Microsoft Surface Duo dual-screen software shown off in emulator
A taste of our foldable future
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Microsofthas provided early software for its upcomingSurface Duofoldable Android device, alongside an emulator which gives us a better idea of what the software will look like, and how it will work.
Thepreview SDK for Microsoft Surface Duois aimed at allowing app developers to get to work on creating new apps – or versions of existing ones – that can take advantage of the Surface Duo’s unique dual-screen foldable design.
This should mean that when the Surface Duo launches at the end of 2020, there should be plenty of dual-screen apps available.
To help test out the apps and see how they work, an Android Emulator with a preview Surface Duo image has been included with the SDK, replicating the Surface Duo without needing a physical device.
The emulator simulates various aspects of the Surface Duo, including having two screens (separated by a black ‘hinge’, as the real device will have, and while this is a very early version of the Surface Duo’s interface – with icons and visual effects that are not finalised – it does give us a feel for how the Surface Duo will work and what apps will look like on the device.
Neowin has recorded a video of the emulator, which you can watch below, and in it you can see how the Microsoft Launcher works over dual screens, and what multitasking is like – for exampling moving an app from one screen to the other.
Windows 10X next?
Alongside the Surface Duo, which will be a smartphone-like device that runs a custom version of Android, Microsoft is also working on theSurface Neo, which is a larger foldable device that will run a custom version ofWindows 10– known asWindows 10X.
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It looks like we’ll be getting a closer look at that newoperating systemas well, with Microsoft promising that “in the coming weeks, developers will have access to a pre-release version of the Windows SDK through the standard Insider build”, with the aim of getting the emulator into the hands of developers on February 11.
According to Microsoft, “the emulator simulates the physical device so you can see how your apps interact with Windows 10X.”
February 11 will also see Microsoft hosting an online Microsoft 365 Developer Day, focusing on dual-screen experiences. Again, while this is aimed at developers, it could give the rest of us a better idea of what Microsoft’s dual-screen Surface devices will be like.
ViaMSPowerUser
Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.
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