Microsoft could be building a Surface all-in-one for the living room

Microsoft is expected to launch a Surface-branded all-in-one PC before the end of the year, according to a report published by DigiTimes. The all-in-one is said to be an alternative to the second-generation Surface Book, which has allegedly been pushed back to the first half of 2017 thanks to delays surrounding Intel's seventh generation Core i processors.

The rumours are given some credence thanks to a photo of Microsoft's hardware wall taken by app developer Shubhan Chemburkar. The wall commemorates Microsoft's Surface-related hardware efforts, and features a single placeholder dated 2016, and three place holders dated 2017. While these don't confirm anything other than the fact Microsoft is working on more Surface-branded products, a Surface all-in-one in 2016, followed by a refreshed Surface Book, Surface Pro, and the heavily rumoured Surface Phone in 2017 make the numbers work.

Of course, it's also possible that Microsoft will instead refresh the entry level Surface tablet, as the lower cost Surface 3 is set to be discontinued this December.

A Surface all-in-one PC would mark the first desktop PC built in-house by Microsoft, and in a sense, would see the Surface moniker come full circle. The original Surface – now known as PixelSense – was ostensibly a 30-inch touchscreen tablet. If Microsoft does go ahead with a Surface all-in-one, it would make sense for the company to continue to build on the two-in-one nature the brand has become associated with.