Microsoft’s hosting its device media event later today in New York City. We’re expecting to see a Microsoft-branded Windows 10 smartphone, an updated Surface tablet computer — most likely called the Surface Pro 4 — and a new wearable (rumoured to be the Microsoft Band 2), alongside news on updates and/or additions to Windows 10 — the operating system is slated to arrive on the company’s Xbox One gaming console next month.
The event is scheduled for 10h00 EDT (or 16h00 SA time) and consumers and media alike can stream the event on Xbox or online. Twitter users can also follow the action using the hashtag #Windows10devices.
Though Nokia’s Lumia devices were rebranded Microsoft Lumia devices after the software giant acquired Nokia last year for $7.2 billion the device that’s expected to emerge today will be the first wholly Microsoft Windows phone.
Microsoft faces an uphill battle with its mobile phones given the dominance of Apple’s iPhones and handsets powered by Google’s Android operating system. Though Lumia devices, especially the most recent ones, have been lauded by critics, the praise hasn’t translated into meaningful sales numbers or market share, with Microsoft instead left fighting over the smartphone scraps with the likes of BlackBerry.
As much as we like the existing Surface Pro 3 (and we like it a lot), what we’re most excited about today is the possibility of further information on HoloLens, Microsoft’s augmented reality headset. Fingers crossed.
