As the guesses and rumors about Microsoft;s planned Consumer Electronics Exhibit (CES) announcements keep on to multiply, I;ve made the decision to throw an additional into the blend. I;m wondering regardless of whether CEO Steve Ballmer and Co. may possibly announce a strategy and/or roadmap for tablet-sized Surface units this week.This is purely a guess on my part. It isn;t based on a rumor or tip. But here;s what;s received me wondering: In 2008, Microsoft execs said that a PC-sized edition of the Surface multi-touch table could feasibly debut by 2011.Microsoft is recognized to have been testing the market curiosity in a smaller sized Surface. Microsoft execs have investigated many different possible type aspects that this kind of a machine (codenamed Oahu) might encompassMicrosoft researchers have been working on the task, recognized as Manual Deskerity, that's focused on bringing a number of the instruments and technologies demonstrated in these Courier tablet prototype video clips,
Discount Office 2007, towards the Surface But the biggest cause I started mulling a Surface announcement — or even just a “this really is coming some day” demo — at CES is given that of a change in a Microsoft executive;s bio I discovered this past weekend.Michael Angiulo is the Corporate Vice President of Planning, Hardware and Pc Ecosystem team at Microsoft. Prior to December 30, his corporate bio mentioned he was overseeing planning for Windows, Windows Live and Internet Explorer. On December 30, his bio was updated with this line: “In addition, he is responsible for Surface Computing, Pc Hardware, and many different partner engagement programs this sort of as WinHEC, the Logo programs for hardware and systems, and direct engineering engagements with OEMs, IHVs and ISVs.”The Surface teams was a single of these left in limbo after former Entertainment & Devices chief Robbie Bach;s departure from Microsoft last year. When I asked where Microsoft planned to move the Surface team, I was told it was TBD (to be established). It seems the Surface unit has landed…A lot of Microsoft watchers have reported that Microsoft is going to announce a new edition of Windows that can run on ARM chips at CES and focus on this platform because the company;s slate offering. (Microsoft execs have told me on extra than a single occasion that there will be no new version of Windows before Windows 8, so unless the Softies are ready to talk Windows 8, I;m curious what this means.)As I;ve blogged previously, I;m a lot more inclined to think Microsoft is going to talk about Windows Embedded as its slate offering at this week;s demonstrate. (I;m starting to think it may be Windows Embedded Standard 7, rather than Windows Embedded Compact 7, given Microsoft officials have mentioned Embedded Standard is well-suited for thin clients and networked media devices…)But back towards the Surface. I;m skeptical that the recent updating of Angiulo;s bio was coincidental. I;d expect he;ll play a role in Ballmer;s CES address. The question is no matter if the Surface also will play a role when Ballmer keynotes on January 5….As I;ve stated, this is all unsourced speculation on my component. What do you think?