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Surface RT will only get some of Windows 10's upgrades
Well, that was quick: Despite Microsoft saying that Windows 10 was coming to its misfit tablet, the Surface RT, that isn't quite the case. As Thurrott reports, Redmond is working on an update for Surface which will have "some of the functionality" of Windows 10. The SuperSite for Windows founder goes on to say: "Since those [Windows RT and Surface RT/2] are the only Windows RT devices that ever sold in any measurable quantity, two conclusions are obvious. Other Windows RT devices may not be updated at all (i.e. this Windows 10 subset update may literally only be for Surface RT/2 devices). And more generally, Windows RT is dead." And it very well may be. The RT platform's always been a bit of an odd duck with its inability to run standard Windows apps, and it looks this this could be Microsoft's kiss of death. You can read the official word from a Microsoft spokesperson after the break.
Microsoft announces the Surface 2, the follow-up to the original Surface RT; coming October 22nd for $449
As promised, Microsoft has just revealed the Surface 2 here at its Surface-themed press event. Whereas the new Surface Pro 2 makes subtle changes to the original Pro, the Surface 2 is being billed as a revamped version of the Surface RT. As rumored, it moves up to a higher-res 1080p ClearType display -- the same one you'll find on the new Surface Pro 2. Performance-wise, the tablet now has a Tegra 4 chip (versus Tegra 3 in the last generation). Microsoft also says it's doubled the BUS speed for the WiFi and the memory, and the CPU speed has increased "dramatically" as well. Additionally, there's now a USB 3.0 port on board, a step up from the USB 2.0 connection used on the original. All told, says Microsoft, the new model should run three to four times as fast as its predecessor, and the battery life should be 25 percent longer too (up to 10 hours of video playback). As for the design, this looks similar to last year's RT, at least from a few feet away, but it's thinner (8.9mm), lighter (676g) and built from two pieces of magnesium, not three. And, of course, it sports the same two-stage kickstand as the new Surface Pro 2, which should make it easier to balance in your lap. As you'd expect, it also works with the new Touch Cover 2, which Microsoft also announced today. Oh, and it's available in white now too; not just black. Moving on, Microsoft also added a third-inch camera sensor to the front of the product to help manage the light in webcam videos, especially those recorded in dim light. Speaking of video chats, Surface owners will enjoy a year of free international calling and Skype hotspot access. Not enough freebies for you? Microsoft's also throwing in 200GB of SkyDrive storage, free for two years.
NVIDIA CEO: 'We're going to bring it with the second generation Surface'
NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has confirmed to CNET that a followup to the Surface RT is in development, and that it will apparently continue to use NVIDIA hardware inside. Recently news concerning the ARM-powered version of Microsoft's tablet hasn't been good, with a $900 million inventory charge and price cuts for both the RT and Pro. According to Jen-Hsun Huang, the addition of an Outlook mail app in Windows 8.1 can be the killer app the platform has been missing, and the company hopes it will be a big success. Rumors for the next gen of Surface have hinted at Microsoft offering Qualcomm chips in some models as well a smaller 7-inch version. NVIDIA may have some Tegra 4-specific features to contribute to the latter -- we'll see if Microsoft can take a bigger bite out of the tablet market on its second attempt.
