It did not make sense for Microsoft Corp. to release its second-generation Surface tablets before the set of Windows “Blue” updates for the operating system, but it appears that the new tablets will arrive even later. According to a media report, the 7.5” version of the second-gen Surface will sport rather high-end display by today’s standards, but it will only be mass produced starting early next year.

“From the supply chain side, we are seeing the panel specifications, the touch module, the mass production schedule being made. Mass production is Q1 2014. Apparently, pretty significant volume. Multiple millions. Production could possibly start earlier at a lower level then ramp up to mass production in the first quarter,” said Richard Shim, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, told Cnet News web-site.

Microsoft Surface 7.5” media tablet is expected to use a panel with 1400*1050 resolution and pixel density of 233 pixels per inch. The display clearly outperforms those found on today’s Apple iPad mini (7.85”, 1024*768) as well as Google Nexus 7 (7”, 1280*800), however, it will look pale against updated versions of both slates (which will feature retina-class screens) that will be available later this year.

Microsoft has updated its Skype application on Windows 8 with a video messaging feature, for those who can't be bothered to type.

Unsurprisingly, this new Skype feature, which is available now in Preview form, lets the handful of Windows 8 owners in the wild record a message to send to a friend. Video messages can be sent even if the recipient is unavailable, so you can give your friends a surprise when they return online.

We're not sure that we would use this feature, and we're not entirely sure who would, but it's there, for those who want it.

Microsoft is warning that as it's a Preview release, it might be a bit buggy. However, it is asking users to offer feedback so it can improve the feature.

iOS 6.1.4 has made its way through the tubes, but users looking forward to any kind of major feature updates should keep holding their breath. Thursday's update only applies to the iPhone 5, and it brings an updated audio profile for the speakerphone, which comes as a surprise to both end users and developers alike.

There are no other pieces to the iOS 6.1.4 puzzle—or at least not according to Apple's public release notes. The update was not seeded to developers in advance (unlike many previous releases), likely because it's so minor by comparison. It's possible that Apple's iOS engineers are too busy to apply much time to iOS 6.x updates, as they've reportedly been hard at work on iOS 7 to ensure it's ready enough to demo at WWDC in June.

Aside from getting in the game early, one of the main factors as to why iOS rose to prominence is because of its sleek, simple, aesthetically pleasing user interface and experience. Throughout the mobile operating system’s lifespan, it has looked relatively the same. However, new reports suggest that the next iteration of Apple’s mobile OS, iOS 7, is getting a stark makeover.

The report comes from 9to5Mac, and says that Jony Ive — Apple designer extraordinaire, lead designer of just about any relevant Apple product you can name — has sunk his fingers deep into iOS 7. Various sources report that iOS 7 will dispense with Apple’s trademarked sheen and gloss. The new mobile OS is also said to part with the company’s somewhat divisive skeuomorphism — a technique that makes a design look like another material.

Whatsapp might be about to introduce a voice messaging service as it looks to kill the phone call as well as the SMS.

That's according to 9to5Mac, which has seen an email from Whatsapp that seems to suggest the feature is coming.

An email from the Whatsapp translation team to a Hong Kong developer said, "Thank you for translating Whatsapp into Chinese. We have added some new strings that have yet to be translated: Camera button off, Camera button on and Push-to-talk button."