In addition to two new Surface tablets, Microsoft also announced a couple of new Touch Covers today. The company assures us that these new accessories will work with the old models of Surface, too, so you don't have to buy a new tablet to get a new keyboard for your Surface. The Touch Cover 2 will be back-lit and packs 1092 sensors. This is compared to the paltry 80 sensors in Microsoft's original Touch Cover. Despite all those extra sensors, it's actually thinner than the original as well, measuring in at 2.75 mm. It will be priced at $119.99 when it launches and is up for pre-order tomorrow.
There's also a new Type Cover, which Microsoft says has the same design as the original (so we assume the same thickness and weight). It too is back-lit, and Microsoft says it's quieter and more rigid. Available in Cyan, Magenta, Purple and Black, it will be priced at $129.99
As previously rumored, Microsoft also debuted a new Power Cover, which comes with an integrated battery to extend the life of your tablet. It's basically a Type Cover with a battery thrown in, and Microsoft says it'll increase your battery by up to 50 percent. It won't be out for a while (Microsoft is promising early 2014) but it will retail for $199.99 when it does go on sale.
The Docking Station for Surface Pro is the first real dock we've seen for the Surface brand and allows users to connect to an external monitor, Ethernet, a power supply, or speakers thanks to USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports. Its price and release date match that of the Power Cover.
Microsoft also announced a wireless Bluetooth adapter for its covers. This attaches to the cover (Touch Cover or Type Cover) and allows users to type from anywhere in the room via Bluetooth. It'll cost $59.99 and is up for pre-order starting tomorrow. The USB car charger offers power and charging via the the lighter port in your car and provides a USB port for charging another device. It is priced at $49.99 but won't be available until next year.
Lastly, there's the Arc Touch Mouse for Surface. The Arc Touch Mouse has been updated to match the Surface aesthetic and connects via Bluetooth 3.0. Priced at $69.99, it goes up for pre-order tomorrow.
Microsoft also briefly showed off a Music Cover, which has 16 programmable keys and additional pressure sensitive buttons that allow you to mix tracks using your Surface Tablet. The back-lit keyboard is a limited edition cover that requires a special app and is part of the Surface Remix Project. You can win a new Surface complete with the Music Kit via the Surface Remix contest page.
Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions with these accessories!
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