Microsoft has unveiled its new Surface, Lumia and Microsoft Band devices, all running the new Windows 10 with Windows Hello, Cortana, improved touch and pen experiences on Surface, and Continuum for phones, enabling the new Lumia 950 and 950 XL phones to work like PCs. Microsoft also shared new gaming experiences from Xbox and new details on Microsoft HoloLens, the first fully untethered holographic computer. The company also announced new universal apps for Windows 10, including Box, Facebook, Instagram, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipagram, Uber, and others.
The new Surface Book laptop, priced from USD 1,499, is ultrathin, and combines 6th Generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors with up to 12 hours of battery life. The 13.5-inch optically bonded PixelSense Display can be written on, with accurate and responsive pen and touch support, with a high-contrast 267 dpi display. The screen also detaches, so it can be used like a clipboard to sketch, take notes and benefit from Windows programs like Microsoft Edge. An optional discrete GPU allows Surface Book to harness hardware-accelerated graphics for seamless video editing, fast rendering or immersive gaming.
The new Surface Pro 4 tablet is 8.4 mm thin and features a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display and 6th Generation Intel Core m, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. Priced from USD 899, Surface Pro 4 is 30 percent more powerful than Surface Pro 3 and quieter. It runs cooler and has a more efficient battery life of up to nine hours. The tablet cover transforms the device into a laptop, with a redesigned mechanical keyboard with optimal key spacing for fast and fluid typing. Backwards compatible with Surface Pro 3, the new Surface Pro 4 Type Cover comes with an optional fingerprint reader, bringing the enterprise-grade security of Windows Hello to existing customers. The redesigned Surface Pen packs 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, letting users write with one and erase with the other. Surface Book, Surface Pro 4 and new accessories will be available for preorder in select markets from 7 October, then for purchase in Canada and the US on 26 October.
The new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL are the first Windows 10 Lumia phones and newest premium phones from Microsofts. With Continuum capability for phones enhanced by the new Microsoft Display Dock accessory, users can connect the phone to a monitor and transform it for larger-screen entertainment, or add a keyboard and mouse to work like a PC with Windows 10 apps like Microsoft Office, while simultaneously taking calls or performing other tasks. The latest-generation PureView cameras have 20-megapixel sensors, triple LED natural flash and 4K video capture. Both smartphones will become available in select markets in November, with local retailers or operators giving pricing and availability.
Microsoft also announced the Lumia 550, its most affordable 4G LTE smartphone running Windows 10. The device, priced at USD 139, comes with superfast internet and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor with ultrafast LTE speeds. The Lumia 550 will begin rolling out in select European markets in December, with additional markets to follow.
The new Microsoft Band 2 is the company’s latest fitness wearable. Priced from USD 249, the band features a new curved display, making it even more comfortable to wear. Cortana will enable users to reply to texts or set reminders with the touch of a button. Alongside a continuous optical heart rate monitor and onboard GPS, the smart band tracks calories burned, deep exercise and sleep quality as well as floors climbed, with an up to two day battery life. Microsoft Health is available as a universal Windows app, a dedicated app for iOS and Android devices, and via a Web Dashboard, all enabling people to set wellness goals and receive actionable insights. The band is is available for preorder in select markets from 6 October and then for purchase in the US on 30 October.
The new Microsoft HoloLens is a fully untethered holographic computer. It can be used for education, design, healthcare or entertainment. Microsoft is inviting applications for the Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition and will start shipping in the first quarter for USD 3,000. Developers can visit http://hololens.com to apply for the Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition.
Finally, the new Xbox One experience will launch around the world in November. The free update is a complete redesign built on Windows 10. Also launching in November, Xbox One Backward Compatibility will let users play Xbox 360 games on Xbox One for free with 100 games at launch and hundreds more in the months ahead. Backward-compatible Xbox 360 games will also be playable on Windows 10 through game streaming from Xbox One to Windows 10. Games include “Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider,” “Forza Motorsport 6,” and “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.” Microsoft said it is offering gamers its most extensive bundle lineup ever, starting from USD 349.
In the US, the Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, Microsoft Band 2 and Xbox One will be available through microsoftstore.com, more than 110 Microsoft stores, authorized resellers and select partner retailers.
