surface

In the last century, while Steve Jobs was anguishing over the look of a bevel on the Macintosh, Bill Gates, rocking back and forth, figured out how to achieve world domination for Windows. Gates handily won, applying his business-friendly, partner-with-PC-makers formula to render Apple a bit player. Even today, Microsoft has more than 90 percent market share of desktops, compared with 6 percent for Apple.

But in the mobile world, the roles are reversed. Microsoft is barely a blip on the mobile scene, while Apple and Google are running away with the fast-growing market. The number of mobile Internet users … Read more

No wispy piece of slightly plaintive alternative music, with vocals by a singer in her early 20s.

No James Earl Jones voice going on about specs after specs after specs.

Instead, the ad released by Microsoft to entrance you with the new Surface tablet-cum-PC-cum-brand revivifier has lots of bass and a touch of art.

"Look," the company seems to be saying. "It's sexy. And we know it."

It's, um, different. Colorful, even. It's not what you expected, especially that keyboard.

"And," the ad is thumping, "we're positively not going … Read more

Editor's note: For CNET's complete analysis of Microsoft's new tablets, check out our First Take of the Surface RT.

It's the end of an era. Or maybe the start of a new one.

Microsoft -- a company that traditionally has relied exclusively on its PC partners to provide hardware powered by its Windows operating system -- is trying out a new business model with next Windows release.

The company is going to offer two Microsoft-branded tablets of its own, both of which are branded as Microsoft Surface. … Read more

The number of tablet users is on the rise, according to a report from the Online Publishers Association released today.

By 2013, nearly half of the United States' Internet users will own tablets, the study estimates, based on a survey examining demographics and consumer behavior and attitude toward advertising. That means more than 117 million people will own slates in the U.S.

The survey found that 31 percent of consumers already own tablets this year -- a 12 percent increase from last year.

A look at the breakdown of which platform tablet users own, Android has actually caught up … Read more

Yes, I said I was done guessing what Microsoft might announce today in Los Angeles. But I can't resist, given a couple more rumors that have surfaced on various sites.

One leak claims Microsoft is making a 7-inch Surface tablet controller along with a stationary Xbox, a combination that could be labeled the "Xbox Surface." Neowin.net surfaced that rumor, based on information from the Shifted2U site. LiveSide.net posted an additional alleged spec sheet for the Xbox Surface.

According to the rumored specs, the Surface controller would include an ARM processor from Texas Instruments for "… Read more

Glucose levels are 100 times more concentrated in blood than in saliva, which is why in spite of many efforts to use saliva, diabetics are still pricking themselves to get accurate glucose readings.

But now, harnessing the power of nanotechnology, engineers at Brown University say they've designed a biochip that can measure glucose levels in saliva almost as accurately as current devices can measure levels in blood.

To do this, the engineers etched a complicated array of thousands of plasmonic interferometers (no, this is not an episode of Farscape) onto a fingernail-size biochip. This means they were essentially using … Read more

LAS VEGAS--The sneak preview video for the EXOdesk had lots of people drooling over the big touch-screen interface that's reminiscent of the Microsoft Surface, minus the honking big price tag.

The EXOdesk from EXOPC is now making a cameo appearance at ViewSonic's booth at CES. The 36-inch demonstration device begs you to run your hands all over it, so I did.… Read more

Tablets are done. The future is tables. Unfortunately, it's the same future where giant teddy bears punch you in your sleep and adorable pugs are transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. This week, Bonnie Cha joins Donald and Eric to talk all about this topsy-turvy dystopia and provides the invaluable function of translating Eric's obscure '80s film references for the rest of us. In Geek News, Eric channels the dark heart of Bane.

Subscribe in iTunes SD Video | Subscribe in RSS SD Video … Read more

Some 10 months after its introduction, Microsoft has opened up presales of its second-generation table computer.

Microsoft and Samsung today said the new unit, which starts at $8,400, is now available for preordering in 23 countries, with a release to follow in early 2012.

The computer, called SUR40, made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and is Microsoft's second attempt at large-scale multitouch computing. It sports a more powerful processor, new system software, and new sensor hardware that promises to make touch recognition more accurate. … Read more