http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/trick-or-treat%3F/top-secret-microsoft-product-to-launch-at-midnight-264082.php

Hmm. This sounds cool.

"I'm told that tonight, at 12:01am EST (okay, so tomorrow), the division of Microsoft that launched the Xbox and the Zune will unveil something very special . What it is, we do not know for sure, but it's "something totally new coming out of the Entertainment and Devices division, and it's going to change the way people interact with technology." The email (which was not a tip but rather was mistakenly sent to me through official channels) also stated that "you really have to see it to believe it." How tantalizing."

10 bucks that its gonna be a handheld system. lool

CONFIRMED! A brand new 360 that uses the massive amount of heat generated to toast sliced bread. This innovative 360/toaster combo has state of the art bread core technology which allows the user to toast his slice any way he wishes. The dual sensors will allow one side to reach crispy brown perfection while the other stays nice and soft, allowing maximum jam and jelly spreaditure, permitting maximum surface area consumption. This state of the art technology has stat tracking and achievements enabled, allowing you to track and compare your friend's toast consumption. Microsoft prides itself in expanding and innovating upon the technology sector, and this new product demonstrates how the consumer is their number one priority. HDMI cable included.

You heard it here first.

CONFIRMED! A brand new 360 that uses the massive amount of heat generated to toast sliced bread. This innovative 360/toaster combo has state of the art bread core technology which allows the user to toast his slice any way he wishes. The dual sensors will allow one side to reach crispy brown perfection while the other stays nice and soft, allowing maximum jam and jelly spreaditure, permitting maximum surface area consumption. This state of the art technology has stat tracking and achievements enabled, allowing you to track and compare your friend's toast consumption. Microsoft prides itself in expanding and innovating upon the technology sector, and this new product demonstrates how the consumer is their number one priority. HDMI cable included.

You heard it here first.

MS said we wouldn't have seen this before. Sony already made that.
http://www.sonyplaystation3news.com/images/ps3-grill.jpg

I'm guessing it's they mini-keyboard that will attach to the bottom of the 360 controller.

I'm looking forward to that little thing, hopefully it'll be out soon.

-JR

MS said we wouldn't have seen this before. Sony already made that.
http://www.sonyplaystation3news.com/images/ps3-grill.jpg


Haha.

MS cant keep anything a secret, so i highly doubt it's anything huge.

didnt think about the chatpad.... thats pretty likely as is the zune 2.0 or the upgraded software that does the enhanced wifi stuff (would be nice to get an updated marketplace as well... podcasts,movies,tv shows).

IPTV for the 360..

IPTV for the 360..

That'd be too cool!

IPTV for the 360..


LOL I thought this was already announced to launch in the Fall?

well any of these could be the "official" launch dates with pricing etc. they have announced they will have all of this stuff but no hard dates yet.

if i was ranking them on what i want the most...

1. zune 2.0 (along with the new software [podcast support and more media player 11 like in general] and enhanced music/video stores)
2. 360 chatpad
3. iptv (doesnt apply to me since I dont live in a iptv serviced area yet)

I dont think it will be iptv because of the "change the way people interact with technology". Also could be applied to the chatpad since its not really a new feature but the updated zune would be since nobody is doing wifi downloads and that was the rumors of the beta zune software.

engadget seems to think its some soft of digital table (which fits in with the wording)... http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/29/microsoft-to-unveil-playtable-gesture-based-interface-at-d/

Sounds like a fun drill.

IPTV was already announced.
Shadowrun shipping announcement came out already.
Zune 2.0 isn't shipping until fall.

Might be a cablecard adapter for 360. (Unlikely.)
Might be the Milan gesture-control system. (But that's a technology, not a product.)
Might be music subscriptions for 360. (Coming soon...)
Might be Video Marketplace for Vista. (Inevitable.)

Might as well wait and see.

well any of these could be the "official" launch dates with pricing etc. they have announced they will have all of this stuff but no hard dates yet.

if i was ranking them on what i want the most...

1. zune 2.0 (along with the new software [podcast support and more media player 11 like in general] and enhanced music/video stores)
2. 360 chatpad
3. iptv (doesnt apply to me since I dont live in a iptv serviced area yet)

I dont think it will be iptv because of the "change the way people interact with technology". Also could be applied to the chatpad since its not really a new feature but the updated zune would be since nobody is doing wifi downloads and that was the rumors of the beta zune software.

engadget seems to think its some soft of digital table (which fits in with the wording)... http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/29/microsoft-to-unveil-playtable-gesture-based-interface-at-d/



But they said it was a top secret project. How are those top secret if we already knew about the chat pad and IPTV from official announcments. How does Zune 2.0 sound revolutionary with MP11 and podcast support?

because its one thing to announce it will be out and to say its officially coming out on X day. (i know its not top secret but you can take these things alot of ways which this thread is proof of)

that said im seeing more and more of the gesture system.

zune 2.0 (or atleast the beta software) could be revolutionary because it will be one of the first to have downloads going straight to the player vs having to sync with a computer. others are planning similar services but if announced now would be "the first". i still dont think its going to be zune 2.0 though (thats not expected until fall)

It's Folding@Home. lol

CONFIRMED! A brand new 360 that uses the massive amount of heat generated to toast sliced bread. This innovative 360/toaster combo has state of the art bread core technology which allows the user to toast his slice any way he wishes. The dual sensors will allow one side to reach crispy brown perfection while the other stays nice and soft, allowing maximum jam and jelly spreaditure, permitting maximum surface area consumption. This state of the art technology has stat tracking and achievements enabled, allowing you to track and compare your friend's toast consumption. Microsoft prides itself in expanding and innovating upon the technology sector, and this new product demonstrates how the consumer is their number one priority. HDMI cable included.

You heard it here first.

yawn...

I vote some sort of motion controller

Zune flash player is my guess.

How about netflix sup on 360. :)

Its a controller thats also a zune, halo themed of course.

It's Folding@Home. lol

I would be sooooooo pissed!

here it is.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=474

x-pox lol

so how is this table going to change the way gaming is controlled. I don't see it as practical.

What??? A table? MS just moved to crazytown. LOL

here it is.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=474
That's disappointing. I was expecting something really revolutionary:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/oddbodyAS2/xway.jpg

The word is that at midnight the Table will be unveiled with Steve Jobs naked, lashed to the table with a cross-dressed Ballmer hopping all around touching various parts of this virtual marvel.

I swear this is true.......

So I am guessing midnight PST? lol

so ummm yeah, it's pass mn est...
guess trick

Surface... It was the table.

that table is the stupidest idea MS came up with since Zune.

They actually had a product and customers for Milan, now called (alas) Microsoft Surface:
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+hopes+Milan+table+PC+has+magic+touch/2100-1041_3-6186732.html?tag=nefd.lede

IT doesn't have to be a table, although that is the first implementation.
Pricey, though: $10K.
Those infrared sensors and cameras, plus the DLP projector sure add to the cost.
(Its ruggedized too, and that's always expensive.)
Its not really an Entertainment device but it is MS-branded hardware, so that's wy the XBOX/Zune boys are handling it.
A hidden message to the market here: MS will not give anybody the lead Apple got on DAPs waiting for partners to get their act in gear; if needed, they will act alone. Zune is not a dead end, but the future. Get used to it. MS *will* do more hardware system-level products, not just component-level like in the past.

Whether Milan succeeds or fails, this is in fact a milestone. And a pointer at future gaming products. Its seasy to see a TV mounted sensor bar that lets you control a game sole by gestures (hopefully subtle ones, to avoid RSIs ;-) ).

WE'll have to wait for the V3.1 product before it really takes off, of course, but there is some real meat to this announcement. Just not gaming meat. Unless you're into casino gambling. ;-)

Looks neat, always nice to see new attempts to advance some technology.

that table is the stupidest idea MS came up with since Zune.Au contraire... that's the single most brilliant thing to come down the pike in a long while. Imagine those things in coffee houses, airports, bars, hotels, lounges ... even schools! ... You won't be able to keep people away from them. There are myriad applications for gaming, art, illustration, socialization... it'll be a great shot in the arm for the company in the short term, and when they're affordable enough to be in people's homes, look out.

Looks neat, always nice to see new attempts to advance some technology.
agreed. Unlimited applications for this in the workplace, especially for design and visual fields. I work in fashion, and I can already see people composing interactive concept and presentation boards via projector.

But doesn't it sound like a SONY product? Why in the world would they call it a PlayTable?

Check out the promo videos: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

The potential looks amazing.

Check out the promo videos: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

The potential for fingerprints looks amazing.

FTFY ;)

Does look interesting though

Didn't we see this in "Tron" about 25 years ago?

David Warner sitting at his desk; display part of desk surface?

Fancy it up a bit with better touch controls, but nothing NEW...

Didn't we see this in "Tron" about 25 years ago?

David Warner sitting at his desk; display part of desk surface?

Fancy it up a bit with better touch controls, but nothing NEW...

So, when we get Warp/faster then light technology, you will say, pssssh, they had that on Star Trek in the 1970's! ;)

What's the difference having a screen upright and using a mouse pointer to drag and drop? The pictures scattered about on a table is a better way of handling pictures??? Pictures scattered about is so 20 years ago, people don't live like that anymore. They'd have'm in a family album or on pc, organized. My wife will be just as confused if not more so with this.

This product is assuming there are a lot of people that think a PC/display and mouse is to hard to use. Those that do have a problem are on their way out as the newer generations it's second nature. This product is a dinosaur in how it's looking at the world imo. Looks like something out of a movie and well for the real rich to show off then for us to leave and say, it was sorta cool but I can do everything they just showed me but faster on my current pc.

Perhaps there are more potential commerical applications for it to start with.

Yeah, completely geared towards the non-consumer right now with a LOT of potential. Here is another article on it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070530/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_coffee_table_of_the_future

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. has taken the wraps off "Surface," a coffee-table shaped computer that responds to touch and to special bar codes attached to everyday objects.

The machines, which Microsoft planned to debut Wednesday at a technology conference in Carlsbad, Calif., are set to arrive in November in T-Mobile USA stores and properties owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

Surface is essentially a Windows Vista PC tucked inside a shiny black table base, topped with a 30-inch touchscreen in a clear acrylic frame. Five cameras that can sense nearby objects are mounted beneath the screen. Users can interact with the machine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects such as paintbrushes across the screen, or by setting real-world items tagged with special bar-code labels on top of it.

Unlike most touchscreens, Surface can respond to more than one touch at a time. During a demonstration with a reporter last week, Mark Bolger, the Surface Computing group's marketing director, "dipped" his finger in an on-screen paint palette, then dragged it across the screen to draw a smiley face. Then he used all 10 fingers at once to give the face a full head of hair.

With a price tag between $5,000 and $10,000 per unit, Microsoft isn't immediately aiming for the finger painting set. (The company said it expects prices to drop enough to make consumer versions feasible in three to five years.)

Some of the first Surface models are planned to help customers pick out new cell phones at T-Mobile stores. When customers plop a phone down on the screen, Surface will read its bar code and display information about the handset. Customers can also select calling plans and ringtones by dragging icons toward the phone.

Guests sitting in some Starwood Hotel lobbies will be able to cluster around the Surface to play music, then buy songs using a credit card or rewards card tagged with a bar code. In some hotel restaurants, customers will be able to order food and drinks, then split the bill by setting down a card or a room key and dragging their menu items "onto" the card.

At Harrah's locations, visitors will be able to learn about nearby Harrah's venues on an interactive map, then book show tickets or make dinner reservations.

Microsoft is working on a limited number of programs to ship with Surface, including one for sharing digital photographs.

Bolger placed a card with a bar code onto Surface's surface; digital photographs appeared to spill out of the card into piles on the screen. Several people gathered around the table pulled photos across the screen using their fingertips, rotated them in circles and even dragged out the corners to enlarge the images — behavior made possible by the advanced graphics support deep inside Windows Vista.

"It's not a touch screen, it's a grab screen," Bolger said.

Historically, Microsoft has focused on creating new software, giving computer programmers tools to build applications on its platforms, and left hardware manufacturing to others. (Some recent exceptions include the Xbox 360 and the Zune music player, made by the same Microsoft division that developed Surface.)

For now, Microsoft is making the Surface hardware itself, and has only given six outside software development firms the tools they need to make Surface applications.

Matt Rosoff, an analyst at the independent research group Directions on Microsoft, said in an interview that keeping the technology's inner workings under wraps will limit what early customers — the businesses Microsoft is targeting first with the machine — will be able to do with it.

But overall, analysts who cover the PC industry were wowed by Surface.

Surface is "important for Microsoft as a promising new business, as well as demonstrating very concretely to the market that Microsoft still knows how to innovate, and innovate in a big way," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Jupiter Research.

What's the difference having a screen upright and using a mouse pointer to drag and drop? The pictures scattered abouts??? My wife will be just as confused if not more so.

This product is assuming there are a lot of people that think a PC/display and mouse is to hard to use. Those that do have a problem are on their way out as the newer generations it's second nature. This product is a dinosaur in how it's looking at the world imo. Looks like something out of a movie and well for the real rich to show off and well not really do anything better then what the rest of us can do, just a different way in how they do it.

A mouse is not very streamlined. These are meant to fit into the environment rather then add new components (ala a mouse). Also, a mouse does not make for good collaborative work, unless you want to have multiple or passing it back and forth.

The example videos they showed seemed a much more efficient way of doing things, which is one of the goals. This is not a home product at all yet.

I'm glad they are trying this, an effort to make computing more streamlined and efficient in our environment.

Also, here an 18 minute demo:

http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/first-look-microsoft-surfacing-computing/

This demo goes through how/why it is different then a normal computer. It also lacks the marketing fluff of the promos.

That shyt is sweet as HELL!


Imagine all the movies we've seen with people using touchscreen glass.. Minority Report.. i.Robot.. pretty much any movie in the future shows people using computers with this type of input..

You really dont see the keyboard & mouse much when watching movies about the future..

I see this technology being everywhere from the touch screen in your car to your tablet notebook computer to your entire desk at work 20 years from now..

I highly recommend the demo at http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/first-l...cing-computing/ It is much better than the marketing videos and shows so much more. It really is amazing and I hope it pans out :)

Aegix your link doesnt work.. you need this one..

http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/first-look-microsoft-surfacing-computing/

If you what a HD version of that video.. right click and save

http://on10.net/link/6a6b8f39-2bb4-4bd5-8ee5-89789ca816a3/

its about 255MB

How can anyone not see the potential this product has.

Dividing up the restaurant bill was pretty darn cool.

A mouse is not very streamlined. These are meant to fit into the environment rather then add new components (ala a mouse). Also, a mouse does not make for good collaborative work, unless you want to have multiple or passing it back and forth.

The example videos they showed seemed a much more efficient way of doing things, which is one of the goals. This is not a home product at all yet.

I'm glad they are trying this, an effort to make computing more streamlined and efficient in our environment.

Also, here an 18 minute demo:

http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/first-look-microsoft-surfacing-computing/

This demo goes through how/why it is different then a normal computer. It also lacks the marketing fluff of the promos.

Definitely not against trying new things out (doesn’t mean I have to be bullish with everything offered either), it’s interesting but so was the Le Stick. There are touch screens today that people could use instead of a mouse but it seems most prefer the mouse instead. Sorta like the Wii remote, the mouse for long periods of time will be easier physically then having to use your arms for everything. I know it's exciting to see the new stuff but the old stuff that dominates imo always has a real reason why it dominated and it shouldn't be undermined either as it has a better chance at continues success then something new which always has a risk with it. I am going through the 18 minute video now, thanks for the link and one word they used off the bat that I disagree with is the words "more approachable" again the world has adopted to PC's those that haven't aren't going to jump on this either, I don’t see my mother being any more excited about this, it seems the tech industry is still worrying about people that aren't interested in them. All the youngin's are coming up and they aren't having fears and what we give them today is more then approachable for them. But I'll continue on with the video to see what surprises await!

Definitely not against trying new things out (doesn’t mean I have to be bullish with everything offered either), it’s interesting but so was the Le Stick. There are touch screens today that people could use instead of a mouse but it seems most prefer the mouse instead. Sorta like the Wii remote, the mouse for long periods of time will be easier physically then having to use your arms for everything. I know it's exciting to see the new stuff but the old stuff that dominates imo always has a real reason why it dominated and it shouldn't be undermined either as it has a better chance at continues success then something new which always has a risk with it. I am going through the 18 minute video now, thanks for the link and one word they used off the bat that I disagree with is the words "more approachable" again the world has adopted to PC's those that haven't aren't going to jump on this either, I don’t see my mother being any more excited about this, it seems the tech industry is still worrying about people that aren't interested in them. All the youngin's are coming up and they aren't having fears and what we give them today is more then approachable for them. But I'll continue on with the video to see what surprises await!


The keyboard and mouse have been around for 40 some years. It does work and work well, but UI's have not really advanced. I'm glad to see they are still trying though.

The Surface may end up being a gimmick. Hopefully it will find use in certain areas and grow from there.

For sure I'm taking some notes down now. Personally for me at home, party games could be neat. Have it so it can pivot up or down and it can still be an excellent display with added functionality.

Some of the things they show for example are putting a device on it and up pops-up stats. That is quite a bit of software development and upkeep to keep that accurate. And will Best Buy's tell us the truth or bend things a certain way trying to make us buy one over the other? lol Is retail willing to take on this cost up implementation and maintenance? The hard business practical side ultimately matters, sure it looks neat, looks like something out of sci-fi movies for sure. Would I take one? Yes? Is it really better then what I have for some of the things it does show? Ahhmmm.

you guys dis'n this are nuts. That thing is amazing and will change how we use computers outside the office forever. The potential is HUGE.

For sure I'm taking some notes down now. Personally for me at home, party games could be neat. Have it so it can pivot up or down and it can still be an excellent display with added functionality.

Some of the things they show for example are putting a device on it and up pops-up stats. That is quite a bit of software development and upkeep to keep that accurate. And will Best Buy's tell us the truth or bend things a certain way trying to make us buy one over the other? lol Is retail willing to take on this cost up implementation and maintenance? The hard business practical side ultimately matters, sure it looks neat, looks like something out of sci-fi movies for sure. Would I take one? Yes? Is it really better then what I have for some of the things it does show? Ahhmmm.

I'm not sure the data issue is that big of a deal. Nearly all of it is already stored in a database. Is it really more work than putting together the paper circular or the web page?

If this gets a foothold, I wonder what the technology will be like in 5 years time.

This product is assuming there are a lot of people that think a PC/display and mouse is to hard to use.No. This product assumes that it would look really stupid and be really cumbersome to have a bunch of people sitting around a table in a cocktail lounge, running their mice with one hand and typing with another. (And it would assume correctly.)

In any event, KB/M attachments would be unnecessary and/or redundant on a Surface display. Mouse movement is actually not too dissimilar in many laptops where a touchpad is used. In situations where a KB was essential, you could easily create one on the screen and allow the user to type; problem solved.

There's no question in my mind that

a) These things are going to be popping up everywhere; and
b) They'll be a mainstay beyond the novelty of 'oooooh, how cool' and become an essential part of many public gathering places.

My damned sticky fingered nieces and nephew's would have to wash their hands if they want to paint.

woohoo! Minority Report!!!! I like it :D

woohoo! Minority Report!!!! I like it :D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5JcSu7h-I40

i love multi-touchscreens :D

I don't care who makes it, so long as I start to see it out there soon :)

I can imagine this being used by the military fairly quickly. One of these sitting in the middle of a war room comes to mind.

That video was awesome. This product is unbelievable. Holy crap, the applications are unbelievable. Makes we want to go to a t-mobile just to play with one. Wow, very impressed.

apple is coming out with a multitouch device pretty soon. in the iphone

i think the applications to this tech. will just be fun to use and it will be interesting to see what else comes out, like tablet pcs or whatnot

watching that made me feel. . . primitive.

Au contraire... that's the single most brilliant thing to come down the pike in a long while. Imagine those things in coffee houses, airports, bars, hotels, lounges ... even schools! ... You won't be able to keep people away from them. There are myriad applications for gaming, art, illustration, socialization... it'll be a great shot in the arm for the company in the short term, and when they're affordable enough to be in people's homes, look out.

indeed, it's fantastic; it's in fact what i've been thinking that things would have to eventually lead to; it's just as intuitive as can be to touch

if anyone has read "ender's game" then that tabletop pc is very much what i always envisioned the "desks" in the book to be, except those where laptop-sized and holographic; that would be the next step for something like this, a very large step :)

Didn't we see this in "Tron" about 25 years ago?

David Warner sitting at his desk; display part of desk surface?

Fancy it up a bit with better touch controls, but nothing NEW...


we've seen this all over science fiction for a long time; it's nothing new that science fiction preempts real technological applications; when folks show something like this in sci fi, it's because we envision it as being a more agreeable way to do things

i'm actually suprised that $10k is as much as this will cost out the door; that price can easily drop to reasonable levels in a few years

i wonder if they'll have wall displays as well as "coffee tables"

there was this scene, again in the book "ender's game" where the family is sitting around the breakfast table and bringing up various news bits and stuff for the day

now all we need is:

-miniturization to make it smaller
-holographics???? :)
- i'd like to see you being able to wave your hand rather than touch the screen itself

we've seen this all over science fiction for a long time; it's nothing new that science fiction preempts real technological applications; when folks show something like this in sci fi, it's because we envision it as being a more agreeable way to do things

Correct.
The trick is figuring out how to do it for *real*. :-)

Just bear in mind that this is light years ahead of the iPhone's touch-rejection multitouch. This is motion and shape recognition; Surface is *vision* based, not a touch panel. Makes a universe of difference.

This tech will be exploding out of 2d into 3D space as soon as the sensors and CPUs grow up.
Big-time news, this.
I can't wait for the XTable to hit the home market in 5 years or so. ;-)

My damned sticky fingered nieces and nephew's would have to wash their hands if they want to paint.

i'm pretty sure it'll wash up nicely :)

we've seen this all over science fiction for a long time; it's nothing new that science fiction preempts real technological applications; when folks show something like this in sci fi, it's because we envision it as being a more agreeable way to do things
Hang on. I'm sitting comfortably in my cube looking over at a display that's aimed at my head, reading about a coffee table I'd have to lean over to read and interact with. I don't consider that a Big Deal to fawn over.

"Large vertical touchscreens one sits in front of? Why, that's so 2005 it's pitiful. Let's make them horizontal tables so people have to hover over them to watch the videos or draw on them. Comfort and ergonomics be damned, this is cool."

If the idea seen in "Tron" was actually GOOD, it would have been implemented in the many years since the movie. Those coffee table Pac-Man games died out, and I expect this will mutate into a more practical at-least-semi vertical design or die off too. There's only so much hovering human beings will put up with...

What a dud. All that hype over a touchscreen kiosk for hotels and casinos??!!!!

Who says that future iterations of this all have to be flat table top versions?

I can see a model of this based on a drafters table, nicely angled at about 45 degrees. That would take 'hovering' out of the equation.

DeathDealerB

as Borat said "very nice how much"

after seeing the promo videos, I retract my last comment. MS surface is truly amazing, you would've expected Apple to come out with it not MS.

Hang on. I'm sitting comfortably in my cube looking over at a display that's aimed at my head, reading about a coffee table I'd have to lean over to read and interact with. I don't consider that a Big Deal to fawn over.

"Large vertical touchscreens one sits in front of? Why, that's so 2005 it's pitiful. Let's make them horizontal tables so people have to hover over them to watch the videos or draw on them. Comfort and ergonomics be damned, this is cool."

If the idea seen in "Tron" was actually GOOD, it would have been implemented in the many years since the movie. Those coffee table Pac-Man games died out, and I expect this will mutate into a more practical at-least-semi vertical design or die off too. There's only so much hovering human beings will put up with...

It probably was not practical to implement until now. Multi-touch screens are starting to emerge from several companies. It seems we just now have the technology to pull it off properly.

MS has alrerad said the see this being used on tables, walls, mirrors etc... They have to start somewhere.

The Pac-Man cocktail games had no real practical use, other then sitting stuff on when you got tired of the game.

How can anyone not see the potential this product has.

Dividing up the restaurant bill was pretty darn cool.


Exactly!

The Commercial potential for this product is huge.

For Home.....I wouldnt mind a table to control all my HT equipment and media center contols built in. Think of the home theater potential of this thing too!

What a dud. All that hype over a touchscreen kiosk for hotels and casinos??!!!!

The hype is because its *not* a touch screen.
Its a whole new computing platform built-around a motion analysis system that uses infrared sensors that can *read*barcodes and patterns and shapes.
It doesn't detect touch--that is indeeed common and limited--it detects movement and intent. Big difference.
And the tables are aimed at hotels, casinos, *and* restaurants.
Sports bars alone will scarf'em up! ;-)

The hype is because its *not* a touch screen.
Its a whole new computing platform built-around a motion analysis system that uses infrared sensors that can *read*barcodes and patterns and shapes.
It doesn't detect touch--that is indeeed common and limited--it detects movement and intent. Big difference.
And the tables are aimed at hotels, casinos, *and* restaurants.
Sports bars alone will scarf'em up! ;-)

Sports Bars... I can already see some great table games like air hockey :)

Interactive porn?

it would redefine how we use computers at home. Be a truely easy to use media center for music, pics, video's etc. You could tie it into any electrical device in your home. It would make technology truly easy to use, no I mean actually EASY as in a monkey could use it. Watch the 18 minute video, it's worth it. see how easy it is to use mp3 players, cell phones, move content to and from completely wireless, no manuals needed!

Hospitals could use this for medical displays, military could have a field day with this. Boats, planes, man I could list stuff forever.

Las vegas, hotels , these are the tip of the ice berg. They got to start somewhere. But if this catches on, and i have no reason to think otherwise, this is revolutionary.

There's no question in my mind that

a) These things are going to be popping up everywhere; and
b) They'll be a mainstay beyond the novelty of 'oooooh, how cool' and become an essential part of many public gathering places.

Hey I like a person that knows what they want! I'm quite a bit more skeptical however that is me being the critic-realist I am. Don't get me wrong "I hope this becomes HUGE" because it will be fun so I hope your right. I see $$$ getting in the way of allowing the anonymous public touching them. I don't see the demanding need for it either. $$$ are getting tighter and the mainstay stuff gets it done, it's cheaper and paid for. This almost sounds too good for it's own good. Hope I'm wrong and I hope you're right.

Maybe there is more of a need at replacing typical monitors with this new technology to get a little bit more out of the desktop experience.

very impressed as well, when the tech matures and prices drop, i'll be all over a MS Surface in my livingroom.

been waiting for them to unveil this thing for 3 years!
It will change the way we play games too.

The gaming potential of this is amazing. Imagine how they could shoehorn this into some sort of control apparatus for future consoles. Instead of pushing a button to deal a card you actually deal the card. No need to hold some rectangular control and pretend you're dealing a card, just actually make a card dealing motion with your bare hands. This could lead to so much in the hands of the right creative person. The fact that MS is licensing this out shows that they're not just looking to use this technology to sell a few things, but more as groundwork for all sorts of products that'll use this sensing technology as way for people to interact with. Think how more natural it is for someone to move pictures around on a table or screen rather than moving a clunky mouse and having to drag & drop. This could be something we'll start seeing all over the place soon.

Interactive porn?

hahaha... was wondering how long before someone would mention this!

imagine some "toys" that had an interactive picture/movie of whatever act you were doing!

damn! there'd be broken screens all over the place!


Add:
Whatever happens, dont let Dave Chappelle near this thing! EWWW! Clean-up on Dave Chappelle!

http://grouper.com/video/MediaDetails.aspx?id=1684733

If the idea seen in "Tron" was actually GOOD, it would have been implemented in the many years since the movie.

It hasnt been implemented because "I" destroyed the MCP! :p

The gaming potential of this is amazing. Imagine how they could shoehorn this into some sort of control apparatus for future consoles. Instead of pushing a button to deal a card you actually deal the card. No need to hold some rectangular control and pretend you're dealing a card, just actually make a card dealing motion with your bare hands. This could lead to so much in the hands of the right creative person. .

Wiimote?

It hasnt been implemented because "I" destroyed the MCP! :p


LMAO

It looks like a giant iPhone.

Wow those video's look pretty damn good.

i will max out my visa for one if i can replace my universal remote with it :D

Sports Bars... I can already see some great table games like air hockey :)

just don't spill that Pabst Blue Ribbon!! :D

its cool, but the applications shown for it at 1/10 the price point is still too much. how many restaurants will really risk placing these on a table where food, drinks, and everything else will spill on it? how many restaurants will pay for the software to use all these apps or replace thier current kiosks for one of these? even at $500 a pop, its nothing more than a novelty item to be used in most trendy locales. i doubt id see one of these in a tgif or bw3's any time soon. i cant see it really taking any mass market appeal but its still cool as hell.

its cool, but the applications shown for it at 1/10 the price point is still too much. how many restaurants will really risk placing these on a table where food, drinks, and everything else will spill on it? how many restaurants will pay for the software to use all these apps or replace thier current kiosks for one of these? even at $500 a pop, its nothing more than a novelty item to be used in most trendy locales. i doubt id see one of these in a tgif or bw3's any time soon. i cant see it really taking any mass market appeal but its still cool as hell.

you know, thats how I felt when flat screen TV's 1st came out. Now every store and restaurant has 'em hanging around. But like you said, no time soon.

its cool, but the applications shown for it at 1/10 the price point is still too much. how many restaurants will really risk placing these on a table where food, drinks, and everything else will spill on it? how many restaurants will pay for the software to use all these apps or replace thier current kiosks for one of these? even at $500 a pop, its nothing more than a novelty item to be used in most trendy locales. i doubt id see one of these in a tgif or bw3's any time soon. i cant see it really taking any mass market appeal but its still cool as hell.

One of the reason for the price is because they are ruggedized against those hypothetical beer spills. You know, the folks who designed this are not incompetent; the first thing they did was war-game usage scenarios and modify the hardware accordingly...

And the intent is to drop the price over time; obviously it has to start at the high-end (Harrah's and Renaisence Hotels and the like) but you underestimate how high a typical sports bar, for one, can go for this kinda gear. Arcade games and the like are hardly cheap stuff either, so the price doesn't need to drop much.

no kidding, an arcade machine can cost upwards of 5-10k as well... now imagine integrating that arcade into a guests table, so they can play/eat/drink/socialize all at the same seat.... sounds like a good idea to me.

i think old c's and bw3's will all have these in just a couple years or so. i love playing the trivia games, but it seems like the screen with the questions is always behind me.... imagine if the screen WAS your table.

or imagine watching a football game on sunday with the guys at your favorite sportsbar, and all the tables have the game ON them.... that's just freaking sweet.

i cant wait for this tech to pick up!

no kidding, an arcade machine can cost upwards of 5-10k as well... now imagine integrating that arcade into a guests table, so they can play/eat/drink/socialize all at the same seat.... sounds like a good idea to me.

i think old c's and bw3's will all have these in just a couple years or so. i love playing the trivia games, but it seems like the screen with the questions is always behind me.... imagine if the screen WAS your table.

or imagine watching a football game on sunday with the guys at your favorite sportsbar, and all the tables have the game ON them.... that's just freaking sweet.

i cant wait for this tech to pick up!

if the screen was your table, itd be down right annoying. having to move my food or drink out the way to watch the game sounds more like a hassle than a feature. now the had like a playbook or something else on the table that would be one thing, but looking down for 2 hours or so would be annoying.

yeah theres a great cool factor, but how practical is it. it reminds me of the iphone. not because of the touch screen tech, but because its one of those cool gadgets that'll never ever take off until it comes wayyyyyyyyyyy down in price (much like the razr's).

if the screen was your table, itd be down right annoying. having to move my food or drink out the way to watch the game sounds more like a hassle than a feature. now the had like a playbook or something else on the table that would be one thing, but looking down for 2 hours or so would be annoying.

yeah theres a great cool factor, but how practical is it. it reminds me of the iphone. not because of the touch screen tech, but because its one of those cool gadgets that'll never ever take off until it comes wayyyyyyyyyyy down in price (much like the razr's).


I honestly would hope people wouldn't use that as a TV.. That's just down right dumb.. But it seems pretty cool. I just don't get the comparing phones when you almost never can take it home to compare them before buying..

I honestly would hope people wouldn't use that as a TV.. That's just down right dumb.. But it seems pretty cool. I just don't get the comparing phones when you almost never can take it home to compare them before buying..
i think the comparing phone thing was for in stores. they made it sound like they whould be the first to have it. they were partners with one of the companys i think

i think the comparing phone thing was for in stores. they made it sound like they whould be the first to have it. they were partners with one of the companys i think

i think you're right, isnt t-mobile supposed to add these to their kiosks? then you just grab 2 display phones and set them down on the counter, and all the info pops up.

i wonder if the "Surface" will use size/footprint recognition or if some digital devices will have an ID tag/chip inside that tells the "Surface" what do display?



and as far as displaying TV on the table, obviously at a sports bar that wouldnt be the ONLY display you had to look at, i know after a while my neck hurts from looking way up at the screen, so to look down in front of me while i snag a drink of beer in a small PIP window and not miss any action... that would be cool, even if it's just a complete novelty.

they could also incorporate display shifting, so no matter what side of the table you were on, whatever displayed is always right-side-up for you.

i can see t mobile stores getting crowded with people like me just wanting to check out the "Surface" then saying no thanks i will be back tomarrow to compare some more :D

i can see t mobile stores getting crowded with people like me just wanting to check out the "Surface" then saying no thanks i will be back tomarrow to compare some more :D

thats exactly my point, it has a cool factor about it, but will having these in an establishment generate any real revenue for the company?

Getting people in the door is a big part.

Do we have names of any mfg's besides MS at this time planning on releasing this tech?

Do we have names of any mfg's besides MS at this time planning on releasing this tech?

If you mean just multi-touch, there is Perspective Pixel and Apple (iPhone). However the Surface product seems to be Multi-touch + Object recognition + Vista + form factor

I mean is there anyone else going to be mfg this technology of microsofts other then MS? I'm not too crazy of their hardware at this time, I was wondering if say a Dell will mfg MS Surface devices for the market?

Not that I have seen. If it seems to do well I am sure there will be competitors. I have not heard of any Vendor type stuff yet. Would be nice if there were.

I mean is there anyone else going to be mfg this technology of microsofts other then MS? I'm not too crazy of their hardware at this time, I was wondering if say a Dell will mfg MS Surface devices for the market?

At present they have licensed the RECOGNITION tech for *other* devices (medical imaging, I believe) but Surface Computers like the Table device are strictly a Microsoft product for now. Low volume so Dell and other PC vendors likely want nothing to do with this.
Its a new era for MS; no longer relying on others to promote or hamper their tech.

As for competitors, don't hold your breath; first they'd have to match the AI software and then they'd have to do it without infringing on some very fundamental (and non-obvious) patents. Not any time soon...

its cool, but the applications shown for it at 1/10 the price point is still too much. how many restaurants will really risk placing these on a table where food, drinks, and everything else will spill on it? how many restaurants will pay for the software to use all these apps or replace thier current kiosks for one of these? even at $500 a pop, its nothing more than a novelty item to be used in most trendy locales. i doubt id see one of these in a tgif or bw3's any time soon. i cant see it really taking any mass market appeal but its still cool as hell.

Think casino's. You can't count cards if they are virtual. Virtual roulette. I mean casinos will eat this tech up. Set your chips on it and it will count them for you. You will see those things all over.

Think casino's. You can't count cards if they are virtual. Virtual roulette. I mean casinos will eat this tech up. Set your chips on it and it will count them for you. You will see those things all over.

You could have your 'players card' on the table and drag chips to and from it. Neat :)

Think casino's. You can't count cards if they are virtual. Virtual roulette. I mean casinos will eat this tech up. Set your chips on it and it will count them for you. You will see those things all over.

They already have roulette covered with touch-screens. They still have the real wheel because people would call fraud otherwise. My guess is people will want real cards as well again because of computer programming fraud concerns.

Looks like the Wii isn't the only gimmick in town..

You could have your 'players card' on the table and drag chips to and from it. Neat :)

Yeah that would be like the Roulette I'm talking about. Does that need Surface though or could current technology handle that?

They already have roulette covered with touch-screens. They still have the real wheel because people would call fraud otherwise. My guess is people will want real cards as well again because of computer programming fraud concerns.

I don't think they will ever get rid of the real wheel. That sort of thing makes people want to go to the casino, as opposed to just gambling online. Just like the pull arm that remains on many slot machines.