Although Microsoft’s mobile efforts in regards to Windows 10 Mobile are dead, the company isn’t pulling out of mobile altogether. While Windows on smartphones is no more, Microsoft is hoping to create a new category-defining mobile device that’s aimed at an entirely new demographic, and that puts pen and digital inking at the forefront of the experience.
At Windows Central, we’ve been covering two ongoing internal projects within Microsoft: CShell and Windows Core OS. Both of these projects play an important part in Microsoft’s next rumored mobile device, which appears to be commonly referred to as “Andromeda” on the web.
So, what exactly is this Andromeda device and why should you care?
Digging into Microsoft’s ‘Andromeda’ folding device
According to our sources, the Andromeda device is prototype hardware; a foldable tablet that runs Windows 10 built with Windows Core OS, along with CShell to take advantage of its foldable display. I imagine CShell plays an important roll in the foldable aspect of this device. Considering it’s foldable, being a tablet doesn’t mean much, and I’m told it’s designed to be pocketable when folded, kind of like a phone.
I make the comparison to a phone because I’m also hearing that it has telephony capabilities, meaning you could replace your actual smartphone with it and still be able to take calls and texts. My sources make it clear, however, that this is not supposed to be a smartphone replacement but rather a device similar to the canceled “Microsoft Courier.” In short, Andromeda is a digital pocket notebook.
It’s all about digital inking
I’m told the device puts pen and inking at the very forefront, with some prototypes opening up into a notebook app that’s tied to OneNote, with support for your usual inking options via Windows Ink. The notebook app itself is designed in a way that mimics writing in a real notebook, with virtual pages that spread across the foldable device. Of course, since it’s Windows it also has a Start screen and menu and the ability to run apps like Edge or Photos.
It is likely that Andromeda will run on ARM, meaning it’ll ship with the latest Snapdragon processor that’s current at the time of its release. I’m unable to verify if the device will be able to run Win32 programs. It will be able to run true-UWP apps, of course.
Microsoft isn’t building this device for your average consumer. If it ever comes to market, and that’s a big if, it isn’t going to be an iPhone or Android competitor because as Microsoft has publicly claimed in the past, it’s just too late for that.
Instead, Microsoft is going to try and carve out a new market for people who need or want a device like this. It isn’t hard to imagine this device being marketed as a digital journal for those in the enterprise or in schools.
A lot of this info shouldn’t be a surprise. Those that have been following us closely likely already know that Microsoft has been filing patents for foldable devices for the last year or so. That, along with CShell and Windows Core OS, and the fact that Microsoft has publicly stated that if it is to ever return to mobile, it’ll be with a new kind of device, it’s not hard to envision Microsoft doing something like this.
Source:windowscentral.com
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