Microsoft has announced it is holding a hardware and software event in New York City on May 2. This spring event has been rumoured for several weeks, with speculation around what devices Microsoft will discuss. The company is now sending out press invites for via email for the event.
However, reported suggest Microsoft will not be launching a new Surface Pro or Surface Book. We have already speculated as much. That leaves fewer theories over what the company will unveil. It seems far too early for the oft-rumored Surface Phone to be launched.
The hardware and software event will get underway 9:30AM ET on May 2nd. The invite leads with “Learn what’s next” which offers a subtle hint that the event will put a focus on education. Windows Cloud will probably lead the charge in terms of software, but what about the hardware.
There is a chance that Microsoft will unveil the final design of Project Scorpio. While the console is not going to be fully unveiled until E3, Microsoft has said it will offer details of the device before. Perhaps the hardware event will let us at least see Xbox Scorpio.
We have heard that Microsoft is working on a new category of Surface device. Putting on my speculating hat, perhaps the company will deliver a specialised laptop or tablet that will target education users? The device may be the driver for Windows Cloud and take on Google Chrome OS with a software/hardware double punch.
Windows Cloud
While the rumors around hardware a pure speculation, it would be a shock at this point if Windows Cloud is not launched. Joe Belfiore officially announced his return to Microsoft today. The exec spoke about the need to challenge Chromebooks in the education market.
Windows Cloud will not actually be a cloud-based OS. Instead, it will be a lighter version of the Windows 10 platform that runs exclusively on UWP apps.
Because Microsoft’s universal platform allows the same apps to run across mobile and PC, Microsoft can deliver full apps on this lighter Windows version.
