Tag: surface

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Surface is replacing all other Microsoft branded PC peripherals

Microsoft’s legacy lineup of mice, keyboards, and webcams are being discontinued. The news comes per a statement from the company’s senior communications manager (via The Verge).

“We will continue to offer a range of Surface-branded PC Accessories — including mice, keyboards, pens, docks, adaptive accessories, and more. Existing Microsoft branded PC accessories like mice, keyboards, and webcams will continue to be sold in existing markets at existing sell-in prices while supplies last,” says Dan Laycock.

Microsoft has a long and rich history of making its own in-house PC peripherals. Once the Surface brand got off the ground, we started seeing the release of Surface-branded accessories in addition to the existing Microsoft-branded ones.

It makes sense for Microsoft to combine its efforts under a single, unified hardware brand going forward. That said, it’s bittersweet as it will likely spell the end for some classic Microsoft offerings.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Microsoft Via: The Verge

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Microsoft’s Black Friday pricing is live for some Surface products

The Microsoft Store is leaking some of its upcoming Black Friday promotions, with some deals that are already active, and some that go live on Friday, November 18th.

Check out some of the promotions below:

Save up to $500 on the Surface Pro 8 at the Microsoft Store  — Live now

Save $100 on the Surface Pro 9 (Model: Pro i5/8/256)

Save up to $400 on the Surface Pro X — Live now

Save up to $150 on the Surface Laptop Go 2

Save up to $500 on the Surface Laptop 4 13.5-inch — Live now

Save up to $500 on the Surface Laptop 4 15-inch — Live now

Save up to $50 on the Surface Go 3 — Live now

Save up to $300 on the Surface Laptop Studio 14.4-inch

At Costco only – Save $450 on Surface Pro 7+ bundles

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Microsoft unveils new Surface Pro 9 with 5G connectivity

At its fall Surface event, Microsoft unveiled new Surface products, including the Surface Pro 9, the Surface Laptop 5, the Surface Studio 2+, an Audio Dock, Presenter+ remote and more.

The Surface Pro 9 2-in-1 uses high-grade aluminum casing for the machine’s body and is available in ‘Platinum,’ ‘Graphite,’ ‘Sapphire’ and ‘Forest’ colourways.

It features an edge-to-edge 2880 x 1920 pixel resolution display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, alongside sRGB and Vivid colour profiles. The display supports 10-point multi-touch and is made of Gorilla Glass 5 for added durability.

The device offers a choice between the 12th Gen Intel Core processor built on the Intel Evo platform and a Microsoft SQ 3 powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon with 5G connectivity. This marks a major shift for the Surface Pro line, which was previously

The regular Intel device is available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB LPDDR5 RAM variants, whereas the 5G model is available in 8GB and 16GB LPDDR4X RAM models. On the storage side of things, the Surace Pro 9 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage models, while the Surace Pro 9 5G is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage units.

Similarly, the Surface Pro 9 runs on an Intel Iris Xe graphics card, whereas the Surface Pro 9 with 5G uses the Microsoft SQ 3 Adreno 8CX Gen 3 for graphics.

Both devices feature a front-facing HD camera with Windows Hello face authentication, alongside Omnisonic speakers and directional microphones, with two USB-C with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4, one Surface Connect port and one Surface Keyboard port on the Surface Pro 9. The Surface Pro 9 5G sports one nano SIM, two USB-C 3.2 ports, one Surface Connect port and one Surface Keyboard port on. Both variants feature a 10-megapixel autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4K video recording on the rear.

Both the Surface Pro 9 and Pro 9 5G are compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2 with integrated storage and wireless charging for the pen with the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard.

Both devices offer up to 17.5 hours of average battery life, with the Surface Pro 9 offering roughly 15.5 hours of typical usage and the Surface Pro 9 offering roughly 19 hours of typical usage.

MobileSyrup has reached out to Microsoft for more information about Surface Pro 9 Canadian pricing and availability.

Keep an eye out on MobileSyrup for more coverage of the Surface Pro 9.

Image credit: Microsoft

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Microsoft announces October 12 Surface event following leaks

Microsoft officially announced plans to host an event on October 12th to “talk about devices,” according to an invite sent out to media.

As noted by The Verge, the “Microsoft Fall 2022 Event” kicks off at 10am ET on October 12th just before the company’s Ignite conference starts. Moreover, the invite includes an image that looks a lot like the default Windows 11 wallpaper with an extra splash of colour. “Save the date” appears in what looks like handwriting — perhaps with a Surface Pen? — over the image.

Microsoft’s event invite | Via: The Verge

The official invitation comes just hours after details about upcoming Microsoft hardware emerged online. Per the rumours, Microsoft will likely unveil a Surface Pro 9 and a Surface Laptop 5 at the event with new colour options (including a ‘Forest’ green).

Interestingly, rumours suggest the Surface Pro 9 will sport an ARM processor, possibly a Microsoft SQ3 chip based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 platform. That could mean the Pro 9 will sport a redesign and that Microsoft could end the Surface Pro X, but it remains to be seen.

For those not interested in ARM-based Surfaces, the Pro 9, as well as the rumoured Surface Laptop 5, will reportedly sport 12th Gen Intel i5 and i7 chip options. There haven’t been any rumours about an AMD-powered Surface Laptop 5, but considering Surface chief Panos Panay recently tweeted a selfie with AMD CEO Lisa Su, I’d say it’s a safe bet that there’s some Surface with AMD device in the works.

Moreover, it seems this Surface event will be an online event, while the upcoming Ignite conference will be the company’s first big in-person event since the pandemic started.

For the latest on Microsoft’s new devices, keep your eyes on MobileSyrup.

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Surface hardware, pricing rumours emerge ahead of possible October event

Several details emerged about new, upcoming Microsoft Surface devices ahead of an expected announcement in October. According to the details, new Surface computers will sport updated Intel chips and possibly an ARM-based processor too.

The news comes from WinFuture (via The Verge). The rumours focus on a new 2-in-1 device, likely a Surface Pro 9, as well as a new clamshell laptop, likely the Surface Laptop 5. Both of these will likely run 12th Gen Intel CPUs, an upgrade from the 11th Gen CPUs available in the Surface Pro 8 and Laptop 4.

More specifically, WinFuture indicated we’ll see an Intel Core i5-1235U in the entry-level models and a Core i7-1255U at the higher end. Storage will likely max out at 1TB, while memory will hit up to 16GB.

However, WinFuture notes that the Surface Pro 9 could also offer an ARM processor, possibly branded as the Microsoft SQ3. Microsoft’s SQ chips were made in partnership with Qualcomm and typically were based on existing Snapdragon chips. Moreover, the SQ3 could support 5G this time around, which could be a major selling point for those seeking a connected computer.

Perhaps most interesting is that the SQ3 is rumoured to appear in a Surface Pro 9. Previously, Microsoft kept its SQ chips to the Surface Pro X line, which sported a more modern design. In other words, if Microsoft plans to include the SQ3 in the Pro 9, it could mean the company will end the Pro X line and that the Pro 9 might sport a new design.

No evidence of an AMD-powered Laptop 5 yet

As for the Surface Laptop 5, WinFuture says it hasn’t found any evidence of an AMD-powered version yet. That comes as a surprise since the last few versions of the Surface Laptop offered both Intel and AMD chips.

Interestingly, Surface chief Panos Panay posted a selfie with AMD CEO Lisa Su a few days ago, which seemed like a tease about an upcoming Surface powered by AMD. Plus, the company refreshed its Ryzen CPUs for laptops earlier this year and recently announced new chips for low-power laptops. So, who knows — it’d be a real surprise if there wasn’t an AMD option for the Laptop 5.

Finally, WinFuture shared some details about colour options and pricing. The Surface Pro 9 may have new colour options including ‘Forest’ green and a light blue ‘Sapphire,’ alongside the standard black and silver options. Plus, it will have a 13.5-inch screen again. The Laptop 5 on the other hand will also be available in a larger 15-inch variant again.

As for pricing, the Surface Pro 9 will reportedly start around €1,300 (about $1,720.50 CAD), while the Laptop 5 will start at €1,200 (roughly $1,588.15 CAD) for the 13.5-inch model and €1,500 (approximately $1,985.19 CAD) for the 15-inch version.

Like any leak, it’s important to take this information with a health dose of skepticism. We likely won’t know any of these details for sure until Microsoft announces the products. Which, according to another leak from Twitter user WalkingCat, the announcement event is scheduled for October 11th at 12pm ET. However, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that timing.

Source: WinFuture Via: The Verge

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Kensington details new accessories designed for Surface, Apple devices at CES

Kensington, which makes a variety of tech accessories from laptop stands to docking stations, detailed several new products for Microsoft Surface, Apple devices and more at CES 2022.

For Surface, Kensington announced it collaborated with Microsoft on a series of ‘Designed for Surface‘ (DFS) products that “maximize the potential” of Surface devices. Kensington’s DFS products include a new ‘BlackBelt‘ rugged case for the Surface Pro 8 with military-grade drop protection, a Surface Laptop Riser compatible with the Laptop Go and Surface Book and several new docking stations. The BlackBelt case also comes in a variant with a built-in smart card reader.

Other DFS products include a new ‘MagPro Elite’ privacy screen for the Surface Pro 8 and a variety of Surface locks for securing devices.

On the Apple side, Kensington announced new versions of its StudioDock iPad docking station that support the iPad Pro (2021), iPad Air (2020) and other versions of Apple’s popular tablet. There’s also the new ‘StudioCaddy,’ a versatile docking solution that can hold and charge multiple Apple devices at the same time, including an iPhone, AirPods, iPad and MacBook (pictured up top). Finally, Kensington introduced versions of its MagPro Elite privacy screens that work with the new 2021 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Rounding out the company’s CES 2022 announcements were a few new Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, the SD5700T and the SD5750T (DFS).

Those interested can check out all of Kensington’s products on the company’s website. The Designed for Surface items can be found here and Apple-specific products can be found here.

Images credit: Kensington

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Mobile Syrup

iPhone 13/iPad mini reviews and Microsoft’s big Surface event [SyrupCast 247]

On this week’s SyrupCast, Brad Bennett, Jon Lamont and Patrick O’Rourke, once again, talk about Apple’s iPhone 13 and the iPad mini now that both Patrick and Brad have spent time with the respective devices.

Along with the Apple talk, the team also breaks down Microsoft’s Surface event, with Jon offering his thoughts on the Surface Duo 2, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro 8 and more.

As always, you can listen to/watch the SyrupCast directly in this story, or on your favourite podcast platform.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link

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Canadian pricing and availability for Microsoft’s new Surface products

Microsoft announced several new products at its Surface event on September 22nd. From a revamped Surface Duo 2 to several small but important spec bumps, there’s plenty to be excited about.

Any Canadians out there interested in picking up new Surface devices will be interested to know that everything Microsoft announced is available for pre-order starting September 22nd. Customers can place order through Microsoft’s website and through major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

Almost all the new products will be available for purchase starting October 5th — conveniently, the same day that Windows 11 will launch. The exception is the Surface Duo 2, which won’t be available for purchase until October 21st.

You can find the pricing for all the new Surface products below:

You can find all of MobileSyrup’s Surface Event coverage here.

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Microsoft announces extremely minor Surface Pro X hardware refresh.

Microsoft has announced a very minor update for its ARM-based Surface tablet, the Surface Pro X.

The refreshed tablet will feature better LTE service with support for Gbps LTE data speeds, and Microsoft will start selling a cheaper Wi-Fi-only version for $1,150. The lowest costing option in Canada before was closer to $1,250.

The company also says that the Surface team has made headway in porting apps over to the ARM system. It highlighted Photoshop, Lightroom and several other apps on stage, but compared to Apple’s transition to ARM with the M1 lin, this remains a lacklustre effort.

Hopefully, the switch to Windows 11 will help Microsoft accelerate this transition, but beyond now allowing for x64 app emulation, it doesn’t seem like Windows 11 is really going to change the tablet that much — at least for now.

Like the Surface Pro 8 and the Surface Studio Laptop, the Surface Pro X is also getting support for Microsoft’s new Slim Pen 2, which includes a small feedback motor so it feels more like using a real pencil.

While I don’t want to be that hard on Microsoft’s transition to ARM since I think it’s an important move for the company, it’s a little boring to see such a minor update come to the most forward-thinking Surface device. Further, the fact that Microsoft didn’t really highlight its transition to ARM very much during its Surface event, makes me wary of what the company hopes to accomplish with the Pro X.

In case you missed the Surface show, the highlights from the event are the new Surface Duo 2 smartphone and the Surface Laptop Studio, an interesting laptop that folds into a unique design. You can read our review of the Surface Pro X from 2020 here.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro X starts at $1,149 in Canada and releases on October 5th.

You can learn more about all of Microsoft’s Surface announcements here.

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Mobile Syrup

How to watch Microsoft’s September Surface event

Microsoft’s secretive September Surface event will take place Wednesday morning. If you’re interested in tuning in, here’s how to do it.

First, the live stream event kicks off at 11am ET/8am PT. You’ll be able to watch it on Microsoft’s event page here. However, last time Microsoft held an event, the stream had some issues — you may be able to catch it on YouTube via Microsoft’s channel as well, or on other YouTube channels if the stream has issues again.

We expect the event to take about an hour, but if that’s too long for you, you can also follow along for coverage on MobileSyrup via our website or social handles, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

As for what we expect from the event, the short answer: Surface devices. Microsoft hasn’t really given much detail beyond. However, we do have a full break down of updates we expect for popular Surface hardware including the Surface Pro, Go and more. You can find that here.