Microsoft: 'Second Light is not the next version of Surface'
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Mar 19th 2009 3:03PM
posted Mar 19th 2009 3:03PM
It's official, kids: Responding to numerous reports in the media as of late, Microsoft would like to squash the rumor that Second Light is the next generation Surface. The blog entry doesn't shed too much light on SL, other than stating that it's an "awesome" research project, one that "showcases the possibilities of the surface computing platform." Surface is due to come out sometime in 2011 (unless, of course, you buy the yacht -- in which case you need only wait until this June). If you just can't get enough of Second Light, we've stashed a video for you after the break.
[Via About Projectors]
[Via About Projectors]
Wait, Surface is out?!
...did u even read the article?
Crap, missed that. Next time i'll try not to skim.
haha, it's in the title!
I'm on a boat!
I ******* aaa merrrrmaid!
I want
I was under the inpression that the general public wasnt allowed to buy surface. Did this change?
they will be in 2011, or if they bought a yacht. microsoft always had plans to release a consumer version
Mirosoft you have done it again well done =)
Who cares?
You obviously care enough to comment...
Microsoft trying to innovate.
I predict this will go nowhere.
Darn, I hope Microsoft won't read your comments guys, they might seize operations on the Surface development!
This is amazing! theirs going to be tons of applications for this..
Skeezle,
What would you consider innovation then?
Releasing features for a phone in 2009 that were available on virtually every other phone in 2005?
@ hamidxa
2005? i think thats 2002 when mms is out and siemens s55,SE p800 and other ones have this features(they even have bluetooth file transfer and ability to being a gprs modem for pc and so many others that apple will have sometimes in 2020.)
I care...the Surface is Sweeet!
Last time I saw the surface demo at a defense industry convention I was told that I could buy one now :)
$8,000 if my memory serves me correctly.
would not be surprised at all
I actually contacted the Surface team 3 months ago, it seems that they are only supporting business right now which I found out within the information they sent me, this is what I got back from them:
Hello Saad—
Thank you for your email inquiry regarding Surface availability in the UAE I am attaching some information here for your review on the product and its applications that I hope will be helpful to you .
Please note that as we are currently in a “seeding” phase in the UAE. This status allows us to accept pre-orders for Surface units in your country starting NOW to be shipped beginning in late January , 2009 from our warehouse in Germany . For your convenience, please find attached the Order Form for use in the Gulf Region required to be completed and submitted in order to reserve a unit for your company.
Here is some information you need to know before placing an Order:
• Public-facing deployments will need to be approved by the Surface Business Desk on a case-by-case basis;
• During the seeding phase, software will only be available in English;
• Shipping for orders and repairs will be available from Germany only. Applicable shipping charges to/from Germany will apply for orders and repairs requested by seeding countries;
• Customer Support Services will be available in the English language only for the seeding phase;
• There will be no local Microsoft Surface care providers for installation, maintenance and spare part sales during the seeding phase;
• The Order Form is a standard Microsoft form that we use to sell Microsoft Surface products. It includes all of the terms and necessary attachments to allow you to purchase Microsoft Surface products and use the accompanying software.
• Due to the high demand for Microsoft Surface, and our need to maintain consistency in the terms and conditions of the Order Form, we cannot accommodate changes to this form. The attached Order Form is a locked document that does not allow redlining. Please do not “redline” or attempt to “redline” the document. Microsoft will not review proposed “redlines”.
• Please electronically fill out the Pre-Order Form carefully and submit the completed form to the Surface Business Desk along with the Marketing Guidelines. You will receive notice in January when your unit is scheduled to ship.
We are thrilled to respond to your request, and we look forward to you joining in the Surface computing revolution. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Regards,
I forgot to mention that it also costs $15,000 per Commercial Hardware Unit, and $17,000 per Developer Hardware Unit.
We have a Surface machine where I work already. We got it last month. While it is nice...the novelty of it wears off quickly and the it's just a normal Windows Vista Business box with a flat screen laid down flat.
Are you sure that what you have is not an HP Touchsmart?! Because I'm very sure that the Surface is much more than a touch flat panel and a box.
That must be so awesome and useful!
I had to unpack it myself off of a pallet and then setup it up, pull up a chair, and calibrate it...so yeah. I'm pretty sure it's a Surface. ;)
I will just say i've played with second light briefly and don't really see the point in it in all honesty. It's just another silly gimick.
It's a way to display more information on a limited screen.
This looks like its going to be awesome.
I really think Microsoft is moving in the right direction. Vista and Win7 are both awesome systems that are great when used with the right hardware. I can only expect the best for this next dynamic setup. I can't wait to have a wall that is a PC - I can only imagine the possibilities.
Moving in the right direction? They have been losing market share...
Hokey products like these (surface & second light) aren't going to do shit for them! Seriously - the trend in computers is getting them smaller (laptops, netbooks, and smartphones) - who wants a coffee table sized computer in their living room, or anywhere else for that matter? Especially a coffee table designed by Microsoft?
Microsoft needs to stick to what it does best; Ripping off other ideas, when they try to come up with their own they fail, as will both of these ideas. Wait and see.
Who are they ripping all of their ideas from?
XP, Vista and Win7 - nothing tremendous. Neither is OS X. I don't want to argue who has the better operating system because honestly, both are great. I mentioned Vista specifically because so many people refute that its a great system and don't know how to use it.
My point is that Apple gets all the buzz for innovation. Yes, Microsoft is seen playing catch-up in many situations (ie Zune, etc), but my entire comment is focused on the fact that this is a Microsoft innovation.
I agree, who wants a table? I want a desk, a wall, a workbench. Imagine having an entire wall in your office with widgets and open programs, the ability to compute on a mass scale using your hands on this wall... I think having that ability would be awesome. Imagine having that awesome netbook and walking into your house - it auto-syncs to your desk and you can just sit down and drag things around.
I don't think this innovation is a negative thing. The implications are vast and I can't wait to see them put into place. Surface won't flop like you hope it does - it will likely evolve into something more dynamic, but it won't go away.
@Skeezle
I think you may be missing the mark a bit on what MS is trying to do with these rigs. Think about how these systems are named - Surface and Second Light. I do not think they are trying to push a gimmick on us for sales (though the overall goal of any company is to make money obviously). I think what MS is trying to do is look very long term. Sure right now we are all infatuated with mobile computing, but what if near everything was or could be an interface for not only the system there, but your own mobile device, or even another system distant from that interface. I think that is the point of surface, moving towards the point where we do a lot of computing from everyday common surfaces. With Second Light, I agree with DeoWulf that it is a way to display more content with limited real estate. It would be very nice to have that embedded information in things where you would not have to follow a link or pull up a Wiki to get deeper info. From an advertising perspective I think it would be fairly useful. It a static advert on the street (when the tech is cheap enough) you could get maximum effect by focusing only on the picture, and if people want to know more information they only need to use a paper or even look at the ad using a pair of sunglasses or something similar. In that case it is a gimmick but a useful one. I think it just may be difficult to see how any of this is useful, since it represents an entirely different way of computing. Go back to when cellphones were just getting to be mainstream and tell people the rough outline for an iPhone or a Pre (gotta give love to both) and image how they would react. They would put the mobile computing experience in terms with their own current tech and probably think it a gimmick. Once again I went on forever to make a simple point, but thats probably because I love to hear myself talk... er type.
Thank you for your unproductive scorn, Skeezle. Sometimes a new idea takes off when imaginitive people discuss the possibilities of it's application, however you prefer to be negative, say it won't work and essentially suggest everyone 'stop trying'.
I would never hire someone with that attitude.
@skeezle
the trend is smaller electronics? since when??
if the "small" was in, everyone would've bought the samsung juke, or the shuffle. no one would care for a 22 in screen or that 100 in tv
people dont want "small." and no one can get screen "big enough"
thats why companies are investing millions in bendable displays, and portable projectors.
the reason people buy those underpowered netbooks is because they are cheap - $300 and you got the mobility and the decent computing capabilities. I have a laptop. I also have a 22 in screen which i plug in as soon as i get home. which is why i hope they do figure out a way to fit 22 in screen into a 15.4 space,
IMO, the direction that Microsoft is going here is not to make coffee-table computers, but to make ubiquitous computers. The Surface seems like a good start, since a table-top would be the first natural outlet. Businesses would probably be too shy to jump in at first, so office desktops are put on hold in favor of more kiosk/advertising/pr type setups (hence surface in hotels and restaurants and att stores).
I agree that tech is going mobile right now and in the near future. But with mobile, comes a redistribution of resources. Currently processing power, memory, and storage are being moved to the "cloud". But with new methods of interfacing (Surface) and integrating different tech, there will still be a need for localized computing muscle within the office/home.
[Speculation] 15 years from now, the "gimick" will be a boxy computer, with an attached monitor/keyboard/mouse that is able to function independently of a greater connected network. Computing will be so integrated and fluid that it will be totally transparent. We can touch our mobile lives either through a mobile interface (what will become of cellphones) or through stationary interfaces (evolved workstations, surface appliances). Surface is just a tiny step into what could be the innovative move of computing since Al Gore brought the internet, or someone wondered why cell phones shouldn't have and ip address.
Isnt Microsoft surface in just about every att wireless store? It is a great idea if they can get the cost down.
I cant wait for surface, and it can't be too expensive. It seams to be only a pc, projector, infrared camera, and some IR LEDs.
you'd be surprised.... after all apple charges premium for technology that is at least 6 monthes behind. then they tout it as "new" and "most powerful"
the worst comes the worst, u'll see 5 versions of the surface - from basic to ultimate. each meeting different needs and wallet size (probably depends on the size of the screen)
or could come in two flavors, just like the xbox
in anycase i hope i can afford one
This would be so much better if all functions were controlled using a single button on an ear phone wire.
I see Surface as nothing more than a way to remove using a mouse. A large sized touch screen. Big whoop. I mean, it looks fantastic to use and you get the giddiness when you see just how responsive it is to movement. I can see the idea of reading credit cards and so forth as something new, but real world implementation is key to the success of something like this.
It's hard to pull the gimmick from the practicality without destroying it's potential.
Yes, if it was a single screen without projectors, then it could be adopted for so many uses relatively cheaply and easily but I always find Surface and second light (especially second light) nout more than a visual play thing with little importance and practical use.
I hope I am wrong though. I do love Apples products, but I would love to see another company such as Microsoft come out with something amazing. Not because I want to see one company do better than another, but because I want to be able to use amazing products that enhance what i do in life, regardless of who made it.
I think the big ass table part of the problem will be solved in time, and they're devoting their attention to the application and software side of it first.
whats wrong with a big ass table? people have foosball tables, coffee tables, pool table, or even airhockey tables. i'm sure i can use one of these in my house. heck i'd trade it for the whole floor or the wall if i could
You quash a rumor Engadget, not squash :)
Unless you sit on said rumour hard enough.
I can't wait to see the games it will play.
I think that the idea of a touchscreen drafting table would be marvelous, but the value of the Second Light technology eludes me. They're producing an overlay effect with funky hardware. The Surface guys showed their video puzzle demo that used plastic pieces to tell Surface where to display pieces of the video. The same plastic pieces could be used to tell Surface where to show the overlay. It would produce the same effect.
What implication of Second Light am I missing here?
I don't understand it.
Why would anyone use this feature in real life?
I for one wouldn't like standing with a piece of tracing paper over a screen JUST to read a wikipedia page about cattle.