Gizmodo
Microsoft's near-mythical Surface table just appeared at five AT&T Stores across the country (with seven more locations soon to get one), and we were happy to have a go with it this morning. As you'll see in the video, this one is programmed for mobile phone sales pitches, and doesn't have all of the fun apps we've heard about, but even here, Surface's massive, beautiful potential is obvious.
Microsoft's near-mythical Surface table just appeared at five I panned and zoomed around coverage maps easily, best when I relaxed my touch, as pressing too hard made the table less responsive. Placing a specially-tagged phone on the Surface brought up information about it, including service plans, accessories, and the ability to see it in different colors. When two phones are placed on the table, a side-by-side comparison chart appears. The actions available on the AT&T Store table include flick, zoom in/out, flip, drag and the object-sensing ability.
My favorite part of the Surface is that it has lots of touch points; one person can zoom in on an object while another person flicks a different object. At one point, we had 30 fingers on the table, and they were all registering. The ability to collaborate in a physical way (group painting or photo sharing come to mind) will definitely be a big draw. Inevitable comparisons to the iPhone—curiously unavailable to place on the table—are warranted: It's basically the same feel, but 10x bigger.
Don't expect this to replace AT&T reps just yet, as purchasing still can't be done directly on the Surface. Still, it's definitely one cool tool that we look forward to seeing in other arenas. It's at five AT&T locations starting today (two in NYC, one each in San Fransisco, San Antonio, and Atlanta), and it will be in 12 stores by next month. [Microsoft Surface]
Comments
I'll talk crap about MS at any other area because it is what I feel must be done... but (to me) MS Surface is pretty sweet...
He lit another cigarette with a thumb-flicked wooden match and said, "And that was the night I fell in love with the razor. It was magenta, made for dames, but it really rounded out my experience."
He turned his face away, trying to hide his tears.
"They said it was disposable. Can you believe that? Disposable."
That surface is so cool! I would try out Google Earth, or Google Street View on it!
[streetviewgallery.corank.com]
Its gonna have alot of finger prints and im sure some idiot will scratch the top with their ring. So they better get a screen protector and a super sized iphone case to make it look cool. Maybe colorwarepc can pimp it out in some cool colors.
"Apple who?"
@xint:
I agree w/ you totally. Normally I'm a MS hater-boy, but this is quite possibly the best thing that MS has ever released.
what, no Blue Surface Of Death jokes?
One thing to keep in mind is that the ATT employees themselves are NOT multitouch and rarely respond to pinching and flicking in similar ways.
I don't understand all of the excitement for Microsoft Surface at all. It's just a gimmicky table that really doesn't give you anymore information than a pamphlet can (although I suppose it's more stimulating than a pamphlet).
@novacthall:
Apple are the guys who shrunk this table down to fit in your pocket eight months ago.
@rexplex: \
I can't belive I gave the troll a response.
@frigg: Well, this language is still accurate:
The difference is that the paragraph would continue as follows.
lol the crappy iphone is nothing like this. The only thing similar is the multi-touch they both borrowed from some dude. The surface is so much better then some useless but pretty looking phone.
30 fingers and it was still able to know whats what?
[www.addictinggames.com]
YOU'RE GOING DOWN LITTLE MOLE!!!
@rexplex: Bad replex! Bad! ~swats nose with a newspaper~
@novacthall: Typo on your name, that's my mistake. Apologies.
@crumb: Well the AT&T stores will just use it to display info and interact with costumers.
But, MS Surface is a completely usable device anywhere too (Home, Office, or bussiness)
Talk about your new prime vector for germs spreading...ugh.
@Totorototoro: Talk about your new prime bitching point for ridiculous germaphobes everywhere...ugh.
I would kill to have this for some Max/MSP patching.....or with Ableton Live! YES!
@Totorototoro: Just develop an immune system. It did wonders for me.
@Totorototoro: Yea I heard the japanese version has disposable screens that detach for everyone's individual usage. not.
ARGG... STOP REFERINCING THIS TO THE IPHONE...
Last time i checked the iphone doesnt handle device recognition or tracking, only touch.
Store Locations: [www.att.com]
New York City
381 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10017
350 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Atlanta
3429 Lenox Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
San Antonio
13127 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78216
San Francisco
1206 El Camino Real
San Bruno, CA 94066
Are you falling in love? It seems that's what the AT&T or MS person is suggesting will happen.
isnt it funy how in the video they try to move their hands really fast to jus show how fast its responding its like slow down dude you dont really have to scroll the map THAT fast hehe
@92BuickLeSabre: lol! Of course, "group painting" is probably a typo for "group panting."
Also, it should be noted that while AT&T only recently installed MS Surfaces with squeeze and pinch functions on them, AT&T's contracts have been squeezing and pinching customers for years.
Will it play porn?
@phantam: Perhaps you should think twice about criticizing the iPhone while the Pope is currently visiting our country. I mean, hello, timing, a little respect!
@frigg: @frigg: No typo. [www.canvasalive.com] (May be NSFW, but as SFW as I could find quickly)
@astrocramp: Multi-touch virtual ass slapping!
How can you not reference the iphone when there is no big stylus pen to tap the big screen with. I bet the battery is not accessible either.
@92BuickLeSabre: Cool! My correction stands corrected!
@crumb: Pamphlets require paper, a highly trained graphic designer, and a printer to update.
a touch thing requires a touch thing and probably a web guy to update.
It would make sense to compare it to a regular computer screen and a mouse (same functionality for a higher price), but these are being installed in something called an 'experience store' so whatever.
Yay! A way to make crappy, non-iPhone cell phones look cooler than they really are!
Microsoft, you've done it again!
@rexplex: Really? Sucks cause I don't think I can use more than two fingers on my iPhone...
Anyways, great job Microsoft! This is truly multi touch at its finest right now.
I don't think people take the time to really just think about, not even dream, just think about the definite possibilities. Imagine having this in your house while entertaining guests and being able to have a musical session, with pianos, keyboards, drums etc., or playing a game of poker without needing the actual chips, of for those of us who partake in strategy, playing RISK moving armies etc with the surface and touch or any other strategy game, etc, etc, etc, just trying to put out some of the gaming and musical possibilities, as well as, the obvious arts and media manipulation and editing possibilities, for many who just cant seem to view the surface beyond the restaurant or commercial business sector. I definitely will be purchasing one once its released to the general public, especially given the entertaining and gaming capabilities, I wont have to buy board games every single year but will probably have to start screening people to prevent any outbursts of rage and the destruction of my surface.
As the tech space is moving closer and closer towards socially innovative devices and services that bringing many users together just think of how this tech can move the industry forward and make even more people aware of the obvious tech that is possible in this day and age. Just look at what the iPhone has done with the average consumer, many of whom would still be using their Razors and other extremely basic and many times expensive devices. The average user didn't really now how easy it was to have Internet functionality on your phone until the iPhone came out and brought these things mainstream. I am being honest in my own assessment as to what the iPhone has done for mobile tech and even though I wont be getting one, given that I Primarily Microsoft products for the freedom and integration, my entire house is connected, WHS, WMC, Media Center Extenders, Security System, Climate, Lighting, etc, so please refrain from bashing me. LOL.
@thepunisher0032: I know the first thing I think when I see an interactive table is a phone.
The UI and animation looks a lot like Apple's UI styles.
a razr as the choice of model to show off, are you nucking futs!
I work for a software company with that old silicon valley feel so hopefully these will start popping up in our conference rooms soon.
We are in the business of eliminating paper so the idea of having 10 people being able to manipulate workflows and such on a table would be, well, awesome.
@thepunisher0032: I doubt that MS would allow AT&T to put it into an iphone case.
Even though its AT&T's hardware that would be extremely ironic
It looks super swift and responsive. Except for the loading times but that happens on any type of map.
I'd love to see this in other colors.
And i think it'd be way better on a hybrid view or even a city view.
And looking at that coverage alone not even looking at the surface table itself made me want to switch to AT&T but im happy with T-Mo for now. All we need is that damn 3G coverage.
Does it run Linux? Will it blend?
OK, we got that out of the way.
But as a kiosk type of machine this sounds pretty good.
I would guess it will make it into the Des Moines Iowa area in about 10 years or so.
@frigg:
You mean the spawn of hitler.
While I'm sitting here in my lounge chair surfing Giz on my iPhone looking at "the surface" and all the comments its kinda hard to not compare it to my phone. Either that or my coffee table and 2 razer brochures.
@xint: No, no! It will also interact with set designers, lighting technicians, makeup artists...
surface looks pretty sweet, I can't wait to start seeing it pop up in new locations. I definitely think using it for commercial purposes is the best start for it. It'll take a while