Microsoft Surface 2 – What is it?

Well, to answer that question simply: it’s an awesome touch-screen table-top device that has impressive capabilities; and it only costs about $8,400 in the United States. To put in in more specific terms, it’s a thin LCD device that uses PixelSense technology to help bring an exciting experience to the consumer.

Microsoft Surface 2 was developed in conjunction with Samsung, and the result is the Samsung SUR40. This 40″ LCD touchscreen device contains many interesting features, such as:

• Super-thin 4″ screen, including glass, PC, and enclosure
• Lightweight, at only 80 pounds
• Ability to be mounted either horizontally like a table-top, or wall-mounted
• Durable Gorilla Glass screen, largest layer of Gorilla Glass ever constructed
• System designed to keep liquid out in case of spills
• 1080p HD visual experience

These features were put in place with the end-user in mind. Microsoft designed the Surface 2 for commercial use in high impact environments. It is meant to be placed in areas where it will be used and abused, such as table-tops in bars, music venues, banks, and promotional kiosks.

Below the Microsoft Surface 2

Microsoft Surface 2 not only contains amazing features that look cool, but there is also much more below the screen that allows this beautiful presentation to be possible. Microsoft Surface 2 uses PixelSense technology. This technology removes the use of cameras in the touch screen, and instead uses each pixel as a “camera”. It does not just “see” your fingertips, it “senses” your hands, and can also view pictures and devices set on the screen through the use of over 1,000,000 built in sensors.

PixelSense technology allows multiple users to be doing their own individual actions, without affecting the other people’s actions on the same screen thanks to the over 50 simultaneous touch points. With this number of touch points, you could realistically have 5 sets of hands (50 fingers), all interacting on the screen at the same time.

The system runs on the Windows 7 operating system. Also inside Surface 2 is an AMD Athlon II X2 Dual-Core 2.9 GHz Processor. A few more technical specs are:

• 320GB hard drive
• Wi-Fi networking and Bluetooth capabilities
• 4GB DDR3 memory
• 1920 x 1080 screen resolution
• AMD Radeon HD 6570M – 1 GB GDDR5 graphics card

Microsoft Surface 2 – Second in the Family

Microsoft had a previous version of Surface, simply titled Microsoft Surface 1. While it was a great device, it has been greatly improved upon in this latest release from Microsoft.

The previous version of Surface had a bulkier screen with a smaller viewing size. It was 22″ thick, rear projection, and had only a 30″ viewing area. Unlike the new version which can be mounted any way imaginable, Surface 1 could only be mounted horizontally, which limited its capabilities. Sales for this product were discounted in 2011 in anticipation for this newest release.

Microsoft Surface 2 – Who’s Already Lined Up?

Microsoft already has some top companies excited to get their hands on Microsoft Surface 2, eager to interact with their customers in a whole new way. According to a recent blog post from Microsoft, some of these companies and what they plan on doing with the device are:

• Fujifilm – The ability to create photo albums, as well as gather families and friends around the table to re-live previous experiences through viewing and group interaction with both photos and video
• PepsiCo Beverages Canada – To produce customer involvement in a user-experience with the Pepsi Brand
• Royal Bank of Canada – Showcase new bank features and allow account access
• Dassault Aviation – Tours of their aircraft, military planning tools, and diagnostic support for mechanics

Microsoft Surface 2 – No Shortage of Apps

A developers kit is available free of charge from Microsoft for those wanting to design apps. There are many exciting apps currently being designed for the Surface 2, as well as an abundance of apps already completed. Of course, with a device like this, one can expect that social networking apps will widely used.

There will be many social features built for use with Surface 2. Since the main purpose of the Surface 2 will be to allow companies to interact with their customers in new and exciting ways, the social networking aspect will prove to play a big role. Users will be able to access social networking features to view, interact with, and update Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and RSS feeds.

While Surface 2 is just beginning to roll out in the marketplace, it is already raking in awards. The Samsung SUR40 was recently selected as an International CES “Best of Innovations” Award winner for 2012. Popular Science also awarded the SUR40 an award for “Best of What’s New” for 2011.

Microsoft Surface 2 – Breaking New Ground

With all the new technology being introduced with Microsoft Surface 2, it leaves no doubt that the “touch-screen” world of electronics is about to enter a whole new ball game. For quite a while companies have been tinkering with devices to allow the users to interact with their products and bring an engaging experience to that user.

One huge breakthrough in the last couple years has been the tablet device. Much ground has been gained with the release of tablet devices such as the iPad and iPad2. But the Surface 2 is sure to be a much bigger hit with consumers. Not only is the screen size massively bigger, but consumers can now interact with more than one person at a time on the same screen.

You can expect to see Microsoft Surface 2 soon in a business near you (if you are located in one of the 23 countries where Microsoft plans the initial release of this product). This new technology is sure to be popping up for use in local bars and banks. In the near future, it should not be a surprise if it will be widely seen in more places such as grocery stores and schools. With this new technology, the uses are virtually endless and very exciting.

Online excitement for the 7^th generation iPod Nano is building at a steady clip; however there doesn’t seem to be too much confirmed information regarding it. The biggest rumor out there at the moment is that there will be a camera. This won’t be the first time that Apple has added a camera to the iPod Nano, but it just might be the first time that they get it right.

The new iPod Nano is the next generation of iPod tech. Not only literally, but in a figurative sense that it is taking everything that has worked in the previous Nanos; and completely refitted everything that is obsolete. It will have three separate hardware changes. The iPod Nano has been using Toshiba flash memory on previous players but they recently switched to SanDisk. Why compete when profitability can be mutual, right?

At this point, the Nano is just about as small as it can get while still allowing for the full screen that so many devoted iPod users enjoy, so don’t expect any difference in the size. The recent software updates to the 6^th generation Nano might be a good indication of what to expect standard on all 7^th generation Nanos. This thought process can also be applied to the upcoming iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

Upgraded & Celebrated: The New iPod Nano

When the first iPod was released on November 10, 2001, it had only 1GB of storage and sold around 125,000 units during the first quarter of 2002. At that time, the state economy wasn’t nearly as rocky as it would become in the following years; but it was definitely disrupted by the state of fear and remorse felt people everywhere.

The classic iPod was not the only portable media player available, and it was far more compatible with Mac than PC. It was more expensive and specified, whereas others were affordable and compatible. So how did this shiny, pricey, Mac-favoring media player end up becoming the most purchased MP3 player ever?

The difference was simple; the project was a brainchild of one of the most intelligent and innovative men in the industry: Steve Jobs. The iPod shined in the sunlight because of its glossy casing; but it shined in the spotlight because of an extraordinary marketing strategy. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you hire the best people to carry out your ideas.

The iPod marketing campaign is only one of the momentous triumphs of Jobs. His achievements not only inspired the tech world; but they inspired the creativity of millions of people worldwide. In reflection of the late, great pioneer; Apple strives to continue the tradition (of casting aside tradition) by ensuring that anything that is done is not done small; even if that ‘anything’ is a miniature media player.

The new iPod Nano 7th generation is the first release of an iPod upgrade since the untimely passing of Steve Jobs. The life of Steve Jobs is an example of how much can be achieved in a relatively short time. Slightly similarly (and obviously on a much smaller scale), the new iPod Nano is an example of how much can be achieved in relatively small package.

Curiouser and Curiouser: The iPod Mini Shrinks into the iPod Nano

In late 2005, Apple released two models of iPods that were the offspring of the highly successful original iPod. The devices were replacements to the iPod Mini; and, the model was the Nano. Available with 2GB or 4GB storage, originally; and later with 1GB at a lower cost, the first generation Nanos were still equipped with the click wheel that the Minis possessed. But the new iPod Nano incorporated flash memory and a color screen; rather than just a colored casing.

A Good Seed: Apple’s iPod Nano

There is an abundance of cliché sayings that don’t have solid roots and are absolutely fruitless. One, which is typically considered negative, is: “The apple doesn’t far from the tree.” The problem with sayings such as this are that they almost entirely false or misused (unless you happen to be in an orchard and are looking for an apple). Conforming to a pre-existing trait can be a positive characteristic if that trait is respectable. Alternately, sometimes the apple would be better off if it had fallen farther from tree. One of Apple’s iPod trees grew into seven generations of iPod Nanos.

The Techlabs SpecLab: Six Generations of iPod Nano

The aforementioned first generation had issues. The click wheel wasn’t ideal for smooth operation and the screen had a tendency to break. The shattered iPod screens led to law suits which ultimately awarded most plaintiffs with 10-25 dollars. Sometimes, when something breaks; it’s better to just move on to other things.

That’s what Apple did; they moved on to the next model of iPod Nano. The second generation model had a higher storage capacity, a clearer display, smoother transition between tracks and a screen that wouldn’t incite any class-action lawsuits.

It was also packaged with less material to appeal to the rising “green” initiative. When Christmas arrived in 2006, thousands of pounds of wrapping paper was torn, crumbled and trashed as people opened their generation 2 Nanos. During the two days that followed the holiday, iTunes crashed from the abundance of downloads.

The next generation became shorter and wider, more of a square than the previous. The screen had the same pixilation as the classic iPod; until an upgrade that improved both the classic and the Nano. This third generation had numerous software issues and required a firmware update that was accessed via iTunes. This new iPod Nano introduced gaming and “unspecified” bugs that were rigorously tended to by Apple until 2008 when the fourth generation was introduced.

Still using a rotating screen, introduced on the 3rd model, the fourth returned to its narrow design that was iconic of the original Nano. Generation four had a wide variety of color options, a shake-to-shuffle function and played videos with the same capability as the third. The most notable addition was a built-in microphone and the abandonment of firewire connectivity for USB. While this made compatibility with other devices better, it rendered any charging or docking ports useless.

The fifth generation was incorporated with pedometers via Nike. The last release to-date was the newest iPod Nano generation. It’s similarities to the upcoming release of 7 are apparent on the outside; but not on the inside.

The Future of iPod Nano: 7^th Generation and Beyond

As Nano moves forward, we can expect to see the same great Apple quality with software updates making listening to music and watching videos easier than ever before. As the years progress, we will see this technology being brought to us in new and exciting ways. With Apple, the surprise is half the fun. They may be keeping their latest prototype under wraps but when it hits, the 7^th generation iPod Nano will be one little item that will make a mighty big splash.

If you can’t wait for the 7^th Generation, you can get the newest generation on Amazon for a very decent price. Click here to order an iPod Nano (6^th Generation) on Amazon, the cheapest place we found to purchase an iPod Nano online.

Can’t wait for the 7^th generation?
Click here to get the newest iPod Nano available

Diablo 3, at least in its current form, has been in development for nearly 4 years now. With numerous drawbacks, and even a couple missed [estimated] release dates the game itself has become something of a legend, a myth if you will.

When pressed, Blizzard has stood by the answer that Diablo 3 will be released “when it’s ready”, reinforcing that they [the developers] want to make the best game possible. Several popular gaming news and review sites even hinted at the release of Diablo 3 in late 2011, but considering the holiday and new year have since passed that’s definitely out of the question.

One question does remain however, when will Diablo 3 see it’s release? Diablo 3 will likely be released in late 2012, although considering Blizzard’s rather hush-hush adoption on the development cycle it could even be early 2013 before gamers get their hands on the title.

It is worth noting that Wal-mart lists the release date for Diablo 3 as 3/31/2012 while Best Buy has 12/31/2012 listed. This confusion is obviously due to Blizzard’s “when it’s ready” release date approach… but you can pre-order Diablo 3 now on Amazon.

While it may be sad news that the Diablo 3 release may be far off, such information can also be taken as a godsend- after all, with the developers devoting so much time and effort into the game it’s bound to be amazing.

Then again, a game like Duke Nukem Forever that saw a blisteringly slow development cycle and a terribly destructive consumer release comes to mind. It had been in development for nearly ten years off and on, and had been touted by many to be an instant success, but when it finally saw release it was something of a letdown. On the other side of the speculation coin, Blizzard has an excellent track record as far as game development – minus their penchant for missing release dates.

Diablo 3 & The Diablo Series

Diablo 3, and the entire Diablo series for that matter, is a top-down action RPG that makes use of its unique art style to provide a fast paced, yet engrossing adventure.

Diablo I

The original Diablo included very dark themed fantasy elements, and saw the player battling the evil lord Diablo in the expansive dungeons below Tristram, a small town located in a world called Sanctuary.

Diablo tasked players with exploring the randomly generated, 16 level dungeon hidden beneath Tristram’s cathedral. After navigating the entire dungeon, players were then transported to the depths of hell to fight Diablo.

Diablo II

Diablo II featured a more expansive story, as well as a much more expansive world to explore.

Diablo II followed players through a new adventure fighting off hordes of hellish minions, brought on by the passing of the “unnamed hero” from the first Diablo. 

The unnamed hero who saved Tristram in the original Diablo was eventually corrupted, and thus gained satanic powers; which were unleashed as the hero roamed the land of sanctuary.

Players must follow suit, by traveling the land of Sanctuary behind the unnamed hero, and destroy the evil brought forth.

Diablo III

Diablo 3 will again follow unnamed heroes, but not the same from the first two titles. The heroes from Diablo II have since gone mad from the evils they faced and thus new heroes must take up the call against Sanctuary’s rising foes.

Diablo 3 involves two lesser evils that have survived from the first games, namely Azmodan and Belial. Not much else is known about the titles plot, besides what has been covered above.

Diablo 3 Gameplay

Diablo 3 will play very similar to Diablo II, however Blizzard has chosen to completely redesign the game engine to incorporate physics. The game will now feature fully destructible environments that play into the game mechanics – allowing players to do things like bring down a wall to dispatch a large mass of enemies.

The new game engine supports 3D environments as well to allow interaction between the players and game enemies. Several game demos have shown enemies making use of the 3D environments, doing things like climbing up a wall in the background into the foreground.

Diablo 3 will be presented in a top-down or overhead view to compliment the previous games isometric viewpoints. It will also include online drop-in, drop-out cooperative multiplayer gameplay through Battle.net (Blizzard’s online game service).

Diablo 3 Minimum System Specifications

Unfortunately Blizzard has not yet released the minimum system specifications needed to play Diablo 3, and judging by how they’ve handled things in the past they will not release such information until the game is ready for launch.

Blizzard has made it very clear however that Diablo 3 will include settings to allow use on a wide range of machines – this means that high and low end PCs will run the game, albeit under different visual settings.

Considering Diablo I and II ran exceptional on even low-end machines, Blizzard will know that to eliminate such features will also eliminate a specific player base from playing the new installment. It stands to reason that Blizzard will keep their word and truly allow settings to run Diablo 3 on low-end computers.

Diablo 3 Collector’s Edition

The Diablo 3 Collector’s Edition currently available for pre-order from most major retailers, includes several extra and in-game bonus features exclusive to the $99 package.

The Diablo 3 CE will include a behind the scenes DVD and Blu-Ray two disc set, the Diablo 3 game soundtrack made specifically for the CE bundle, the art of Diablo 3, and a Diablo themed skull (display) with a 4GB USB soulstone (thumb drive) that includes Diablo 2 and Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction pre-loaded.

The Diablo 3 CE will also include several in-game items such as exclusive Diablo 3 aesthetic artifacts for dying armor and displaying glowing angel wings. More Diablo 3 CE items include a World of Warcraft pet shaman, and unique Starcraft II Battle.net profile portraits.

Have you pre-ordered your copy of Diablo 3?
If not, click here to do it now!

More Diablo 3 Screenshots

Here are some more screenshots of Diablo 3 in action.

       
Click For Larger Versions

* All images were taken directly from the official Blizzard Diablo 3 website.

In August of 2011, MIT welcomed a new mobile learning center. The MIT Center for Mobile Learning is rigorously being developed for its release; which will likely be sometime within the first quarter of 2012. In late 2009, the Android App Inventor originally implemented by Google was made available to the public; attracting around 100,000 students, educators and hobbyists. MIT’s innovations in open software and education technology research make the collaboration of Google and MIT ideal for furthering the App Inventor.

The Center for Mobile Learning is co-directed by three of the finest minds at MIT: Professor Hal Abelson, Professor Mitchel Resnick and Associate Professor Eric Klopfer. In 2008, Professor Abelson proposed the idea that eventually sparked the development of the Android App Inventor. His proposal was inspired by Professor Resnik’s Scratch software and the fundamental programming blocks were created in Professor Klopfer’s lab. Formerly under the sole control of Google, the Andriod App Inventor has been shifted to the developers at MIT; although, Google is still significantly aiding in the development process and the funding.

Great Minds Think Ahead: Android App Inventor

While some people like to think about what the future will be like, the researchers at the MIT Media Lab are creating the future. The Android App Inventor is aimed at catering to both mobile application developers and the public. The ‘App Inventor’ will be available for free and it will allow people that are not tech-savvy to develop their own applications. There will be a distinctly separate MIT App Inventor that is going to be retained for the systems that originate at MIT.

The humbleness of the genius minds that collaborate at the MIT Media Lab is surpassed only by their contributions to the creation of a better world. Professor Abelson attributes the ideas and work to the ingenuity of his colleagues and the visionary leaders that support making possibility into reality. In the official MIT press release, Abelson stated that the “the new Media Lab initiative completes the circle.”

The Android App Inventor: Learning-by-Creating with MIT

The development is still being conducted and the researchers at MIT request that any modifications done to the available code not be submitted until the project is further along. However, some of the source code is currently offered and can be modified but more work still must be done!

The Media Lab at MIT is conducting over 350 projects; all being performed by Lab designers, engineers, artists and scientists who wish to make tomorrow happen today. The projects include the development of new learning tools, digital approaches to neurological disorders and practical transportation that can help to create sustainable cities; to name only a few. Another focus of the Lab is to empower all people, everywhere with the ability to invent, design and share new ideas with the rest of the world. The Android App Inventor is only one example of their commitment to this focus.

My computer was made by Sony®. My phone was made by Motorola®. My tablet was made by Asus®. My camera was made by Cannon®. I use Cox Communications for my Internet and Verizon Wireless for my phone. But what if my laptop, tablet, camera and phone were all made by one company? Wouldn’t that be convenient? I think so, and so do the developers of the Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 Concept.

Keeping organized in an increasingly fast-paced world can be nearly impossible. I, personally, do not have the time to upload my photos and videos as often as I would like to, I use cloud storage to access files that I need to view on my tablet, and I would rather have a device that encompasses every aspect of my tech needs. Fujitsu developer Prashant Chandra seems to have similar views and the brainchild of his desires is the Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 Concept.

Getting Attached to the Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 Concept

The Fujitsu Lifebook is a ‘single convergence device’; which simply means that, similar to Legos™, it connects. And not just to the Internet; it connects to your tablet, phone and camera. In fact, it is a tablet, phone, camera and laptop. The keyboard is a touchscreen tablet that detaches and becomes its own device when separated. The smartphone can be inserted directly into the front to transfer data and then removed for use as a handheld media device.

What’s even more convenient (or inconvenient if you misplace your tablet) is that the tablet part is the keyboard. There isn’t another keyboard. (Personally, I think that keyboards are antiquated, it’s time for something better and the touchscreen isn’t quite “it”. Don’t ask me what would be better; I’ll say: “something”.) The benefits that are apparent lie in the wireless communication and connectivity. In a world of wires, it gives me hope that companies like Fujitsu are thinking of world with no strings attached; only other wireless devices attached; and hopefully a battery that can keep it that way.

But don’t we already have wireless connectivity? Do we really need to displace storage area that could possibly make Windows function properly? The only issues that the Lifebook appears to address are the current incompatibility issues and data transfer rates. I imagine that the tablet keyboard will come in handy and the phone slot. However, in all honesty, we can email data from our phones to our system or throw files into Dropbox or some other cloud storage. Most phones and tablets have cameras; they are definitely in need of technological improvement (maybe just a focusing lens would work… but it wouldn’t enable the dwindling camera market to make ends meet; unless they designed the lenses…)

Fujitsu Lifebook 2013: Conceptualizing an Easier Life

The Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 Concept is not the first item to use ideas such as those that it employs. However, it is the first to portrait them all-in-one and even if the idea isn’t ideal all around, it is likely that it will spawn a new breed of thinking when it comes to mobile media and compatibility. The idea put forth by this concept from Prashant Chandra and the Fujitsu Company is definitely a good direction and will hopefully be implemented in realistic ways before 2013.