Microsoft Windows 10 Event - Here's What's Coming!

On October 6th, Microsoft held an event focused on new hardware that would be utilizing their recently released Windows 10 operating system. There was a lot of stuff unleashed, some of which should position Microsoft as a leader in many technology categories for the next year, but I am just going to give a brief overview of the announcements. They include new Windows Phones, HoloLens virual reality, and Surface devices. I'm excited to share more about these announcements in this post.

Windows 10

The event began with some statistics about their Windows 10 launch and the corresponding results of this. 

• Over 110 million devices are currently running Windows 10 (pretty astounding considering the fact that it launched only 8 weeks ago)
• Revenue for app developers has grown 4x. 
• Daily visits to the Windows App Store has grown significantly. 

Basically, Windows 10 is being used on a ton of devices and people are using them more than ever before. Good stuff for the launch of the new Windows Operating System. 

Xbox

Next was an overview of some changes coming for Xbox this Holiday season. They are calling their Holiday game lineup the greatest in Xbox history, which includes Halo 5, Fallout 4, Forza 6, and others. They are releasing their new Elite game controller, said to be the most advanced controller for gaming in the world. They reminded everyone that Xbox would be receiving Windows 10 this Holiday season, ushering in a brand new user interface that focuses on speed and bringing the content you want most front and center.

Finally, Xbox Backwards Compatability, the top requested feature by customers, was confirmed to be available this Fall, which allows you to play a growing list of Xbox 360 games on your Xbox One. Pretty awesome stuff, especially compared to the Playstation Now service, which costs $20/month for a growing list of games, or a rental service for a larger list of games. The appeal of all your trophies, achievements, friends carrying over with your Xbox Live account, and the ability to install eligible games you purchased through Xbox 360 for free, all set their feature set above PlayStation in my mind.

HoloLens

Here is where things got really exciting. Without a doubt, HoloLens is the most forward-thinking product that Microsoft is currently testing. For those that aren't familiar with HoloLens, it is essentially a Virtual Reality platform that allows users to project holograms in various applications such as business, medicine, architecture, and gaming. During this event, Microsoft showcased a mixed-reality game they call Project X-Ray. It is essentially a robot-shooting game that many of us are familiar with growing up like Galaga, but instead it projects these enemies and weapons as holograms that adapt to your surroundings. Your enemies will adjust to the walls, furniture, etc. around you, making each experience unique to you.

The developer kit will be available at the beginning of 2016 for $3,000. The demo looked kind of cheesy, but the potential is unreal. I can't wait to see what Microsoft does with this budding technology.

Microsoft Band

Microsoft then showcased an update to their smartwatch, the Microsoft Band. This second generation device added key features that customers wanted, an obvious emphasis in this keynote. 

• Comfortable design language that focuses on a bendable, seamless curve, which describe to be much more stylish and comfortable than its predecessor
• Barometer to track elevation changes, a welcome feature for cyclists and hikers
• Increased level of overall health tracking for things like calories burned, steps walked, even maximum volume of oxygen that a person can access based on their fitness level
• Cortana integration that allows users to access typical notifications and voice control common to all smartwatches, but the ability to suggest alternative times for missed workouts appeals to health enthusiasts; 
• New partners like Uber, Starbucks, and Lose It, all applications that will make people's most commonly used applications just a touch away.

Most of these features are not exclusive to the Microsoft Band, but it is obvious that they are really pushing for the professional/health enthusiast crowd with their emphasis on personalized fitness tracking and sleek design. The new Microsoft Band will be available for $249 on October 30th.

Windows Phones - Lumia 950 & 950XL

Up next was the new Microsoft Device head, Panos Panay. First off, this guy is pretty incredible. The passion, the charisma, and the love for technology is so great to see in this guy. You can tell he really does love his job and the customers who use them. Great pickup for Microsoft.

He introduced the two flagship phones, the first that will be running Windows 10, as the Lumia 950 and the 950 XL. These have gorgeous 5.2 and 5.7 inch Quad HD displays, 20 MP cameras, hexa-core or octa-core processors, and a feature that blew me away called Continum.

This was showcased upon the launch of Windows 10 for 2-in-1 computers, but never like this for a phone. The demo showed the Lumia 950 line being plugged into a docking station that has three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, and a USB-C port that allows the phone to provide a PC-like experience from the phone itself. Features like multitasking, keyboard shortcuts, even full 1080p video and rich sound all was powered on a monitor from a phone. So stinking cool. If they could ever expand the app store market, they might finally have a real competitor for the Android and iOS platforms.

Surface Pro 4

Now time for the main event. The device that everyone was looking forward to the most: the Surface Pro 4. Microsoft's "tablet that can replace your laptop" has been incredibly popular since its inception in 2012, especially for its most recent incarnation, the Surface Pro 3. The combination of a light & thin design, powerful Intel Core processors, full Windows 8 (and now Windows 10) OS, and a great type cover & stylus have made the Surface line the top product for students, professionals, and really anyone seeking a modern and portable productivity and entertainment device. Recently, a lot of companies have been creating products that seek to mymic the successes of the Surface line, such as the iPad Pro, Lenovo Yoga, and even Google with their Pixel C. Now with the Surface Pro 4, Microsoft is seeking to take it to the next level and show their customers why they make THE best device for your productivity and personal needs. I think they have done it again. Here are some key specs for the Surface Pro 4:

• 12.3 inch PixelSense display (2736 x 1824 for 267 ppi)
• Intel Core m3, i5 or i7
• 4, 8, or 16 GB RAM
• 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB SSD
• USB 3,0, microSD card reader, MiniDisplay Port
• Included Surface Pen with 1-year battery life that attaches magnetically to device
• 5 MP Front-Facing & 8 MP Rear-facing cameras
• 9 hours of battery life
• Starting price of $899 for m3, 128 SSD, and 4GB RAM
• Tops out at $2,699 for i7, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD
• Available for Pre-Order now and ships by October 26th

Surface Book

Everyone expected Microsoft to be done after the unveiling of their new Surface Pro 4. Little did they know that Microsoft had one more trick up their sleeve. To their surprise, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Book, their first foray into creating an in-house laptop. This device is glorified as the "ultimate" laptop by Microsoft, claiming that it will be the perfect experience for anyone that uses. That is a pretty high claim for a company that has NEVER made a laptop before. Let's see if it holds up to their claims. 

• 13.5 inch 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense Display (267 ppi)
• 6th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor
• 8 GB or 16 GB RAM
• 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB SSD
• 2x USB 3.0 ports, SD card reader, MiniDisplay Port
• 3.34 lb w/ included keyboard
• 5.0 MP front-facing and 8.0 MP rear-facing cameras
• Surface Pen
• 12 hours battery life when docked in keyboard
• Starting price of $1,499 for Core i5, 128 GB, and 8 GB RAM

The coolest part about this device is the fact that you can detach the screen from the keyboard for a more tablet-like experience since the battery and processor are both housed in the screen. In order fully take advantage of the battery and GPU performance, you'll need to keep it docked to the keyboard, but this is a great option for people that might want a primarily touch-enabled experience. You can even flip the screen for a note-pad like experience with your pen. Due to its unique hinge, all these things are flexible and adaptable. 

Wrap-Up

That's it! Microsoft went through a ton of stuff during this Keynote, essentially releasing new products in all of their device lineups. Pretty impressive. Some products like the HoloLens and Microsoft Band still have a lot of room to grow before they become primary sources of income for Microsoft, but devices like the Lumia series, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Book have established markets that Microsoft is seeking to grow. I am very impressed with Microsoft and I cannot wait to see how the public receives these new devices. I know I can't wait to get my hands on them. Thanks for your time. Here is the full Keynote if you would like to watch it in its entirety.