At last year's Salone Internazionale Del Mobile, you may remember that Sony got all hot and heavy with a bunch of master craftsmen. The event takes place from April 16 to 20, and we'll keep our beadies out for all the best stuff on show. [Impress]

Painting with surface sounds particularly intuitive (and fun): you can use a paint brush or simply dip your fingers into virtual paint cups. Photo resizing and stacking works much like the iPhone's zoom gestures. Also cool is the capacity for multiple users.

Such sweet tech comes at a price, naturally, with the units running $10,000 a pop. But, Microsoft expects prices to plummet over the next three to five years to the point they'll be in your homes. In the meantime you'll be able to play with them at T-Mobile stores, Harrah's and Sheraton hotels. Got more questions? Hit the jump for a FAQ and (naturally) a boatload of pictures. Update: And a video!

What is Microsoft Surface? Microsoft Surface™, the first commercially available surface computer from Microsoft Corp., turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that's easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. In essence, it's a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail establishments and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live.

How does Surface work?
At a high level, Surface uses cameras to sense objects, hand gestures and touch. This user input is then processed and the result is displayed on the surface using rear projection.

What is surface computing?
Surface computing is a new way of working with computers that moves beyond the traditional mouse-and-keyboard experience. It is a natural user interface that allows people to interact with digital content the same way they have interacted with everyday items such as photos, paintbrushes and music their entire life: with their hands, with gestures and by putting real-world objects on the surface. Surface computing opens up a whole new category of products for users to interact with.

What are the key attributes of surface computing?
Surface computing has four key attributes:
• Direct interaction. Users can actually "grab" digital information with their hands and interact with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
• Multi-touch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.
• Multi-user experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
• Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.
How does Surface benefit consumers?
Surface breaks down the traditional barriers between people and technology, providing effortless interaction with digital content. Similar to the way ATMs changed how people got money from the bank, Microsoft is changing the way people will interact with all kinds of everyday content, including photos, music, a virtual concierge and games. Common, everyday tasks become entertaining, enjoyable and engaging, alone or face-to-face with family, friends or co-workers.

Microsoft Surface [Microsoft]
Microsoft hopes 'Milan' table PC has magic touch [CNET]

We have another source that confirms the table-ness of the announcement, but says that it will be a kiosk-type of device, meant to provide gaming entertainment and a retail interface for Zune, but that, at a cost of $10,000 a pop, it won't be something that people actually buy for their homes.

Our source doesn't name the product, but says that rather than being a touchscreen LCD, it's a rear-projection table that uses an array of projectors, all aimed up at the screen, which has a resolution of 1024x768, and will be 23 to 25 inches in size. Two or more people can use it, and it would be situated in casinos or other places. (Partnerships already allegedly formed are with Harrah's Casinos and Sheraton hotels.)

Some alleged applications:
•Music - You put your music player on the table, and your credit card. Both are recognized, then you drag songs to the player. Zune is obvious first device, but potential other partner in the works. One demo used a nano. Could partner really be Apple? Let's not get carried away... yet.
•Virtual Concierge - A fairly self explanatory guide program, complete with mapping programs
•Food & Drink - Not just interactive menus, but glass (and presumably plate and maybe even silverware) recognition. Like Music program, it reads credit cards just by placing them on table.
•Photo - A simple photo editor reminiscent of iPhoto
•Puzzle - A game where you assemble actual pieces of glass on top of the table, each with a sliver of live video playing
•Water - A water screensaver that you can touch to make ripples
•Paint - Simple painting program that reads pressure sensitivity by judging the size of your fingerprint

The bottom line from our source is that it's very reminiscent of OSX, and also, like with Zune and Xbox, the Microsoft branding is lowkey. Its name, whatever that is, will be the center branding. It will likely not be in final form during the All Things D demonstrations.

Below I've embedded a video, brought to our attention by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, that demonstrates the sort of gestural recognition that will be found in the PlayTable (or whatever). Will I post confirmation at midnight? You bet! – Wilson Rothman

Okay, as we approach the bewitching hour, more information is coming to light. A more appropriate term for the technology is Microsoft Smart Surface, which replaced the nickname "PlayTable" a long time ago. (I still like PlayTable better.) The size and shape can vary, but the demo unit scheduled for use tomorrow looks like a coffee table. Our new tips corroborate our original information in that 1) object recognition will use RFID or other near-field technology for identification of objects (a Microsoft favorite going way back) and 2) the iPod is indeed part of the equation. Apparently Zune ain't enough to get music fans revved about PlayTable, er, Microsoft Smart Surface. – WR

Microsoft to take the wraps off 'PlayTable' [ZDNet]
Microsoft's Mystery Product: Game Table? Yah, Probably [CrunchGear]
Top Secret Microsoft Product To Launch At Midnight [Gizmodo]

And thanks tipsters!

Look for this at Milan's design week, that is if you're going to be there rather than reading blogs in your underpants. Hit the jump for a giant pic.

–Adam Frucci

Modal Water Speakers [MoCo Loco]