Microsoft will be holding an education-focused conference in New York tomorrow. Usually the company uses New York to show off its Surface devices, but this time it will be different. At this eagerly-awaited event, the tech world may see new hardware and software aimed specifically at students. Here are the products we expect to be showcased at the event:
Will the Surface Pro 5 be at the event?
Many are anxiously waiting for Microsoft’s next-generation tablet, the Surface Pro 5, so the company may use the event to unveil its new tablet as long as it has something for students. However, according to The Verge, the company may not launch an all-new Surface Pro or Surface Book tomorrow. Instead, expectations are more for a Chromebook competitor. There are also expectations that the company will present a low-cost Surface 4 customized for education.
Since this will be an education-focused event, we don’t expect a refresh of regular Surface devices. Therefore, there probably won’t be any talk of the Surface Phone at the event. Microsoft may refresh its Surface line with a few different options, but do not expect any major update to the Surface Book or Surface Pro line at the event.
There will surely be a hardware launch at the event, and if it does not come from Microsoft, it could come from one or more of its partners.
Microsoft to unveil Windows 10 Cloud to take on Chrome
Microsoft is expected to showcase a new version of Windows 10. Earlier this year, a leak first showed Windows 10 Cloud, which will likely support apps only from the Windows Store. This new version is expected to be named Windows 10 Cloud or Windows 10 S. A cloud version of the OS will help the Windows maker sell more affordable computers with less powerful processors.
With this new OS, which is expected to be like the original but with a few deviations, the company will want to improve the battery life by limiting the software to Windows Store apps. The company is also reportedly working on a new feature that will limit background task interference with battery life, notes The Verge. But this feature is expected to come with the next major update of Windows 10 in September.
With the new version of Windows 10, Microsoft will want to take on Chrome OS. But to do that, it will need to be simple, easy and fast for students, something that Chrome already offers. As of now, it is not known how the new OS will operate or what features it will come with.
Whatever additions the new version comes with, Microsoft must do one thing: explain clearly how Windows 10 Cloud is different than the standard version of the OS. When the company launched Windows 8 and the limited version Windows 8 RT, the latter failed to gain any traction, as users got confused about which version to pick.
Even if Microsoft does not unveil all that is expected at the Tuesday event, we may see the remaining products at the Microsoft Build developers’ conference, which is set for May 10-12 in Seattle.
