Microsoft launches new Surface Pro model in Singapore

Microsoft has announced the retail availability of Surface Pro 4 in Singapore. Surface Pro 4 is the thinnest, lightest Surface Pro, yet powerful  enough to run full Microsoft Office and brings Windows 10 features to life - including Windows Hello, Surface Pen and Microsoft Edge.

“Surface Pro 4 brings together the performance of a laptop and the full power of Windows 10 with the portability of tablet,” said Arthur Huang, Director, Consumer Channels Group, Microsoft Singapore. “Surface has transformed the category by focusing on productivity, creating a highly versatile device that people love to use.”

Huang showed some numbers related to Windows 10. 

At just 8.4 mm thick, Surface Pro 4 features Windows 10 Pro, a 12.3" PixelSense Display and 6th Generation Intel Core m, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. Surface Pro 4 is not only 30% more powerful than Surface Pro 3 but also quieter, runs cooler and also longer, with up to nine hours of battery life*.

“The 6th Generation Intel Core processor family sets a new standard of computing with enhanced performance, graphics, and battery life, making possible the remarkable performance and power-efficiency you see in ultrathin devices like Surface Pro 4,” said George Chacko, Director, Pricing & Product Marketing Group, Intel Asia Pacific & Japan.

“Together with Microsoft, Intel is constantly pushing the limits of personal computing with state-of-the-art experiences, and we’re very excited to bring these innovations to market with Surface Pro 4.”

A recent survey** conducted by Microsoft with 1,200 Asian consumers under the age of 25 years of age found that 42% of respondents wished to get a new 2-in-1, tablet or laptop device this festive season. Fifteen percent of respondents already have a 2 in 1, Huang shared, while 59% want a touch surface on all their devices. Additionally, 43% want a digital assistant, while 41% want a digital pen.

"Millennials hate passwords," said Huang. "51% thought 'too many passwords' is an issue in their everyday digital lives. Seventy percent would be willijng to pay to overcome security and privacy challenges, and 52% identified privacy and security as their top concerns with digital lifestyles."

Surface Pro 4 is perfect for people who place a premium on portability, yet require significant productivity and performance – mobile professionals or people in business environments who need high levels of corporate access, data security and central manageability.

New Surface accessories, such as the new and improved Surface Pro 4 Type Cover***, take Surface Pro 4 from tablet to laptop in an instant. The Type Cover features a redesigned mechanical keyboard with optimal key spacing for fast and fluid typing. The redesigned Surface Pen packs 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, letting you write, draw and mark documents with precision 'ink'  on one end. A new feature is an 'eraser' on the other end.

The Surface Pro 4 features as musical support.

The Surface Pro 4 as an artist's tool. 

The Surface Pro 4 renders 4K video with ease.

With Surface Pro 4, Microsoft’s commitment to business continues with the largest set of early adopters of a Surface device in business ever. Already, customers from a variety of industries including mobile field sales, professional services, energy and the public sector have purchased Surface Pro 4 to help streamline operations and help employees maximise productivity.

The Surface Pro 4 is powerful enough to run Autodesk software.

Additionally, Microsoft will double the commercial reseller channels in Asia Pacific to 300 partners by early next year, including 20 commercial resellers in Singapore, so businesses can more quickly and easily incorporate Surface into their environments.

Interested?

The Surface Pro 4 Intel Core m, Core i5, and Core i7****  models are available at microsoftstore.com, more select Singapore retailers - not just Challenger, Courts, and Harvey Norman but also at Newstead, a total of 70 stores, as well as via authorised commercial partners.

Surface Pro 4 starts at an estimated retail price of S$1,399.

Hashtag: #DoGreatThings

*For video playback, testing conducted by Microsoft in September 2015 using s preproduction Intel Core i5, 256GB, 8GB RAM device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except Wi-Fi, which was associated with a network and Auto-Brightness, which was disabled. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.

**An online survey was conducted with YouGov with 1,200 youths under the age of 25 in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, mainland China, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

***Sold separately.

****The i7 models begin shipping from 10 December 2015.

HP's Pro Series work well for SMBs

HP has announced a new Pro Series of desktops, notebooks and an all-in-one (AiO) PC. Designed for businesses of all sizes, these offerings are ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

“Customers have shared with us their challenges around making important technology decisions with limited budgets and IT resources that impact the security and productivity of their business,” said Serena Yong, Managing Director, HP Singapore. “HP BusinessNow offers customers support and faster access to commercial-grade solutions like the new HP Pro Series of PCs, providing them with the business-ready capabilities they need at a price point they can afford.”

HP’s Pro Series of desktops, notebooks and an AiO provide SMBs with affordable, enterprise-level technology packaged in new consumer-inspired designs. These devices have undergone HP’s Total Test processing, including more than 120,000 hours of testing¹ to help ensure the design can hold up to the rigors of work and home use. HP BIOSphere² offers BIOS-level protection of device firmware during system start up and BIOS updates, and HP Client Security³ provides multi-factor authentication and hard drive encryption to keep sensitive data secure. HP Touchpoint Manager⁴, an IT cloud-based management tool adds manageability, and all devices are available with Windows 10⁵ for an additional layer of security.

The HP ProBook 400 G3 series of notebooks cater to a more mobile workstyle, with a new thin, light and durable design in 13”, 14” and 15” diagonal sizes and built-in security features like the HP BIOSphere, Trusted Platform Module (TPM)⁶ and an optional fingerprint reader. The HP ProBook 440 G3 is now up to 17% thinner and 12% lighter than the previous generation. The ProBook 400 series features 6th Generation Intel Core processors or the latest AMD 6th Generation A-series APU⁷, a soft touch Gravity Black cover, aluminum reinforced keyboard deck, and the spill-resistant HP Premium Keyboard. The notebooks offer a wide choice of configurable options to enrich the experience, including an optional FHD display⁸, touch and long life batteries⁹.

Source: HP Inc.

Both the HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO and the HP ProDesk 400 series use 6th Generation Intel Core processors for power and performance. The new HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO offers a space-saving, stylish design featuring HP’s first coloured back covers for commercial AiOs¹⁰, built-in cable management, and new deployment options such as an articulating reclining stand which can go completely flat, so users can choose the best angle. Collaboration is optimised with HP Noise Reduction Software, an integrated 1MP HD Webcam¹¹ and an optional edge-to-edge 10-point capacitive touch panel.

Source: HP Inc. A HP
ProDesk unit.

The ProDesk 400 series comes in a wide range of sizes, including a desktop mini, small form factor or micro tower options. The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Desktop Mini offers a complete ecosystem to mount, physically secure and deploy the device. The desktop can fit under a desk or behind a monitor where space is a major constraint and includes a new standard serial port, VGA and DisplayPort as well as DDR4 RAM for added productivity and functionality.

The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Small Form Factor is now 40% smaller in size compared to the previous generation. It fits in smaller workspaces but has the same processing power as a ProDesk 400 G2 Microtower. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Microtower platform offers HP’s highest performing, expandable and best value desktop solution for SMBs.

HP has also introduced a programme called HP BusinessNow designed to help SMBs grow their businesses with access to customer support and expert advice from HP and its partner network. This programme provides web, phone, and face-to-face consultation to help SMBs select the solutions best suited for their business needs.

Through an online portal, SMBs can use the multi-language Product Selector Tool to get suggestions on the most suitable technologies based on budget and specific needs. Later this year, they can also connect with virtual agents¹² to get advice on recommended solutions. Selected channel partners are also listed on the portal to provide personal assistance.

Interested?¹³

 The HP ProBook 400 series is expected to be available in Singapore late November, starting at S$1,299.

 The HP ProDesk 400 series is expected to be available in Singapore starting at S$899.

• The HP ProDesk 400 Microtower is expected to be available from November.
• The HP ProDesk 400 Small Form Factor is expected to be available from January 2016.
• Availability for the HP ProDesk 400 Desktop Mini will be announced at a later date.

 The HP ProOne 400 AiO is expected to be available in Singapore from November, starting at S$1,199.

1 Total Test process testing is not a guarantee of future performance under these test conditions.

2 HP BIOSphere features may vary depending on the PC platform and configuration.

3 HP Client Security requires Windows.

4 HP Touchpoint Manager requires purchase of a subscription and supports Android, iOS and Windows 7 or higher operating systems and PCs, notebooks, tablets and smartphones from various manufacturers. Not available in all countries; see www.hp.com/touchpoint for availability information.

5 Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com.

6 Firmware TPM is version 2.0. Hardware TPM is v1.2, which is a subset of the TPM 2.0 specification version v0.89 as implemented by Intel Platform Trust Technology.

7 The AMD 6th generation A-series APU is available in the 15.6” HP ProBook 455 G3 only.

8 Full High definition (HD) content is required to view quad high-definition images.

9 Optional features sold separately or as add on features.

10 HP ProOne 400 G2 AiO with cardinal red and dragonfly blue back covers are expected to be available in select geographies in December.

11 Internet access required.

12 Specific availability varies by country.

13 Estimated prices. Actual prices may vary.

Abbott brings Freestyle Libre Pro System for glucose monitoring to India

The prevalence of type II diabetes is increasing in young adults in Asia, according to research from the Asia Diabetes Foundation (ADF). The ADF has funded research* together with Merck showing that 18% of the people recruited into its Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) study from nine Asian countries and territories were under the age of 40 when they were diagnosed with diabetes, a condition called young-onset diabetes.

While Merck offers a drug called Janumet XR to address type II diabetes, Abbott is tackling the treatment of the disease with a wearable that offers doctors more insights into patients' blood glucose levels over the long term.

Source: Abbott website. The FreeStyle Libre System at work. The FreeStyle Libre Pro System is designed to be used by healthcare professionals, rather than by patients themselves.

"India now carries 20% of the global burden of diabetes," said Robert Ford, Senior VP, Diabetes Care, Abbott. "There is an immense need for people in India to better manage their diabetes, enabling them to live healthier lives. Abbott's FreeStyle Libre Pro System is designed to empower doctors in India to help their patients through rich data and actionable insights."

The FreeStyle Libre Pro Flash Glucose Monitoring System consists of a small, round sensor—slightly larger than a 10 rupee coin (the size of a US quarter). A healthcare professional applies the sensor on the back of the patient's upper arm. The sensor is held in place with a self-adhesive pad and remains on the back of the arm for up to 14 days, requiring no patient interaction.

When applied to the skin, the sensor continuously measures glucose in interstitial fluid through a small (5mm long, 0.4mm wide) filament that is inserted just under the skin. It records glucose levels every 15 minutes, capturing up to 1,340 glucose results over 14 days, giving doctors comprehensive data for a complete glycemic profile of their patients. After 14 days, the person returns to the doctor's office, where the doctor uses a FreeStyle Libre Pro reader device to download the glucose results that are stored in the sensor in as quickly as five seconds.

"Diabetes is already at epidemic proportions and there is an urgent need to manage it better," said Dr V Mohan, Director and Chief of Diabetes Research at Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. "Current diabetes monitoring tools are limiting for doctors because they don't reveal a complete picture of the glucose variability that a person goes through during a day. The revolutionary flash glucose monitoring system will be very useful for doctors in getting complete glucose profiles of their patients. This will help us in our clinical decision making as well as in personalising treatment plans for better outcomes."

"Current systems for continuous measurement of glucose are cumbersome and require regular finger-pricking to ensure they are calibrated correctly for accuracy," said Jared Watkin, Divisional VP, Technical Operations, Diabetes Care, Abbott. "Based on insights from our customers, the focus for our design team has been to innovate for these challenges, while also providing affordability. We're proud that FreeStyle Libre Pro System achieves that for people with diabetes."

Abbott's FreeStyle Libre Pro system will be available to doctors in coming weeks in six Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Trivandrum.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, India today has a diabetes population of 65.1 million compared to 50.8 million in 2010**. A recent survey conducted by the Association of Physicians of India (API) and sponsored by Abbott*** showed that 90% of people surveyed with uncontrolled diabetes in India, defined as HbA1c levels higher than 7%, continue to believe that they have control over their glucose levels, despite facts suggesting otherwise. 

The Diabetic Society of Singapore has estimated that over 400,000 people or 11.3% of the population suffer from diabetes, while Singapore's Khoo Teck Puat Hospital has found that two-thirds of its diabetes patients under 30 have the type II form. 

*Metabolic profiles and treatment gaps in young-onset type 2 diabetes in Asia (the JADE programme): a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, e-publication July 2014, print publication December 2014.

**http://www.idf.org/BRIDGES/map/india

***The Abbott Sugar Survey, February 2015

Dell refreshes tablets, introduces 5K monitor, smart desk

Dell has enhanced its PC portfolio to maximise productivity with new tablet features, an Ultra HD 5K monitor and the "smart desk” workspace of the future.

“Organisations don’t ask us for a better PC or software application. They ask us to help them improve productivity, solve problems and drive better business outcomes. That’s where Dell is innovating,” Dell’s Vice Chairman, Operations, and President, Client Solutions, Jeff Clarke, told delegates to the recent Dell World Executive Summit.

The Dell UltraSharp 27 Monitor offers Ultra HD 5K resolution (5,120 x 2,880), seven times the resolution of Full HD. This display will be available in December for US$2,499.

Extending beyond the screen, Dell unveiled a conceptual “smart desk” that combines interactive multi-touch LCD screens with a horizontal digital work surface that ergonomically surrounds the user for natural manipulation. The Dell Precision-powered smart desk creates an immersive and intuitively productive experience for the user. Additionally, multiple users and individual digital desktops can be assembled around a single project for more efficient collaboration.

Source: Dell. The Dell smart desk has a horizontal work surface.

According to a recent Harris International Tablet Survey conducted for Dell, more than one third of IT organisations surveyed are concerned about the time required to set up, configure, manage and secure tablets when compared to laptops. They also believe tablets are more vulnerable to viruses, software security breaches and becoming quickly outdated. In response, Dell has updated the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 Series tablets. New Venue 11 Pro features include:

· A fan-less design that is 15% thinner 

· Extended battery life 

· Travel keyboard for a full laptop experience and accompanying thin keyboard for ultra-portability;

· The latest range of Intel Core M processors;

· 10.8" wide-angle full HD (1,920 x 1,080) in-plane switching display;

· Docking station for a traditional monitor, keyboard and mouse PC experience

The Venue 11 Pro, which starts at US$699, can be configured with additional security features including two-factor authentication with integrated smartcard and fingerprint readers as well as the Dell Data Protection suite of client security software. When configured with these options, Dell says the Venue 11 Pro is the most secure and manageable Windows tablet in the industry, and is on the US Department of Defense Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (UC APL).

Microsoft announces availability of Surface Pro 3

Microsoft has announced that the Surface Pro 3 can be purchased at retailers or online in nine markets in Asia Pacific. The Surface Pro 3 enables businesses to deploy a laptop replacement that delivers the power, manageability and security they need to conduct business with confidence, said the company, and equally ideal for consumers who want to streamline their lifestyles as well as people in business environments who need high levels of corporate access, data security and central manageability.

Source: Microsoft*.

In a recently-commissioned survey of 2,900 working professionals in eight markets across Asia Pacific, 50% of respondents in the region said that they are no longer desk-bound at work. In addition, 79% of working professionals in Asia Pacific own three or more types of devices, and 41% of respondents carry both their tablet and laptop with them at all times.

Source: Microsoft*.

More than four in ten (43%) of respondents felt that they would get the best experience for both work and play from a hybrid or laptop than a standalone tablet. In fact, three in ten (30%) of respondents chose a hybrid as their preferred device for their next purchase, which was tied in first place with tablet devices (30%) followed closely by laptops (27%).

“Our research is clear: people want just one device that does everything,” said Alvaro Celis, Vice President, Microsoft Asia Pacific “The next era of personal computing is not just about tablets and smartphones, it’s also about powerful devices that harmonise our digital work and digital life. Our vision is that Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance and utility of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed tablet. You’ll love being able to carry one device for your next class, workday or weekend getaway knowing you have all the power you need and the convenience you want.”

The Surface Pro 3 is now available across nine markets in Asia, including Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, and in 28 markets globally. To support its commercial customers, Microsoft has appointed close to 50 partners in Asia Pacific to support the Surface Pro 3. In Singapore, Microsoft Singapore has appointed four business resellers, AsiaPac Distribution, Dimension Data, SoftwareOne, and UIC Asian Computer Services.

*Results of a survey of 2,900 working professionals in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and Malaysia. View the full infographic here. 

Intel launches solid state drives for businesses

Source: Intel website.

Intel has a new addition to the Solid-State Drive (SSD) Professional family: the business-class Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series.

Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series offers peace of mind with advanced security features and capabilities designed for businesses ranging from small companies and upwards. Security and remote manageability features, combined with lower annual failure rates than hard disk drives (HDDs), help to reduce the need for resource-intensive deskside visits.

Managing data security is critical for businesses and a challenge for IT leaders. Data breaches, often a result of lost or stolen PCs, can cost a business nearly US$50,000 in lost productivity, replacement, data recovery and legal costs*. 

To help businesses mitigate the threat of such costly breaches, the Intel Pro 2500 Series SSDs are self-encrypting drives (SED) utilising hardware-based 256-bit encryption to protect data without a loss of performance. Additionally, the new Intel drives feature the Trusted Computing Group's OPAL 2.0 standard and are Microsoft eDrive capable. These policy-based controls help to prevent data breaches and support crypto erase to repurpose the drive for reuse.

In an environment with Intel vPro Technology, with Intel Setup and Configuration Software and leading security software, the Pro 2500 Series drives can be managed remotely allowing IT to monitor and report drive health as well as track assets and remedy faults. This remote manageability enforces IT policies to help prevent mishaps and simultaneously provides a great user experience. 

Embedded and Internet of Things applications can also take advantage of the remote manageability features to help limit the number of IT professionals needed to oversee devices. To assist in protecting user data and lower the total cost of ownership, applications such as ATMs and remote digital signage can be updated, monitored and managed remotely.

The Intel SSD Professional Family is part of the Intel Stable Image Platform Program, including a 15-month availability of the components and drivers for compatibility and stability across a qualified IT image. This helps minimise IT qualification and deployment times. The Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series also features five advance power modes helping to balance performance and power to enable a longer battery life and provide a better mobile experience.

The Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series will be available in both 2.5" and M.2** form factors and in capacities ranging from 120GB to 480GB. The Intel SSD Pro 2500 Series is backed by a five-year limited warranty and features a world-class annualised failure rate (AFR) well below 1%. The AFRs of other SSDs and HDDs can reach as high as 5% or more in mobile environments.

*The Billion Dollar Lost Laptop Problem, Ponemon Institute, 2010.
**A standard for the cards inside a computer.

Microsoft launches Surface Pro 3, a tablet that's also a laptop

Microsoft has launched the Surface Pro 3 — a lightweight 12" tablet with the power and performance of a laptop. 

Source: Microsoft.

"So many people carry both a laptop and a tablet but really want just one device that serves all purposes," said Panos Panay, Corporate VP, Microsoft Surface. "Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed device."

Surface Pro 3 features a 12" full HD display, 4th-generation Intel Core processor and multiple RAM and storage options, click-in keyboards, and a multi-position kickstand that goes from movie mode to working mode and also has a writing mode. The new Surface Pen with pressure sensitivity delivers a precise drawing and note-taking experience. 

A full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader and Mini DisplayPort allow for quick file transfers and easy connections to a range of peripherals. The device runs Windows 8.1 Pro, but unlike other Surface models, Microsoft Office is sold separately.  

Companies such as BMW Group, The Coca-Cola Company and LVMH - Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton have already committed to purchasing and deploying the device as one of the choices inside their organisations. "Surface Pro 3 is a truly innovative device that will replace both a tablet and a powerful laptop," said Mario Mueller, VP IT infrastructure, BMW Group. 

New Surface accessories like the improved Surface Pro Type Cover will take Surface Pro 3 from tablet to laptop. Other accessories include a new Docking Station for Surface Pro 3 and a Surface Ethernet Adapter. A list of the new Surface accessories can be found here.  

Starting at an estimated retail price of US$799, Surface Pro 3 will be offered in multiple configurations featuring the 4th-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors. Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro Type Cover and Surface Pen will be available for pre-order^* starting May 21 through Microsoftstore.com, Microsoft retail stores and select third-party retailers. Commercial customers should speak to their authorised reseller.

By the end of August, Surface Pro 3 and select new accessories will become available for purchase in 26 markets outside of the US and Canada, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. 

More information on Surface can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/surface. The specs are available here.
 
*Excluding China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan