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In the last 18 months, our Patently Mobile IP blog has released three Microsoft patents (one, two, and three) covering a potential dual display / foldable mobile device that may or may not be a next-gen smartphone. Now, according to a report released last Friday, we learn that "Microsoft has been working on a mysterious new surface device for at least two years that is called Andromeda."
According to an internal Microsoft document obtained by The Verge, it will also be a Pocket Surface device.
The report notes that "Microsoft describes its Andromeda project as something that the company has quietly incubated internally, and that will create a" new and disruptive "category of devices to influence the overall roadmap and blur the world. PC and mobile boundaries: "This is a new pocket device form factor that brings together new innovative hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience," he says. exactly the way Microsoft describes the device in-house.
The Andromeda device is still developed in secret in Microsoft, with a wraparound display that fills the void of the hinge when it's fully open.We understand that the samples engineering concepts of the Pocket Surface are identical to the 3D concepts created by David Breyer
Additional 3D graphics by David Breyer could be viewed here .
Microsoft has also experimented with stylus for Andromeda, so that the device can fold as a book and that a pen can be used to capture digital ink. Prototype devices include pens and notepad-like applications to capture notes. Microsoft is also experimenting with ARM processors inside Andromeda prototypes, but it's not clear whether the company will proceed with Intel or Qualcomm for a end device.For more, read The Verge report in full here.
On December 16, 2016 Patently Apple released a report titled "LG Korean Report claims to work with Apple, Google and Microsoft to provide collapsible devices by 2018." On December 22, 2016, we followed up with a report entitled "A leading provider of foldable display technology confirms that five tech companies are testing Smartpho foldable nes." So rumors of tech companies such as Microsoft testing a collapsible smartphone is far from new.
One of Microsoft's key patents on this type of foldable device certainly includes the form factor badociated with a smartphone. Patent notes: "The computer system may take the form of one or more mobile communication devices (eg, smart phone), mobile computing devices, tablet computers, gaming devices, computers personal. "
The patent further notes: "By way of non-limiting examples, the communication subsystem may be configured for communication via a wireless telephone network or a local or extended network. wired or wireless "
Thus, while Microsoft's internal documents do not spell a smartphone, their patents certainly do so in the context of a folding device form factor.
While Microsoft's Surface range currently includes tablets, notebooks and a desktop computer, the missing piece to supplement their hardware is a smartphone / notebook that could possibly challenge the Pixel and Apple's iPhone.
To escape calls and "imitating" comments, Microsoft is probably hoping that a new approach from a smartphone could enable them to gain a solid foundation in the United States and later to Windows fans in the whole world.
Is Microsoft's Andromeda project a chimera or a new disruptive smartphone that could surprise Apple and Google?
The Apple iPhone introduced a new type of smartphone in 2007 and disrupted the market for a good decade. Microsoft can see their foldable smartphone as the next big thing. The smartphone [0] becomes a bit boring and something refreshing could make things move in a positive way.
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