Samsung planning modified Windows 8 Series 7 slate for late 2012

Samsung revealed on Wednesday that it is preparing a modified Windows 8 Series 7 slate for release in the second half of 2012.
The device will be a modified version of its existing Series 7 slate, currently available with Windows 7 installed. The device in its current form features a 11.6-inch wacom enabled gorilla glass screen, i3 or i5 processors and 4GB of RAM. Not shy on specs, Samsung also bundles in dual cameras and WiMAX and HSPA+ support. Uhm Kyu Ho, head of sales and marketing at Samsung, revealed the company’s plans in an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday.
The new slate will run Windows 8 and is expected to arrive in the second half of next year, around the time that Microsoft is expected to ship Windows 8. Microsoft handed out over 5,000 devices to a range of developers at its BUILD conference in September. Developers reacted with cheers and whoops during the Windows 8 keynote as Microsoft unveiled its special developers tablet. The Samsung device is similar to the recently announced Samsung Series 7 Slate device but it also includes a number of new and upgraded components:

• Newer firmware (04WJ.M005.20110826.LDG, 8/26/2011)
• An Option (GTM67x) chip for WiFi, phone and GPRS connectivity.
• A Silicon Labs (CP210x) chip for USB<->UART-based scenarios
• A Trusted Platform Module (1.2)
• NXP’s Near field Communications chip (NFC)
• A Bluetooth LE chip
• A gyroscope
• An ambient light sensor

Microsoft has yet to confirm exactly when Windows 8 will ship for Slate and Tablet devices. Early rumors this year suggested that the company could be planning to ship the ARM version of Windows 8 earlier than the typical x86 offering. Samsung could be paving the way for a number of new Windows tablets in the near future that will be upgradeable to Windows 8. The company confirmed they plan to partner with Microsoft on Windows 8 upgradeability plans, suggesting that Microsoft could be preparing a Windows 8 upgrade plan for existing Windows slates and tablets.
The big OEMs, including HP, Dell and ASUS are all reportedly preparing Windows 8 tablets for Q3 2012. Microsoft is expected to unveil the final version of Windows 8 during the Summer months of 2012 in preparation for a holiday push of new tablets and form factors.