Microsoft going after Apple's notebook market in the guise of offering education solution for students

Looking at the Surface Laptops, they look very much like machines that could fit Apple's notebook niche nicely. They're thin and light, geared towards style-conscious users (Burgundy notebook, sweet!), yet Microsoft claims they are more powerful than last year's MacBook Pros and they have better battery life while being thinner and lighter.

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Microsoft today held an education event where it launched various initiatives towards strengthening its position in the educational space. The introduced Windows 10 S, a secure version of Windows that relies purely on the Microsoft Store to download and manage apps. The laptops aren't coming to Canada until 'later this year'.

Microsoft also introduced their first bona fide notebook, the Surface Laptop, which starts at US $999, features Core i5 and i7 processors, a touch display for Pen input, 14-hours of battery life, a striking seamless premium design that incorporates unibody enclosure with a colourful cloth covered keyboards and a variety of sexy colours. While Windows 10 S, looks like a better option to Chrome OS, specially if it can run on low-priced (sub $400) notebooks built for education, the Surface Laptop is clearly Microsoft's latest thrust into Apple's notebook market.

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Leaks show Fitbit's new smartwatch and headphones

Fibit's first 'smartwatch' coming after its acquisition of Pebble seems to have been leaked along with the company's Bluetooth headphones. Possible an updated version of its Blaze fitness tracker, which looks like a smartwatch, the render shows a squarish watch with rose gold accents and possible removeable bands. The device is said to be sporting a GPS as well as Heart Rate monitor plus NFC for payments, which are all critical features of the Apple Watch. There's also talk of an app store just for this device which will be sold for $300.

Fitbit is also targetting the popular Bluetooth headphone market with what is expected to be a $150 pair of Bluetooth headfphones. While the design isn't all that exciting or new, it could well be a prototype with the final version looking more appealing. Personally, I am interested to see some of Pebble's design and software personality make it over to Fitbit. The fitness tracking and analytics is already peerless, the smartwatch aspect, not so much. Here's hoping Fitbit can leapfrog their previous attempts at merging both.

LG rumoured to be releasing a ‘mini’ version of the G6

There might not just be one version of the LG G6 this year. TechnoBuffalo first found a document dated earlier this year that shows display specs of a phone that had the G6’s 18:9 aspect ratio but with a smaller 5.4-inch screen. It can’t be said yet if LG will release this “mini” version but it’s not something to scratch off just yet. It’s possible LG will want to build on the success of the G6 and have a follow-up. They’ve done this before.

Or one more theory floating around is this smaller smartphone could finally pack in a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor in place of the Snapdragon 821 in the G6. Snapdragon 835 was first reserved for the S8 since Samsung co-developed the processor with Qualcomm. Perhaps now is the time, LG took advantage of the new processor? Would you buy a smaller LG G6?

Source: Digital Trends

Microsoft's Surface Notebook leaks ahead of tomorrow's Education Event

Even Microsoft isn't immune to monumental product leaks as its awaited Surface Laptop seems to have been outed just a day before an education-focused event. Several renders of the new line of notebookswere shared on Twitter by @WalkingCat hours ago. 

This is Microsoft's first true Notebook (the Surface Book is a 2-in-1), and it appears to be a 13.5-inch laptop in classic clamshell fashion. Judging from the photos, the Surface Notebook is a cross between the Surface Book and the various Type Cover keyboards of the Surface Pro 4. The leaks state 4 colours (Platinum/Burgundy/Cobalt Blue/Graphite Gold), Alcantara-covered keyboards and Windows S.

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