Microsoft took a hit on Sunday as NFL team the New England Patriots’ Surface Pro 3 tablets stopped working during a match.
In 2013 the American football league struck a $400 million deal to have teams use Surface tablets exclusively.
Since then, the partnership has run into several issues, with commentators repeatedly referring to the devices as iPads.
But during the crucial AFC championship game on Sunday, the Patriots’ Surface Pro 3s broke down for 20 minutes, prompting conspicuous displays of frustration from players.
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Teams use the Surface tablets to view formation photos and replays of previous plays to help plan for the next play.
Microsoft said the problems were due to “connectivity issues”, which was no doubt of little consolation to the Patriots who went on to lose the title match to the Denver Broncos, whose tablets stayed working throughout, 20 -18.
It’s not the first time Microsoft’s slate has taken a beating on the sidelines.
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Last month quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Johnny Manziel could be seen banging his head against the Surface after watching a disappointing replay.
Of course, the internet was quick to pick up on Sunday’s fiasco, as social media began flooding with Vines, GIFs, and tweets mocking the event.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
