Last night, Microsoft drops some major bomb for the tech industry in a live-streamed launch on its website. Five major bombs, to be exact. The Microsoft Band, three new Lumia smartphones (Lumia 950, 950 XL and 550), Surface Pro 4, Hololens and, we’re saving the best for last, the Surface Book!
Surface Book
Okay, let’s get to the one we’re most excited about first. The Surface Book! Microsoft dubs it “The Ultimate Laptop.” It’s the thinnest laptop ever made yet and it’s amazing enough that it is the first laptop Microsoft has ever created.
When Microsoft first unveiled the super-thin laptop, the first thing that crossed most of our minds is how expensive it looks. It’s really slim and shiny, exceedingly sleek with meticulously crafted premium-looking Microsoft logo on the back. Aesthetics-wise, Microsoft has put itself on top of other PC-makers where this mean machine is concerned.
Now, moving on to the entrée. The Surface Book comes with a 6th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, 16 GB memory and 12 hours battery life to give you the ultimate performance Microsoft wants you to have. It also means the Surface Book is two times more powerful than the Macbook Pro.
The tech giant has focused on helping professionals to achieve their best at work. Creative tasks are intensified with an optional discrete graphics chip and when you work on the laptop with Surface Pen, the multi-touch 13” PixelSense screen is all you need to create amazing work of art. 3D rendering looks effortless with the new Surface Book.
This also means the Surface Book has to be detachable to provide greater flexibility and it is. With the dynamic fulcrum hinge, the laptop can turn into a tablet anytime you want. And of course, with Windows 10, you get tons of productivity enhancing features on top of the innovations in security and personalisation.
Retail price for the Surface Book is revealed to be US$1,499.
Surface Pro 4
We have seen the performance on the Surface Pro 3, and according to Microsoft’s Surface VP, Panos Panay, the tablet is so powerful that Microsoft engineers are currently using it to build the next generation Surface. So, needless to say, we are very excited to see the new Surface Pro 4.
There seems to a running theme at Microsoft because the Surface Pro 4 was also made very thin and light, so that there is no hassle carrying it around with you everywhere you go. Plus, it runs on the 6th Gen Intel Core m3, i5 and i7 processors making it 30% faster than the Surface Pro 3 and 50% faster than the Macbook Air. Even with that amount of power running through the tablet, the Surface Pro 4 will run quieter and cooler than before.
Now, Panay was very enthusiastic about Microsoft’s new keyboard – Type Cover. It is the thinnest made yet and has very fast response time. The keyboard also comes with a precision glass trackpad so that the typing experience is elevated. And to top it off, it comes with an integrated backlight.
The Surface Pro 4 gives amazing display with the 12.3” PixelSense, which has high contrast and low glare, and we have seen Panay do incredible things on the tablet with the Surface Pen. It is no wonder because the Surface Pen also packs some incredible spec on its own.
With 1,024 levels of sensitivity, the pen lets you write, draw and mark documents just like a normal pen. It also comes with an eraser on its tail, a clever addition by Microsoft, and with interchangeable tips for creative workers out there.
The Surface also features a new login called Windows Hello, which scans and detects your face to unlock the device. It is very fast and takes no longer than two seconds for the device to unlock.
Microsoft is confident the new Surface Pro 4 will become the tablet that replaces your laptop, and we are convinced of it after the web telecast last night. The tablet retails at US$899 and is available for pre-order in select markets starting today. The same goes for the Surface Book and the new accessories.
Lumia phones
Microsoft introduces three new smartphones last night; Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 550.
Lumia 950 and 950 XL are the first Windows 10 smartphones and this means it has Continuum capability for phones, enhanced with the new Microsoft Display Dock accessory. You simply connect the phone to a monitor and it instantly becomes a PC or a larger-screen entertainment.
See the same live tiles and run the same apps that you have on your Lumia. The phone’s normal functions are not compromised and you can still take calls and perform other tasks while operating on the monitor.
The phones come with the latest-generation PureView cameras packed with 20MP sensors, triple LED natural flash to give you true-to-life colours. With a push of a button, you can shoot a 4K video with the Lumia and see crisper images than you have ever before.
On top of everything else, the Lumia 950 and 950 XL comes with USB-C port, which means you can charge your phone for less than 30 minutes and get more than 50% battery life. The handsets are also made liWith fast-charging, you get to enjoy the incredible features on Lumia to the full extent.
The handsets also has liquid-cooling technology which is insane! And of course, the phones also come with Windows Hello feature.
Lumia 550, on the other hand, is for those who value affordability but still want Windows 10 on their smartphone. Microsoft gives you uncompromised quality and services for just US$139. Equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor with ultra-fast LTE speeds, Lumia 550 will begin selling in select European markets in December.
All in all, Microsoft has not failed to impress and has put up an amazing show last night. So keep your eyes and ears peeled here for more information on when these amazing devices will be made available in Malaysia.
Click below to watch the products in action;
