Toshiba Corp. has cancelled release of Windows RT-based devices it planned to launch this year due to a delay of components by a third party. As a result, instead of Windows RT media tablet and notebook, Toshiba will concentrate on making available products featuring Windows 8 operating system.

"Toshiba has decided not to introduce Windows RT models due to delayed components that would make a timely launch impossible. For the time being, Toshiba will focus on bringing Windows 8 products to market. We will continue to look into the possibility of Windows RT products in the future while monitoring market conditions,” said Eric Paulsen, a spokesman for Toshiba.

Back in June the Japanese company demonstrated two devices based on Microsoft Windows RT and Texas Instruments OMAP 4470 system-on-chip (dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 at 1.50GHz-1.80GHz, dual-core Cortex-M3, PowerVR SGX 544 graphics core, dual-channel LPDDR2 memory controller), a tablet and a laptop. Both products were designed collaboratively by Toshiba and TI. While Toshiba does not indicate it directly, since TI's SoC is the main chip that distinguishes systems based on Windows RT and Windows 8, it looks like the Texas Instruments will be late with its OMAP 4470.

^{Toshiba laptop and tablet powered by Windows RT and TI OMAP 4470 SoC. Image by AnandTech web-site}

Microsoft Windows 8 operating system will be available in three versions. Two versions will be designed for x86 processors and one will be aimed at ARM-powered systems. All three will support  touch-screen, keyboard and mouse, all general capabilities of Windows and Metro-style apps. The version for ARM called Windows RT will also include touch-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, but will not run Windows applications designed for x86 processors. Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.

At present it is unknown whether Toshiba plans to release a tablet based on Windows 8 and Intel Atom. Moreover, it will be interesting to see whether Toshiba will resurrect its netbooks powered by Intel Atom SoC due to inability to ship systems featuring Windows RT.

Tags: Toshiba, Windows, Microsoft, Windows 8