Microsoft unveils new Surface devices, smart headphones

new york
cnn business
,

Fall is the season of new gadgets. Apple recently announced its latest iPhones, Amazon showed off new smart speakers and even an Alexa-activated microwave, and Google is holding its own product launch event next week.

But Tuesday is all about Microsoft, which unveiled a number of devices ahead of the holiday shopping season. Its lineup includes a new version of its desktop computer, called the Surface Studio 2, and its first pair of smart headphones. It also announced the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2.

The first Surface desktop, an iMac competitor focused on creativity, was introduced in October 2016. Its successor, the Surface Studio 2, offers better graphics performance and Microsoft says it is the fastest Surface device to date. It has a 28-inch display and USB-C support. It’s available for pre-order on Tuesday starting at $3,499.

The Surface Headphones ($349) offer adjustable noise cancellation and automatic pause and play, which will stop the video you’re watching when you pause it. Microsoft’s voice assistant Cortana is built-in and can read your emails aloud or start a conference call. Surface Headphones will be available later this year.

Meanwhile, Microsoft says the Surface Pro 6 is 67% faster than its predecessor but with the same battery life (up to 13.5 hours). Microsoft also says it’s easy to toggle between laptop, studio, and tablet modes. It comes in black and platinum and starts at $899.

The original Surface Pro was marketed as a tablet in 2012. It kind of looked like an iPad, but also included a keyboard cover. Microsoft (MSFT) has since shifted its pitch to laptops with touchscreens. This 2-in-1 format is for people like doctors, pilots, and students who need a tablet for taking notes or reading, but need a laptop for full functionality.

According to Microsoft, the Surface Laptop 2 (starting at $999) comes with fast and quiet typing and up to 14.5 hours of battery life. It’s 85% faster than its predecessor, and the Surface Laptop 2 comes in a new color (black) as well as the existing options burgundy, platinum, and blue.

The company also unveiled its next-generation Windows software – called Windows 10 October 2018 Update – which focuses on productivity. For example, the Your Phone app brings text and photos from your Android phone to your PC. (Apple allows such integration for its iMessage service.) You can also integrate a to-do list with Outlook.com, and mark an item to block the time for it to be finished. Can drag into an open slot on your calendar.

According to Andrew Hewitt, an analyst at research firm Forrester, Microsoft’s main audience for these new devices is enterprise business professionals. Ahead of Tuesday’s event, he said Microsoft has invested heavily in productivity elements including Timeline, which lets you go back to files and websites, and Focus Assistant, a feature that limits distractions like notifications. .

“There is a perception that Microsoft is trying to compete with Apple on the creative front with new capabilities for photo and film editing,” Hewitt said. “But other features are far more in line with Microsoft’s mission to empower employees to be productive.”