Update: As several have noted in the comments and forums, there is a video available now as well. –Paul
A Twitter user snapped a photo of someone using a preproduction Surface Duo on a commuter train in Vancouver. Naturally, everyone is overthinking this.
“Hey, not sure if interesting, but I just saw a guy in Vancouver’s SkyTrain playing around with Surface Duo,” Israel Rodriguez tweeted. Got photos and videos.”
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Not sure if it’s interesting. Hilarious.
The still image he posted shows a Surface Duo in a person’s hands. Completely meeting my expectations, that person is only using one of its displays. The other just shows the Android home screen.
He’s also propping up one side of the device on his leg, no doubt because using the surprisingly large-looking device with one hand would be difficult. But you can clearly see the thickness of the device, plus the hinge in the middle. It seems like more a tablet than a phone, frankly.
Some bloggers—who approach such photos as a cryptozoologist does a purported photo of Bigfoot—believe they see a flash on the top of one display. That’s because Microsoft never discussed whether it would even have a front-facing camera and, well, we gotta over-analyze the details. I agree it looks like one.
We’re also hearing the first rumors that Surface Duo might even ship sooner than expected. That is, sometime in the first half of the year instead of for the holiday season. If that’s the case, I’ll further guess that the first release will be for developers. And what the heck, Microsoft is hosting its annual Build developer show in May.
You gotta dream.
jean
<blockquote><em><a href="#518849">In reply to bnyklue:</a></em></blockquote><p>rotate it by 90° and use one screen as a full keyboard – still small but likely 3 times bigger than actual virtual keyboards – quite useful for productivity apps on the go IMHO</p>
BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#518850">In reply to jean:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I love how the iPad has earned a (nonsense) reputation as a device that can’t do productivity (“it’s only for consumption!”) and now Microsoft tapes a 2nd phone to a phone and it’s a “quite useful” productivity device.</p><p><br></p><p>Ugh.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m just gonna say it: Smartphones are SO good that tech companies are losing their damn minds trying to convince people there’s something even better they should spend money on.</p>
Todd Northrop
<blockquote><em><a href="#518849">In reply to bnyklue:</a></em></blockquote><p>Hmm. That's the exact same thing people said when the iPad was introduced. Lots of mocking articles like this one too.</p>
PeterC
<p>I just showed a bunch of the senior leadership team ….. outlook in split screen mode on my iPad, with calendar in one view and mail in the other, and then the Duo picture above of the device it will run on. Discussed using other apps in other windows, note taking, Skype, voice etc.</p><p><br></p><p>Totally sold and a done deal. Just gotta get the price reasonably right. I accept it’s not for everyone, especially desktop jockeys who aren’t required to be that mobile, but for those that are it’s barely a questionable purchase…. really. </p><p><br></p><p>These are not consumer phones, and should not be valued against such devices in my opinion, they’re a foldable iPad with “phone capabilities”….. </p><p><br></p>
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#519043">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>The key is the foldability, mobility and portability form factor and yes android os app possibilities, but with productivity focus of MS. </p>
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#518891">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>Exactly</p>