LAS VEGAS: Samsung and Microsoft have teamed up to reveal the next generation Surface 2.0, the Samsung SUR40 multi-touch computer. The latest iteration of Microsoft's Surface incorporates Samsung's new PixelSense technology in its display. It allows the display to recognize fingers, hands and objects placed on the screen, including more than 50 simultaneous touch points. Pixels in the display "see" what's touching the screen and that information is immediately processed and interpreted. The latest version of Microsoft's Surface software has a new look and feel. It also allows commercial application developers to use a new version of the Microsoft Surface SDK and familiar Microsoft development tools to take advantage of the multitouch and object recognition capabilities of PixelSense to deliver unique user experiences. It is powered by an embedded AMD Athlon II X2 Dual-Core Processor 2.9GHz paired with an AMD Radeon HD 6700M Series GPU featuring DirectX 11 support. The device is designed for use in retail, hospitality and education contexts and has a slimmer four inches thick form factor, which makes it useable horizontally, or hanging vertically with a VESA mount, or embedded in walls or custom enclosures. Standard legs are available or customers can design and attach their own. The retail price of the Samsung SUR40 starts at $7,600. It will be available later in 2011 in 23 countries: 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. Meanwhile, in Seoul, Samsung Electronics said Friday that both sales and operating profit likely rose to record highs in 2010 despite sluggishness at the end of the year amid lower prices for televisions and semiconductors. The manufacturer of the 7000 Series 3D flat panel TV estimated that consolidated revenue during 2010 came to 153.76 trillion won ($137.31 billion), which would be an increase of 13 percent from the previous year's record performance of 136.32 trillion won. The company also said that operating profit for last year is expected to reach 17.28 trillion won, a surge of 58 percent from 2009. Samsung's stellar performance further cements the position it has gained over the past decade as a dominant global consumer technology company, surging past Japanese rivals such as Sony Corp. Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. ranks as the world's biggest manufacturer of memory chips, liquid crystal displays and flat-screen televisions. It stands No. 2 in mobile phones behind Finland's Nokia Corp. and aims to challenge the dominance of Apple Inc.'s iPhone with its Galaxy S smartphone. The company, as usual, gave no reason for the expected business results and plans to release details when it formally announces earnings at the end of this month, according to spokesman Jason Kim.
