Microsoft Announcement
Following hard on the heels of Apple and Google's events, Microsoft announced a slew of new and updated products Tuesday morning. From phones to tablets to augmented reality, here's what we got:
Lumia 950 And 950XL
Microsoft has at last announced flagship phones running its phone operating system—two, in fact… There's a big one, the 5.2-inch Lumia 950, and an even bigger one, the 5.7-inch Lumia 950 XL. The big feature that distinguishes the phones from their many competitors is their biometric security. Microsoft has eschewed the fingerprint sensors that are becoming increasingly common in favor of infrared iris scanning.
[Read more at Ars Technica]
The Affordable Option: Lumia 550
Back when Lumia phones were under Nokia's charge, the 5-series was a budget-friendly range. Nothing's changed now that Microsoft is in control, as the freshly announced Lumia 550 will attest. As you might expect, the spec-sheet likely won't start any fires, but the price might: $140. The Lumia 550 barely got any stage time at the Microsoft Windows 10 devices event (that went to the two new flagships), but we did hear it sports a quad-core processor, and LTE — much in line with the rumors we'd heard (and pictured above).
[Engadget]
Surface Pro 4
Microsoft has updated its flagship Surface line with the new Surface Pro 4. This Windows 10 hybrid is a evolution from the previous Surface Pro 3, starting with a thinner, lighter chassis and slightly larger display, and adding new processors from Intel, a redesigned keyboard, improved stylus functionality, a reversible USB-C port for docking, and a fingerprint sensor for one-touch logins.
[Read more at CNET]
Surface Book Laptop
Microsoft is changing up the Surface line today with the introduction of a Surface laptop called the Surface Book. It's the first laptop ever built by Microsoft. But it's a lot more than a laptop. The screen is actually fully removable so that it can be used as a tablet. If you put the screen back on, you can also choose to flip it all the way around and use it like a convertible, with the keyboard propping it up.
[Read more at The Verge]
Hololens Is Happening
A developer's kit for Microsoft's "mixed reality" platform will be available at the beginning of 2016, the company says… The dev kit gives a peek at the capabilities of the final consumer version. It's fully untethered, with no wires and no extra mobile devices, just the oversized goggle-like headset. Sensors in the headset map your environment and sense the movements of your body and your hands. It's important to note that HoloLens is an augmented reality device, not a virtual reality device like the Oculus Rift or Gear VR
[Read more at WIRED]
