Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 6th Nov 2012 23:38 UTC
The Verge is reporting Microsoft is building its own gaming tablet. "The Xbox Surface will likely include a custom ARM processor and high-bandwidth RAM designed specifically for gaming tasks. We're told these specifications could be altered to accommodate an unannounced Intel SoC and that the Xbox Surface is being developed independent of specific hardware architecture. Microsoft's Xbox Surface won't run a full version of Windows, rather this 7-inch tablet will run a custom Windows kernel. Messaging and other tablet functions may be supported, but the focus is on gaming." Custom kernel. So, incompatible with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Question. Why?
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RE: Comment by ansidotsys
by moondevil on Wed 7th Nov 2012 07:54
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Features
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Because it doesn't have to be--it just have to be compatible with the Windows Store APIs (WinRT). The entire design behind WinRT is precisely for this kind of freedom in hardware. Even if this custom kernel is subset of the Windows 8 kernel, the applications can still be coded using a subset of WinRT APIs.
The end result of this is that this gaming tablet can't run all Windows Store apps, but the games coded for it can still be executed on a Windows x86 or ARM tablet because they support the full WinRT API. In other words, they can still improve the Windows Store ecosystem without compromising the gaming capabilities of this supposed gaming tablet.
Is this how Microsoft will actually do it? Who knows, it's still a rumor, but having a custom kernel isn't as bad as it may seem. Imagine having a tablet where you purchased your games, and you can then resume those same games on your desktop. Now imagine this pitch to developers that you code one game in WinRT and it reaches all devices.
Edited 2012-11-07 00:39 UTC