The company is reportedly preparing for the debut of smaller tablets

Mar 30, 2013 06:35 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft doesn't want to provide too many details on its future plans, but sources familiar with the matter have previously indicated that the company is working on a smaller tablet, most likely dubbed Surface Mini, which could run Windows Blue and feature a 7-inch screen.

Now a change in the Windows 8 hardware requirements list seems to confirm that a smaller unit is on its way, especially because we're getting closer to the official debut of Windows Blue.

Ed Bott of ZDNet has spotted a subtle minimum screen resolution change for Windows 8 tablets to 1024 x 768, which could mean that a new device featuring a smaller display could be under development.

What's more, it appears that Windows Blue would introduce a new 50 – 50 Snap View mode that would allow users to run two different apps side by side even if their resolution is set to 1024 x 768.

As usual, take all of these with a grain of salt, but it's pretty clear that the Redmond-based technology is up to something in the tablet world.