Microsoft might have bigger casino plans for Surface than interactive drink menus. According to this article, researchers at International Game Technology plan to explore how the forthcoming Surface could be used on the casino gaming floor.
whoa.
Technorati Tags: casino, gambling, surface computing
Looks like you might have to check into a swanky hotel or think about switching your wireless service if you want to play with a Microsoft Surface computer…the company apparently considers the consumer market as merely “an option”:
“Initially, Surface will not be made available to international or household consumers; however, depending on how its initial rollout goes in the U.S., distributing to these places remains an option during future releases of the product.” (source)
Microsoft recently demonstrated its forthcoming Surface computer at the company’s worldwide partner conference.
You can watch the Surface presentation here, but don’t expect to see any sexy new applications…it’s full of the same old stuff. Pete Thompson, General Manager for Microsoft Surface, recycled the now-familar presentation that includes finger painting, digital picture manipulations, and interactive alcoholic drinks.
That doesn’t mean it’s not an important presentation, though. For my money, of which I paid none to see this presentation, the Thompson presentation is the best glimpse we’ve seen of Surface yet.
Why?
Forget the applications…we can all think of gazillions of those. At this point, I’m more interested in the business behind Surface and how Microsoft plans to get this new category off the ground.
From that perspective, the presentation delivers in droves. Here’s a few money quotes:
Technorati Tags: microsoft surface, microsoft worldwide partner conference
CrunchGear has an interesting post describing its Top Ten Cool Potential Surface Gadgets. The list is (I think) mostly tongue-in-cheek, but does contain a couple of great ideas. The RFID-based interactive book (#7) is a neat idea. History class may never be the same again.
I wonder if the Crunch boys were using a prototype of their interactive #6 when they wrote the article (read the list). After all, a spoon is just a spoon.
This Globe and Mail article makes a comparison between the Microsoft Surface and the recently-launched Apple iPhone. Nothing too interesting in that simple comparison, but the article includes a very interesting prediction:
“This is all in good fun, but I can see what will happen already. The Apple Rage Boys will note that since Microsoft’s version will be released after Apple’s iPhone, they will accuse Microsoft of copying Apple. Which was always first with everything, the perpetually offended fans note, bursting with venom and arguments.”
Basically, the author is predicting that the Surface will become the Windows of 2007 (remember the great OS debates of the early 1990’s?).
Looks like Mircosoft’s multi-touch and surface computing initiative goes way beyond the formally announced Surface. Long Zheng of IStartedSomething has a great writeup of a multi-touch laptop screen developed at the company’s research facility in Cambridge.
The SarcasticGamer has made a well done, um, sarcastic look at the recently announced Microsoft Surface. It’s a hilarious remake of one of the official demo videos, and plays largely on the the expensive price tag expected to accompany the computer on its launch this fall. Watch it below.
Beware — watching this video will probably make you realize that the computer is sooo darn cool that, even though you probably can’t justify the high price tag, you want one anyway.
Hat tip to Engadget.
Quick, what’s the most interesting thing you see in this Microsoft press release?
No, it’s not the announcement that Microsoft will be presenting Surface at the 34th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH - held 5-9 August 2007 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, USA).
Look closer. There’s an interesting tidbit right in the middle of the release.
See it? Ok, I’ll give it up:
An interesting sighting: The AdSense ad below appeared on a general surface computing site I maintain.
Further evidence that Microsoft intends to lead the development of surface computing. They must be serious…despite what the critics say.
Technorati Tags: microsoft surface, surface computing
Microsoft announces its foray into surface computing, and the demand for domains related to all things “surface” appears to have jumped. Imagine that.
