Confirmed: Microsoft will hold a Windows 10 event on October 26

One year after revealing its first laptop PC -- a rival for Apple's MacBook Pro -- Microsoft could be set to cause a sensation in 2016 with an iMac-style all-in-one PC codenamed "Surface Cardinal." This desktop PC could land in several versions, ranging from 21 to 27 inches in size. The conference could also see Microsoft unveil an improved version of its Surface Book laptop or perhaps the first ever model in a new "Surface Phone" range, although such devices aren't expected on the market before 2017.

However, the future of Windows 10 will be the focus of the event. After a major "Anniversary" update this summer, intended to improve the operating system's stability and security, a host of new features are expected for Cortana, Skype, Edge and even Paint.

At a similar event a year ago, again held in New York, Microsoft presented the Surface Book, its first ever laptop computer that the Redmond tech giant billed as the most powerful 13.5-inch PC ever made. The firm also unveiled a new generation of Surface Pro tablets, as well as its first Windows 10 smartphones, the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. Chances are this year's conference could prove just as promising.

Follow the Microsoft conference live online here: microsoft.com/octoberevent