Tomorrow’s Microsoft Event in New York could be a game changer
In the wake of Apple’s latest announcements, Microsoft is gearing up for tomorrow’s debut of its new lineup of Windows 10 devices. Microsoft’s ecosystem is expected to expand further, as the Surface brand grows and branches out into new devices, some of which we might get a glimpse of as early as tomorrow.
Likely appearances at the Microsoft event will be two new Lumia handsets, which seem to begin following Apple’s trend of coming in pairs, and in two different sizes, a-la iPhone 6S/6S Plus, to cater to more consumers, in the form of the Lumia 950 (Talkman), 950XL(Cityman), with the rumored, but quite possible addition of a Lumia 550(Saimaa) handset, yet unconfirmed.
The latter of these three Windows Phone devices is rumored to be targeted to budget consumers. For an estimated price tag of $120, the device could ship with the following specs:
- 4.7 inch screen
- Snapdragon 210 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 5MP rear camera
- 1.2MP front camera
Cityman and Talkman, being the flagship phones, will offer much higher specs. While both Cityman and Talkman feature USB-C, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 20MP camera, the two devices will differ in screen size and CPU. Talkman will feature a 5.2 inches display and Snapdragon 808 CPU, while Cityman will be 5.7 inches, and will be powered by a Snapdragon 810.
Surface Pro 4
The Surface Pro 4 is expected with much anticipation, with rumors mounting over whether the new tablet PC will feature an advanced stylus, similarly to what Apple has done with the iPad Pro. A substantial boost in performance and specs is expected, with the possibility for Intel Skylake to power the new device.
Surface Phone
Microsoft doesn’t seem too eager to stop the rumor-mill surrounding the Surface Phone. The unconfirmed device seems to gain considerable traction, as a handset that is beginning to make considerably more sense than the Lumia brand. Moving forward with a brand new smartphone could be a good thing for Microsoft, especially as it would allow the company to concentrate on its own Surface brand, as a more viable way to expand and solidify the Windows 10 ecosystem.
Microsoft Band 2
Microsoft’s own wearable fitness device is expected to be revamped with a new design. The Band 2 will not run Windows 10, however it’s not an impossibility at a stage in which Microsoft is working on strengthening its position as a hardware maker.
Event coverage
Microsoft will stream its event online, tomorrow at 10:00am EDT, at
http://www.microsoft.com/october2015event/en-us. The live stream will also be viewable on Xbox devices.