14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is set to make a “major announcement” during a media event planned for Los Angeles at 6:30 pm EST.
Ever since the company unveiled plans to hold this event, we’ve seen a lot of speculation on what it might be all about, including rumors ranging from a possible acquisition of Yammer, to those pointing at a Hulu deal, or some claiming that a Microsoft-branded tablet PC could be announced.
While all these make sense up to a certain point, the general consensus is that new hardware would come out of Redmond today, and that it could have something to do with the recently signed partnership with Barnes & Noble.
For those out of the loop, we should note that the deal involved a $300 million investment from Microsoft in the Nook business, and that it resulted in the creation of a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary, with Microsoft holding a 17.6 percent stake in it.
At the time, the partnership was said to be mainly aimed at bringing a Nook application and service to Windows 8, but there is a strong possibility that things were taken a step further.
As suggested on Friday, today’s announcement could involve the launch of a new tablet PC, one that would sport Microsoft’s name on it, and which would be manufactured by B&N.
The Redmond-based software giant does have a history of outsourcing such hardware to third parties, and it would make perfect sense for it to choose B&N for a Windows-based reader, although the Nook tablet came to shelves with Android on board.
The device is also rumored to be entertainment-driven, featuring Xbox Live streaming capabilities, most probably also including SmartGlass support (the SmartGlass app was unveiled recently as a companion to the Xbox 360).
The app was announced for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, bringing game interaction features to Microsoft’s own platform, and aiming at delivering them to the other OSes as well soon.
The app was not announced for Windows as well, and chances are that Microsoft did so in an attempt to increase the impact of its own entertainment tablet featuring the software.
A Microsoft reader coming from Barnes & Noble could run under the upcoming Windows RT platform, or might be powered by another OS from the company, while delivering access to Xbox features and other entertainment capabilities.
One way or the other, it should be highly affordable, to be able to compete with devices such as Amazon Kindle Fire, and even with Google’s long-rumored Nexus tablet, which might become official before the end of this month.
With Windows 8 and Windows RT destined to power devices capable of taking on the Apple iPad or on highly popular tablets powered by Google’s Android OS, won’t come as a surprise if Microsoft also focused on releasing a device for the entry-level of the market, but packing higher-end features.
Lately, Microsoft showed increased interest in the mobile space, optimizing its Windows 8 OS for use of touch-enabled tablet PCs, and promising appealing improvements for its Windows Phone platform.
This also backs the idea of having a Microsoft-branded tablet released with entertainment enhancements, to ensure that it can grab market share fast.
For that, of course, appealing hardware is also required; otherwise, it could easily end up like Microsoft Kin devices, which met their end only a few months after being officially launched.