Microsoft has admitted that Windows Mobile 10 is dead, and you would expect it to exit the mobile space altogether. Not so, according to an online report. Instead, the company is focusing on creating a digital notebook centered on a digital ink display; codenamed ‘Andromeda’
According to Windows Central, Andromeda will be a foldable tablet that runs on Windows 10, and is powered by an ARM processor. This would not be Microsoft’s first foray into the digital notebook space, as the company had a prototype device called Courier that did not come into fruition.
Microsoft already has a great note-taking application – OneNote. We expect OneNote will have tight integration with Andromeda. At the same time, the report also suggests that Andromeda will have telephony service on board. Most likely 4G for data and web browsing rather than making calls outright; but with Microsoft’s experience in the smartphone space, we may see some sort of voice-call feature in Andromeda.
The company even filed patents for foldable devices, which lends some credence to this news report. In the patent, Microsoft proposed a device that can fold into a smartphone form factor, and back to a tablet form factor with ease; a bit like the ZTE Axon M in design.
Microsoft’s patents for foldable devices
Folding devices are not new for Microsoft- the Surface Book 2 is its latest devices with a foldable hinge technology. Pundits expects the Andromeda device to be released sometime in 2018, and will not be for the mainstream market; rather, Andromeda may be a targeted device for those looking to replace their paper journals and diaries.
The idea of a digital notebook is intriguing, but possibly too niche to be a great hit. We just have to wait and see if the idea comes into fruition, and what the market’s response to it next year.
(Source: Windows Central )
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