Coldstreams

Thinner than iPad (at 9.3mm, in one version versus 9.5mm for the iPad) a case whose cover (on the inside) works as an ultra thin keyboard, HD display, HDMI output, a kickstand to prop it up on the table, a scratch proof material construction, accessory ports, stylus option, one example runs on Nvidia processor and another runs on an Intel processor.

Ars is reporting there are 4 products announced: Surface for Windows RT, Surface for Windows 8 Pro, Touch Cover (in many colors) and Type Cover (the one with the keyboard).

Sounds like a good feature set, but what is the price and battery life? Can users replace the battery? When will it ship? (To ship around time of Windows 8 - 32, 64 and 128 GB models priced similar to ARM tablets and ultrathin tablets.)

Spec sheet. Provides micro SD card slot, USB 3.0 and more. That is nice.

Basic photo. Looking at some of the other photos, its not quite as pretty as an iPad which has more rounded edges than the Surface. Blue case shown but also available in black and other colors.

More Info: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

My take on this - Microsoft actually kept this secret up until the announcement. That’s a different approach for Microsoft. Does this mean there might be more secrets to be unveiled later this year?

FYI - My Internet service was down most of today so posting was non-existent.

Microsoft’s cloud offering is a without doubt a confident one. Simple to use, essential features and, perhaps crucially, good value storage options let you know that this is a product born from a company with more than a little experience in consumer products. The interface may not be all that snazzy, and some of the app support for non-Windows platforms is a little spotty, but the end product still manages to reach far beyond its PC and phone ecosystem.

While these small blemishes don’t massively detract from the overall experience, if Redmond were to eliminate them and make the experience universally consistent, then Microsoft could be poised to corner off a reasonable slice of the market.

via Microsoft SkyDrive impressions: a look at features and functionality — Engadget.

Of interest, Microsoft provides Skydrive support for iOS.

Related articles

• Microsoft’s New SkyDrive Apps Include A Preview For Mac OS X Lion(gizmodo.com.au)

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• Get 7GB of Free Cloud Storage from Microsoft(savings.com)

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• Microsoft intros SkyDrive app for Windows and Mac OS X(slashgear.com)

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• Cloud Computing: Google Drive(wire.kapitall.com)

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• Blog: Microsoft’s Dropbox alternative - SkyDrive (with free upgrade)(musingsfromsussex.com)

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• Microsoft SkyDrive app released for Windows Phone and iPhone(zdnet.com)

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• Microsoft Boosts SkyDrive Software, Storage (informationweek.com)
• Microsoft SkyDrive cloud storage gets Dropbox-like features boost (techradar.com)

This echoes what I wrote a few days ago!

• How to Fix Microsoft With Marketing. Features and benefits is pragmatic, not sexy or emotional. Microsoft is pitching the Windows Phone to consumers the same way they sell to business customers. The product is great but the marketing might not yet be connecting…
• See also “Why Stunts Drive Clicks for Gen-Y Auto Marketers”.  May be they need to skydiving out of airplanes while texting :)

Related articles

• Consumer advertising for Windows Phone (coldstreams.com)
• Android ‘Smoked by Windows Phone’ (pocket-lint.com)

Yesterday I wrote that Microsoft had not done a good job of consumer-level marketing, such as for the Windows Phone. Apple, by comparison, is very effective at marketing to consumers’ emotions to attract repeat and frequent purchases of high end techie toys. Has Microsoft figured out consumer marketing - yet? 

This week, the company will launch another such campaign: “Smoked by Windows Phone,” a series of online ads challenging those who use iPhones, Android phones or other mobile devices to beat the speed of a Windows Phone in doing a browser search, sharing with their social network or shooting and posting a photo.

via Business & Technology | Microsoft sharpens its advertising sword to jab rivals | Seattle Times Newspaper.

This is valid marketing but focuses on the pragmatic features - not the emotional appeal that drives Apple sales.

Related articles

• Microsoft sharpens its advertising sword to jab rivals (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Research Firm Predicts Windows Phone Will Supplant iPhone by 2016 (brighthand.com)
• Inside Windows Phone #32 | Microsoft Developer Carlo Rivera on Making Money (channel9.msdn.com)
• Windows Phone Tango devices to land in China as soon as next month (intomobile.com)
• Nokia’s Lumia handset line is beating the Windows Phone’s brand in search traffic (thenextweb.com)
• Windows Phone View: Microsoft Killing Zune Software? Nokia Lumia 610 Leaks And More (pocketnow.com)
• How Windows 8 Phone Compares to Android OS (maketecheasier.com)
• Android most-used smartphone OS in UK (guardian.co.uk)

Windows 8 tablets might come equipped with more sensors than have been typical on tablets and smart phones:

The ability to react to changes in ambient light, motion, human proximity, and location are becoming common and essential elements of the computing experience. Even something simple—like an ambient light sensor to adjust display brightness in a room with changing light—is potentially a basic scenario for desktop PCs.

via Supporting sensors in Windows 8 - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs.

In that study, 68% of users only use five or fewer apps at least once a week. Furthermore, 17% don’t use any apps on a regular basis while only 42% of respondents even have apps on their phones. Those are certainly interesting numbers and what it suggests is people are downloading lots of apps but rarely use them on a regular basis.

via Study: Apps not that important to smartphone users | wpcentral | Windows Phone News, Forums, and Reviews.

Related articles

• Will Anyone Notice The New Windows Phone? (regulargeek.com)
• Can Smartphones Change the Way We Learn? (mycricket.com)
• Microsoft: next version of Windows Phone will support current apps (intomobile.com)