The very end of 2016 brought us two devices that are bound to battle, head-to-head, well into this new year, until Microsoft releases what some are hoping could be a game-changer for the ultraportable category within the surface family of devices.

Tired of the same old flat Windows 10 look? While Microsoft has invested plenty of resources in making Windows 10 more reliable, robust, ubiquitous and versatile than any other Windows operating system, the original look and feel of its interface remains a little rough around the edges, with a flat, minimalist, yet almost blocky design that lacks the finesse and detail of competing operating systems, including macOS and a number of Linux desktop UI’s.

It was only a matter of time for Microsoft virtual assistant to make its way into the automotive industry, after Apple and Alphabet Inc. tried to establish themselves as the standard for in-vehicle infotainment, and neither really did make a considerable mark, mostly due to the state of technology at the time, and a lack of consumer interest.

Tech announcements often come with cyclic predictability, mostly due to relatively obvious marketing clues, and not less often, by what is expected as the next most exciting product consumer love, or will want to love.