Thread: in the near future

What's the difference between "in the near future" and "in a near future"?

Originally Posted by http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Developing-3D-Games-89339.shtml

Microsoft Developing 3D Games? Not in the very near future

Originally Posted by http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3766189

"I am actually reasonably optimistic we will come to closure on this in a very near future," Gates told reporters returning on a flight from a five-day trip to Europe.