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Photo via Microsoft

NEW YORK — The stage is set, Windows 10 signs are illuminated and Microsoft appears ready to pull the curtain off its next generation of hardware at a press event in New York City this morning.

It’s a highly anticipated event where we’ll get a chance to see the company’s first crop of devices built specifically for the recently released Windows 10 operating system. The announcements come just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season, right on the heels of similar blockbuster hardware unveilings from Apple and Amazon last month.

The Surface Pro 3
The Surface Pro 3

Today’s event is expected to focus on mobile devices, as Microsoft is widely rumored to be planning the introduction of two new smartphones, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, as well as a new tablet, the Surface Pro 4. The company also looks poised to announce a redesigned fitness tracker, the Microsoft Band 2.

Mobile has been a hit-or-miss category for Microsoft over the past few years, but the company hopes that today signifies the start of a new chapter.

With today’s smartphone release, the Windows Phone operating system — which still claims a virtually insignificant 3 percent market share after five years — will officially be laid to rest and the company’s vision for a Windows 10 operating system that runs across devices of all sizes will be realized. But for the new Windows 10 Mobile to take hold, it’s going to have to be running on hardware that can hold its own against the competition from Samsung and — yes — even Apple.

Today, Microsoft will also be looking to build on the success of the Surface Pro 3, which has sold well as a high-end tablet that can replace a laptop, and the Microsoft Band, which was well reviewed but never really took off in the marketplace.

And of course, you can never rule out the chance of something unexpected happening. Surface Mini anyone? GeekWire is on hand in New York to bring you the latest, so follow the live blog below during today’s event and check back as the day unfolds for continuing coverage.

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