Microsoft Making a Reputable Successor to the Surface

When it came out back in 2013, the Surface Pro 2 was a huge improvement from the original Surface RT. It also came with options. You could either get the Surface Pro 2 or just the Surface RT which gave consumers the choice between Windows 8.1 or Windows RT. Right now, it is still the latest addition to the line of Windows RT tablets.

What is Microsoft Planning?

Because of it's success with two different versions, it was odd that when they announced the Surface Pro 3, there was no mention of a regular Surface 3. They did plan to launch a Surface mini, but that got canceled right before they were about to officially announce it. Now, there really isn't any chance for a Surface 3 at all.

Reports say that Microsoft is getting ready to put out a new tablet that is supposed to be the big brother to the Surface 2 pretty soon, but it isn't going to be an RT device. It is going to have a fanless design and have either an Intel ATOM or an Intel Core M based processor. It will run the full version of Windows, which is a first for a non-pro tablet from the company.

With BUILD coming up, it is expected than Microsoft will announce the tablet around that time and probably launch it soon after. It will obviously come loaded with Windows 8.1 but will be upgradable to Windows 10 whenever it comes out. This comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise considering that Microsoft said none of the non-pro devices would be upgradeable to Windows 10. It does make sense because it will be launching so close to the time of the new operating system, but I don't think anyone was really expecting it.

What Does This Mean for Apple?

The new tablet is said to be a low-end tablet that will be a direct successor to the Surface 2, which has since been discontinued. In addition to that, it is also said that this new tablet will complete more directly against Apple's iPad. Apple has long since been the leader when it comes to tablets, probably because Apple was the first company to come out with a tablet, essentially setting the industry standard for the technology.

Big Fixes Coming!

The one thing that this tablet is doing right is that it is fixing arguably the biggest problem with previous Surface tablets, the fact that they didn't run Windows. This new tablet will run the full version of Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 10. This means that it will be able to run any Windows software that runs on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 according to reports from WinBeta.

The lack of software with the Surface 2 and Surface RT was a huge problem for these devices. In fact, the problem was so sever that Microsoft ended up writing down over $900 million in unsold inventory thanks to poor sales of the original Surface RT. In turn, Microsoft stopped selling the low end tablets and stating that existing Surface Pro 2 tablets would not be upgradeable to Windows 10.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

Microsoft unveiled last month a version of Windows that was designed for the tiny $35 Raspberry Pi PC. This version of Windows 10 could, hypothetically, be used to run on other small devices, giving Windows a new foothold in the Internet of Things (IoT) market. The IoT market is, essentially, the market where everyday things are given sensors, chips and apps, allowing them to join the internet.

This is important because Microsoft has promised that Windows 10 will work like a single operating system across multiple devices. What this means is that no matter what you are using Windows 10 on, whether it be a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, it will run and feel the same on each device. As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella puts it, this is a major part of the company's strategy to make everyone "love Windows 10".

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Android 5.1 Update from Google Looks to Decrease Phone Theft

Google is giving Android its first full blown update since the new version of the operating system came out back in November of last year. The main improvement that has everyone excited is the new feature that is supposed to cut down on phone theft tremendously. When you turn on Device Protection, your phone will stay locked until you sign in with your Google account. It will stay locked even if your phone is reset to factory settings. Because of this, there is pretty much nothing a thief can do with it. They won't be able to get ANYTHING off of it. A stolen Android phone is basically just a paperweight.

Apple did something similar a while back. Their feature is called Activation Lock, which comes with iOS 7. In San Francisco is cut down on phone theft by 40%, and in New York City is got cut down by 25%. The new Android update will surely have the same outcome for anyone who uses Android Lollipop. And even if you don't, a thief is going to be less excited about stealing your phone just because they will probably assume there is no point. It makes stealing smartphones not worth the risk.

Other features included in the new update include support for multiple SIM cards, the ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control Bluetooth devices from the Quick Settings menu, and high-definition voice calling.The support for multiple SIM cards will be awesome for people who want to share their smartphone with family members.

The 5.1 update is also supposed to improve Lollipop's overall stability. It is the biggest operating system Google has ever launched for a smartphone, so it was bound to have some kinks that needed to be worked out. It appears they are doing a good job at it!

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Galaxy S6 Awarded 'World's Best Smartphone Display'

As it stands right now, the Galaxy S6 from Samsung has the best smartphone display in the world, joining the Galaxy Note 4 with a shared accolade. DisplayMate, which extensively tests smartphone screens and provides highly detailed performance analysis based on viewing angles, pixel density, color accuracy, brightness and other features, awarded the S6 with the title.

President of DisplayMate and testing aficionado Raymond Soneira stated that the newest installment in the Galaxy smartphone family "matches or breaks new records in smartphone display performance in several areas including screen resolution, pixels per inch and highest absolute color accuracy."

In addition to that, Soneira was also impressed with the 2560x1440 resolution that offered 557 ppi, an increase over the S5's 432 ppi. Those numbers may not seem like much, but for a single release cycle it's a pretty impressive jump.

The Galaxy S6 isn't alone on the pedestal of worldwide display greatness. The Galaxy Note 4 also shares the award and still has many of the qualities found in the S6. In addition to that, Samsung's ability to maintain the same performance and specs in a smaller screen than the Note is one of the  main reasons the Galaxy S6 was rated so highly, according to Soneira.

When people got hands on with the Galaxy S6 at Mobile World Congress most of them were very impressed. In addition to the world's best smartphone display, the Galaxy S6 also comes with a solid build quality so there is a lot to be excited about.

The Galaxy S series of smartphones is probably the strongest competitor to Apple's iPhone. The Galaxy S series devices have been awarded the best smartphone displays for the past couple of iterations and the phones overall have been extremely solid.