Microsoft is often caught in the unenviable position of playing catch-up to the sexier electronics releases of companies like Apple and Sony. But the company’s been making recent strides into overcoming that old stereotype. The Zune HD, which has been getting rave reviews. The long-awaited Surface multimedia table, which is mind-boggling in its capabilities. And the just-leaked Courier “booklet” (aka, 2-screened tablet), which packs a serious wow factor.

A new patent (see image below) has turned up online that could likewise find Microsoft suddenly in the driver’s seat on a leading new innovation. The patent depicts an insanely cool, split keyboard for touchscreen devices, in which you don’t have to bother ensuring that your fingers line up with the on-screen keys. Instead, the keys line up to your fingers.

The idea is so simple it’s a wonder no one’s tried it before. You just put your hands on the multitouch-sensitive screen, and it reads your positioning and inserts the keyboard right beneath your fingers. Wicked cool. And exactly the kind of tech that would come in handy for both Surface and Courier.

[Source: Gizmodo]

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Patents Revolutionary Keyboard

The latest location for you to get to experience Microsoft Surface for yourself could be at your local Sheraton Hotel. The video above focuses on how a device like Microsoft Surface can be used at a hotel to serve as a virtual concierge. Fairly good execution I would agree.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) today introduced an entirely new hotel guest experience with its debut of Microsoft Surface, Microsoft’s first commercially available surface computer. Featuring easy-to-use technology and a natural way of accessing information, Surface units will be placed in the lobbies of select Sheraton hotels in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Microsoft Surface breaks down the traditional barriers between people and technology, providing simple and instant access to information and entertainment. Sheraton will be the first hotel to offer Microsoft Surface, creating a new Sheraton brand experience that will bring interaction, connectivity and a social setting to the lobby, providing guests with an entirely new way to explore local tourist highlights and enhance their hotel stay.

Have you played with Microsoft Surface yourself? I’d love to hear about your experiences with the device. Is it going to change what we think about user-interface and computing? Or, is it just a bunch of unique hype and just out-of-touch with real-world usage today?

Source: GottaBeMobile – Microsoft Surface Checks In At The Sheraton

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Surface Gets High-Touch Exposure with Sheraton Hotels

What kind of development and functionality can you imagine being done if this type of “physics” and thought were combined with the Microsoft Surface functionality (official Microsoft Surface site).

Post from: EveryJoe

Combine BumpTop with Microsoft Surface

I just read from Technosailor that Microsoft has been chosen as the official technology provider for the Republican National Convention.

Under the agreement, Microsoft will provide the convention with support for various products, including Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Forefront Security Suite, and its Office Communications Server. Microsoft will also provide knowledge to streamline collaboration using the Microsoft Office suite and Sharepoint technologies to manage convention infrastructure ranging from collaborative virtual workspaces to applications like Professional Volunteer Management System, Venue Scheduling System, and others created by SharePoint. The electronic collaboration will improve staff efficiency and reduce paper usage – a key provision of the convention’s green commitment.

I’m all for using technology and it’s a crucial component in today’s society, so it inevitably should be important in politics as well. I’m just trying to decide if I really care WHO provides what to these things? Do I? Do you?

Should I see this any differently than another corporation, event or organization deciding to use Microsoft technologies?

What I do think will be interesting will be the significant real-world testing of Microsoft Surface, which will be showcased at the convention:

In addition, Microsoft is proud to be showcasing the next generation of computing, using Microsoft Surface and its natural user interface technology to provide a digital concierge for convention participants. Surface will enable attendees to interact with and consume the latest convention and local city information, including transportation routes, hotel locations, restaurant guides, and entertainment options. Convention participants will also be able to transmit and share photos taken at the convention using Surface technologies. Microsoft and the convention will continue to find ways to leverage Microsoft’s technologies and experienced support teams to make the convention the most tech-savvy in history.

I’ll be very interested to see and hear people’s feedback about Microsoft Surface. That part at least could be pretty cool.

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Named Tech Provider of Republican National Convention

Interestingly enough, after just posting my previous post about what Microsoft’s next big thing could be, one of the things I mentioned, Microsoft Surface, is now on display in a few select AT&T locations around the United States.

Put Your Hands on Microsoft Surface and Experience It for Yourself

I was really hoping I might get lucky and there would be more than there are and one of them would be here in Indianapolis. No such luck. Here are the locations where you can see it for yourself at your local AT*T store:

• New York City
  381 Madison Avenue
  New York, NY 10017
• New York City
  350 Park Avenue
  New York, NY 10022
• Atlanta
  3429 Lenox Road NE
  Atlanta, GA 30326
• San Antonio
  13127 San Pedro Avenue
  San Antonio, TX 78216
• San Francisco
  1206 El Camino Real
  San Bruno, CA 94066

If you’re in one of these locations, I’d love to hear a real-world user’s feedback on what they think about the possibilities. Will it be the next big thing?

UPDATE: Here’s coverage of the AT&T store launches from the Surface team blog

Post from: EveryJoe

Try Microsoft’s Surface Computing for Yourself at AT&T Stores