News from the Microsoft Big Event

October 13, 2015

Microsoft throws down the gauntlet to Apple with new devices: the first laptop, a new fitness wearable and new Lumia Windows Phones.

With fifteen years of experience in the mobile phone industry, the Microsoft still manages to introduce interesting devices to the market, which are looking for their own place in the market.

Almost a month after the Apple Event, η Microsoft announced the release of new devices, new devices Lumia, new additions to the Surface range and the wearable Microsoft Band 2, in her own big event.

Lumia 950 & Lumia 950 XL

Both devices work with Windows 10 and have many features in common, except that the XL is as the name says ... bigger in size, but also more powerful in processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 810). Of course, Windows Phones have a very small market share in mobile, but with the new devices, the Microsoft aspires to gain lost ground. One of the most interesting features of Lumia is that, with an extra hardware, can power an installation on the desktop of the Windows, on the computer. Otherwise, the Lumia 950 and 950 XL have screens 5,2 and 5, 7 respectively , storage space 32GB and a 20MP camera. Their prices will be at 549 and 649 Dollars respectively.

Surface Book & Surface Pro 4

The brand new surface book is the first attempt of the Microsoft for a more traditional laptop. It has a screen 13.5 inch and twice the resolution of previous Surface devices, wanting to clearly compete with the MacBook Pro of Apple. Of course it runs Windows 10 and has extra storage space thanks to the Core i5 or i7 (depending on the model). It also has a front-facing camera 5MP and 8MP rear, while memory can reach 16GB. What sets it apart from the classic laptop is the fact that its screen can be detached and used as tablet. Its price is quite high (1,499 dollars, including the Surface Pen) so if you're looking for a high-quality laptop, this is a good solution. But if you don't have any special requirements, Microsoft has already reduced the prices of previous models.

On the other hand the Surface Pro 4 is promoted as laptop-tablet for professionals who wants to fight a big battle with the iPad Pro. It runs Windows 10, has a 5 MP front-facing camera (unlike the iPad Pro which has 1.2 MP) and has a storage capacity of up to 1TB. It comes at a price of $899, along with the Surface Pro Pen, while the keyboard is sold additionally for 130 Dollars.

Microsoft Band 2

Following the fashion with the wearable aimed at people who are interested in fitness and not only, the Microsoft brought to the market the Tape 2, which among other things (sensors, health app, gps, UV monitoring) supported by the digital guide Cortana, which obeys the user's voice commands. It will be priced at $249 and can be connected to devices Windows Phone 8.1 and above, iPhone 4s and newer devices (with software iOS 8.1.2 at least) and all Android devices that have software 4.3 and above.