We have updated our SDK and runtime bits to include improved support for Windows Touch Enabled devices. There were some issues in the Microsoft Surface Input Stack handling of reports sent by a digitizer in serial mode. These issues caused the input stack to not report all touches reported by the digitizer reliably. The new build handles input from serial and parallel/hybrid digitizer more robustly.

We encourage you to use this update, especially if you are building applications that will run on Windows 7 touch enabled PCs. With the Microsoft® Surface® 2.0 SDK, you can easily create applications to take advantage of the next generation Surface computing device. The applications you create can be adapted for other Windows 7 touch-enabled devices as well.

You can find the bits at http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26716

Note that no public APIs were changed in this release. Enjoy!

Luis Cabrera
Development Platform Program Manager
Microsoft Surface.

Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft^® Surface^® (“SUR40”) is at this year’s National Retail Federation (NRF) Conference where retailers are getting hands-on with a showcase of new solutions developed for the Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform. Swing by Javits Center Hall 1A17 to experience the Samsung SUR40 and see new, never-before seen, retail solutions from over 15 of our development partners.

Samsung SUR40 is available for purchase through Samsung channel and reseller partners. This award winning product results from a Samsung-Microsoft collaboration delivering the unmatched Surface 2.0 experience with a thin Samsung 40” HD vision based touch PC. Its innovative design means retailers can choose horizontal and vertical deployments by simply attaching optional legs or a compatible VESA mount.

Retailers and consumers demand technology that delivers visually dynamic information in an engaging way. Samsung is energizing the retail space with SUR40, creating an all new approach to customer engagement.


Retail customers ready to roll out the Samsung SUR40
Major consumer brands and technology partners are readying Samsung SUR40 to create engaging retail experiences, professional services, and marketing tools. Here are a few examples of how businesses convert their visions to reality with the Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform:

Fujifilm
The Fujifilm retail solution enables customers to easily create custom photo books using their own digital photos. It helps people take advantage of digital photo editing, guiding even the most inexperienced person step-by-step through the design and order process. The application encourages friends and families to gather around the SUR40 and collaboratively rediscover their photos. This solution will roll out in Australia, with plans for later global expansion.

Industrial Color
The GLOBALedit application for the Samsung SUR40 provides creative production teams with the missing piece in a fully digital work flow: the digital light table. GLOBALedit brings photo review and approval, image markups, layout creation, and real time creative review sessions to life by fully utilizing the collaborative capabilities of the Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform. The innovations provided by the GLOBALedit solution will satisfy the needs for efficiency and ever increasing demands on content delivery and communication.

Le Métier de Beauté
Le Métier de Beauté’s new solution creates true synergy between luxury products and the luxury counter experience. Neiman Marcus customers will have their first glimpse of Samsung SUR40 this February as it launches at select stores across the country.

PepsiCo Beverages Canada
PepsiCo Beverages Canada will use Samsung SUR40 in upcoming consumer engagement programs. SUR40 will help deliver a revolutionary interactive consumer experience for the Pepsi brand. Innovative Pepsi applications designed for Microsoft Surface offer consumers an unforgetable experience.


Availability and pricing
Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface is currently available in 23 countries. Estimated Street Pricing (MAP) for U.S. customers starts at $8,400 USD for the device, and $9,049 USD for the device with matching stand. Pricing in other countries and/or regions may differ.

For more information or to find out how to order, call 1-866-SAM-4BIZ or visit samsunglfd.com/solution/sur40.do

The Bing Maps team delivered yet one more time! Last year we approached them to see if they could write one of the most requested features we heard from our WPF developers: A map control that was touch enabled, that could be rotated in a ScatterViewItem and that just played well with WPF. Back in August they released the Beta of the control, and this week they officially released Bing Maps Windows Presentation Foundation Control, Version 1.

This is really exciting. Thanks and Congratulations to the Bing Maps team!

Read more about the WPF Map control at the Bing Maps Blog.