Evolution of Microsoft's Surface

2001

In 2001 Stevie Bathiche of Microsoft Hardware and Andy Wilson of Microsoft Research began Brainstorming concepts for an interactive table. Their vision was to mix the physical and virtual worlds to provide a rich, interactive experience.




2003

In early 2003, the team presented the idea to Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman, and within the month the first prototype was born, based on an IKEA table with a hole cut through its top and a sheet of architect vellum as a diffuser. The evolution of Microsoft Surface had begun. As more applications were built, the Hardware team saw the value of the surface computer beyond simply gaming and began to favor those applications that took advantage of the unique ability of Surface to recognize physical objects placed on the table.



2004

In 2004, the team grew and became the Surface Computing group. Surface prototypes, functionality and applications were continuously refined. The team build more than 85 early prototypes for use by software developers, hardware developers and user researchers.


2005

By late 2004, The Microsoft Surface software development platform was established and attention turned to its form.A number of different experimental prototype were built including the "tub" model that was encased in a round plastic shell, a desk-height model with a square top and cloth-covered sides and even a bar-height model. After extensive testing and user research, the current look and feel of Surface was finalized in 2005.


2007

Today Microsoft Surface is a 30 - inch diagonal display table that's easy for individuals or small groups to use collaboratively. With a sleek, translucent surface, people engage with Surface using natural hand gestures, touch and physical objects placed on the Surface.


The Future

A form factor continuous to evolve, surface computing will be in any number of environments - schools, business, homes and any number of form factors - part of the counter top, the wall or the refrigerator.

Apple iPhone

Apple iPhone Launches June 29

After weeks of anticipation, speculation and guesses good and bad, Apple (AAPL) tonight confirmed the launch date of the iPhone: Friday, June 29.

The news came in a series of three TV ads aired Sunday night and posted shortly after on Apple's website here. The first ones aired at 7 p.m. ET, according to several sources, one before the broadcast of 60 Minutes on CBS, and another just before the 7 p.m. broadcast of 7th Heaven.

Each demonstrates a selection of the iPhone's functions and ends with the words "Only on the new AT&T," the Apple logo, and the tagline: "Coming June 29."

The ads are straightforward and ungimmicky, except perhaps for "Calimari" (see below) ,which jumps from watching the giant squid scene in Pirates of the Caribbean to searching for the nearest seafood restaurant in San Francisco to calling for a reservation. It will be interesting to see if the iPhone -- and the Net -- work as quickly and seamlessly in the real world.

The only news in the ads, besides the launch date, comes in the small print on the AT&T screen. It reads:

"Use requires minimum new two year activation plan."

That should put to rest rumors floated two weeks ago that the iPhone might be offered contract-free, with prepaid and pay-as-you-go options.

Pasted below is the YouTube version of the Calimari ad:

Wii outsells PlayStation

Nintendo Co.'s Wii game console outsold Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 by more than five to one in Japan last month, Japanese video game magazine publisher Enterbrain said Wednesday.

Nintendo (Charts) sold 251,794 units of the Wii in May, compared with 45,321 units of the PS3 sold, it said.

Nintendo's Wii is outselling the rival Playstation 3 from Sony.

Nintendo launched the Wii in November. The device features a motion-sensitive controller that allows users to direct on-screen play by swinging it like a tennis racket or wielding it like a sword, opening a new avenue of game playing.

Rival Sony (Charts) also started selling the PS3 late last year, but has seen slow demand so far due to its high price tag and limited availability of attractive software titles.

Shares of both Nintendo and Sony edged higher in early morning trading in Tokyo

World's Thinnest Laptop

At 0.7-inches thin and 2.25 pounds light with an out of this world battery life of up to 14 hours, a prototype laptop backed by Intel dubbed the “Intel mobile Metro notebook” could change the game for PCs. I know I am biased as I write this on my Mac, but for the last few years PC offerings have been rather stale. With few attractive yet functional PC notebook solutions it’s no wonder why people have abandoned ship to head for whiter pastures.

Image courtesy of BusinessWeek

Intel set out to change this misconception by funding some of its engineers along with Ziba Design to create a stunning “Think Thin” notebook.

The machine has to be fashionable, able to connect to all manner of wireless networks, and full of the latest, fastest computing capabilities. Oh yes, and make it as thin as Motorola’s Razr.

The result is a notebook that might make me switch my mobile computing needs to a PC (if Apple never releases their rumored ultraportable notebook). While such a notebook won’t come to mass produced fruition for a while, it gives us a glimpse into the future of notebooks if other PC manufacturers take notice. The codename Metro notebook specs are enough to make any techie giddy. Although, no word yet on the size of the screen or possible cost if it ever goes up for sale.

• 0.7-inch thin magnesium case
• Access to cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMax wireless networks
• Small array microphones to cancel out background noise - useful with Skype, etc.
• Flash memory used in place of the traditional hard drive
• Integrated fingerprint reader
• No-rim, glass-like cover extends across screen
• Screen brightness automatically adjusts with light sensors
• Built-in video camera
• Backlit keyboard
• Unique case with integrated screen allows you to check email and take part in other activities on the go

Image courtesy of BusinessWeek

Take a look at the BusinessWeek slide show for more pictures of this cutting-edge laptop.

What do you think of this prototype notebook? It could be exactly what the PC industry needs to revamp slumping sales of high-end notebooks while adding excitement to the term “PC”. This might also signal the beginning of an era where laptops might regularly be thinner than mobile phones and where laptops start to be classified into specifications by their thickness. For example, a Class A notebook might be 0.5-inches thin and under, a Class B device might be 0.75-inches thin and under, etcetera.

Watch TV on mobiles with Doordarshan

Even as the telecom industry is debating with the government for spectrum allocation for launch of 3G or triple play services, State-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan has launched mobile TV on the DVB-H platform.


“DVB-H is a technology that allows simultaneous transmission of multiple channels of television, radio and data to a range of multimedia devices including mobile phones, PDA’s, PC’s and other handheld devices. It is a new concept which is going to change the face of television,”

DVB-H offered a number of advantages, which include better reception quality, increased channel carrying capacity, new features such as program guides to facilitate navigation, multi-view and interactive services. “DVB-H brings with it the capability to continually enhance services provided to subscribers, both from a video perspective and from new applications".

DVB works on the IP platform, similar to GSM technology. The signals are transmitted via towers like the GSM telephony, and handsets have to be developed for better transmission for a larger area,

DVB forum is working on a next level of technology for satellite television channels – DVB-SH, which is due to be released later this year and the commercial launch will be in 2009-2010. The satellite technology is being given major thrust as the DVB-H is limited to terrestrial television channels and satellite signals can reach even the remotest parts of the country”