Updated: Surface 3: news, features and release date

Updated: Here's everything you need to know about the newly announced Surface 3.

At long last the Surface 3 is here and it many ways it's like a smaller version of the Surface Pro 3, though it's not quite as small as the rumored Surface Mini. It's been over a year and change since the Surface Pro 3 hit the shelves, but at long last its thinner and lighter companion has arrived. It has come at a perfect juncture in light of Microsoft's recent Windows 10 debut, which has seen the company take the first major step toward merging the OS across all devices

The Surface 3 is the first non-Pro Surface to get full-fat Windows 8.1, rather than Windows RT, which featured on the original Surface RT and Surface 2.

10.8 inches, the new tablet is closer in length to those devices while being slightly taller due to its 3:2 aspect ratio display. The new tablet inherits many qualities from the Surface Pro 3 including a 3:2 aspect ratio display and three-point kickstand, though it comes packing a little less in the power department

Release date

The Surface 3 is hitting the ground running with preorders starting on the day of its announcement, March 31. Soon after, starting May 5 user will be able to purchase their Surface 3 and new accessories on the online and physical Microsoft stores and other retailers and commercial. Microsoft claims its latest tablet will be available in 26 markets by May 7th.

A pixel-packing, roomy display

Like the Surface Pro 3, the Surface 3's display has made the switch from a 16:9 aspect ratio to 3:2. The slightly taller and narrower screen did wonders for productivity with the Surface 3 and it should do likewise with Microsoft's smaller 10.8-inch tablet-PC.

Disappointingly, Microsoft decided to stick with similar 1,920 x 1,280 panel so there haven't been any drastic improvements in resolution. However, this full HD display paired with a low-powered Atom processor, should help the Surface 3 last for longer than most Windows machines.

That sturdier kickstand and keyboard cover design

Whereas the kickstand on the back of the older Surface 2 flipped out to help the tablet stand up and a slightly more tilted angle, the Surface 3 can bend all the way back as if it were participating in a limbo. The new third position allows the Surface 3 to get nice and down low for users who want to paint with their tablet or use it as a Heartstone pad on their lap.

On top of the kickstand, the Surface 3 also has a newly redesigned keyboard cover featuring the same magnetized bottom bezel that has vastly improved typing on Microsoft's pro-bent tablet. Frankly, both features seem like shoo-ins, given their critical reception with the Surface Pro 3.

Full-fat Windows

Initially it seemed as though Windows RT's concept was sound. It was a touchscreen focused alternative to the full Windows 8 experience. Initially, it would have been driven by touch-sensitive Windows 8 apps and run on ARM-based hardware, allowing devices to be thinner and cheaper while offering longer battery life. However RT's inability to run legacy Windows programs and confusion around the platform led it to being shunned by many.

Now the Surface 3 puts the final nail in Windows RT's coffin by coming loaded with the full Windows 8.1 experience. With the unfettered system operating system, users will finally be able to use modern applications alongside the desktop version of Microsoft Office on Microsoft's smaller tablet. With Windows 10 around the corner you can bet Microsoft will offer users a free upgrade.

Specs to suit a wallet-friendly price point

After the Surface Pro 3 came at a lower starting price point than previous Surface Pro devices and thankfully our hopes the Surface 3 would follow suit in this regard came through.

Microsoft's Surface tablets have always come in at a lower price point than those in its Pro range it seems the introduction of Windows 8.1 has bought the price of a 64GB unit down from USD £439 ($549, AU$629) to £419 and $499 (about AU$814). For the money you'll also get a an 1.6GHz Intel Atom x7- Z8700 "Cherry Trail" processor paired with a 64GB SSD and 2GB of RAM. Alternatively, users could bump up to the £499 and $599 (about AU$970) configuration with 4GB of RAM and 128GB for storage.

As such, we reckoned comes packing an Intel Atom processor to keep the costs down while providing enough beef to run both Windows 8.1 apps and legacy desktop programs without wheezing. We're a bit surprised Microsoft didn't go with an even lower-impact Intel Core M-processor, but the Atom-chipset should give the tablet a bit more horsepower to plow through more heavy computing tasks and even some light gaming.

Built-in 4G

The original version of the Surface 2 missed out on 4G, which was baked into a newer model six months after the original device's release. Likewise it seems the Surface 3, however will come with a 4G LTE equipped models coming down the pipe.

Microsoft has announced 4G LTE-equipped models will ship shipping June 26, featuring 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM or another 128GB model with 4GB of RAM. Pricing details have yet to be disclosed but stay tuned for updates.

Touch-sensitive Office

According to rumors, the Surface Mini was initially delayed so that it could launch at the same time as Microsoft's touch-friendly version of Office for Windows, codenamed "Gemini". With the Surface Mini canned (for now), the Surface 3 could have been the frontrunner to launch with Microsoft's long-awaited tactile productivity suite. Now it seems the Office 2016, due to release later this year, might be the next window of opportunity for the software maker to reveal a slew of new features.

The arrival of touch-friendly Office would finally give you the best of both worlds: full-sized desktop Office for keyboard and mouse users, and touch-sensitive Gemini apps for those who prefer a tablet-like experience when being productive. What's not to like?

• Check out our Surface 3 hands-on review right now!

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Scientists are using teleportation in a computer chip right now

A group of scientists from the UK and Japan have managed to produce a chip that uses a special type of teleportation called quantum teleportation to make quantum computers a little easier to manufacture.

Silicon-based processors in your smartphone or tablet for example rely on bits (0s and 1s) to do computations. Quantum computers uses the Qubit (Quantum bit) and because they are so complex to build, only a few have been built and sold.

But with Jeff Bezos, Google, Lockheed Martin, Amazon and CIA backing the concept, it's only a matter of time before Quantum computers break into mainstream and the solution build by these engineers could well be an important milestone.

In a nutshell, it is a microchip that integrates a bit silicon and a lot of optical circuits, reducing the footprint required by about 10000 (from 1 to 0.0001 square metres).

Doing so solves a number of issues like power consumption, cost, manufacturing and scalability; most importantly, it will allow the industrial production of these integrated circuit chips.

Based on photonics, Quantum processors will pave the way for ultra-secure and ultra-powerful computers to replace the current crop of copper-linked CPUs.

• Want to find out what is the best processor you can buy?

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In Depth: Android through the ages

Introduction

Android has the largest install base of any operating system, mobile or desktop. And it's not just in phones and tablets: smart TVs, cars and smartwatches are all powered by the little green man.

Its triumph hasn't always seemed inevitable, though – in fact its beginnings, back in October 2003, were downright troubled. We track its rise, from unlikely start to acquisition by Google and today's dominance.

Android, Inc. and pre-commercial releases

In October 2003 Android, Inc was founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears and Chris White. Its aim was to create an advanced operating system for digital cameras, turning them in to "smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's location and preferences," according to Rubin.

It soon became apparent that there wasn't much of a market for that, so Android, Inc. turned its attention to smartphones in a bid to rival mobile operating systems Symbian and Windows mobile.

After a shaky start, where funding became an issue, Android, Inc was acquired by Google on August 17 2005, and a number of Android, Inc. employees stayed on. A team led by Rubin began work on a mobile device operating system based on the Linux kernel. The green Android logo was designed by Irina Blok, and the beta version was released on November 5, 2007.

Android 1.0

Android 1.0, the first commercial version of Android, was released on September 23, 2008, with the first commercially available Android device being the HTC Dream.

Even though it was the first official release, Android 1.0 brought a number of features that we've come to rely on, including a web browser, camera support, Gmail synchronisation with the Gmail app, YouTube video player, Google Maps, Contacts and Calendar synchronisation as well.

Applications could be downloaded through the Android Market and launched from the Home screen. An update, Android 1.1, was released on February 9, 2009, adding a few new features and fixing a range of bugs.

Android 1.5 Cupcake

The Android 1.5 update was launched on April 27, 2009, and it is notable for being the first Android release to have a code name based on a dessert – something that has since become a trademark. Each new version since also gets a dessert-inspired statue erected on the lawn of Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.

But why the dessert names? According to Randall Sarafa, a Google spokesperson who talked to CNN: "It's kind of like an internal team thing, and we prefer to be a little bit - how should I say - a bit inscrutable in the matter. The obvious thing is that, yeah, the Android platform releases, they go by dessert names and by alphabetical order for the most part."

With Android 1.5 Cupcake new features were introduced such as widgets, which were small versions of apps that can be viewed from the home screen. Android 1.5-equipped smartphones could also record video in MPEG-4 format, Bluetooth devices could auto pair and stream stereo audio, and user pictures could be added to favourite contacts.

Android 1.6 Donut

Android 1.6 Donut was released on September 15, 2009. Android looked better than ever thanks to support for WVGA (780 x 480) resolution screens, and apps such as Gallery and Camera were better integrated, letting you take photos and then view them quickly and easily.

Voice and text search was also improved to include bookmarks, history, contacts and content from the internet, and app developers were able to include their content in the search results. This meant that Android 1.6 Donut felt like the most coherent version of Android so far.

Android 2.0 Éclair

On October 26 we got our third major Android release of 2009 with Android 2.0 Éclair. This important update included Microsoft Exchange email support, along with the ability to browse emails from a number of different accounts in the same inbox.

Text messages were also improved, allowing users to search all of their saved SMS and MMS messages, and typing speed was improved on the virtual keyboard.

The camera app got additional features as well, including flash support, digital zoom scene modes, colour effects and macro focus mode.

Android 2.0.1 was released on December 3, 2009, and Android 2.1 followed on January 12, 2010, both bringing minor improvements and bug fixes.

Android 2.2 Froyo

Android 2.2 Froyo hit devices on May 20, 2010. "Froyo" is frozen yoghurt, in case you were worried Google had confused desserts with annoying children's toys .

This update included a number of speed and performance optimisations. USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, now commonplace on smartphones, were brought in with Android 2.2. You could also prevent your device from downloading data over your mobile network, which was helpful for keeping your phone bill under control, and you could create passwords using both numbers and letters for additional security.

The Market application was also improved to allow batch and automatic updates of the apps you've installed, and high PPI (Pixel Per Inch) screens were supported for better image quality.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Android 2.3 Gingerbread was released on December 6, 2010 with an updated user interface that prioritised ease of use and speed. The onscreen keyboard was also overhauled for more intuitive text input and improved accuracy.

Near Field Communication (NFC) was included for the first time, and the new Download Manager made keeping track of files you downloaded from the internet or your emails easier than ever.

Native support for gyroscopes, barometers and other sensors meant your Android device could now feature advanced apps that accurately track your location, movement and activity.

Android 3.0 Honeycomb

On February 22, 2011 Google launched its first tablet-only Android update: Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and two days later the first device to have the update preinstalled, the Motorola Xoom, was released.

As Android 3.0 Honeycomb was a strictly tablet-focused release, a new "holographic" user interface was ushered in with the update. The System Bar brought notifications and the soft navigation buttons to the bottom of the screen. These navigation buttons, which include the Back, Home and Recent Applications icons, have become a common sight on Android devices, and allowed phone and tablet manufacturers to make completely button-free devices.

The bottom of the screen wasn't getting all the love, however, with the Action Bar being brought to the top of the screen, offering contextual options, navigation and widgets.

Other improvements to the user interface included multiple browser tabs, an "incognito" mode for anonymous browsing, and advanced views for contacts and emails.

Multicore processors were supported for the first time as well, ushering a new generation of powerful Android devices.

Android 3.1 launched on May 10 2011 and brought USB connectivity for accessories, FLAC audio playback and resizeable Home screen widgets. A further update, Android 3.2, included support for Google TV.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich released on October 18 2011 and was promised to be compatible with any device that was running Android 2.3 or later. The Holo interface was given a major revamp, and a brand new typeface, Roboto, was brought in as the default system font for Android.

Folders were overhauled to be easier to create using drag and drop commands, apps could be accessed from the lock screen, the camera app was improved and now supported 1080p video recording, and the web browser could now synchronise with user's Chrome bookmarks.

Face Unlock, which uses facial recognition to unlock devices, was also included, though even now many of us wonder why Google bothered.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

On July 9 2012, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released, and the main aim of the update was to improve the user interface in both performance and features. Special attention was lavished on the graphics side of the operating system, including technology that would ensure the interface would run at 60 frames per second to make it feel smooth and responsive.

Sound was also improved with multi channel audio support, USB audio and gapless playback. Third party app launchers were also given better support, allowing users to tailor their Android experience.

Android 4.2 followed on November 13, 2012, which brought widget support to the lock screen and allowed you to swipe to directly launch the camera app. Quick Settings was added to the top power controls menu, Daydream screensavers were included and multiple user accounts were now supported on tablets.

Android 4.3 was released on July 24, 2013, and included a number of new features including Open GL ES 3.0 support for improved graphics in games, Bluetooth low energy features, right-to-left language support and compatibility with 4K screens.

Android 4.4 KitKat

For a while Google was expected to go with the codename Key Lime Pie, however on October 31, 2013, Android 4.4 was released with the more identifiable KitKat moniker, and the first device to run it was the Nexus 5, which was released on the same day.

A number of tweaks were made to give the interface a fresh look, but it wasn't all about aesthetics. A new "immersive mode" was also included, which allowed apps to hide the onscreen buttons and status bar when they're not needed, giving the apps use of the full screen. If you needed the buttons at any time you could swipe down from the top of the screen or up from the bottom to bring them back.

NFC host card emulation was another new feature, and although it doesn't sound particularly exciting, it meant that a device running Android 4.4 could emulate an NFC card and talk to NFC readers, allowing you to use your device to pay for goods, and make use of other contactless features.

You can read our review of Android 4.4 KitKat to see what we made of all the new features.

Android Wear

On March 18, 2014 Android Wear, a version of Android specifically designed for smartwatches and wearables, was released.

Android Wear uses Google Now and mobile notifications to bring important information to wearable tech, though you need to pair it with a smartphone running Android 4.3 or later to get the full experience.

The first Android Wear devices, the Samsung Gear Live and the LG G Watch, were launched on June 25, 2014, with the Moto 360 coming later on September 5, 2014.

Android Wear has been a big hit, with estimates that over 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped in the six months after its launch.

On December 10, 2014, an update was released that added the ability to create and install custom watch faces, and updated the software to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Android 5.0 Lollipop

The latest version, Android 5.0 Lollipop, was first announced on June 25, 2014, during the Google I/O conference, and became officially available on November 12, 2014.

Once again the interface received a major overhaul, this time getting the flat and minimalist "material design" theme. Notifications were also tweaked and could now be seen on the lockscreen – though the ability to view widgets when the handset is locked was removed.

The results of Project Volta were included to help improve battery life for devices running Android 5.0, third party apps were again allowed access to data stored on SD cards, and a new smart lock feature allowed you to easily lock and unlock your device in certain situations and locations.

Version 5.1 followed on March 9, 2015, giving users the ability to make high definition voice calls between Android 5.1-toting devices, multiple SIM card support, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings including in the quick settings menu and improved device protection.

• Android 5.0 Lollipop is currently still being rolled out to devices, so if you're waiting to upgrade check out our regularly updated article on when you can expect to get the latest version of Android.

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Google to supercharge the web using Samsung's flash memory

Samsung has reportedly agreed a deal to supply Google data centres with revolutionary new flash memory technology that has the potential to deliver a big boost to its services across the globe.

The deal, first reported by Korea Times, means Google data centres will soon run on the high-performance 3D NAND flash memory chips, which reportedly are also being readied for the Apple MacBook.

"Samsung is in discussions with Google to end some minor differences such as guaranteed shipments and pricing," said an executive from a Samsung Electronics partner company, also describing the deal as "sizeable".

Based on Samsung's 3D V-NAND, the SSDs allow 32-layers to be stacked on top of one another to enable more memory to be crammed into the same space as the company current planar 2D NAND standard.

Amazon on board

Samsung's new technology is proving popular with Amazon, Apple and possibly even Facebook looking to get in on the fun in the near future. It is also targeting the consumer market and to that end, the company has two new tiny SSDs ready to be crammed into the new generation of svelte ultrabooks.

The Korean behemoth isn't alone in the 3D V-NAND sector and has in fact already been outdone by Toshiba's and SanDisk's effort that stacks a whopping 48-layers plus Intel and Micron also have their own offering.

• The biggest revolution in the data centre could land in 2017

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Microsoft launches Windows 10 music and video apps

Windows Insiders can get their hands on another pair of universal apps after Microsoft unleashed the music and video apps into the beta version of the store.

The new apps can be downloaded via the store beta grey tile inside the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview build and give users a flavor of what listening to music and viewing videos will be like inside the new OS.

Music brings together all local MP3s, content in OneDrive and any music saved on Xbox Music Pass. It can then be used to create playlists that can be accessed across Windows devices, Xbox consoles and at music.xbox.com.

The video app, meanwhile, gives users the power to browse and play video files in one place including any TV shows or movies bought on Xbox Video. It also lets you pause and resume content across devices.

Microsoft applied Windows branding to its universal apps a little over a week ago when it brought them all under the 'Windows app" banner and they will work in much same way on all Windows 10 devices including laptops, tablets, desktops, smartphones, IoT devices and the Xbox.

Offline play on the way

For the moment users cannot buy content through the beta apps, however, the Windows 8.1 Music and Video apps run side-by-side with the Windows 10 preview apps and can be used to procure content.

Microsoft is encouraging users to give feedback on the two apps and is promising a range of enhancements in the coming months. This includes everything from the ability to purchase content through both apps to downloading movies and TVs for offline play.

• Check out our hands-on review of Windows 10

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