Tips and rumors reported by several tech websites suggest that Microsoft may launch a seven-inch version of its Surface tablet before the end of summer 2014. The supposed launch of the new device would come just weeks after Microsoft began selling its 12-inch Surface Pro 3 in the US, according to regular tech leaker @evleaks. Rumored to have a screen of between seven and eight inches, the Microsoft Surface Mini would compete in the sector currently dominated by the iPad Mini and the Nexus 7. The Surface Pro, on the other hand, is marketed more as an alternative to notebook PCs.