14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft might have delayed Surface Andromeda, but hints at its features are still discovered in Windows 10, as the company continues work on the project ahead of a possible 2019 release.
The most recent finding indicates that Andromeda may sport a dedicated productivity mode, which makes perfect sense given that the device was developed from the very beginning with productivity in mind.
In fact, Microsoft’s entire long-term vision is based on the concept of productivity, as the company says it’s now building products, be they software or hardware, that “empower people to do more,” while at the same time helping them remain productive either at the office or on the go.
Possible launch next year
Based on a dual-screen design, Andromeda might thus feature several modes that could be powered by the transition from one form factor to another. Changing the orientation of the screens, which itself relies on an innovative hinge that supports this conversion, could also trigger the said modes, with Andromeda thus adapting automatically to different purposes.
Microsoft Surface Andromeda was originally projected to debut this year, but according to people familiar with Microsoft’s plans, the device has been pushed back to 2019 as the company believes that the software powering it isn’t ready.
Specifically, the software giant wants to build a large app ecosystem before releasing Andromeda and intends to refine certain features in a way that would better tackle this productivity push. But at the same time, there’s also a chance Andromeda gets the ax completely, meaning that Microsoft may give up on the idea and never release the device.
At this point, it’s believed that Microsoft’s next ETA for Andromeda is 2019, with some people indicating that spring may witness the debut of the device, while others claim the fall is a more likely target.
In the meantime, there are several other companies investing in dual-screen devices, and if Microsoft doesn’t hurry up, it may be once again be late to the market with a category that it planned to invent.