Microsoft Surface Mini: Release Date, Price and Specs for 8" tablet

Microsoft is working on Surface Mini tablet release after launch of Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 windows 8 tablets.

Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets look identical to their predecessors, but offer some new features Microsoft is hoping consumers will find appealing enough to choose over Apple iPad 4 and iPad Air.

According to TechnoTribe, Microsoft is also looking to go after Apple iPad mini by introducing a Surface Mini. The tablet was recently reported to be launching sometime this year, but consumers are going to have to wait a little bit longer for Microsoft iPad mini competitor.

According to Geekwire.com, Microsoft Surface Mini release date rumors were fueled by the public comment from Panos Panay, Microsoft Vice President Surface division, who said:

We have a lot of great things that we are thinking about and working on, and there are multiple aspect ratios and sizes and awesome things to come from Surface.

Previously, Panos Panay and Stevie Bathiche from Windows hardware division has presented the preview of Microsoft Surface Pro 2, that was unveiled Surface Pro 2 at Microsoft Seattle University Store.

Panay repeated what he first mentioned in last week’s Reddit Q&A about the plan of Microsoft to come out next year with Surface 2 having an LTE enabled version. He stressed out however that a version of the Surface Pro 2 with LTE isn’t possible although the devices, as he expects it, will be initially available in the U.S. on AT&T and Vodafone in Europe.

Microsoft Surface Mini Specs

Microsoft Surface Mini specs includes an ARM processor for better price points and longer battery life, instead of using more expensive Intel chips. Current rumors claim the Surface Mini will run Windows RT just like the Surface 2 and feature a 7.5-inch display with a resolution of 1400 x 1050 and a 4:3 aspect ratio. The Surface Mini is also expected to come in Wi-Fi and 4G LTE + Wi-Fi models, just like the Surface 2 will.

Microsoft Surface Mini Kinnect Features

According to Chinese site WP Dang, and commented on by IBT, unnamed sources have suggested the Surface mini will use Kinect's face and hand tracking technology as part of the user interface.

The Microsoft Surface Mini rumors suggest that the tablet is coming out with face recognition, touchless control features and some Kinect like gesture functionality; even though the bigger Surface 2 models lack such features. However, the probability of such features is low due to cost and hardware constraints.

Surface Mini Release Date 2014 and Price

Microsoft Surface mini tablet release date was originally slated in holiday season 2013, but is delayed due to needed Windows 8.1 Spring 2014 General Distribution Release (GDR) software update, according to Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet.

Now reliable source have reported that the surface mini device will see a spring 2014 debut with ARM processors. According to topology research institute Microsoft will launch Surface Mini the windows 8 tablet in October and it will cost around $299.

The research agency also reveals that with 8 inches Surface Mini, Microsoft aims to take on iPad mini 2014. The popularity and sales of Apple iPad mini tablet seems not dented by the competitor Android tablets like Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX.

It is worth noting that Google is also rumored to add Nexus 8 tablet, an 8 inches device beside current 7 inches Nexus 7, to compete well against iPad mini.

There are news reports about Microsoft Surface Phone launch as well. However, both of these moves are contrary to Microsoft's conservative policy of not making what seems like the obvious decisions. For years, Microsoft holded back with the ideas of Smartphone, Tablet and Handheld Game Console launching.

So, is the Surface Mini launch is facing the same dilemma, confusion and going back and forth on decision making; or will it ever see the an actual Release Date, depends upon Microsoft.