Microsoft Surface piano demo

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

Mum — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:12:40 GMT

To me the coffee table scenario sounds horrible. The current trend, and the one I embrace, is to make technology invisible or smaller and less intrusive. Now, a coffee table with an electrical cord and a manufacturer's sticker is not my idea of that.

Microsoft Surface piano demo | Mobility Site

Microsoft Surface piano demo | Mobility Site — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:38:48 GMT

Pingback from Microsoft Surface piano demo | Mobility Site

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:56:01 GMT

DRWAM,

The CM15A that fried is USB and has been out for a couple of years. It's really big thing is that it has variables and conditional macros (so I can do things like turn on the lights on the stairs when somebody walks near them but only at night)

The older CM11A used a serial port but I think it's been unavailable for a while now.

I can't really complain about the CM15A dying. It was prototype hardware from the beta and that's always a little iffy.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

DRWAM — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:51:27 GMT

They will be hot and ready. BTW, the new USB version of ActiveHome Pro is out. I think they they replaced the computer interface with USB.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:30:29 GMT

Oh, and either an Arabian or Ethiopian for me. (Kona's good but overpriced and misses the berry overtones)

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:22:14 GMT

DRWAM,

The scenario I mentioned was in the initial Live Mesh video. There's a YouTube version (I'm being friendly to all the person who uses Safari) at www.youtube.com/watch

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:10:13 GMT

DRWAM,

fyi: I started using X10 products back when they were still part of BSR in the 1970s and had a version of their software for the Ohio Scientific Challenger line of computers.

Unfortunately, my CM15A controller is fried so I'll need to buy a new one. (It works on auto but won't take direct input anymore)

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

DRWAM — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:38:14 GMT

Don't do that to me Mike. Now I want it yesterday!! Dang, I can see my wife typing her email on it while looking at the plasma, maybe splitting the screen with Oprah. I use the plugin appliance modules for the Christmas tree, and would turn it on from the table. Right now, I use the included remote [Active Home] which is a multiremote for TV, DVD and stuff. The outdoor landscape lights are on a controlled receptacle and many lights [patio, outdoor, sunroom, familyroom, walkway,etc.. ] have X10 switches. An eight button switch, KeypadLinc. in both the family room and master bedroom controls many lights, but the coffee table could help the kids use everything, as well as visitors. All you do is replace the ligh switches or recepticle. The Active hoe software and a tiny memory modules connects to your computer, but is not necessary. However, it's the timer and does scenes as well. Heck, there even motion detectors and possibly cameras. So you could even add security, even video security to your family room coffee table. Kona please.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:10:04 GMT

DRWAM

Now, add a Live Mesh sync from the photo folder on your cell phone's camera (or, perhaps the WiFi in your camera itself) and seconds after you take the pictures they're on that coffee table, and your computer, and a web printing service and on the picture frame at your parents' house automatically.

Kind of takes Kodak's old motto of "You press the button, we do the rest" to a whole new level.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

DRWAM — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:01:35 GMT

When Ballmer described a coffee table with Surface, all I could think about is that it would be in the family room and become the hub for everything in the house. I've posted this before, but it's worth posting again. Your digital media center, games, creating yoour own DVD's, web surfing, email, TV tuner [OK a repeat of media center] and Home Automation [X10 and INSTEON control lights HVAC, security, lawn irrigation...check out Smarthome.com]. The wife will collect all her photo and send them for printing via web services...all from our coffee table. Plus it holds my coffee!! [not decaf,obviously]. I would buy one today, and this would make her very happy. We already have X10 light switches that are controlled by remote switches, remote IR control, and with my computer, which has a timer device so that it does not need to be turned on, called Active Home. I've used it for over 5 yrs since our house is kinda big.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

mikegalos@msn.com — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:05:39 GMT

It'll be interesting to see how Microsoft's touch technology gets used in WIndows 7.

Between the Live Mesh SDK and Windows 7, the PDC in late October is going to be an industry changer.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

beaker — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:02:59 GMT

works for me on my MacBook Pro w/Firefox.

What are you using?

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

lehenbauer — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:45:43 GMT

Your browser or operating system is not supported

Big surprise.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

beaker — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:37:30 GMT

I just saw the Surface in Reston VA at a MS Tech Briefing. It wasn't very smooth. It was actually very clunky. I was expecting it to be perfect but it wasn't.

re: Microsoft Surface piano demo

pthurrott — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:11:16 GMT

Mike, actually I wrote my Zune 3 preview on the plane :)

But I've been catching up on sleep since then, yes.