Microsoft sends out invites for big spring product event
Microsoft can't wait for mid-May.
The Windows creator and Surface propagator is just weeks away from its three-day developer's conference in Seattle, but that's not stopping it from hosting a consumer product event in New York City on May 2.
Microsoft quietly sent out invites on Wednesday.
It starts at 9:30 AM ET and will use the hashtag #MicrosoftEDU.
Sources tell Mashable that while this will be consumer-focused and should feature hardware, it's unlikely that the long-awaited Surface Pro 5 convertible will make an appearance. The long-whispered Surface Phone is equally unlikely to appear.
What we do expect is more products that continue the story Microsoft began with Windows Creator Update, which officially started shipping on Tuesday. There's a heavy focus on, well, creativity and 3D. And the mixed reality technology that runs HoloLens is inside the latest version of Windows, but with no hardware to support it... yet.
Could we finally see a consumer version of HoloLens from Microsoft? If it's intended to work with a Windows PC, that means it will be tethered and a lot cheaper than the $3,000 HoloLens. Think the Acer Mixed Reality Headsets that are expected to hit the market any day now. In fact, it's a fair bet that this event will probably feature that Acer headset.
Based on the hashtag, though, there will obviously be a heavy education bent to this event. Microsoft has spent the last few months trying to respond to the education market tsunami that is Chromebooks and Google Docs. The former now accounts for 51% of the U.S. education systems market. That's hurting Apple and Microsoft.
In January, Microsoft unveiled sub-$300 PCs (with OEM partners) and a software administration system called InTune for schools and districts. This event may represent the other pencil dropping in Microsoft's education market plans. Plus, a HoloLens consumer update or mixed reality headset could fit into the education scenario.
Mashable has an invited and we'll report live from the ground on May 2.
Lance Ulanoff was Chief Correspondent and Editor-at-Large of Mashable. Lance acted as a senior member of the editing team, with a focus on defining internal and curated opinion content. He also helped develop staff-wide alternative story-telling skills and implementation of social media tools during live events. Prior to joining Mashable in September 2011 Lance Ulanoff served as Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for the Ziff Davis, Inc. While there, he guided the brand to a 100% digital existence and oversaw content strategy for all of Ziff Davis’ Web sites. His long-running column on PCMag.com earned him a Bronze award from the ASBPE. Winmag.com, HomePC.com and PCMag.com were all been honored under Lance’s guidance.He makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Fox News, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Kelly and Michael, CNBC, CNN and the BBC.He has also offered commentary on National Public Radio and been interviewed by newspapers and radio stations around the country. Lance has been an invited guest speaker at numerous technology conferences including SXSW, Think Mobile, CEA Line Shows, Digital Life, RoboBusiness, RoboNexus, Business Foresight and Digital Media Wire’s Games and Mobile Forum.
