Microsoft has also expanded retail availability of the original Surface RT to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and select other countries.

FORBES: Microsoft Surface Pro Release Date and Retail Availability Announced

Per usual, there's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but judging by the surface, it seems like this thing requires a few too many connections to make the consolidation freaks happy anyway.

ENGADGET: Mainnav MG-920 Bluetooth GPS receiver touts FM transmitter

In addition to pricing and market availability, the company announced a special limited-quantity pre-order for Surface with Windows RT available 9 a.m.

ENGADGET: Microsoft Surface for Windows RT pricing now official: tablet starts at $499, keyboard not included

Surface waters are expected to form more stable layers as the oceans warm, which will affect the availability of nutrients and, it is increasingly feared, of oxygen.

ECONOMIST: Ocean acidification

Microsoft just announced that its Surface Pro tablet will go on sale February 9th in the US and Canada, with wide retail availability beyond just Microsoft.com and Microsoft Stores.

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