Microsoft was working on a secret “pocket” Surface model that ran a custom Windows operating system, before the company switched to Android for its Surface Duo.
Source: B92, Verge
Codenamed Andromeda, the device has appeared in leaked emails, patents and reports, as well as various references to the device in Microsoft’s operating system.
Now, Windows Central has released an early test version of the Andromeda OS running on the Lumia 950 and they wanted to show how close Windows was to releasing a more modern successor to Windows Phone.
Although Andromeda was never planned to run on the Lumia 950, some Microsoft engineers used these devices to test the operating system.
As is typical of secret device development at many tech companies, not all engineers got access to the dual-screen hardware prototype, but they still had to work on the operating system components.
Windows Central showed that the lock screen was inspired by a Windows phone and that Cortana would manage notifications.
The lock screen would work as a great canvas for notes, you wouldn’t have to run a special app, but you could just record yourself on the lock screen.
Even the home screen was another “inked canvas,” something Microsoft called Journal. This “digital notebook” supported ink writing, sticky notes, images and 3D objects and was always immediately available, by touch.
Most of the Andromeda OS UI looks like part of what’s already included with the Surface Duo or even most of the stuff that’s included in Windows 11.
Microsoft ultimately canceled plans for Andromeda and Andromeda OS in favor of similar hardware that would run Android.
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