Barnes & Noble, Microsoft and tablets make for some interesting speculation for Monday

WP Central

Over at All Things Microsoft, Mary Jo Foley has laid out an interesting word linking Monday's secret Microsoft announcement, tablets and even Barnes & Noble.

First up is the tablet announcement. Later the Hulu idea was shot down as was Windows Phone (we've confirmed that information technology'southward not a Windows Phone annunciation, otherwise we'd be there) the rumors are now centering effectually an RT Tablet unveiling. Specifically a Microsoft-branded RT Tablet which is more or less the same core that Windows Phone 8 volition be based off of.

The rumor comes from entertainment site The Wrap who reported:

"But an individual with knowledge of the company said that Microsoft would introduce a Microsoft-manufactured tablet at the consequence, marker a foray into a new hardware category that would put the visitor in straight competition with giant rival Apple tree."

Certainly a plausible idea though we won't really know until Monday every bit the outcome is very much under wraps. Should Microsoft be unveiling a branded RT tablet (RT is what powers Windows 8) it will surely brand headlines for numerous reasons. Some accept even speculated that Nokia would be behind such hardware only Microsoft would vesture the name. Nosotros find that last bit a tad much merely who knows.

WP Central

Back to Mary Jo Foley, she has suggested that the Microsoft/Barnes & Noble deal focuses heavily on Windows Phone, specifically Windows Phone viii. The information comes by way of a recent filing with the SEC on the deal which mentions "Windows Telephone" 55 times in the document. That's odd simply because the original understanding does non mention WP at all.

Foley and so goes to suggest that

At that place may exist a reader ala Kindle of some-type announced Mon
It's based off of the Windows Phone OS, specifically Apollo

We've told you lot that there will be two HD resolutions for Windows Phone Apollo--720x1280 and 768x1280--both of which are very high resolutions even past today's standards for a smartphone (on a four.5" screen, the PPI is higher than the iPhone 4S'due south 3.5" Retina Display). Considering of that nosotros could easily run across a tablet/reader running at 768x1280 but the question is would Microsoft practice that?

We're non and then sure. We're confident that Monday's announcement is not annihilation Windows Telephone related--that'due south from talking with Microsoft PR on the matter who would surely have us there if it were. And so once more, if the Bone is some hybrid of a desktop Bone and the Windows Phone one (for telephony purposes) and then perhaps Microsoft is pulling a quick one. A strategy past Microsoft to take on the reader market is surely plausible and the location, LA for entertainment, makes more sense.

Needless to say people's imaginations tin run wild on this and we'd rather sit back and see what happens.

Source: The Wrap, All Things Microsoft

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is now getting Android 11

It'south here

The AT&T version of Surface Duo is at present getting Android 11

After a very long expect, the original Surface Duo is now eligible to receive its over-the-air Os update to Android eleven. Hither is what is new and fixed with the biggest update yet for Microsoft'southward offset dual-screen Android device.