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Microsoft's Surface takes a hit during NFL playoff game
CNET ^ | 01/24/16 | Steven Musil

Posted on 01/25/2016 3:03:56 AM PST by Enlightened1

Tablets on New England Patriots' sideline fail, preventing coaches and players from using the devices to review plays.

Microsoft's tablet partnership with the National Football League has not always been smooth.

After Microsoft struck a reported $400 million deal in 2013 with the NFL to have its Surfaces exclusively on team sidelines for reviewing plays, TV commentators kept referring to them as "iPads." At the time, it was said that networks were constantly reminding their talkers that the Surface looks nothing like an iPad and should therefore be referred to by its actual name.

Microsoft suffered another public black eye during the AFC championship game Sunday between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, when the tablets on the Patriots' sidelines apparently failed.

"They're having some trouble with their Microsoft Surface tablets," CBS' sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported during the game. "On the last defensive possession the Patriots' coaches did not have access to those tablets to show pictures to their players. NFL officials have been working at it. Some of those tablets are back in use, but not all of them. A lot of frustration that they didn't have them on that last possession."

The Patriots' tablets were soon restored to working order after the brief interruption, which a Microsoft spokesman blamed on a network connectivity issue.

"Our team on the field has confirmed the issue was not related to the tablets themselves but rather an issue with the network," the company said in a statement. "We worked with our partners who manage the network to ensure the issue was resolved quickly."

The Broncos, who apparently didn't suffer a tablet interruption, were allowed to continue using their tablets because NFL rules require the tablets to be shut down for both teams only if they malfunction before the game begins.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Miscellaneous; Sports
KEYWORDS: fail; microsoft; patriots; tablets
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To: Up Yours Marxists

For one thing iPads have not only just Wifi but they go off Cell Towers too. Thus, a Wifi Router goes down, then the iPad will automatically go to the back up on the Cell Towers.

Apple’s are just a more stable platform. That’s why you do not spend any time cleaning up viruses, malware, Trojans, hijackers,etc... with Apples. They are very secure and stable.

Microsoft machines are cheaper, but then you lose time and money running cleaners all the time on them. Plus you have to spend additional money if you want Microsoft Office. So in the end it all comes about to be the same. Apple you pay more upfront and have a pleasant experience. Microsoft you pay less and deal with issues.


41 posted on 01/25/2016 4:02:16 AM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Enlightened1

So in this case the iPad would go down too, assuming they don’t run this NFL software over the internet, right?


42 posted on 01/25/2016 4:05:33 AM PST by Up Yours Marxists
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To: Up Yours Marxists

Microsoft spokesman blamed on a network connectivity issue... believing that is right up there with believing Obama.


43 posted on 01/25/2016 4:07:26 AM PST by maddog55 (America Rising a new Civil War needs to happen.)
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To: Up Yours Marxists

No they would not. That’s only Microsoft issue since Bill Gates basically copied Apple platform and named it Windows anyhow.


44 posted on 01/25/2016 4:07:56 AM PST by Enlightened1
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To: maddog55

Your wireless network never goes down? Wow!

Tell me what to get. I’m all ears.


45 posted on 01/25/2016 4:09:31 AM PST by Up Yours Marxists
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To: Enlightened1

So the dual network option isn’t available on any Microsoft tablets?

And what does your statement have anything to do with this. Apple and Microsoft had offerings at the same time. Apple lost. Boo hoo.


46 posted on 01/25/2016 4:13:38 AM PST by Up Yours Marxists
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To: Enlightened1

If Surface is the official NFL tablet, doesn’t that mean the other team was using the same device but not necessarily the same network?


47 posted on 01/25/2016 4:22:03 AM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Up Yours Marxists
You obviously have a fetish for Microsoft which is kind of scary but you're entitled to your opinion.

My wireless goes down off an on like most folks and then I sometimes spend 20 minutes or so getting my Win 7 computer to recognize it's back up and running. Last person I'd take the word of is a Microsoft spokesperson on a Microsoft product.

48 posted on 01/25/2016 4:22:05 AM PST by maddog55 (America Rising a new Civil War needs to happen.)
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To: Enlightened1

Let me guess let me guess! Err Phantom touch and gestures made input impossible.


49 posted on 01/25/2016 4:22:26 AM PST by the_daug
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To: Up Yours Marxists

I have had an iPad for 5 years. My children haven’t destroyed it. It had no case for 3 of those years. My children have played games on this iPad since we bought it.


50 posted on 01/25/2016 4:23:26 AM PST by petitfour (Americans need to repent.)
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To: catfish1957

Even the NFL announcers were calling them MS Tablets. Ouch.


Pretty funny. After being reminded by the network not to call them iPads, the commentators then referred to the failing tablets properly as MS Tablets.


51 posted on 01/25/2016 4:24:38 AM PST by Flick Lives (One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast. -- Heinlein)
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To: Enlightened1

lol my husband said the same thing but I pointed out it sounded like a network issue. But of course he insists macs never have any problems. lol whatever. I use microcrap, which certainly has plenty of flaws, but macs are not flawless.


52 posted on 01/25/2016 4:30:44 AM PST by visualops (Why yes, I am on the #TrumpTrain. I'd like to win for a change.)
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To: Enlightened1

by entire stadium you mean people on various smartphone data providers? how does that have anything to do with sideline connectivity to camera feeds or other data on an entirely different network?


53 posted on 01/25/2016 4:35:23 AM PST by visualops (Why yes, I am on the #TrumpTrain. I'd like to win for a change.)
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To: Up Yours Marxists
Tell us how useful it is. Convince me why I need to go out and buy one right away. How it will change my life.

It isn't the Messiah. Jesus will change your life.

However, an IPad is an outstanding piece of equipment, and you can "use" it for everything from watching movies, viewing mail, managing your calendar, writing papers, making slides, sending messages, or even using it as a phone. It can use any App, from 3-D world maps to scanning, to real estate functions, you name it.

To make a claim such as yours, that it is only good for games, was and is a ridiculous statement on your part.

54 posted on 01/25/2016 4:35:23 AM PST by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
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To: Enlightened1

okay you really should stop talking when you don’t have a clue.


55 posted on 01/25/2016 4:39:22 AM PST by visualops (Why yes, I am on the #TrumpTrain. I'd like to win for a change.)
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To: visualops
A lot of reasons they could have lost connection, but if multiple units failed at the same time and were previously working, network connectivity would be a likely culprit. If Denver's didn't go down, that indicates they were using a private network. That makes sense, as it keeps the opposing team from intercepting the messages.

In terms of advertising, not good for Microsoft, cause whether it was a MS problem or not, announcers were still on a national broadcast using Microsoft name and "not working."

56 posted on 01/25/2016 4:45:33 AM PST by Richard Kimball
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To: Enlightened1
How come no one else in the entire stadium had network issues?

Each team is going to be on its own network for reasons that should be obvious. There would be a whole team of network specialists, probably not even MS folks, making sure the networks were properly set up and secure. The computers simply lost their connectivity with one another on the network, most likely because of a flaw in how the network was set up. Nobody is suggesting that the computers weren't able to get a wireless signal. Anyone with any knowledge at all about computers and networks knows that blaming this on the tablets themselves is nonsensical.

57 posted on 01/25/2016 4:49:16 AM PST by KevinB (Barack Obama: Our first black, gay, Kenyan, Socialist, Muslim president!)
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To: Enlightened1

Wireless networking in a venue where there were probably 75,000 or more devices with WiFi enabled and people trying to connect to anything that shows up is going to be a challenge.


58 posted on 01/25/2016 4:52:51 AM PST by IamConservative (There is no greater threat to our freedoms than Bipartisanship.)
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To: Enlightened1

Everyone else in the stadium would be on a different network. Do you really think the opposing team would share a network with the Patriots? They each get an independent network for security.


59 posted on 01/25/2016 5:10:23 AM PST by catbertz
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To: Up Yours Marxists
You obviously lack reading comprehension because the article clearly stated the problem lie in the network, not the tablets.

In other words, they investigated themselves and found someone else guilty. And you believed them.

60 posted on 01/25/2016 5:20:13 AM PST by IncPen (There is not one single patriot in Washington, DC.)
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