On the eve of Microsoft’s introduction of Windows 8 in New York on Thursday, a few statements from the company’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, have surfaced that offer significant insight into the software giant’s strategy moving forward. In talking with the BBC, Ballmer gave the strongest indication yet that Microsoft may be in the process of morphing into a full-fledged hardware company. It’s true that Microsoft’s successful Xbox gaming console counts as hardware. But when it came to the release of the Surface tablet, the company suggested it was intended to inspire other hardware makers to use its software. Read the full story at PC Mag.