Share this article:
By Stephen Nellis
Washington – Microsoft Corp. announced Wednesday that Surface Duo, its dual-screen smartphone with Alphabet Inc’s Android operating system, would start with $1399 (approximately 24,000 rand) and reach outlets starting September 10.
Surface Duo folds like a book. Unlike devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, which use a special glass to create a single screen, the Duo has two classic screens separated by a hinge but synchronized with paints together.
At a pre-announcement press convention for Surface Duo, Microsoft executives placed the phone as a painting tool with their productivity apps, just as many commercial users use dual-monitor configurations with PCs.
In the company’s chat groups app, for example, a video chat occupies one screen while the other screen presents cats. In the Microsoft Outlook messaging app, click a link in the context of an email to open the link on the opposite screen, so that the user can continue to read or reply to the email.
“I’m not looking to reinvent the phone,” Panos Panay, Microsoft’s product manager, told reporters. “But I think it’s a better way to get things done.”
Dual screen settings also allow users to pair non-Microsoft apps, such as running social media Twitter and Instagram appearance. Panay said one of the favorite combinations of Top Microsoft Executive Satya Nadella used the Kindle app from Amazon.com to read books while taking notes with a pencil in the Microsoft OneNote app on the other screen.
Panay said Microsoft chose Google’s operating system because it would give users access to Android’s large ecosystem of mobile apps. “Having the Play Store is critical,” he said.
Microsoft said pre-orders for the device begin Wednesday at its own site, AT&T Inc and BestBuy Co Inc.
Devices will work on wireless networks from AT&T, Verizon Communications Inc and T-Mobile US Inc.
The device does not have 5G connectivity and is only available in the United States at launch. Microsoft gave no timeline for other markets.
Reuters
Share this article:
Sections on IOL
Follow IOL
More on IOL
Legal
Trending on IOL
Newspapers
© 2020 Independent Online and affiliated companies. All rights reserved
Please visit the official Government information portal for Coronavirus by clicking HERE