Bernie Lo, host of CNBC's Straight Talk with Bernie Lo, recently sat down Andrew Bradbury, founder of Hong Kong winebar Amo Eno to discuss how technology is tranforming the hospitality and retail experience. Together they discuss how Hong Kong based Amo Eno uses the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface and other technologies to assist its customers with the wine selection and purchase process. Please view the full interview below:(Please visit the site to view this video)Video: CNBC - Straight Talk with Bernie LoAccording to Amo Eno, "The interactive Amo Eno Touch Table allows you to approach wine as never before. Explore flavor profiles, compare grape varietals, and contrast regions with the tap of a finger. Rate and review your selections, then post your comments to Facebook. Just drop your Amo Eno card on the table…your personal profile keeps track of your likes and dislikes, and will even suggest new wines to try based upon your preferences. It’s informative, intuitive, and best of all - simple." They are located on the 3rd floor of Hong Kong’s iconic IFC Mall, where they bring together wine, design, technology and people.

From the Surface GarageSurface Garage is a community of Microsoft employees that are passionate about Microsoft Surface, Samsung SUR40, computer vision, and natural user interface (NUI) technologies. Last year TechCrunch reporter Devin Coldewey visited the Surface Garage wrote a great article that gives a little more background on the group: "Microsoft’s Surface Garage: A Cross-Department Development Team, With Pizza And Beer." One of the group's goals is to contribute helpful code samples and demos to the greater Surface development community. This work is done by enthusiastic employees in their off-hours. The nature of these projects creates code which is outside the scope of a standard product release; but, as samples they can be valuable to the community. Overview of the ModeSelector sample controlSince the release of the Microsoft Surface 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK), there have been numerous requests for a ModeSelector, or "drop down style," control for choosing between multiple items. This control was out of scope for release for the SDK, but the Bing for Microsoft Surface application happens to contain such a control.The Surface Garage team used the ModeSelector control in the Bing for Microsoft Surface application to create a new sample control. This sample code will help developers create a control designed for touch that can select options in a scrollable drop down list.The ModeSelector sample control in its expanded formUsageThis sample instantiates the control via XAML, then populates the ItemSource dynamically in the code behind. If you’re familiar with listbox style controls, you’ll find this one has similar properties and events. The instantiation is contained in the following:   <controls:ModeSelector                            x:Name="_ModeSelector" x:FieldModifier="private"                           Grid.Row="1" HorizontalAlignment="Left"                           Style="{StaticResource SelectorStyle}"                           Width="292" MinWidth="242" MaxWidth="292"                            SelectedIndex="0" MaxHeight="200"                           HorizontalContentAlignment="Left"                           Height="50" IsEnabled="True"/>You'll find the "SelectorStyle" resourse in the Dictionary1.xaml resourse dictionary. It defines the look and builds the control layout.The control itself is simply populated with:           _ModeSelector.ItemsSource = new string[]                                            {                                                "Option 1",                                                "Option 2",                                                "Option 3",                                                "Option 4",                                                "Option 5",                                                "Option 6"                                            };The SelectionChanged event is fired when a selection is made. The following line subscribes to it:            _ModeSelector.SelectionChanged += ModeSelectorSelectionChanged;The ModeSelector contains a ListBox control internally, which can be queried to find the resulting selected value. This is shown in the code snippet below:        void ModeSelectorSelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)        {            ListBox source = e.OriginalSource as ListBox;            if (source != null)            {                _Results.Text = source.SelectedItem + " Selected";            }        }RequirementsThe ModeSelector sample control requires the Microsoft Blend 4 SDK to be installed. The Microsoft Surface 2.0 SDK and Runtime can be downloaded from the Microsoft Surface Design and Development Center. The ModeSelector sample control attached to this post is provided as-is, and is not supported in any way -- please use it at your own risk. You can download the sample control in the attached ModeSelector.zip file found at the very end of this post.FeedbackThis sample control should make it easier to place a ModeSelector control into an application, hook up a SelectionChanged event, and handle it to find out which event a user has selected.The Surface Garage team would appreciate feedback on the usefulness of this sample control for developers. Feedback will help frame future contributions from Surface Garage. Options include releasing more samples in an agile format similar to this one, which puts more work on the developer to figure out how to put things together. Or, they can do a slower contribution cadence with more polished source code, but fewer posts. Since the Surface Garage is really looking to help they Surface development community, they'd really like to know what you think. Please post your thoughts and comments below.

The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft® Surface® is available in Southeast Asia for first time. This Samsung-Microsoft collaboration is now offered through Samsung channel and reseller partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.The SUR40 enables people to communicate, collaborate and connect using touch and everyday objects. With PixelSense™ technology the thin 40 inch display can "see" and recognize fingers, hands and objects placed on the screen. The 1080p HD LCD display can be used horizontally like a table, or mounted vertically to a wall or stand. SUR40 also supports being embedded into fixtures and furniture."Both retailers and consumers are adapting to ever evolving ways of interacting with information and merchandise, and have expressed a desire for technology that delivers information in an engaging and visually dynamic way," said Chua Hwee Koon, IT Head, Southeast Asia, Oceania & Taiwan, Samsung Electronics. "With the availability of the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, Samsung is energizing the retail space and anticipates an all-new approach to customer engagement.""The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface is an intelligent, specialized device, that can deliver highly-customized, engaging experiences for retailers and their customers," said Somanna Palacanda, Director, Microsoft Surface. "We're excited to expand SUR40 availability to Southeast Asia and are eager to see the impact this innovative technology will have on a variety of industries."Specialized screen, amazing device The Samsung SUR40 is a collaborative multitouch device that combines Samsung LCD touch technology with Microsoft multitouch and object recognition software, earning it the CES Best of Innovations 2012 Award earlier this year. Microsoft PixelSense™ technology gives the SUR40 the ability to see without the use of cameras, supporting up to 50 simultaneous touch points. The is display is also protected by Gorilla Glass to increase durability and reduce external shock and liquid ingress.The Microsoft Surface 2.0 SDK provides developers the opportunity to build applications specialized for industry verticals such as retail, healthcare, media & entertainment, financial services, education and government. Major consumer brands and technology partners such as FUJIFILM, Le Métier de Beauté and Industrial Color have announced near-term plans to use Samsung SUR40 to support immersive retail scenarios, professional tools and marketing efforts.Availability and pricingPricing and availability for Samsung SUR40 may vary across countries and/or regions based on country specific duties, taxes and fees.For a price quote or information on how to order Samsung SUR40 please visit www.samsunglfd.com/solution/sur40.do

This post is adapted from an original French article by Benoit Landon of Gizmodo.fr - 28 March 2012Mazda and Microsoft recently held an event showcasing the new Mazda CX-5 crossover vehicle. The two companies used the opportunity to discuss their partnership and envision how products like Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, Kinect for Windows, and tablets will play an ever important role in the customer experience at Mazda dealerships.The event held at Microsoft's French headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux featured a virtual showroom that was realized in collaboration with Mazda. This concept showroom featured applications by Surface Premier Partner AFTER-MOUSE.COM utilizing the Samsung SUR40 and Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform to replace brochures, do product comparisons, and enable clients to personalize their new vehicles.Phillipe Geoffroy, President of Mazda France said [translated], "This virtual showroom forcasts how we will be arranging the layouts of our dealerships: a vending space that offers our clients their own individual route to purchase, where each customers creates a unique experience matching exactly what they're searching for, and ultimately helps facilitate the point of sale."AFTER-MOUSE.COM also adapted their applications to work with Kinect for Windows and tablets. For more details on the event and to see the original article please checkout Gizmodo.fr here: "Mazda et Microsoft imaginent la concession automobile de demain"

(Please visit the site to view this video)When David Brown comes to town you know you're in for a treat. He is a recognized leader in Surface application design and development, going back to the early days of Microsoft Surface 1.0. His latest project "NUIverse," a whimsical play on words inviting people to explore the universe through natural user interface (NUI), is an amazing example of the kind of applications that can only be fully realized on the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface.Last month David shared his time with us to demonstrate his NUIverse project, updated for the Microsoft Surface 2.0 platform. It's hard to convey in a blog video just how visually stunning this application looks, but even more amazing is how easy he makes it to control the complexity of the Solar System and night sky. Everytime we check-in with David the NUIverse gains new features and interaction refinements -- far too many to show at once. This application is a must have for any outer space enthusiast.Be sure to check out our video deep dive into the NUIverse on the Surface YouTube Channel. To learn more about NUIverse, and David Brown's past Surface projects, please checkout his blog at http://drdave.co.uk/blog 

I’m glad to see so many people excited to get their Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface (“SUR40”) units delivered. SUR40 is reaching customers in over 20 countries right now, and some of the unboxing videos, like this one, have been really fun to watch. I’ve also seen that a few people have questions about when to use the Calibration Tool found on the desktop. Hopefully I can help clarify those questions:Calibration instructions are available in the Microsoft Surface 2.0 Administration Guide (located here). One of the most important things to note is that you should always have a proper calibration board when calibrating.If you try to calibrate without the board, you’ll likely mess up your touch input. If you’re curious like me, your instinct might be to double-click the “Calibration Tool” icon located on the desktop just to see what it does. My recommendation is to leave it alone unless you already have your calibration board and you really need to recalibrate your unit.The best thing to do if you are experiencing any kind of touch performance issues with your unit is to first run the Environmental Light Optimizer tool (instructions here) and see if there are any light sources that may be causing issues. Samsung also provides a Venue Readiness Guide (found here) that has recommendations on optimal lighting which can also help.Some customers have noted receiving SUR40 units without calibration boards. The good thing is that most units won’t need to be re-calibrated for at least 1,000 hours; as they come calibrated from the factory. Customers that haven’t yet received calibration boards should be getting them from Samsung in the days ahead – well ahead of most customers ever needing them.–James 

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 SUR40Major 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:FujifilmThe 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 ColorThe 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 BeautéLe 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 CanadaPepsiCo 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 pricingSamsung 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

Hot on the heels of our recent Popular Science Award, we are pleased to announce that the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface has been selected as an International CES “Best of Innovations 2012” award winner. The awards recognize and honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 32 product categories, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which is currently underway.Sponsored by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the producer of the International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow has been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. The “Best of Innovations” honor is awarded to the products with the highest judges’ scores and will be featured in the Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase at the 2012 International CES.Entries are judged based on the following criteria:Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials usedAesthetic and design qualitiesThe product’s intended use/function and user valueUnique/novel features that consumers would find attractiveHow the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace.If you are attending CES this year, please be sure to stop by and check out the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface at the Innovations Showcase in the Venetian Ballroom at the Venetian Hotel.For more information about the “Best of Innovations 2012” award winners including the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, and the full press release, please visit the CES website at www.CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

Today we are excited to announce that the next generation of Surface, the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface, is now available for pre-order through Samsung resellers in 23 countries worldwide, including the United States. Automotive, education, finance, healthcare, hospitality, and retail are just some of the industries that will soon be able to take advantage of Samsung SUR40’s PixelSense technology, new, sleeker form factor and horizontal and vertical orientation options. Many new and existing customers, such as Dassault Aviation, Fujifilm Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada, have big plans for the Samsung SUR40 and are preparing to deploy units in locations early next year.Countries eligible to pre-order the Samsung SUR40 include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Stay tuned for product availability in additional markets coming soon. Check out Microsoft News Center for more information about the pre-order announcement. For details on how to pre-order the product, please visit the Samsung website at www.samsunglfd.com/solution/sur40.do

Recognized as “a thin tabletop computer that sees and responds to whatever is placed on it” the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface has been awarded an esteemed “Best of What’s New” Award for 2011 from Popular Science magazine. “For 24 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what’s possible in the future,” said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What’s New Award is the magazine’s top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − represent the highest level of achievement in their fields.”Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products, in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leaps in their categories.Popular Science praises the Samsung SUR40 for its object recognition and content possibilities stating that “developers are free to program custom games and more.” Though not explicitly noted by Popular Science, the Samsung SUR40 is available for commercial purchase only.For more information about the “Best of What’s New” award and full press release, visit the Popular Science website at popsci.com

What’s Going on with Microsoft Surface?By Somanna Palacanda, director, Microsoft SurfaceFrom search-and-rescue robots to social media streaming, Microsoft Surface continues to make a big splash for customers, partners and talented developers worldwide! Check out what Microsoft Surface has been up to lately. TOP NEWSSURFACE TAKES OFF WITH DASSAULT AVIATION At the 49th annual Paris Air Show, Dassault Aviation unveiled three new applications developed specifically for the Samsung SUR40for Microsoft Surface, the next generation of Surface. Key features of the applications include: A virtual tour of Dassault’s Rafale Export aircraft, including animated explanations of concepts, configurations and performances.Military Mission Planning tools including air patrol configuration and outline of the tactical situation.Post-flight debriefing and diagnostics support for flight line crew and mechanics.Check out this link for a sneak preview of these exciting new applications. MICROSOFT SURFACE GARAGEMany may be unaware of Microsoft’s “Surface Garage” sessions – an informal, bi-weekly gathering where great minds from across Microsoft, as well as outside the company in special circumstances, come together after-hours to innovate for Surface. This grassroots community allows developers to participate in live coding sessions, create new applications, controls and games, bounce ideas off like-minded colleagues, and share beneficial insights about their experience developing for the platform. Stay tuned for additional updates from the Surface Garage as we expect to see more from this talented and passionate group!  IN OTHER RECENT NEWSROBOTS TO THE RESCUE!The Robotics Lab at the University of Massachusetts has been hard at work leveraging Microsoft Surface for search-and-rescue efforts. Since Surface allows multiple users to interact simultaneously, unique gestures enable rescue teams to control robots with greater dexterity and precise control, which is critical to rescue efforts. And even more critical to these efforts, is the ability to do all of this remotely via Surface. Check out the robots in action over at the MSR blog. MICROSOFT SURFACE 2.0 GETS SOCIAL“Social Stream” for the next generation of Microsoft Surface is a sample application recently created via a collaborative effort between Microsoft and Stimulant, Inc. using the Surface 2.0 SDK. The new application offers businesses an interactive way for their customers to engage using the most recent and relevant Twitter, Flickr and RSS newsfeeds. For example, community generated photos, tweets, and stories flow across the Microsoft Surface display so that several people can touch and share interesting content with one another. Learn more about the Social Stream application and download it here. SURFACE AS NEWSPAPER OF THE FUTUREThe New York Times R&D Lab recently released a video demo of a Microsoft Surface application that turned the device into a newspaper of the future. In the shared scenario, news articles and photos are presented as visual snapshots that can be moved, opened and flipped for multiple user interaction. View the NY Times app in the video below.(Please visit the site to view this video) SEAMLESS COMPUTING WITH SURFACEDr. Neil Roodyn from nSquared has developed a seamless computing framework that integrates Microsoft Surface and other media devices like Windows tablets, Windows Phone and Kinect. Check out Dr. Neil Roodyn in a video demonstration of this cool technology below.(Please visit the site to view this video)  For more information, please contact surfacepress@edelman.com.

Dr. Neil Roodyn (nsquared), one of our MVPs, just posted a video showing integration between multiple devices and Microsoft Surface. I personally liked some of the scenarios he describes, and how interactive objects (in this case phones and tablets) are used in conjunction with the Surface unit.Congratulations Dr. Neil!  

As I mentioned last week, today is the big day! Today we are releasing the Microsoft Surface SDK and related resources. Below are the links to the development resources we promised. Microsoft&reg; Surface&reg; 2.0 SDK and Runtime " href...(read more)

Today I’m excited to share with you resources that should improve our partner’s ability to design and develop Surface Applications to support the next generation device – the Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface. We are going to launch...(read more)