As promised, Microsoft today opened pre-orders for its upcoming Surface Pro 3 laptop-tablet hybrid. You can reserve the 12-inch device, as well as the new Type Cover and Surface Pen in the following international markets:
The device will be sold in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan, although customers will have to wait a little longer there before they can reserve through Microsoftstoreom , Microsoft retail stores and third-party retailers.
The Core i5 versions of the Surface Pro 3, Type Cover and Surface Pen will ship first to customers in Canada and the US from June 20. The Core i3 and Core i7 models will follow in August – at this point, all Surface Pro configurations will then ship and be available to purchase worldwide.
The Surface Pro 3, as the name suggests, is Microsoft’s third stab at a touch-enabled device. It was pitched as a competitor to the MacBook Air, due to its thin body, high-end performance and true desktop operating system (Windows 8.1). As with prior models, the Surface Pro 3 can also be detached from the keyboard, offering the typical laid-back tablet experience too.
Read Next: Surface Pro 3 first impressions: Third time’s almost the charm
➤ Pre-order Surface Pro 3 now [Microsoft]
Intel is working on a touch-sensitive holographic display
A demonstration at Intel’s CES keynote today showed off a new display the company is working on that creates the illusion of items in mid-air and allows you to interact with them.
The demonstration showed that you can play a keyboard in mid-air, which is recognized by Intel’s Real Sense camera technology.
The holographic technology demoed is a new, unannounced prototype that Intel is working on and isn’t used in a real product yet, but is a cool step toward our sci-fi future.
Microsoft teases Surface 2 with new video showing keyboard colors, gesture controls
Microsoft has already announced its Surface 2 tablet and keyboard combo set to arrive later this month, but the Redmond-based behemoth is trying to get people excited about its impending arrival by releasing a video and some fresh details about the accompanying keyboards.
The video (below) shows some of the changes between the first and generation devices, but focuses mostly on the new Touch and Type Cover keyboards, which it seems will now come in new green and orange colors as well as the previously offered white, black, and blue.
It also mentions that the Touch Cover also now has backlighting and that the keyboards also incorporate gesture controls. Now all we have to do is wait for October 22 when they are set to be available.
➤ Making of Surface 2 [YouTube] via The Verge
Featured Image Credit – TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images