Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Odds and ends, iPhone
Microsoft Surface: it is like an iPhone, in table form
It looks like interactive surfaces are all the rage nowadays. First we had the iPhone from Apple with its multi-touch technology and now we have Microsoft's Surface (of course neither of these devices is actually shipping yet, but when does that stop us from talking about them?). Surface is a 30 inch screen that is mounted in a table. It uses a similiar touch interface as the iPhone does, but on a much larger scale. It can also interact with objects that are tagged using RFID tags, displaying information about the object. Microsoft eventually sees a point in the future when you would be able to rest your Zune (ha!) on the Surface and transfer songs from your library using only your fingertips as well as interact with other devices in the same fashion.
Check out the Surface website for some very cool demos. Sadly, you won't be able to buy this for your home anytime soon. The unit is rumored to cost $10,000 and at the moment is aimed at commercial uses. Microsoft is scheduling a road show of sorts so you can get your hands on one and give it a whirl.
Sometimes I feel like we're living in the future, people!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stuart said 12:05PM on 5-30-2007
Not really the same tech as the iPhone. This uses projectors and cameras to see if anyone or anything is touching the screen.
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James Whited said 12:18PM on 5-30-2007
Can we say ZunePhone? But no seriously, finally odd to see M$ come out with something slightly innovatiove, and then an Apple news site report it. Anyways. How long to something similar is available from Apple (and I'm a bit of an Apple fanboy)
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Greg said 12:23PM on 5-30-2007
It's like an iPhone, but it doesn't take calls and it costs almost 17 times more.
Way to go, MS.
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Kernel Dan said 12:29PM on 5-30-2007
Life long apple fanboy and I'm loving this. :)
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Jenny said 12:45PM on 5-30-2007
Large touch screen can do many tasks. Since it contains a huge display we can't expect it to become cheap. I think it is reasonably priced.
Jenny
http://www.spaml.com
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YodaMac said 12:46PM on 5-30-2007
Yes, even we-who-love-all-things-Apple, must admit this is pretty stunningly cool. If it actually works as presented. ;)
Needless to say, since that fateful day of the iPhone keynote address I've been dreaming of a Mac desktop (literally the top of your desk) with a multi-touch interface.
Truly drag and drop. And if you need a keyboard to type instead of draw your text (like who's gonna really want to do that ever!?!)... up pops a virtual one (ala iPhone) for you.
The idea of just setting your iPhone or iPod, digital camera, or even credit card right on the surface (pardon the term) and having it interact with whatever you are doing is just simply mind blowing.
Bring it on Apple!!!
(please) :)
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Gruff said 12:55PM on 5-30-2007
"It's like an iPhone, but it doesn't take calls and it costs almost 17 times more"
Don't be a hater -- this is not designed to be like the iPhone and will benefit all of us. This is a public technology preview designed to show what Microsoft sees as the direction for future computer and interactive interfaces.
The multi-touch and RFID interfaces were licensed and Microsoft combined them and added some magic of it's own to create something rather innovative -- a word that hasn't been applicable to Microsoft for some time.
I very much like the idea of being able to simply set my digicam/phone/PDA on the table and instantly work with it and just drag items to or from it. Very Mac-like.
-Gruff
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Johnny said 12:57PM on 5-30-2007
I definitely have to give MS some props on this one. I really don't compare this much to the iPhone other than multi-touch which is an inevitable tech who Apple didn't even create themselves (and the company they bought who did weren't the only ones working on this).
I do, however, have to point out one problem with the multi-user aspect of it. In the demo, when they are using Paint, multiple users can work, but it does not recognize that they are different people and if one person changes the color, they all are using that color. They need to work on a way to identify different users simultaneously.
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PistolPeet said 12:58PM on 5-30-2007
"..rest your Zune (ha!) on the Surface and transfer songs from your library using only your fingertips"
I dread to think what other appendages you normally use to synchronise your gadgets?
Honestly? It's cool, but horizontal surfaces like that just don't work for display devices. People will start to feel sick after about 10 minutes of concentrating on such a surface from that angle.
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iJavaJoe said 1:00PM on 5-30-2007
I remember seeing this concept in a SciFi show TV/Movie some 20 years ago. I thought it was a cool idea then. If you watch the SciFi channel you've seen this on Eureka! This technology was being research at a university some 10 years ago with almost the same interface. I can't remember the University that was doing it. Also last year there was a video of a device like this being demoed, it might have been this!
It's an interesting idea with some unique application. I'm not sure how well it would work on an everyday basis. From what I've seen it really requires a large surface area to make full use of the interface.
Anyway it is cool and it's nice to see it finally brought to market, albeit a limited market!
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Gravlock said 1:59PM on 5-30-2007
Think of the board games you could play with this!
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phlavor said 1:35PM on 5-30-2007
I've been watching this tech coming up for a while now and I completely see this as the future of computing. Everything from photo manipulation to creating a spreadsheet to creating a website looks.. well, just natural with an interface like this.
I believe Apple is pursuing it as well but is waiting for (or developing) tech that gets the whole thing flat and eliminates the bottom projection aspect.
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Jason Martin said 1:39PM on 5-30-2007
My God, some of you commenters should really do your homework before posting ignorant statements:
1. @Stuart: It does use multi-touch, like the iPhone. The cameras are strictly for determining what is sitting on its surface. The touch interface does not use the cameras.
2. @PistolPete: Who says this is limited to horizontal displays? The video on Popular Mechanics clearly shows a wall display. I think the table orientation is simply the first incarnation to make the best use of it's ability to sync with devices that sit on the surface, but I don't think that in any way means it's strictly a horizontal display unit.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html
3. The larger innovation is what is impressive here, as M$'s website says, it further blurs the line between the virtual world and the real world. The initial push towards commercial and retail outlets make sense because that is where it is most affordable and useful. Besides, it will give them more time to determine the best way to implement this technology in the consumer market.
I'm definitely an unabashed Apple fanboy, but this initially looks really cool and promising.
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Damien said 1:38PM on 5-30-2007
Hurts my neck just looking at the people using it!
You need the iChiropractor in no time.
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Matt said 2:08PM on 5-30-2007
"My table crashed!"
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Jason said 2:21PM on 5-30-2007
Am I wrong , or is this the first cool
thing M$ has ever done?
btw, Palm Foleo = Palm Failure.
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Ralph said 2:08PM on 5-30-2007
My neck hurts just looking at that picture.
Whoops, what Damien said.
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Aaron said 2:28PM on 5-30-2007
Am I the only one who can't keep a horizontal surface free of clutter? The table idea is cool, but I would have it cluttered in junk so fast, it would not be funny. Oh man, the first time I spill my coffee on it... Yeah, I am not the person to be buying one of these!
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YodaMac said 2:28PM on 5-30-2007
Sigh... the fact that no flat surface in my house remains uncluttered makes me wonder if I could even use this in the 'real world'.
"...Slide those piles over, move that soda can, and pick up that loose change. I need to work on my 'iDesk'! "
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Dimitris Karakatsanis said 3:17PM on 5-30-2007
It seems familiar to me...
http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/dimkaras/surface-iphone.jpg
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