Microsoft through its Newsletter on Windows Certification, originally announced this change on the 12th March. According to the newsletter, these changes will be immediately effective and Microsoft has already brought down the resolution for these devices to 1024×768 with a depth of 32 bits. A per the earlier guidelines, a device would not be certified with the logo of Windows 8 unless it had a minimum display resolution of 1366 x 768. This announcement, aimed at vendors wishing to sell Windows 8 devices certified by Microsoft has increased the chances of Microsoft Reader becoming a reality–even higher. Microsoft has stated through this Newsletter that higher design flexibility would prove helpful for partners who explore designs for specific markets. Because of this, the vendors would be able to emerge with Microsoft products with similar resolutions of iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7. According to ZDNet, the original requirement of design for Windows 8 was a resolution ratio of 16:9– which made the usage of portrait mode more difficult. ZDNet also pointed that a commercial agreement of Barnes & Noble which was filed in May 2012 did refer to the “Microsoft Reader.” –making us presume that the device is now certainly in the offing.
