The designer of the products - Panos Panay - is now on stage to talk about these announcements.
18:40	There will also be another accessory - Type Cover - designed for those who want tactile input.
18:39	The new Surface has a display port.
18:37	The device will sport two digitizers for more accurate input - one for the pen, and another for touch.
18:37
18:36	The Surface will also support pen input and digital ink, sampled at 600 dpi.
18:35
18:35
18:34	The Intel surface will be a bit thicker - just short of 14 mm, but will also have a higher-resolution display.
18:33	The Intel-powered version will run Windows 8 Pro, while the ARM one will have Windows RT.
18:32	The device will also have a rear camera. Surface will come in both Intel and ARM flavors.
18:31
18:30
18:30	Geez, the Microsoft-designed cover for the Surface includes a multitouch keyboard!
18:29	Actually we're not 100% sure if it's part of the tablet's casing.
18:28	Wow, the Microsoft Surface tablet also has a kickstand built-in!
18:27
18:26	The screen measures 10.6 inches.
18:26	"It has access to all Windows apps for music, movies and more." This doesn't make it clear enough, though.
18:25	The casing looks terrific!
18:25	But it still has a full-size USB 2 port.
18:24
18:24	"It's a tablet that works and plays the way you want to. A tablet that's a great PC. A PC that's a great tablet. Surface." It's 9.3mm thin.
18:23	Steven Sinofsky from Microsoft is now on stage to talk more about it.
18:23
18:23	This is the new Microsoft Surface!
18:22
18:22	"What is it? It's something new. Something different. A whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft."
18:22	According to Steve, in the same way Windows 1 needed a mouse, they now want to give Windows 8 some hardware to call its own.
18:20
18:19	Of course, the Xbox gets mentioned too, being Microsoft's most successful hardware product to date.
18:18	"We believe that any intersection between human and machine can be made better when hardware and software are considered together."
18:18	They are rolling a video starring Microsoft's hardware through the years - mice, keyboards, Surface, webcams, Kinekt...
18:16	Today Microsoft will be adding a new piece to its success story. Hardware...

Options

26 Comments

1. mahoganyheart

Posts: 11; Member since: May 23, 2012

Very excited!

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:46 PM 1

10. DigitalBoy05

Posts: 280; Member since: Jun 04, 2011

probably not nearly as excited as Sniggly is. He's probably up in the rafters of the conference biding his time, waiting for the time to strike.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:48 PM 1

19. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

lol. im disappointed.. there was no mention of the sniggle-strike in the metablog! thats the first thing i went looking for lol

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 7:27 PM 1

22. DigitalBoy05

I'm worried... did they catch him? are they holding him in a bunker somewhere?

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 8:58 PM 0

24. MISTER-H

Posts: 87; Member since: May 28, 2012

What are the hardware and specs.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 9:43 PM 0

2. Nick_T

Posts: 187; Member since: May 27, 2011

We so excited, and it ain't even Friday!

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:49 PM 5

3. good2great

Posts: 1042; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

WP WP WP WP WP WP!!! i'm excited! i really hope they are bringing great things into their brand... i would love to use a phone/tablet that just says "windows" or "microsoft" on it...

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:50 PM 4

4. Alp1111

Posts: 47; Member since: Jan 27, 2012

i am excited :D

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 4:57 PM 2

5. Non_Sequitur

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 16, 2012

I can't wait to see what Microsoft has to offer. Windows 8 tablets should be really awesome!

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:08 PM 2

6. kavi_nash

Posts: 3; Member since: Feb 27, 2012

Am not, but still follow the event :P Guyz who are sure that the Redmond giant is going to announce a tablet, should check out this iPad neo gif image! -http://icosmogeek.com/microsof...ablet-in-a-few-hours-comic/

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:13 PM 0

7. -box-

Posts: 3991; Member since: Jan 04, 2012

Very interested to see what's coming. There is no way this will be more disappointing than apple's recent conference. Less boring, too.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:31 PM 2

8. Alp1111

come on microsoft it is 17:35

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:36 PM 0

9. Alp1111

i need to learn what microsoft will announce because if do not they announce something attractive i will buy an asus transformer prime

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:43 PM 0

11. denied911

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2012

buy new samsung galaxy tab quad core and killer graphic card

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:49 PM 0

12. Alp1111

it doesnt exist

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 5:53 PM 0

13. Alp1111

the corners r 2 sharp

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 6:05 PM 0

14. jove39

Posts: 2149; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Show me a nice win8 tablet :) Thats all I am asking for

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 6:08 PM 1

15. pongkie

Posts: 663; Member since: Aug 20, 2011

18:01 looks like an ipad. sue sue sue sue sue

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 6:24 PM 0

16. Alp1111

oh god when will it ship

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 6:32 PM 0

17. krimHD

Posts: 106; Member since: May 23, 2012

Add i jizzed in my pants

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 7:16 PM 0

18. demarmj

Posts: 17; Member since: May 03, 2012

"Is it just us, or this seems to be the first tablet to rival the iPad in terms of build quality?" - Typical Ray S comment. Have you not seen the Transformer Prime?

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 7:17 PM 2

20. remixfa

i dont remember the galaxy tab being a slouch in quality either.

21. remixfa

wow.. fantastic start. The cover/keyboard has me very intrigued. Now show me what it looks like while running pro and compatible programs! :)

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 7:28 PM 1

23. mercorp

Posts: 1045; Member since: Jan 28, 2012

OEMs GOT TROLLED.

posted on Jun 18, 2012, 9:20 PM 0

25. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1461; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

I have been saying this all along that MS tablet has the potential to rule with Windows 8 products. Integrating tablet, desk top, and phone seamlessly to office and exchange server will enhance business, and draw in would be consumers looking for a complete tablet OS. Personally I have been running Windows 8 on my desktop for 3 months, and loving it.