Microsoft makes official the second Surface iteration as it announces a pair of Windows tablet additions-- the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, both promising "significant" updates on processors, batteries and displays.

The Surface 2 is technically a sequel to the Surface RT, the ARM-powered sibling to the first Surface. It features an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, higher resolution (1920x1080) ClearType display, USB 3.0 port and either 32 or 64GB of storage inside a thinner (8.9mm) and lighter (676g) silver magnesium body.

The Windows version of choice is the 8.1 update on Win RT.

Meanwhile the Surface Pro 2 is the Windows 8.1 Pro option powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Haswell Core i5 processor. It retains the 10.6-inch 1920x1080 display of the original, together with 4 USB ports, mini DisplayPort and Ethernet ports, and a battery promising a 75% boost in longevity.

Amazon refreshes the Kindle Fire tablet portfolio with a pair of new models called Kindle Fire HDX, a 7- and 8.9-inch tablet featuring boosted specs and higher resolution displays.

Described by company CEO Jeff Bezos as "premium products at non-premium prices," the duo carries 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processors, 2GB RAM, a battery promising up to 11 hours of "standard" usage (or up to 17 hours in reading mode) and an updated version of the Amazon take on Android, Fire OS 3.0 or "Mojito."

The only differences between the two tablets boil down to screen and cameras-- the 7-inch option features a 323 ppi 1920x1200 display and a single front-facing camera. Meanwhile the 8.9-inch version ups the resolution to 2560x1600 on a 339ppi display as well as an additional 8MP rear-facing shooter complete with LED flash and built-in electronic image stabilisation.

UK supermarket chain Tesco enters the tablet fray with the Hudl, a Kindle Fire-esque 7-inch device featuring a quad-core 1.5GHz CPU and stock Android 4.2.2 inside a slightly chunky Tesco-branded frame.

Further specifications include a 234ppi 1440x900 display, 16GB internal storage (expandable via microSD) and a battery promising up to 9 hours of use.

In other words the Hudl is yet another low-cost (£119.99) tablet offering, if one Tesco posits as a portal to its various online services-- built-in is a dedicated launcher button for the summoning of blinkbox, Clubcard TV, banking and (obviously) online shopping apps.

Also available are a number of optional Hudl-branded accessories, including headphones and a rubber protective case.

Nvidia reveals more details on its next step towards a complete tablet strategy-- Tegra Note, the Tegra 4-powered successor to the Project Kai low-cost tablet reference design.

First seen at Computex, Tegra Note promises to allow vendors to make Android tablets "packed with innovation and features" with a pricetag of $199. Such tablets would include a 7-inch 1280x800 IPS display, front-facing speakers, 16GB storage (expandable via microSD slot) and the Tegra 4 SoC packing a quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU, GeForce GPU, DirectStylus input technology and Chimera imaging architecture.

Asus launches the Zenbook UX301 and UX302 at IFA 2013-- a pair of flagship ultrabooks complete with sleek designs and lids featuring Gorilla Glass on top of the "spun" metal material.

According to the company the Gorilla Glass has "Native Damage Resistance" for superior scratch resistance, reduced scratch visibility and improved toughness, as well as an admittedly attractive high-gloss finish.

The ultrabooks feature either 13.3-inch 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 multitouch IPS displays, and are powered by 4th generation Intel Core processors and either Intel Iris or Nvidia GeForce GT 730M graphics.

"You're invited" a Microsoft media invite in the shape of a Surface tablet says, followed by the 23 September 2013 date-- leaving little doubt the Windows maker has a tablet-themed event in store.

Most probably the event involves launch of a Surface Pro and Surface RT tablet refresh.

According to Neowin the Surface 2 will feature a Haswell-based Core i5 CPU together with 8GB RAM and a "refined" kickstand of some kind, while the Surface RT 2 carries a Tegra 4 CPU, 4GB RAM, 1920x1080 display and a two-step kickstand.

The Verge confirms the two-step kickstand rumours, as well as the specification talk. It also says Windows 8.1 is the OS on both tablets, with the Surface RT dropping the "RT" part of the name (leading to a possibly even more confusing Microsoft tablet situation).

Toshiba shows off a "close collaboration" with Microsoft at IFA 2013-- the Encore, an 8-inch tablet featuring a Bay Trail Atom processor and the Windows 8.1 update.

The IPS display promises better viewing angles and brightness, even if it provides just 1280x800 resolution. The device is also heftier than the iPad mini, being 10.68mm thick and weighing 479g.

Storage comes in either 32 or 64GB, and is expandable via microSD slot. Rounding up the device are 2GB RAM and 8MP rear-/2MP front-facing camera.

Remember the ludicrous 20-inch Panasonic tablet with the 4K/UHD (3840x2560) display from CES 2013? The company uses IFA 2013 to announce the device is, in fact, a real product-- one to be "shortly" available in Europe.

According to Panasonic the Windows 8 tablet displays an A3 poster in almost full size, with an aspect ratio of 15:10. The IPS LCD display has a 230ppi density, handles 10-finger input and accepts more accurate input via "high precision" stylus.

The company does not detail technical specs at IFA, but the CES 2013 prototype carried an Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce graphics and 128GB storage, as well as wifi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.