Microsoft is apparently going to host a huge event in late October to release a Surface All-in-One (AIO) PC. The new product is known as Cardinal among insiders and will supposedly be touted as an offering which can transform your desk into a studio.
Talk about a Surface All-in-One began earlier this year when a 2015 Microsoft patent for an all-in-one modular PC was published in February 2016. This was later supplemented by a July Windows Central report which explicitly stated that the tech giant was working on an advanced AIO device for the living room.
The Microsoft PC apparently flaunts a modern and elegant design which is meant to blend in with premium appliances and furniture. Apple and Lenovo currently lead the market when it comes to AIO computers, combining a massive display with top-notch hardware without the usual jumble of wires and PC towers.
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The Microsoft Cardinal may run Windows 10 and be sold in three different sizes namely 21-inch, 24-inch and 27-inch. It might just be the consumer-centric iteration of the brand’s Surface Hub which uses Perceptive Pixel screen technology to get things done.
Microsoft’s event, codenamed Project Rio, could also see the unveiling of updated versions of the company’s current Surface tablets equipped with faster processors and a few other minor feature upgrades. Unfortunately, people who are looking forward to getting their hands on the Surface Book 2 and Surface Pro 5 will have to wait until Spring 2017 to get a glimpse of the two.
As for the much talked-of Surface Phone, sources say it might show up considerably after Spring 2017, if it does materialize at all. In other sobering news, the Surface 3 and Band 2 probably won’t be updated this year.
ZDNet suggests an October 26 date for Project Rio where Microsoft might also highlight OEM devices. We’ll keep you informed as and when more information about the event slips through the cracks.