Various rumors have popped up in recent months about Microsoft"s plans for its Surface hardware range. Last month, photos taken from the company"s Redmond campus hinted at four new devices on the way, fuelling speculation about what it might be working on.
Today, further rumors have been published by Windows Central, adding to earlier reports that the company is planning to launch a new line of Surface devices, in the form of all-in-one (AIO) desktop PCs.
According to the report, citing unnamed sources, Microsoft is currently testing Surface AIOs in three sizes:
- 21-inch with Full HD (1920x1080px) resolution
- 24-inch with 4K (3840x2160px) resolution
- 27-inch with 4K (3840x2160px) resolution
The report emphasizes that, while these three sizes are being tested, there is no confirmation yet that Microsoft intends to launch its Surface AIO with all three display options available.
The device is also said to be "targeted for the living room", with an "elegant" design that owners will want to proudly display in their homes.
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Details were also revealed about the company"s plans for a successor to the Surface Book, which it originally unveiled last October.
The second-generation device is said to be equipped with Intel"s new Kaby Lake processors, replacing the Skylake chips in the current model. It"s also expected to feature native support for USB 3.1 (Gen 2), and support for 3D and 4K graphics.
Notably, Microsoft is also believed to be working on improving the unusual and elaborate "fulcrum hinge" of the Surface Book, to remove the gap created when the device is folded shut. The new design is said to allow the display to fold flat with the keyboard section, like a conventional notebook.
If the processor details are accurate, the arrival of the new Surface Book will inevitably depend upon availability of Intel"s Kaby Lake chips. But while the first devices with these processors may be available from other manufacturers by the end of the year, it"s not yet clear if Microsoft intends to hold back the launch of the new Surface Book until spring 2017, to coincide with the arrival of its Redstone 2 update for Windows 10.
One recent report suggested that Microsoft might not announce new Surface hardware - including its much-rumored "Surface phone" - until after Redstone 2 arrives.
Source: Windows Central