Microsoft's Surface gets its first Service Pack, devs and yacht owners rejoice

Forget the future for just one second. Kicking off its TechEd conference last week, Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for its tabletop-inclined Surface. The update's mostly developer-centric -- not too surprising given its small customer base at present -- with one of the only bullet points that'll directly interest the end user being new calibration guides for setting up the system without needing an external display. No indication on if set up still requires a keyboard a mouse, but if that's a concern, keep your fingers crossed they find a way around that before you pony up the $13,000 to join Lazarra and Roker as an early adopter.

[Fred @ May 17th 2009 12:46PM]

Still trying to get the 'omg Surface installation sucks' message out there, even though the author's already retracted the statement due to his own stupidity, huh?

[Argot @ May 17th 2009 1:09PM]

Hey, the night is young. Still plenty of time for the A-word.

[MioTheGreat @ May 17th 2009 1:24PM]

zOMG! A device meant to be set up by trained IT people isn't as intuitive as a consumer device. Who'd have thunk?

[kangbp.nyc @ May 17th 2009 1:26PM]

@mio

thunk? wtf, did you mean thought?

[Schweppes @ May 17th 2009 1:51PM]

WOW!

Thats a BIG iPhone!!!!

it will make my gigantic Johnson |aka| MR. Wang |aka| noddle doodle look average sized when I putt it out to make a call...

[mynk @ May 17th 2009 1:54PM]

@ nyc.

he used it on purpose.. as sarcasm.

[Pontro! @ May 17th 2009 12:47PM]

Is this some kind of a dejavu blog post?

I think i've read this post a while ago...

maybe in a dream?

[Argot @ May 17th 2009 1:05PM]

Is this some kind of a dejavu blog post?

I think i've read this post a while ago...

maybe in a dream?

[Ethan @ May 17th 2009 1:05PM]

The only way this thing would be worth it is if it serviced your pack.

... *gets coat*

[CJ @ May 17th 2009 8:02PM]

Please, please, don't worry about getting your coat!

We'll toss the tattered remains of said at you after we've thrown you out.

[Templarian @ May 17th 2009 1:10PM]

Not being that into DnD, I actually think it would be f'ing sweet to play on one of these. That or would make a game of risk a little bit quicker.

(nothing like exciting Sunday articles)

[frankz @ May 17th 2009 7:43PM]

A piece of shit.

[dcoaster @ May 17th 2009 1:35PM]

Quit talking about yourself like that!

[Yamikotai @ May 17th 2009 2:26PM]

Everyone give Frankz some huggles :3

But wait, who wants to hug shit?

[chefgon_ign @ May 17th 2009 1:36PM]

Given the nature of this product (at least at the moment), spending a month or two streamlining the setup process would sort of be a waste of resources. Different markets have different needs in software design, and selling novelty machines to businesses for advertising means that you're just going to be wasting your time developing a friendly installation wizard. Maybe not "wasting your time", since I'm sure the IT guys setting it up would appreciate it, but the bottom line is that the installation process will have zero effect on the sales of the thing.

[Christian @ May 17th 2009 1:49PM]

Can't wait to play crysis on it

[Christian Martin @ May 17th 2009 2:01PM]

Tap Tap Revenge at 1080p?

[DWells55 @ May 17th 2009 9:13PM]

Tap Tap Revenge using your entire hand sounds pretty cool. Although you might have to resort to using your face for triple touch.

[Decoy @ May 18th 2009 1:34AM]

Surface is clearly made for RTS, the game of kings.

[ultimatepwnage @ May 17th 2009 1:59PM]

lets just just wait until the first capacitive-touch enabled 24" lcd's start popping up. who needs object-on-surface recognition anyways... and if you do, it can be achieved by using RFID....place some rfid antennas behind the lcd to be able to locate the device and retrieve its info (mac adress/ip adress to be able to send/recieve stuff). =D

[Jubei @ May 17th 2009 2:39PM]

"requires a keyboard a mouse"

Lets not forget that it uses projectors!! It's 2009 and we are well into the digital realm. To use projectors to emulate the iPhone and iPod Touch UI is a step back. This is the results when Microsoft tries its best to not be a "me too" company.

[MEAT! @ May 17th 2009 2:59PM]

So, where is Apple's free-standing, 1080p, 30", multi-touch, 2 GHz computer?

[Dan Gerson @ May 17th 2009 3:04PM]

Could not agree more. I played with surface last week, and it really does feel like something I should have seen in 1995. Maybe I would have been blown away then, but not today. Messing with my iPhone, I looked at the sheer size of surface in comparison and just laughed.
Good luck with this one...

[foaf @ May 17th 2009 3:15PM]

Do you guys seriously think this product is drect competition to the iPhone? You fanbois need to get you're heads out of your asses. "to emulate the iphone" oh year cos your iphone tells you that you've placed a drink on it.
This is a commercial product, hence the price tag, size and usage.

[patriotsn1 @ May 17th 2009 3:14PM]

Jubei, if you couldn't say the words "me too" would you say anything at all? Only an idiot would use the same argument as much as you do...

Also, Dan, if you're really sitting there laughing about something like this I feel very sad for you and hope that you one day find true happiness.

[Look_Around_You @ May 17th 2009 3:15PM]

"I played with surface last week, and it really does feel like something I should have seen in 1995"

This comment doesn't even make logical sense.

What tech in 1995 was like this? You actually knew about multi-touch in the mid-90s. Assuming you weren't actually born in the late 80s and are just pulling BS out of your ass.


"Messing with my iPhone, I looked...."

Nevermind. I get your whole comment.

[MioTheGreat @ May 17th 2009 4:01PM]

There is no existing technology that will allow for you to image the surface the way that this does without a projector. You can detect presses without a projector setup, yes, but then you lose object position/orientation detection, which was one of the focuses of this.

[John Lin @ May 17th 2009 9:35PM]

Jubei, this isn't trying to emulate the iPhone, duh. It was announced 4 months after the iPhone was originally announced, before the iPhone was released. Saying they are competing products is like saying the desktop computer is a competitor to the TV. Large touch screen devices have been around way before the iPhone. Oh, btw I don't hate Apple, I happen to be an Apple enthusiast and an iPhone developer. I just think it's dumb to condemn everything Microsoft does just because.

[MioTheGreat @ May 18th 2009 10:58AM]

You'd have to use a technology similar to a Wacom tablet to do what you want. And between patents and implementation cost (We're not dealing with RFID anymore. You're talking DOLLARS for a single tag.), that's just not feasible.

[MioTheGreat @ May 18th 2009 11:05AM]

Oh, and I think you may lose multitouch and multi-object recognition capabilities in the process. A device like a Wacom tablet won't take kindly to being implemented for multiple transceivers, and I don't think you can overlay a capacitive touch screen on that kind of RF tech.

[fischju @ May 17th 2009 2:41PM]

The end of the world: when tables need security patches from Microsoft

[Cold Bitter Truth @ May 18th 2009 12:05AM]

"The end of the world: when tables need security patches from Microsoft"

because Apple has never once in the history of OS X ever released a security patch eh?


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

[jason @ May 17th 2009 2:48PM]

Is it good for anything other then flipping thru photos and doing pointless touch demos?

[reisa @ May 17th 2009 5:07PM]

In all seriousness -- that's my same question. I get that the tech can be used in interesting ways for demonstrations, sales, etc. But every example of it's use that I've seen revolves around someone "swooshing" out a picture, resizing and reorienting it, etc. I was as impressed as anyone when it first hit, but I wonder what home-based applications this could be adapted to? I'm not going to do a spreadsheet or surf the internet on it. Watching videos?.. only maybe. I wouldn't like looking down at the screen for long. Gaming would have to be very product specific. I want to like Surface a lot, but I'm not sure what you DO with it.

[Tinu @ May 17th 2009 6:38PM]

This is mainly a commercial product. For example they could have this in a cellphone store and when you place a cellphone on it, it recognizes the phone and shows you the features of the phone and plans available for that specific phone. Then when you put your credit card on the table, it recognizes it and offers you choices.

Object recognition is one of the main features of this thing. Place a tiny model car on it at a car dealership and it shows you various options available to customize that specific car, display it's pictures/videos etc. So yah, not much of a use at home but for businesses, it could provide an excellent customer experience. Gee, I think I sounded like a Microsoft representative LOL.

[Rich Lazzara @ May 17th 2009 2:52PM]

Some of the next programs we will introduce this Fall make the Surface much more exciting, even if its on our yachts. Many of the features we'll add if not all could be used in other places. $13k is a lot but think of it like the first plasma TV's. We put a Pioneer Plasma on a yacht in 1998 that cost $25k. The price will come down, use scenarios up and potentially someday you'll see them all around.

[GnuGeek @ May 17th 2009 3:21PM]

But will i be able to slipstream it ??

[MioTheGreat @ May 18th 2009 10:57AM]

You'd have to use a technology similar to a Wacom tablet to do what you want. And between patents and implementation cost (We're not dealing with RFID anymore. You're talking DOLLARS for a single tag.), that's just not feasible.

[MioTheGreat @ May 18th 2009 10:58AM]

WTF, engadget comment system?

[Jubei @ May 17th 2009 3:47PM]

"requires a keyboard a mouse"
"To use projectors to emulate the iPhone and iPod Touch UI is a step back."

Despite responses that try and misdirect the point, here is the fact. This product is a major step backwards, not forward at this day and age. Using PROJECTORS to emulate the iPhone/Touch interface! Hilarious.

[MioTheGreat @ May 17th 2009 4:05PM]

The Surface was introduced BEFORE the iPhone/iPod Touch.

As well, the setup requires a keyboard mouse? So what? It's a DIR setup. It can't be used until it's been calibrated. So yes, it needs a keyboard and mouse.

As well, there is no existing technology that allows for the imaging of a flat surface the way the surface does without a projector. You NEED cameras for this. You can't use a touchscreen. Can an iPhone or iPod touch recognize an object placed on it's position, orientation and type? Of course not! It's the wrong technology for it.

[Argot @ May 17th 2009 6:35PM]

You know, Apple could probably put out a MS Surface like device but it would be impossible to see anything on the surface due to the massive smug.

[Mr Clickerson @ May 18th 2009 1:01AM]

Nice post Mio. It brings me enjoyment to watch Jubei's posts, already floundering about with invalid points and useless claims, being stomped into the ground and dirt kicked in his face. Good job.

[Jubei @ May 18th 2009 1:21AM]

@Mr Clickerson, who used to be Zues God, but no more how sad. :-(

Awww, Zues God/Mr. Clicky U=unable to participate because he's is lacking in ideas, cannot stay on subject and worse ending up as a "cheerleader" is quite humiliating. Again projectors are a step backwards, more and more products are having RFID embedded with them. Typical of Microsoft to fail on this regard. Typical of Zues God to FAIL! Again!

[MioTheGreat @ May 18th 2009 11:01AM]

RFID would be insufficient for this. You'd have to use a technology similar to a Wacom tablet to do what you want. And between patents and implementation cost (You're talking DOLLARS for a single transponder.), that's just not feasible.

And to get orientation data, you'd need two transponders next to each other, which means the transponder just got bigger, and much more expensive.

[cj @ May 17th 2009 4:07PM]

What good will the SP do if some idiots still can't find the power outlet?

[CJ @ May 17th 2009 8:10PM]

Provide bug fixes and system improvements for those of us out there that are competent.

[Ed T @ May 17th 2009 6:37PM]

The basic design of the damn thing requires people to either stand next to it or sit "side saddle" because the sides drop straight down from the edges of the screen. This arrangement is dumb at best, and an outright fail when placed in a restaurant or bar setting where people expect to sit normally at a table. Is this is the best Microsoft can come up with after $50B+ in "R&D" spending over the past decade? LOL

[superhobo @ May 18th 2009 7:38AM]

Do you stick your feet under a coffee table?

[Tutti @ May 17th 2009 7:58PM]

Its cool they found a ship/yacht there can transport that big ass table :P