When Microsoft introduced its next-gen Surface hardware Surface Duo and Surface Neo last month it really amazed people around the world because this level of implementation of the Dual Screen device was not seen yet, we heard too many leaks of Microsoft Andromeda concept people probably think that Microsoft will implement the same Microsoft Phone but this time Microsoft has moved off the box bring Surface Duo and Neo.
Surface Duo is an Android-based smartphone that will feature Microsoft theme in-built so people will expect Microsoft bloatware rather than Google’s own native apps. While the Neo will be a next-generation Dual screen tablet-like, the concept, that will feature an entirely new O.S. called Windows 10X. These two new devices open a room for development which made Microsoft push the release date of these devices to 2020. But there too many questions around the developer community about dual-screen devices so let take this one by one.
Is Two Display Really Needed?
We already pushed out the capability of multitasking, considering our laptop there are too many windows when we work for the project and sometimes we need the same application to run on the same screen so, we may push these two apps easily on sides of the display and it will accordingly divide equally. Now, suppose this situation on smartphone or tablet which can’t be possible right now but Apple’s iPad really solves too many issues regarding multitasking but it still seems missing somethings. As Dual screen are better for managing apps rather than putting a apps on the same screen as it hides some of the important details which people see while using the apps in full screen, Dual screen will help to solve this issue as user can put apps on different on both side display so they can easily manage the task.
The dual-screen also gives more space while using single apps as when people used to write on tablet a giant keyboard fills up the half screen and this also seems annoying but Dual screen device can easily put the app on one screen and keyboard on other screens so the user won’t need an external keyboard while using.
Screen space on Surface dual-screen devices is also big as compared to today’s smartphone or tablets as the user can enjoy watching videos from YouTube or Netflix on the bigger display. One display of Surface Neo account is 9-inch so the dual-display will account for around 18-inch display areas which will be enough for watching experience.
Windows 10X & Android The Cross-Domain
Windows 10X is Microsoft’s upcoming O.S which will optimize for Dual-screen devices and it will feature new apps to gives full support of two screens as apps downsize when users want to use the shorter versions of the app or they can easily fill application on the full screen just a click away. This seamless integration of screen support will make using the app more intuitive, but it is still not clear that the previous Windows 10 apps were compatible with Windows 10X or they need to program support separately to make it compatible.
Microsoft also pushing their head toward Android O.S. as Google also support dual-screen devices from Android 10, and apps will also support dual-screen as it just needs to be configurable to fully support dual screen. During Surface hardware Microsoft tell that they will first improve the experience of app in Duo devices so it may be possible that Microsoft will support Android development in their developer environment or they will introduce an SDK (“Software Development Kit”) for Android Studio so Android developer can easily support Surface Duo form factor with Microsoft’s design requirement.
Microsoft already started developing its own applications like Outlook which will really use dual screen, other application will adopt dual-screen patterns from time to time which will give hint to the developer to easily adapt to the dual-screen.
Is It Worth For Developers?
Apps developer already started to adopt multitasking from while the ago so that best of the app can be seen on iPad apps like Pages, Safari, Notability, OneNote and various other adopt multitasking very well which results in a more productive environment.
So adopting for dual-screen apps will not be an issue for developers but the major answer will only be revealed when Microsoft releases the documentation of Windows 10X and Android for Surface Neo and Duo respectively. As one of the major question is that is developer has to code for Surface Neo or Duo again in their native environment separately or Microsoft will provide a bridge so that developer can natively build apps for whole Windows experience (UWP apps) at one which includes devices like PC, Laptop, Surface Hub, Xbox, HoloLens and Mixed Reality Headset.
The most expected device to develop for Microsoft developer will be Surface Neo as it will feature newer versions of Windows 10 so it may be possible that Microsoft will keep the same development roots rather than creating new development tools as it will be a time taking the process for them to create new tools. The developer has to take the risk for building for one device first as they get users and some notice.
There is a big stack on the mind of the developer because of Microsoft Phone which hardly took developer opinion and caused Microsoft Phone shut down. While Microsoft also tries to implement many good tools for a developer to make their existing apps on iOS or Android to run on Windows Phone but somehow this causes some error while bridging apps from one environment to another result in lots of bugs and crashes.
Taking Advantage Of The Screen Real Estate
Dual-screen apps have lots of opportunities to take as many developers to show some creativity like Asphalt 9 on LG G8X ThinQ user can use other screens like a native controller while playing on other screens. Microsoft already trying to build a project called xCloud which is now in beta phase as this will allow gamers to play console games on their portable device without a need of controller, the dual-screen devices could also enhance the way we play games on touch devices. Apps like Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo could have a panel of tools or features on one display with the image being edited isolated on the other. Other apps will need more thought to take advantage of the extra screen real estate provided by a second display.
Blackman gives some creative examples, such as games like Battleship. A two-player board game like Battleship might not be what the makers of dual-screen devices had in mind, but it’s a clever idea that could make such devices stand out. He also points towards readers as an optimal app for two screens, offering either a standard book-reading experience or using the second screen as space for notes or related web content.
Ultimately, it will depend on whether developers take advantage of the extra space, and how well. Every time a new form factor comes out, there’s a learning curve for app and content creators to take advantage of the new space. The benefit of devices like Surface Neo and Surface Duo is that while developers figure things out, many current apps will scale and be useable.
A Unique Opportunity
The next-gen Surface hardware really defines innovation and every innovation requires risk, there are lots of building opportunities for dual-screen devices as we could not speculate about what will happen with the future of Dual screen device but during to initial sighting, we could believe that this technology could have potential to stay. But this should totally depend upon Microsoft’s and Developers association as even one of them get loose their pace this device has to suffer and their users also.
Microsoft still staying tight-lipped about the development challenges of Surface Duo and Neo. Microsoft has just given us only a glimpse of future devices but we still not able to hands on the device to share you a full overall experience.
