Now that Apple’s launched its new flagship phones alongside iOS 7, other tech companies decided to reveal their new products.
1. Microsoft revamps Surface
Oh, Microsoft Surface. The quirky tablet/laptop hybrid didn’t sell terribly well in its initial outing last year, but the company is back in 2013 with updates it hopes will grab tablet owners away from the iPad.
The two devices — Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 — are similar in appearance to their predecessors, though the new tablets are slimmer, lighter and include a kickstand that supports the tablet at two angles.
But most of the changes are internal. Both tablets get a 10-hour battery upgrade and processing speed boosts (Nvidia Tegra 4 with 2GB RAM for the regular Surface, and an Intel i5 with 4GB RAM for the Pro). The Surface 2 will again run Windows RT while the Pro 2 will run Windows 8.1.
The screen for each device also gets an upgrade to a 1080p display.
Microsoft also announced several new accessories for the Surface, including a new-and-improved Touch Cover with more sensor points than last year’s model, a new Type Cover as well as the Surface Music Kit (yes, I’m serious).
The Surface 2 will be $449 while the Pro 2 is $899.
2. Apple sells iPhones *gasp*
In another installment of my “Things Everyone Could Have Guessed About Apple” segment, the Big A sold a record nine million iPhones in the first weekend of the devices’ availability.
Apple didn’t specify numbers between the iPhone 5S or the 5C, but I’m leaning toward a majority for the colorful plastic variety
3. BlackBerry Buyout
Oh, how far the mighty have fallen. In a time before iPhones, Androids, and whatever this is, BlackBerry was the leader — by a wide margin — in the “smartphone” market. But since Apple and Google released their respective touchscreen devices, it’s only been downhill for the formerly dubbed “CrackBerry.”
Fairfax Financial, a Canadian financial firm, will be buying BlackBerry from its shareholders for a reported $4.7 billion. BlackBerry signed the Letter of Intent on Monday.
That gives shareholders around $9 per share.
It’s unclear what Fairfax plans to do with a company that’s been hemorrhaging money for years now, but it really can’t be any worse than what’s been happening lately.
4. Valve announces SteamOS
“Half Life” developer Valve revealed its own operating system Monday, the Linux-based SteamOS.
It combines all the features of Valve’s Steam service with a user interface designed for TV.
The OS is open-source and free.
Valve also revealed several triple-A game developers are already on board, and can’t wait to start developing for the system.
Though any Linux computer can run SteamOS, Valve doesn’t necessarily want its project on any computer.
That’s why Valve revealed its own console — Steam Box (Steam Machines plural) — in beta form Wednesday. Though no spec details were announced, Valve did say it would offer the Steam Machines through an “Eligibility Quest,” where users can complete a series of steps to be placed in a pool of other players vying to win a Steam Box.
The devices are expected to arrive sometime in 2014.
5. The Kindle Fire is still a thing
To be honest, I had forgotten the Kindle Fire existed before Amazon’s announcement this morning.
The online shopping giant revealed the latest versions of its super-cheap tablet — the Kindle Fire HDX, with either a 8.9- or 7-inch display, for $329 and $229, respectively.
Inside, there’s a 2.2 GHz, quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM. An 8-megapixel camera graces the rear of the device.
There’s a new, regular Kindle Fire HD with slightly upgraded specs for $139.
But a big feature of all three tablets is what Amazon is calling “Mayday” — where an Amazon customer support representative is contacted within 15 seconds and a video box will appear with the face and voice of a representative. Amazon’s people can’t see you, only hear you and see your tablet’s screen.
It’s a very unique way of dealing with the customer — something Amazon is obviously known for.
The 7-inch HDX arrives December 10, the 8.9-inch on November 13 and the Kindle Fire HD is coming October 2.
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That’s all the news for this week! Make sure to check back every Thursday for the latest and greater in tech.
