It can finally be told. Microsoft has indeed worked on making a Surface Mini, a smaller variation of the company's Surface tablet range. This has been confirmed by the Redmond giant's Panos Panay, who was evidently displeased that the device has not been released to consumers.

According to a Tech Times report, the device was about seven inches bigand could have easily competed with Apple's iPad Mini. Last year, rumors about the Surface Mini have made their rounds on the internet, and was even reported to be slated for a release in May. Instead, customers were served the Surface Pro 3, but rumors still circulated as the manual for the surface Pro 3 contained references to a smaller device.

It also seems that Panay had hoped that the gadget will be released and shipped this year. But the Microsoft event has instead introduced the Surface Pro 4, the latest tablet device, and the company's first ever laptop, the Surface Book. Although the Surface Book has enjoyed warm reception and has immediately sold out less than a week after it has been released, Panay expressed that things did not turn out the way he would have wanted.

"How could we possibly be proud of making the best laptop?" Panay told Wired. "That wasn't reinventing anything." While the Surface Book is seen as a great bid to revive dropping laptop sales, Panay has something else in mind when it comes to redefining gadgets in the tech industry. And for him, the Surface Mini is it.

"It was awesome," Panay said of the device, comparing it to a Moleskine. It is indeed sad that the device is not likely to land on the hands of excited customers, who have been hyped by the rumors. A Chinese gadgets accessories manufacturer has even put up a listing of Surface Mini accessories on Amazon in April 2014. Such a downer that the gadget is real, but people would not get to see just how awesome it actually is.