Sounds like they're either going to port it to C# or add Java development to Visual Studio? Though I doubt the latter is the case... Given the history of Java and Microsoft...

Or just use the C++ version. Only the PC version is written in Java.

What it sounds like is that they're going to start properly endorsing the modding community, something Mojang failed to realize is absolutely critical to minecraft.

You never know with Microsoft these days. They've recently started releasing source code so anything's possible. I do think they'll port it though.

From first hand experience, there is quite a bit of active Java development at Microsoft. And no, it's not done in Visual Studio.

Interesting, I never really gave it much thought. I always wanted a Java plugin for Visual Studio personally. Oh well. I guess IntelliJ is good enough. I guess it makes sense, if I remember correctly some of their download managers use Java themselves, or used to.

Yes, the Eclipse TFS plugin is pretty nice

As an owner of Windows Phone I cant see how this would work out for them.

Most of Windows Phones are rather smallish and Windows Surface is totally wrong product with their OS and limitations.

I can just see it running in a Metro tile.