The Surface Dial: A Comprehensive Guide to Microsoft's Innovative Accessory

As we take a closer look at the Surface Dial, it becomes clear that this Windows 10 accessory is more than just a peripheral device. Launched alongside the Surface Studio, but compatible with any Windows 10 device, the Surface Dial is designed to enhance the user experience and provide a new way of interacting with digital content.

Upon opening the box, we're greeted by the sleek aluminum design of the Surface Dial. The device feels high-quality and nicely weighted in our hands, making it an attractive addition to any workspace. A sticker on the underside of the device explains how to set up the Bluetooth pairing process, ensuring that users can easily connect their Surface Dial to their Windows 10 device.

To access the batteries and pairing button, we need to remove the base of the device, which is surprisingly magnetic and attaches easily. Two AAA batteries are preinstalled, making it ready to go out of the box. To activate the pairing process, simply press and hold the pairing button for five seconds. An LED light will appear, indicating that the device is ready to be paired.

Once we've reattached the base and paired our Surface Dial with our computer, we can use it in two different modes: attached to the screen or off-screen on a solid surface like a desk. When used off-screen, the device provides an on-screen interface, which can be repositioned using a virtual touchscreen. However, this feature is currently only supported by the Surface Studio, and even then, the device tends to slowly slide off the glass when in use.

Despite some limitations, the Surface Dial offers a range of tools that can be used to control various apps. The device can be turned left or right to navigate menus, scrub videos, scroll lists, zoom in and out, or make incremental adjustments like adjusting volume or brightness. Clicking the knob allows for making selections, while long-pressing brings up an on-screen menu to select different tools to control with the left and right turn of the knob.

The surface that the Surface Dial comes into contact with can also provide haptic feedback, simulating detents for certain tools. However, we find this feature a bit too strong, as it can cause vibrations that might be annoying on certain surfaces. Thankfully, users can disable this feature under settings.

One of the primary roles of the Surface Dial is to serve as a secondary control mechanism for creative professionals using apps like Photoshop or video editors. By allowing users to change colors or width of their drawing tools on the fly, the Surface Dial provides an intuitive way to work with digital content. While we couldn't fully demonstrate this feature with the Sketch app, it's clear that the Surface Dial is designed to enhance the workflow for creative professionals.

The Surface Dial also comes with a settings panel, where users can customize various settings and options. This includes adjusting the sensitivity of the device or turning off the haptic feedback feature altogether. With its sleek design and range of features, the Surface Dial is an innovative accessory that's sure to please both tech enthusiasts and creative professionals alike.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enWhat's up guys? Mike here, the DetroitBORGand today we're taking a look at the Surface Dial.This is a Windows 10 accessory that is launched alongside the Surface Studio, but does work with any Windows 10 device.So, inside the box we'll find the Surface Dial and it is all alluminum,so it's very similar to the other surface products.It feels very nice and high quality, and it's nicely weighted.On the underside we'll find a sticker that explains how to set up the Bluetooth pairing process, to connect this to your Windows 10 device.Now once you peel off that label you'll find a sticky surfacethat allows the Surface Dial to be attached to a glass display, like the Surface Studio.Now, to get to the batteries and the pairing button, you just remove the baseand it is magnetic, so it attaches really easlyNow, they've preinstalled two AAA batteries, so it's ready to go.All you have to do is press and hold the pairing button. This will activate the pairing process after holding it for five seconds.And you'll see an LED light appear once it's ready to start pairing.So, once you reinstall the base you just have to go to your computer and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.And then you should see the Surface Dial ready to be paired.All you have to do is hit the pair button, and you're ready to go.The first thing to know about the Surface Dial is that it can be used when it's attached to the screen,or off the screen on a solid surface, like your desk.When off the screen, you do get on-screen interface controls, which you can reposition.Now as soon as you attach the Dial to the screen, the on-screen interface sort of envelopes the footprint of the Dial and moves with it.Currently, only the Surface Studio supports this on-screen use,But the Studio really needs to be in the drafting position, otherwise it sort of just slowly slides off the glass.And I wish this was a little bit stickier, because it likes to move around when you're using itand even in the drafting position, it still slides down.Now, the dial can control a number of different tools, depending on the app you're currently using.So, using the Dial is fairly intuitive. You turn left and right to navigate the menu,scrub videos, scroll a list, zoom in and out, or make incremental adjustments like adjusting volume or brightness.You can also click the knob to make selections,or long-press to bring up the on-screen menu to select different tools to control with the left and right turn of the knob.Now, these tools will change with the app currently on the screen.So, if you're on the desktop, the knob essentially turns into a volume controller,but within apps you get more tools to work with.So, for example, when you're within a video editor you can scrub your video by selecting the scrolling tool.In the Maps app we get tools for zoom, tilt and rotate.The dial does deliver some haptic feedback for some tools to simulate detents.I find this a little too strong and it actually can be noisy, because it vibrates whatever surface you place it on,but you can turn this off under settings.Now, the primary role for this tool is really for creative professionals, so it's uniquely designed for those apps.Now, the idea is to provide a secondary control mechanism, while using the Surface Pen for drawing.This allows you to change colors or width of your drawing tools on the fly.I can't really demonstrate this with the Sketch app, but it's something that's available in more sophisticated apps, like Photoshop.Now, there is a settings panel for this. You'll find it under \"Devices\" and it's under the \"Wheel settings\".This allows you to assign or remove the default tools for the on-screen interface.The custom tool can also be configured here, as well.This allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts for left, right, and click.For the most part, this really is not an essential tool,and it really depends on what app you use most of all.So for example, if you're a creative professional, as I mentioned earlier, this provides a unique interface that you can't get in any other system.But for day-to-day use, this really has limited usefulness,because, of course, if you have a touch-screen, you can perform most of these actions with more granular control than just a Dial.Alrighty, guys. Hope you enjoyed this quick look at the Surface Dial.If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up to let me know.and i'll see you again, in the next video.\n"