[ClovingWestbrook]

linkified

Microsoft is set to unveil a tablet next week that will mark its entry into rival Apple’s territory with its own branded product, TheWrap has learned. The company has scheduled a secretive event for Monday at 3:30 p.m. June 18 in Los Angeles, where it will make a "major" announcement whose nature has not been disclosed. Even the venue has not yet been announced. But an individual with knowledge of the company said that Microsoft would introduce a Microsoft-manufactured tablet at the event, marking a foray into a new hardware category that would put the company in direct competition with giant rival Apple. Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rumors have surfaced that Microsoft's new tablet will run on Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 that uses an ARM microprocessor. Microsoft has created a multibillion-dollar market with the Xbox, the premiere gaming console that has evolved into a leading entertainment delivery device. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who once embraced the stylus, has experimented with tablet technology for the better part of a decade. Previously, Microsoft-enabled tablets have been made by hardware manufacturers such as Samsung and Hewlett-Packard.

[Saadster]

Yeah I bet it will rival it really well.

[Salvadora]

Courier 2.

[Divvy]

Forget the iPad. This is a pretty funny fuck you to google.

[Anticitizen One]

Hahaha what a joke

[Deadly Cyclone]

The Win 8 UI really lends itself perfectly to a tablet. I think it would be cool to see MS in the market.

[Fixed1979]

Finally an Ipad killer.

...and I'm assuming you mean June 18th.

[Ragus]

Wish them luck.

[Darklord]

Rival, lol.

[Vyer]

Forget the iPad. This is a pretty funny fuck you to google.

Yeah, this is probably true.

[Pachterballs]

I'm keen to see what they can come up with but I'm really not expecting much

[morningbus]

Zunepad.

[ClovingWestbrook]

Can a mod change the date to June 18th, thanks.

[GQman2121]

You have the wrong date in the title homie. ;)

[planar1280]

Rival, lol.

Those were the very word when Xbox was announced

[Gary Whitta]

From the company that brought you Zune and Kin. When it comes to mobile devices MS really knows their stuff. Hopefully they can parlay the massive traction they've gained so far with WP7 into this device.

[Banana Kid]

Somewhere, J Allard is FUMING.

From the company that brought you Zune and Kin. When it comes to mobile devices MS really knows their stuff. Hopefully they can parlay the massive traction they've gained so far with WP7 into this device.

The Zune HD was a fantastic piece of hardware! It just didn't sell because everyone had already moved to putting music on phones.

[OverHeat]

My new iPad is so going on ebay if this is true and the spec are good.

[Busty]

After the way Apple killed the Zune in the street in front of everyone like it was a dog MS got some motherfucking stones to try stepping up to a crazy bastard like Apple again.











...., or something.

[SCHUEY F1]

Gimme. Should be interesting to see how it compares to the other Win8 tablets.

[ronito]

[SRG01]

From the company that brought you Zune and Kin. When it comes to mobile devices MS really knows their stuff. Hopefully they can parlay the massive traction they've gained so far with WP7 into this device.

Hahaha, ice cold.

But really, we're all wishing Microsoft success with any mobile electronic devices. However, their track record isn't the best... :(

[Cheech]

My new iPad is so going on ebay if this is true and the spec are good.

This only makes sense if you don't care about apps. What is even going to be available if this rumor is true? It's not like it can run existing PC apps.

[planar1280]

My new iPad is so going on ebay if this is true and the spec are good.

It better have proper windows on it as well and copy and paste. I will only buy if it has a retina like screen and full featured windows, that in itself will kill the iPad hype and force Apple to merge OS X and iOS. If it doesnt have full featured windows this will fail, Just imagine all those Billions of PC apps on the palm of my hand

[Gary Whitta]

Somewhere, J Allard is FUMING. The Zune HD was a fantastic piece of hardware! It just didn't sell because everyone had already moved to putting music on phones.

So it was a fantastic piece of hardware that nobody needed. Brilliant!

And now here we are again, with MS coming to market with a tablet after everyone has already moved to using an iPad. Ballmer really needs to stop having ideas four years after everyone else.

[Scalemail Ted]

Ick... It uses arm. I'll hold out for the samsung series 7 update. Just wish they had more options for an x86 line of tablets equipped with wacom and capacitor touch. I think the options are really just Asus and samsung.

[NutJobJim]

I know it won't rival the iPad in terms of sales, but if MS release a product that performs as well as Windows Phone then I'll be there day one.

Still haven't jumped on the tablet bandwaggon because I'm not really a fan of Apple products and the current alternatives are lacking.
Some good competition will make me jump in (so long as it's reasonably priced).

[RibMan]

Those were the very word when Xbox was announced

Considering the Xbox has yet to be the top console of any generation, one can reasonably question Microsofts entry into another very competitive market.

[AlexMogil]

Only only only only ONLY if there is truth to them controlling the hardware and software and not distributing the manufacture and branding to other manufacturers.

[Alx]

If only (this isn't it btw)

The courier had a cool design, but from what I read about it, it was much too flawed (the very fact that you couldn't read your mails on it would have made it pointless).
I wonder if a MS tablet could bring something new to the table... if it is only a clone of the iPad, I don't see it turning the tides.

[Scalemail Ted]

It better have proper windows on it as well and copy and paste. I will only buy if it has a retina like screen and full featured windows, that in itself will kill the iPad hype and force Apple to merge OS X and iOS. If it doesnt have full featured windows this will fail, Just imagine all those Billions of PC apps on the palm of my hand

I thought only the x86 processors running windows 8 will support legacy software... Whereas as arm based systems would have to have software redesigned for that instruction set. I need confirmation on that though.

[Gary Whitta]

Considering the Xbox has yet to be the top console of any generation, one can reasonably question Microsofts entry into another very competitive market.

I think most observers would agree that when you put it all together the 360 "won" this generation handily.

[Nemo]

Yeah, they gonna rival the shit out of it

[Damon Bennet]

This only makes sense if you don't care about apps. What is even going to be available if this rumor is true? It's not like it can run existing PC apps.

And you know this how? They could make an x86 and an ARM version

[Darryl]

Google/Microsoft double-teaming to make prospective tablet buyers very cautious.

[SCHUEY F1]

The courier had a cool design, but from what I read about it, it was much too flawed (the very fact that you couldn't read your mails on it would have made it pointless). I wonder if a MS tablet could bring something new to the table... if it is only a clone of the iPad, I don't see it turning the tides.

It will run Windows 8, which is not a clone of the iPad/iOS.

[Banana Kid]

So it was a fantastic piece of hardware that nobody needed. Brilliant! And now here we are again, with MS coming to market with a tablrt after everyone has already moved to using an iPad. Ballmer really needs to stop having ideas four years after everyone else.

Eventually, somebody's got to compete with the iPad. And now that Google has so thoroughly dropped the ball with Android tablets, Microsoft probably has the best shot.

They may be a couple years too late, but if they do it right, this could still become a thing.

[SimleuqiR]

Zunepad.

Pada-zune!

[lupinko]

Those were the very word when Xbox was announced

And the same went for Zune.

[Zapages]

If it can run current PC applications (exe) files... Then it would be a killer deal IMHO. But we'll see.

Be able to stream Windows Media files, real media player files, etc from websites on to your tablet. Also have flash and HTML 5 support...

Now that is a thing I could buy for my parents and they could just use it for all their international steaming needs.

[Zabka]

Windows 8 looks fantastic on a tablet but if it's widescreen it can go fuck itself

[Gary Whitta]

Eventually, somebody's got to compete with the iPad.

I don't take that as a given. I don't see why Apple can't continue to dominate that market the way it has always dominated with the iPod. The iPod still dominates today, no true market competitor ever emerged. And now iPad is in its third generation with still no viable rival. The time to make a move would have been much earlier while the market was still figuring itself out, not a year from now when the game has already been played and won.

[andycapps]

Microsoft's problem with hardware is always that they're too late. Put this out two years ago and they have a shot. It could, and probably will be, good hardware and software but nobody cares. It's not an iPad.

[Hex]

Have been waiting curiously to see if MS would release a Win 8 tablet of their own before upgrading my ASUS transformer.
Obviously it will largely also decide if things I use are quickly available.

[TheFightingFish]

I don't take that as a given. I don't see why Apple can't continue to dominate that market the way it has always dominated with the iPod. The iPod still dominates today, no true market competitor ever emerged. And now iPad is in its third generation with still no viable rival. The time to make a move would have been much earlier while the market was still figuring itself out, not a year from now when the game has already been played and won.

That's why it's actually a good idea that they've combined W8 for both tablet and desktop. It's a risk, and might really annoy desktop users. But they will hopefully be able to sell App makers on having not only the new W8 tablets as a target but also all Windows desktop users as possible customers. It's a smarter play then just coming in later and being isolated all off on your own (like Phone 7). Doing just a Windows tablet would probably be suicide against the iPad, but doing Windows tablet + Windows desktop, well it's risky but at least it has the chance to be something bigger.

[thirty]

now will they name it kinpad or zunepad?

[SCHUEY F1]

Some rumours suggest that it is a low cost device to compete with the Kindle Fire since MS acquired Barnes and Noble.

[Diprosalic]

if this delivers a full OS experience if needed i'm sold. but it doesn't if it runs on ARM right?

[RibMan]

I think most observers would agree that when you put it all together the 360 "won" this generation handily.

I think most observers would agree that there were three consoles this generation, and the one that handily "won" this generation was the one that outperformed the competitors at retail.

Unless of course, most observers don't consider sales numbers a valid metric for "winners" and "losers" anymore.

To get back on topic, I'm interested in hearing what the name of this new tablet will be. I think Microsoft would be smart to call it something other than "ZunePad" or "XboxPad".

[Somnid]

Smart move. We don't need multiple hardware companies issuing their own closed hardware and regulating updates/features. Window 8 could do with some unifying visions to set the standard.