Thurrott Daily: November 15
- Paul Thurrott
- Nov 15, 2016
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15
Tech tidbits from around the web.
11/15/2016 6:15:48 PM
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Microsoft Black Friday preview promises deals on Surface devices, Windows laptops
ZDNet reports:
Though many people might be eyeing Microsoft’s online store on Black Friday for Xbox deals, the site will also have a few specials on Windows devices, which it’s already previewing. These include discounts on its own Surface systems, though it’s a little tricky to determine precisely what you’re actually saving on.
For instance, Microsoft claims that the Surface Book 2-in-1 laptop will be $400 off from the base $1,899 price starting on Black Friday. However, Microsoft’s site already shows the current starting price for the Surface Book as $1,499. So is the $400 savings off the Intel Core i5 or the Core i7 256GB model, which both currently run $1,899? Since Microsoft doesn’t indicate which version is on sale, it’s hard to know.
Microsoft is also promoting a deal on its Surface Pro 4 tablet: a Core i5 model with 256GB of storage and a Type cover accessory for $999, which is $429 off the regular price. It’s taking $200 off another Surface Pro — again, the specific configuration isn’t listed, but the process of elimination suggests it’s the Core i5 with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage since it’s the same original price ($999) as Microsoft is advertising.
This is worth keeping an eye on.
“Designed by Apple in California” chronicles 20 years of Apple design
It takes courage to release a $300 self-congratulatory coffee table book. But then that’s Apple in a nutshell, ain’t it? And I assume it will be followed up by “Built by poor people in China.”
Apple today announced the release of a new hardbound book chronicling 20 years of Apple’s design, expressed through 450 photographs of past and current Apple products. “Designed by Apple in California,” which covers products from 1998’s iMac to 2015’s Apple Pencil, also documents the materials and techniques used by Apple’s design team over two decades of innovation.
Well, I will say this. It will sell better than the Apple Watch.
Apple Considers Wearables Expansion With Digital Glasses
And speaking of Apple, it looks like the firm is going to do its own Google Glasses. Because, you know, that TV, car, and watch stuff worked out so well. Bloomberg reports:
Apple is weighing an expansion into digital glasses.
While still in an exploration phase, the device would connect wirelessly to iPhones, show images and other information in the wearer’s field of vision, and may use augmented reality, the people said. They asked not to be identified speaking about a secret project.
Apple has talked about its glasses project with potential suppliers, according to people familiar with those discussions. The company has ordered small quantities of near-eye displays from one supplier for testing, the people said. Apple hasn’t ordered enough components so far to indicate imminent mass-production, one of the people added.
Super Mario Run will debut on iOS on December 15 and will cost $10
You may recall that when Nintendo announced it would ship its first major mobile game title on iOS that it would be ad-free. Well, it’s also going to be very expensive for a mobile game at $10. I suspect it will do very well. Nintendo’s announcement:
The first-ever mobile game featuring the most iconic video game hero of all time goes on sale for iPhone and iPad on Dec. 15 in United States time zones. Super Mario Run can be downloaded from the App Store at no cost, and players can try elements of the game’s three modes for free. Once the game has been downloaded, a one-time payment of $9.99 (United States price) will grant unlimited access to each of the three modes in this release.
“The wait is almost over for a Super Mario game that can be played on mobile devices,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Developed under the direction of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Run brings a new take on the series’ beloved action-platforming gameplay to iPhone and iPad for the first time.”
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<p>Apple will be delighted if this ridiculous book sells more than Apple Watch. It will mean they suddenly have a billion dollar print publishing business.</p>