Podcast Summary
Deloitte and Viator offering innovative solutions: Deloitte combines business knowledge and technology for future solutions, Viator offers 300,000+ travel experiences with free cancellation and support
Deloitte and Viator are offering innovative solutions to help build the future and plan unforgettable experiences, respectively. At Deloitte, they combine business knowledge and technology to engineer solutions for today and tomorrow. Viator, on the other hand, provides a platform for booking travel experiences, offering over 300,000 options with free cancellation and customer support. During a discussion on The Vergecast, Microsoft announced several new products, including the Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, Surface Buds, and the dual-screen devices Neo and Duo. Panos Panay, Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, shared succinct descriptions of each product, showcasing his marketing skills and honesty. The Surface Pro 7 is "super powerful," the Surface Laptop 13 is "the most beautiful thing you'll set your eyes on," the Surface Laptop 15 "competes with the 13 for beauty but is a super beast in performance," the Surface Buds offer "killer audio and translation," and the Neo and Duo represent Microsoft's entry into the dual-screen device market, with the Neo running Windows 10x and the Duo running Android.
Microsoft's focus on refining and re-engineering products: Microsoft is creating desirable tech products by refining existing ones and introducing new innovations, ensuring compatibility and accessibility, and prioritizing user experience and performance.
Microsoft is focusing on refining and re-engineering existing products while also introducing new ones that push technology forward. For instance, the new Pro-X earbuds feature their own chip, the Service SQ1, which required addressing app support for Windows on ARM. The Pro7 laptop, on the other hand, has undergone careful refinements, including the addition of USB-C, making it more accessible and inclusive for users. The company's goal is to create desirable, precious objects that people will take care of, while also considering the needs of power users and commercial customers. Microsoft's approach involves making subtle trade-offs to provide the best possible performance, battery life, and user experience. The team's dedication to meeting users where they are and getting them to where they're going is evident in their product line, which includes both new and refined offerings.
Microsoft's new ARM-based devices run all apps with improved portability and connectivity: Microsoft's Windows team enables Chrome and iTunes on ARM-based devices for tech-forward mobile professionals, prioritizing power efficiency and connectivity to meet their needs.
Microsoft's Windows team has made significant strides in enabling users to run all apps, including Chrome and iTunes, on their new ARM-based devices. This was a deliberate decision to cater to tech-forward mobile professionals who value portability and always-on connectivity. The ARM platform's power efficiency and built-in connectivity were key factors in Microsoft's choice to adopt this technology. However, optimizing the entire product line to achieve the best screen quality and battery life required careful consideration of power management and form factor constraints. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a cutting-edge device for mobile users who want to work efficiently and effectively on the go.
Microsoft's new Surface Pro X: A game-changer in two-in-ones: Microsoft's Surface Pro X, powered by Qualcomm's SQ1 chip, delivers laptop-like performance in a more portable design, offering improved battery life and slim profile.
Microsoft's new Surface Pro X, powered by Qualcomm's SQ1 chip, represents a significant advancement in the two-in-one category by offering thinner, lighter designs with improved battery life, despite the increased power requirements. Microsoft's decision to design from the inside out and collaborate with Qualcomm on this project has led to a groundbreaking product that pushes more power through the device than traditional mobile processors, making it a PC architecture-based part. This allows the Surface Pro X to deliver the performance and functionality customers expect from Surface, including support for IOs like Surface Connect, all while maintaining a slim profile. Microsoft emphasizes that this product is not a phone, but rather a PC that offers the power and capabilities of a laptop in a more portable design. Intel, a longtime partner of Microsoft, is also making strides in this area, but Microsoft's approach focuses on delivering the right product with the right chip for their specific design goals.
Beyond phones and tablets: The potential of dual-screen devices: Dual-screen devices offer unique productivity and creativity benefits, challenging existing definitions and gaining traction in 2021.
The new dual-screen devices, such as Microsoft's Surface Neo and Prox, represent a new category that goes beyond traditional definitions of phones or tablets. According to the speaker, putting these devices in existing categories limits their potential and innovation. He believes that the category will gain traction in the coming year as people discover the productivity and creativity benefits of using two screens, regardless of the operating system. The speaker also mentioned that the history of technology shows form factor shifts taking time, but the potential of dual screens could lead to significant productivity gains.
Microsoft's new dual-screen device as a potential replacement for smartphones: Microsoft's dual-screen device offers a unique experience, access to Google Play Store and apps, and seamless multitasking capabilities, inspiring innovation and productivity.
Microsoft's new dual-screen device is positioning itself as a potential replacement or secondary device for smartphones, with access to the Google Play Store and hundreds of thousands of apps. The device offers a unique experience with its hinge and two-screen interface, making complex tasks more efficient. Microsoft is actively courting developers to explore the device's APIs and create innovative experiences that take advantage of the device's capabilities. The hardware design has been in development for three years and will not change. Microsoft's goal is to inspire developers and meet customers where they are, recognizing the mobile application platform's continued relevance. The device's seamless integration of apps and multitasking capabilities can lead to a more productive and limitless experience. Microsoft is learning and growing with this new product, and while the outcome is uncertain, the company is eager to inspire innovation and creativity.
Microsoft and Google partnering for a better Android experience: Microsoft and Google are collaborating to offer a more integrated Microsoft experience on Android through the Microsoft launcher, focusing on creating the best product for users.
Microsoft and Google are partnering to provide a better Android experience for users, rather than competing against each other. Microsoft is leveraging Google's Android platform to offer a more integrated Microsoft experience, with the Microsoft launcher acting as an extension of Google's Android interface. This partnership is not about giving and taking, but about creating the best product for users, as both companies share a common goal. Microsoft's launcher team is playing a significant role in this collaboration, bringing together a connected experience through the cloud. The details of the integration, such as Google search integrations, were not discussed in the conversation. The relationship between Microsoft and Google is deepening, and they are focusing on building the right product for people, rather than engaging in a give-and-take dynamic.
Microsoft's focus on the right OS for form factors: Microsoft prioritizes providing optimal OS for device sizes, favoring Android for mobiles and Windows for larger devices, while adapting with new OS versions like Windows 10X for dual-screens.
Microsoft is focusing on providing customers with the right operating system for the form factor they prefer. In mobile devices, Android is the obvious choice, but for larger devices, Windows offers superior product design and capabilities. Microsoft is also open to learning and adapting, as seen in their development of Windows 10X for dual-screen devices, which is currently exclusive to that form factor but may expand in the future. The company values feedback from developers and customers, and is committed to improving its products through a growth mindset and a willingness to listen and learn.
Google's new device with improved interaction model and larger screens: Google is launching a new device with a third-generation form factor, focusing on interaction and developer integration, offering better tablet experiences, and potentially expanding Android devices into larger screens.
Google is introducing a new device, likely a tablet or a hybrid device, with a third-generation form factor and screen. They are focusing on perfecting the interaction model and integrating with developers. The product is expected to provide good value to customers and bridge the gap between Google's strengths in phones and laptops. Google is not entering this market just to fill a hole, but to offer better tablet experiences and potentially expand their Android devices into larger screens. The device is predicted to have excellent hardware and software, and developers will have access to it in the coming months. The pricing and exact feelings towards the product were not disclosed, but the speaker expressed excitement and confidence in the product. The competition with Apple was acknowledged, but the speaker believed that Google's strengths lie in different areas and that this new device could complement their existing product line.
Microsoft's optimal Surface Duo size and no plans for bigger models: Microsoft settled on the Surface Duo's size for a phone-like experience with a larger workspace. No bigger models planned in the near future.
Microsoft has found the optimal size for their larger mobile device offering, the Surface Duo, and they are not planning to release anything bigger in the near future. The company spent years considering various screen sizes before settling on the current design, which aims to provide a phone-like experience while still offering a larger workspace. Microsoft's executives are proud of the team's ability to handle leaks and react to competition, and they encourage consumers to consider the Duo as an alternative to their current mobile devices. The company believes that the Duo's unique form factor offers more creative possibilities and will continue to be an intriguing option for those who are not in a rush to upgrade. Microsoft also emphasizes their pride in their existing Surface PC lineup and encourages consumers to consider purchasing those products as well.
Microsoft's CPO sees a need for devices that seamlessly transition between mobile and desktop use: Microsoft's upcoming devices, Surface Neo and Duo, aim to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop, providing users with the flexibility they need for content creation and productivity in a mobile-first world.
Microsoft's Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay, believes the time is right for a form factor change in technology, specifically with the release of the Surface Neo and Duo. He sees a need for devices that can seamlessly transition between mobile and desktop use, especially as more people, including millennials and Gen Z, create content on the go. Panay also shared his personal experience of moving from phone to larger device for more complex tasks. The upcoming devices from Microsoft aim to bridge this gap and provide users with the flexibility they need in today's mobile-first world. This shift towards mobile creativity and productivity is inspiring a new era in technology, and Microsoft is at the forefront of this change.
