Microsoft and Samsung Unveil Next-Gen Surface (SUR40) in SEA

Say hello to the next generation of surface computing, the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface. The world number one brand for professional commercial display LCD products, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, showcased the Samsung SUR40, which is made available in Southeast Asia for the very first time, featuring  Microsoft Surface 2.0 software platform, PixelSense™ technology, which gives LCD panels to respond to touch without cameras. The SUR40 is now available in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

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The Samsung SUR40 is an interactive, collaborative multi-touch device. It won the CES Best of Innovations 2012 award winner, where it integrates Samsung’s LCD panel capability with touch technology, combining Microsoft’s massive multi-touch and object recognition software with PixelSense.

Share, collaborate and explore together on this interactive 40-inch Full HD LCD panel using your fingers, gestures and hands. The SUR40 can be used horizontally as a table, mounted vertically on a wall or embedded in other fixtures and furniture.

We first laid hands on the SUR40 back at the Samsung Forum Asia 2012 in Bangkok. We were completely intrigued by the interactive nature of the device, perfect for collaborative games and apps. Especially suited for retail environments. It would also be perfect as an interactive information kiosk.

Want to know who is using Microsoft Surface right now? How about Royal Bank of Canada, The City of Manchester, Hard Rock Cafe and Sheraton Hotel? Major consumer brands and other technology partners such as FUJIFILM, Le Métier de Beaute, and Industrial Color, have near-term plans to use the Samsung SUR40.

What’s great about the Surface platform is that it is ideal for any scenario in which users need to interact together on a single device. The focus of Surface is on creating real connections—whether it’s connecting customers with information and each other, or connecting the device to other devices. Utilising the Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform and SDK enables developers to use the Surface 2.0 SDK to build applications for the Samsung SUR40 and Windows touch PCs. The SDK works with Visual Studio and targets the .NET Framework 4.0 running on Windows 7.

Key Specifications:

[quote]Chua Hwee Koon, IT Head, Southeast Asia, Oceania & Taiwan, Samsung Electronics said “Successful businesses and service providers are adapting to ever-evolving ways of interacting with information and merchandise, and have expressed a desire for technology that delivers information in an engaging and visually dynamic way. With the availability of the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, organizations can better communicate, collaborate, and connect with their customers and employees.[/quote]

In conjunction with the official launch of Samsung’s SUR40, Samsung and Microsoft held a regional press briefing in Singapore with Microsoft Surface Partners; Object Consulting, NeoProducts and aZaaS, to demonstrate the capabilities and uses of the SUR40. Object Consulting is on the leading edge of Surface development, having developed the first live Surface application in Australia while NeoProducts is a leading electronics systems solutions provider in the United Kingdom and aZaaS is a Singapore design, user experience and solution provider.

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface is available for order in the following countries:

• US
• Canada
• EMEA
• Austria
• Belgium
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• UAE
• UK
• APAC
• Australia
• Korea
• India
• Japan
• Singapore
• Hong Kong

For more information or to find out how to order, please visit www.samsunglfd.com

Pricing and availability of the SUR40 may vary across countries and/or regions based on country-specific duties, taxes and fees.

Check out more official pictures of the SUR40, courtesy of Samsung.

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[spoiler title=”Read Official Press Release for details”]

MICROSOFT AND SAMSUNG UNVEIL THE NEXT GENERATION OF SURFACE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

New PixelSense^TM Technology Enables SUR40 to “See” and Respond to Touch and Objects, Creating New Possibilities for Interactive Displays in a Variety of Settings

Singapore, April 18, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, the number one worldwide brand of professional commercial display LCD products, today showcased  the next generation of surface computing – the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface. Made available in Southeast Asia for the very first time, the Samsung SUR40 features PixelSense technology, which gives LCD panels the power to “see” and respond to touch and objects without the use of cameras. The Samsung-Microsoft collaboration is now available through the Samsung channel and reseller partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Building from the innovation of the first version of Microsoft Surface and Samsung’s leading display technology, it is now possible for people to share, collaborate and explore together using a large, thin display that recognises fingers, hands and other objects placed on the screen. The interactive 40-inch Full HD LCD panel can be used horizontally as a table, mounted vertically on a wall or embedded in other fixtures and furniture.

“Successful businesses and service providers are adapting to ever-evolving ways of interacting with information and merchandise, and have expressed a desire for technology that delivers information in an engaging and visually dynamic way,” said Chua Hwee Koon, IT Head, Southeast Asia, Oceania & Taiwan, Samsung Electronics.  “With the availability of the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, organizations can better communicate, collaborate, and connect with their customers and employees.”

“The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface is an intelligent, specialized device, that can deliver highly-customized, engaging experiences that are impactful for businesses and customer engagement,” said Somanna Palacanda, Director, Microsoft Surface. “We’re excited to expand the SUR40 availability to Southeast Asia and are eager to see the impact this innovative technology will have on a variety of industries.”

In conjunction with the official launch of the SUR40, Samsung and Microsoft held a regional press briefing today in Singapore. Object Consulting, NeoProducts and aZaaS, all Microsoft Surface Partners, were present to demonstrate how users can maximise the SUR40 to enjoy a fully connected experience. Object Consulting is on the leading edge of Surface development, having developed the first live Surface application in Australia. NeoProducts, a leading electronics systems solutions provider in the United Kingdom, also showcased how the SUR40 will enhance the consumers’ overall experience. aZaaS, a Singapore design, user experience and solution provider, also presented apps for the Singapore market.

Superior Screen, Smart Device

The Samsung SUR40 is an interactive, collaborative multi-touch device, offering a thin, four-inch profile and a large screen size. A CES Best of Innovations 2012 award winner, it integrates Samsung’s LCD panel capability with touch technology, combining Microsoft’s massive multi-touch and object recognition software to maximize the performance of a brand new type of touch screen technology – PixelSense.

Microsoft’s PixelSense technology – which gives LCD panels the power to see without the use of cameras – and the Microsoft Surface 2.0 software, the premier touch-first experience for end users, have been combined with Samsung’s display leadership to create an industry-changing information display device. The new SUR40 makes it possible for people to share, collaborate and explore together using a large, thin display. Not only can the SUR40 recognize fingers and hands, but it can also detect other objects placed on the screen, supporting up to 50 points of contact at one time.

The SUR40 features a 40-inch Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) LCD LED panel combined with one of the world’s largest pieces of Gorilla protection glass for optimized screen durability and to protect from external shock and liquid ingress. It provides highly accurate touch interaction from multiple people at the same time and superior object recognition as each pixel has a camera element. Its natural interaction enables users to ‘grab’ digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture.

The SUR40 also provides developers with the opportunity to build apps that are specialized to vertical user-case scenarios as diverse as hospitality, retail, public sector, professional services, healthcare and finance to name a few. It offers a rich sound experience and can connect to a wide range of peripherals such as bar code scanners, cameras and printers through WiFi (802.11.n), Bluetooth or Ethernet connections to create a seamless digital entertainment environment.

Major consumer brands and other technology partners such as FUJIFILM, Le Métier de Beaute, and Industrial Color, have near-term plans to use the Samsung SUR40 to support immersive retail scenarios, professional tools and marketing efforts.

Availability and Pricing

Pricing and availability of the SUR40 may vary across countries and/or regions based on country-specific duties, taxes and fees.

For more information or to find out how to order, please visit www.samsunglfd.com

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Key Specifications:

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