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Microsoft announces new Surface family additions to 'empower a new wave of creativity'
Thu, 27th Oct 2016
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Microsoft's Surface family has now grown even bigger, with three new products and an additional update to the Windows 10 Creators programme.

The Microsoft Surface family now includes Surface Studio, Surface Dial and Surface Book with Performance Base. In addition, the Windows 10 Creators Update will boost the company's efforts to encourage creation, sharing and mixed reality environments.

“At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. With Windows 10, Microsoft Surface and the medium of Mixed Reality, we aim to empower the builders, the makers and the creators with the tools to create, collaborate and express themselves in new ways," says Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO.

Surface Studio will turn a workstation into a powerful digital canvas on the thinnest display ever built. Featuring a 4.5K ultra-HD screen, it will deliver 63% more pixels than a 4K TV.

Surface Dial is described as a new peripheral 'designed for the creative process', letting people use two hands on screen and integrating with Windows 10 and Surface for improved navigation, scrolling and zoom. It also works with Surface Studio to offer a range of digital tools specific to open apps, allowing people to change their workflow as suited.

Surface Book with Performance Base extends the current Surface Book line and features a 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor and more than twice the graphics processing power to the original models. It also features 16 hours battery life.

Preorders for the devices start today through MicrosoftStore.com and select retailers in Australia and New Zealand. They will be launched on November 8.

Pricing for Australia is as follows (converted to NZD):

  • Surface Book 256GB (i7, 8GB) at AUD $3799 (NZD $4057)
  • Surface Book 512GB (i7, 16GB) at AUD $4399 (NZD $4699)
  • Surface Book 1TB (i7, 16GB) at AUD $5199 (NZD $5553)

In addition, Microsoft is revamping Windows 10 with the Windows 10 Creators Update, which will allow users to dabble in mixed reality and 3D through Paint 3D and the Remix3D.com community.

It will also integrate Beam system integration to Xbox One and Windows 10 for interactive Xbox live broadcasting and gameplay. Users can also create their own tournaments and challenges.

Windows MyPeople will give users a faster way to connect with others.

The Windows 10 Creators Update will also allow Office apps to integrate 3D and inking capabilities, including Ink Editor in Word. The editor enables users to use pens to make changes directly in word, while the built-in digital ruler will allow for straight lines and object alignment.

Windows Insiders will be able to preview certain features in the Creators Update, while the free rollout will begin in early 2017.