Microsoft Surface remains elusive for developers

Remember Microsoft's Surface technology--the hardware platform that would combine a tabletop PC with a huge, multitouch-capable display? Well, Microsoft first showed off Surface back in May but it's been all quiet on the Western front since then. Just when are developers going to be able to start writing programs for this thing? Probably not until next year says Microsoft, unless you're one of the few developers Microsoft has handpicked to develop for the initial batch of Surface units. "Starting in April, I think the hope is we can launch an actual (software development kit) for partners," Allison Watson, the head of Microsoft's partner efforts said in an interview at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference. "Before we do that, we thought we'd bring in real partners to help us." Microsoft plans to announce a partner advisory council soon, which will help the company decide how to best open up Surface to outside developers.

For more on Surface:
- see this CNET blog entry