Just last week, a newly public patent application revealed that Microsoft was at least thinking about a MagSafe style connector capable of delivering both data and power. Now it seems rumors say Redmond could be debuting this new connector and port with its just-announced Surface tablets.
Hands-on time with the device last night revealed a strange-looking and unfamiliar port on the side of the tablet. One of Engadget's readers noticed that the port in question looks curiously like the MagSafe-style port detailed in last week's US patent application. The application illustration shows a four-prong connector with a configuration much like the one seen in the picture below.
Microsoft didn't provide an awful lot in the way of nitty gritty details last night, so we're still in the dark about many aspects of the Surface, including this strange port. Still, with several months until the tablet hits the market, Microsoft has plenty of time to talk details. We're just hoping they won't wait too long.