Microsoft Announces a Windows 10/Hardware Event for Early May

Microsoft Announces a May Windows 10/Hardware Event

Microsoft has announced its long-awaited Spring Windows 10/hardware event, which will happen in New York as expected. But it’s also happening about a month later than originally envisioned.

So here’s the weird bit. Obviously, no one should expect a Surface phone announcement at this event. But my sources now tell me that a Surface Pro revision won’t be part of the event either.

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Beyond that, I’m told to expect an event similar to the one Microsoft held in October. That event was billed as a Windows 10 event, and it did introduce the Creators Update to the world. But Microsoft also introduced a lot of hardware then—including the Surface Studio, Surface Book with Performance Base, and Surface Dial—and it’s reasonable to expect more of the same.

Of course, the question is what software and hardware Microsoft might unveil, especially given the Surface Pro news above.

And I have a theory. Well, two theories.

As I first noted in Some Thoughts About a Surface Pro Refresh and the Spring Hardware Event (Premium), I suspect Microsoft will formally introduce Windows 10 Cloud at this event. And that the clamshell Surface rumors are for a new Windows 10 Cloud-based device that will also be unveiled.

There will probably be more announced than that, as well, and a continued focus on creators and creativity. But we don’t have long to wait to find out.

 

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Conversation 23 comments

  • KeepMyCoat

    12 April, 2017 - 11:48 am

    <p>Microsoft Courier. Dual Screen Surface.</p>

  • goodbar

    Premium Member
    12 April, 2017 - 11:53 am

    <p>Random thought of the day:&nbsp; I'd like to see a Surface device that is simply a low-cost,&nbsp;ultra light, thin, portable tablet screen that is effectively a wireless screen and cannot operate on its own, instead it simply wirelessly connects to your phone, laptop, or desktop.&nbsp; I only use a tablet for consuming on the couch or in bed, and I'm always within range of another device.&nbsp; If the device does not need to worry about powering anything than a display and a wireless connection, I imagine it would be much less costly, use less battery,&nbsp;and just be&nbsp;less all around.&nbsp; Continuum could of course accommodate different size displays.&nbsp; I don't need or want to pay for a more powerful tablet for consuming, let my other devices provide the power.</p>

    • darkgrayknight

      Premium Member
      14 April, 2017 - 2:01 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#97488"><em>In reply to goodbar:</em></a>&nbsp;This would be so beautiful. A touch screen monitor that wirelessly connects to phones, pcs, xbox, etc. that I can also use as an extra monitor to my current computers as well.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • bbold

    12 April, 2017 - 12:25 pm

    <p>Hoping for this clamshell Windows Cloud device, I think it would be great!</p><p><br></p><p>Also, has it been reported (and I also witnessed this last night on my Alcatel Idol 4S) that the Windows 10 Mobile fast ring update released yesterday is called "Windows 10 Version 15063.138 for arm-based Phone Devices." Seems like an interesting name change, perhaps, also for a future arm device to be released sporting Windows 10 (mobile)?</p><p><br></p><p>Windows Central reported on it here, as well:</p><p>http://www.windowscentral.com/april-2017-update-arm-based-phone-devices-now-rolling-out-fast-ring-windows-10-mobile</p><p><br></p><p>Makes you wonder…</p>

    • Stokkolm

      12 April, 2017 - 12:43 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#97494">In reply to bbold:</a></em></blockquote><p>Makes me wonder if the clamshell is just a dock for a smaller device that is running Windows 10 Cloud…like a phone type device…:mindexplosion:</p><p><br></p><p>Seriously though, what if Cloud is the full Windows 10 that's replacing W10M to keep feature parity with running store apps, but can also be upgraded to W10Pro if you want to run desktop apps. Seems like a plausible theory to me, with maybe some wishful thinking mixed in.</p>

  • Chris Payne

    12 April, 2017 - 12:28 pm

    <p>No date?</p>

    • warren

      12 April, 2017 - 6:17 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#97497">In reply to Chris Payne:</a></em></blockquote><p>Paul is currently in one of his moods where he believes being snarky is more valuable to the world around him than being informative. He'll snap out of it soon.</p><p><br></p><p>The event is on May 2nd at 9:30am New York time.</p><p><br></p>

  • Simard57

    12 April, 2017 - 12:35 pm

    <p>Cortana appliances?</p>

  • will

    Premium Member
    12 April, 2017 - 12:35 pm

    <p>Maybe Microsoft is just going to skip the Kaby Lake series for Pro and Book and jump to the next Intel line later this fall? Be the early bird/launch partner?</p><p>The BIG downside is the mud they had from being first to launch last time and all the bugs that came along with new hardware.</p>

    • evox81

      Premium Member
      12 April, 2017 - 4:00 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#97500"><em>In reply to will:</em></a></blockquote><p>That would be a pretty solid strategy. Skylake was completely new, hence the problems they had. IIRC, the next architecture is Connonlake, an evolution of Skylake/Kaby Lake, so they're not likely to have the teething problems from the SP4/SB. </p>

  • innitrichie

    12 April, 2017 - 12:40 pm

    <p>I'm really excited to see the new Surface Phone (R.I.P. iPhone, your days are numbered)</p>

  • Rob_Wade

    12 April, 2017 - 12:45 pm

    <p>It seems to me that, if the May "hardware" event is only going to feature a "cloud device", it really isn't much of a hardware event. Nothing any more exciting than the old, dead netbooks were, and just as lame as a Chrome book. And didn't we watch a debacle in the WinRT attempt? Did Nadella not learn anything from that?</p>

    • prettyconfusd

      12 April, 2017 - 8:11 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#97508"><em>In reply to Rob_Wade:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>We already known Win10Cloud can be upgraded to any other Win10 product version by paying for a licence, so there's that. And also, things have moved on quite a bit since 2012. </p><p><br></p><p>Plus there's also the revelation that Win10Cloud clearly isn't meant for you. But it would be very suitable for a lot of other customers – they simply have to get their message right at launch this time.</p>

  • Bart

    Premium Member
    12 April, 2017 - 1:07 pm

    <p>Streaming devices. Can we pls have streaming devices?!?</p>

  • mikefarinha

    12 April, 2017 - 1:09 pm

    <p>an e-ink device to accompany the new book store?</p>

    • mikefarinha

      12 April, 2017 - 3:14 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#97519"><em>In reply to mikefarinha:</em></a></blockquote><p>hmmm… here is my pie-in-the-sky guess. An arm based 10" clamshell with an e-ink display on the cover that supports pen input and runs Windows Cloud. It could double as an inexpensive PC and an e-text book. Throw Continuum into the mix for added versatility. Great for education sector!</p><p>That would meet the surface vision of creating new markets.</p>

      • mike moller

        12 April, 2017 - 4:15 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#97556"><em>In reply to mikefarinha:</em></a><em> </em>kinda dreaming there I reckon – MS past performance shows that it might be 18 to 24 months before they would do this by which time the opportunity for them will have vanished</blockquote><blockquote>Years ago they ceded the education patch to Apple and now they're doing the same in Chromebook's favour</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • tbtalbot

    Premium Member
    12 April, 2017 - 2:37 pm

    <p>No surface pro 5 announcement? That sucks.</p>

  • dcdevito

    12 April, 2017 - 10:54 pm

    <p>Xbox S Pro</p>

  • LuxuryTravelled

    13 April, 2017 - 1:59 am

    <p>It seems to be pointing to something called the 'Surface Cloudbook'…</p>

  • edboyhan

    13 April, 2017 - 11:43 am

    <p>Maybe a name and feature overview for RS3? They did that for RS2 back in October — about 6 months before now — it will be about 6 months before expected release of RS3?</p>

  • robincapper

    13 April, 2017 - 11:19 pm

    <p>Curious if no change to current Surface Pro/Book why they are getting 15%+ discount at the moment here (in NZ). I hope it is stock clearance before new, or refresh, models are public but wonder if just an Easter promotion.</p>

  • valisystem

    Premium Member
    14 April, 2017 - 3:17 pm

    <p>Re: Windows 10 Cloud &amp; Chromebooks</p><p>Price is important to schools. App availability is important but less so all the time as we move to web apps. But I think there's another Chrome OS feature that is perhaps even more important: simplicity.&nbsp;</p><p>When a 2d grader is handed a Chromebook and signs in, her Chromebook is configured within two minutes for her. Her files, her mail, her links on the taskbar to apps/Chrome extensions/websites, everything. When she drops the Chromebook and gets a new one, the same thing happens. Any student can grab any Chromebook from the stack. If something causes the Chromebook to need to be wiped, it takes literally only 3-4 minutes to powerwash it.</p><p>Windows 10 Cloud would have to be significantly simplified to offer anything like that experience. I can imagine a device that is configured to connect on login to OneDrive, Office Online, and OneNote, with a vastly simplified collection of apps on the Start menu and nothing that needs to be configured. Local storage of files would miss the point so file dialogs would have to be simplified. Confusing references to a choice of "work or school" or "personal" accounts would have to be eliminated. Frankly it's even too much to ask kids to choose whether they want to use Word Online or Word on the computer to open a document. I'm not sure the installed Office programs will be considered to be a strength in schools today. In schools, choices = complexity = confusion.&nbsp;</p><p>If a school district has to use IT resources to create a custom image for their laptops – well, that's far more effort than Chromebooks require. IT support costs money too.</p><p>And there has to be a simple, fast way to wipe and reset a Windows 10 Cloud laptop without requiring IT support. Right now much profile information is stored on the hard drive of a Windows 10 computer. Schools have to be able to pass their computers out freely and without regard to identity.</p><p>Microsoft's challenge is to offer a seamless, simple experience on affordable hardware. The presence or absence of apps won't tip the scales.</p>

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