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Archive for August 22nd, 2009

Microsoft Surface – What is it?

Aug 22

Posted by curseo in Microsoft, SURFACE | 2 Comments

What is Microsoft Surface?

Platform2 Microsoft Surface is a revolutionary multi-touch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real-world objects, helping people interact with digital content in a simple and intuitive way. With a large, horizontal user interface, Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with data and each other.

For Users:

Microsoft Surface represents a fundamental change in the way we interact with digital content. Leave the mouse and keyboard behind. Surface lets you grab digital content with your hands and move information with simple gestures and touches. Surface also sees and interacts with objects placed on the screen, allowing you to move information between devices like mobile phones or cameras. The result is a fun, social and exciting computing experience like you’ve never had before.

For Businesses:

Microsoft Surface provides tremendous potential for businesses to improve communication, and be more efficient in how they deliver information and services to their customers. The intuitive and approachable interface is easy to learn and the familiar software platform makes it easy to manage, too. The multi-touch and multi-user capabilities create an incredibly collaborative experience, where sharing and exploring information is easier than ever.

Seeing is believing

Take a look at more videos to see Microsoft Surface in action.

How does Microsoft Surface work?

Microsoft Surface uses cameras and image recognition in the infrared spectrum to recognize different types of objects such as fingers, tagged items and shapes. This input is then processed by the computer and the resulting interaction is displayed using rear projection. The user can manipulate content and interact with the computer using natural touch and hand gestures, instead of a typical mouse and keyboard.

What are the key capabilities of Microsoft Surface?

Microsoft Surface has four key capabilities that make it such a unique experience:

  • Direct interaction. Users can grab digital information with their hands and interact with content on-screen by touch and gesture – without using a mouse or keyboard.
  • Multi-user experience. The large, horizontal, 30 inch display makes it easy for several people to gather and interact together with Microsoft Surface – providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
  • Multi-touch. Microsoft Surface responds to many points of contact simultaneously – not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, but from dozens of contact points at once.
  • Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the screen to trigger different types of digital responses – providing for a multitude of applications and the transfer of digital content to mobile devices.

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    Apple iPod TOUCH

    Aug 22

    Posted by curseo in Apple, iPod Touch | No Comments

    appstore_hero20080909

    iPod touch games and applications are nothing short of amazing. And the App Store is where you’ll find them all.

    The world’s best developers are taking advantage of groundbreaking technology, including Multi-Touch, the accelerometer, real-time 3D graphics, and 3D positional sound, to create games and applications made especially for iPod touch. So whether you’re a gamer or into something else — chatting, social networking, news, sports, finance — there’s bound to be something just for you.

    Games

    Games designed for iPod touch technology are just a tap away. Browse hundreds of games from the App Store right on your iPod touch, download what you want, and you’re ready to play.

    Music

    Flip through your library by album artwork. Create Genius Playlists on the go. And add to your collection by shopping the iTunes Store from any Wi-Fi hotspot.

    Movies + TV Shows

    Movies and TV shows pop off the 3.5-inch widescreen display. Choose from thousands at the iTunes Store and take them with you everywhere.

    Internet

    Browse the web with Wi-Fi. Get rich HTML email, including attachments. Get directions and live traffic reports. Feed your YouTube addiction.

    High Technology

    Its advanced technologies enable iPod touch to respond to both touch and movement. It also finds wireless networks and connects you to the Internet.

    What’s new on iPod touch

    The new, contoured design feels even better in your hand. The new Genius feature takes one song and creates perfect playlists. And the new volume controls and built-in speaker let you turn up the sound.

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    Zune HD (32GB - platinum)

    Aug 22

    Posted by curseo in Microsoft, ZUNE HD | No Comments

    OVR

    Specifications: Device type: Digital player / radio ; Flash memory installed: 32 GB ; Digital player supported digital audio standards: AAC , MP3 , WMA , WMAPro ;

    Price range: $289.99

    CNET editors’ take

    • Reviewed by:

      Donald Bell

    • Reviewed on: 05/27/2009
    • Updated on: 08/18/2009

    On May 26, 2009, Microsoft officially announced plans to release a touch-screen version of the Zune portable media player, intended to compete with Apple’s iPod Touch. The new device is called the Zune HD, and offers several features not found on the iPod Touch, including an OLED display, HD radio, and high-definition video playback (using an optional dock accessory). Long-standing Zune features, such as a photo viewer, games, podcast management, and Zune Pass music subscription integration, will continue to be supported, as well.

    The Zune HD will go on sale September 15, offered in 16GB and 32GB models, priced at $219 and $289, respectively. Both models will be available in stores with either black or platinum finishes. As with previous generations of the portable media player, additional color and customization options will be available at launch directly from Microsoft’s Zune Originals online storefront.

    The Zune HD will be the first Zune to include an Internet Explorer Web browser, complementing its other Wi-Fi features (song sharing, Channel streaming, and Zune Marketplace browsing). The Zune HD’s browser is optimized for the touch screen with an onscreen keyboard, but there’s no word on whether it will be capable of streaming Flash media (used by sites such as YouTube and Pandora), a capability that is currently lacking in the Safari browser for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

    Microsoft also unveiled plans to dramatically beef up the video download selection of its Zune Marketplace online store, and use the improved storefront to power the movie and TV downloads available to the Xbox gaming console. The new storefront will support movie rentals that can be transferred to Zune hardware (similar to iTunes movie rentals) playable from either your computer or from the Zune HD.

    The Zune HD isn’t the first MP3 player to offer a 3.3-inch touch-screen OLED display or high-definition video output, but it is one of the first portable audio devices to integrate an HD radio tuner. Beyond the added fidelity of HD radio, the format also lends itself well to transmitting artist and song data, which is useful for the Zune’s existing FM radio song-tagging and download feature.

    Microsoft rates the Zune HD’s battery life at 33 hours of music playback and 8.5 hours of video (with Wi-Fi deactivated). If these numbers are accurate, they represent a considerable improvement over previous generations of Zune hardware, which were often criticized for poor battery performance.

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