In April, Microsoft and B&N entered into a “strategic partnership” with no official name (but referred to as “Newco”). Now it looks like one of the fruits of that partnership may be announced tomorrow afternoon at a Microsoft event in Los Angeles. TechCrunch’s Peter Ha reports hearing from unknown sources that this event will announce a joint Microsoft/Barnes & Noble tablet which could be the first non-Xbox device that can stream from Microsoft’s Xbox Live on-line streaming service.

Ha noted that, unlike previous invitations, the one for this event carried absolutely no specific product-line branding, simply calling it “a major Microsoft announcement”. Not so surprising if they haven’t even announced what the joint venture will actually be called.

If this is going to be a joint Windows/B&N tablet, will it run some version of Windows or Android? Will it replace or exist alongside B&N’s next Nook Color device? I think we can all look forward to finding out.

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