14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 for Phones is several months away, but Microsoft has already revealed some of the most important new features it will add to the operating system.
USB Mass Storage, USB Type-C, Wi-Fi Direct, support for Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) display are just some of the features that Windows Phone will get in the next major update.
Although these features are already supported in other mobile platforms, Windows Phone fans will have to wait several more months until they are able to take advantage of them.
But with new versions of Windows Phone come new smartphones as well. The first Lumia smartphones with Windows 10 for Phones OS out of the box will probably hit the market in September.
We expect it to be considerably more powerful than current Lumia 930 and 1520, especially that Microsoft will be able to take advantage of all the new features in Windows 10.
New Windows 10 phones could come in different shapes and designs
Even though the upcoming Lumia phones will be upgraded hardware-wise, there are many Windows Phone fans complaining that there isn't much difference between Lumia phones when it comes to form factor.
New designs are required from time to time to refresh a certain lineup. The Lumia phones look good, but there's little difference between them.
In order to include another differentiator factor, it looks like Microsoft might be experimenting with a new type of hinge that will allow the company to launch dual-screen smartphones.
Microsoft has recently filed for a patent that would give the company the option to add a hinge to its smartphones that will allow for at least 180 degrees determinate pivoting motion between two portions of these devices.
“This disclosure relates to hinge mechanisms for mobile electronic devices, such as mobile phones and mobile computers. Conventional hinged mobile electronic devices, such as 'flip phones,' typically include two body portions or leaves, hinged about a single pivot axis.
“In the closed position, this single pivot axis is positioned even with the plane of contact between the two leaves. Because of this geometry, the two leaves cannot open 180 degrees and/or the hinge protrudes upward out of the plane with the leaf faces.”
Dual-screens will clearly differentiate Lumia smartphones from others
Even though we don't know for certain whether or not Microsoft will ever take advantage of this patent, we suspect the company will at least experiment with the idea of Windows Phone handsets with dual screens.
That will be a great differentiator not only between Lumia phones, but it would also allow Microsoft's smartphone to standout from other Android/iOS devices. Here is another excerpt of the patent filing taken directly from US Patents Office.
“Other hinged mobile electronic devices include two pivot axes, one fixed relative to each leaf, with a single linkage connecting the leaves via the two pivot axes. This setup however, can deal to indeterminate motion between the leaves as the two leaves are free to pivot independently relative to the linkage.
“Disclosed herein are embodiments of multi-axis hinge mechanisms for mobile electronic devices that allow for at least 180 degrees determinate pivoting motion between two portions of the device.”
