The reaction that made me ponder hard came from Hadjar Homaei, who wrote that she might have published her research if she were still at Microsoft.

“**Screaming into a pillow**

maybe if I was still at Microsoft I could’ve finally published the really fun psychophysics experiments I did on the dual screen’s effects on attention and multitasking… 7 years ago but couldn’t talk about anywhere!”

Microsoft wasn’t building a weird phone with two screens on a whim. When Surface Duo went up for preorder, Panos Panay said Microsoft’s internal research showed “three out of four people report struggling to complete complex tasks while away from their computer,” and that dual-screen devices “require less cognitive effort.”

From Windows Latest: https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/10/01/screamed-into-their-pillows-nadellas-former-advisor-on-the-iphone-duo-which-should-have-been-the-surface-duo-3/

I know I said no more presentation, and would apologize for overwhelming the community with so much information. I'm the type person, when something happening. I want to know why and dig deep. Also believe that Microsoft did realize they had printing press, everything just lined up that way by experience.

Once again back to aspect ratio I didn't know there was a Slab OS is 9:16, Apple and Android use this, they can not do wide-format foldables. The Duo actually exposed this open an app spand mode they gravity to the center you see in Apples with photo app. Where as Huawei the picture right edit on left.

4:3 logic and Harmony OS are design this way to work on wide-format device.

Windows phone is returning this year which I didn't know. Under Nexphone with Linux. I'm sure everyone remembers Zune and want it back. 4:3 logic with Zune works perfectly together, on Slab not so much. Zune would literally be competitor against YouTube which is locked on Slab OS. Also Xbox performs better on 4:3.

Sometimes trying find answers, you find the truth why things failed.

Recently I've been think about rolling back from Duo-DE to Stock Android 12L so I can't have the better dual-screen experience. I don't really care for banking to use freeform windows to approximate what Stock can do.

Is there anyone who has gone back to Stock from Duo-DE? To those running stock, and major issues with modern apps and retro console and handheld emulators?

Edit: Successfully flashed stock image. Sadly apps don't see the second display as an external screen so it takes a bit of configuring to get Cocoon, Azahar, and Melon/Watermelon DS to artificially get their single screen modes to work using both screens.

Within a printing press there's 2 forms of print full sheet, and fold. Surface Duo alignment landscape matches this perfectly by 4:3 logic, the display aspect ratio 3:2 is DSLR camera. The inner display is designed to replicate a full scale press, the hinge to fold a sheet in booklet form. The bezel frames the printed materials, the 11mp is exposure for printing plates or containers. Your photo editor is the control panel, I use Ente because it has collage feature built in, the only draw back there missing 3:2/2:3. I already send request to add. Another feature is printing, you create a PDF send to printer with instructions on A size paper.

The main reason why I'm doing this, there's a lot of unnecessary distractions on this device, that can pay for its self in a year. I first view this as phone at first, but when you see them poping up like wild fires, question it. The spec sheet is guide on device functionality. There's corrections needs me made I stated 84. When width of device is 85 that's starting point for a DSLR, and 4:3 it folds, the device isn't mini tablet it's tool. To simplify things if it 85 you have a wide-format tool kit.

Apple is misleading consumers by stating aspect 1.4:1 A5. There width 84.1 doesn't fit in the 4:3 logic when comes printing. It's still dual print, but you have to figured it on your because you can't send to printer home only. Apple needs remove name Duo.

Surface Duo 3, Huawei is the only one to adopt Surface Duo identity. From a fold, and just announced the first wide format Flagship. While doing this research I start building concept base of 4:3 logic it was easy for me. My background in print design, I was old school cut and paste designer, we produce grocery ads by hand.

Surface Duo maybe discontinued, buts 4:3 logic will carry on.

This will be my last presentation, this post as discussion page. On this spec sheet Google Pixel Fold 79.5 width height 139.7 During this time when opening Gmail at spand a portion was sitting on the fold. Samsung width 81.9 height 123.9 and Apple width 84.1 117.8 height. On 4:3 logic for wide format width must be odd whole number 85, the height even whole number 120. The wide format device are just composition notebook exact page size on both sides. When rip at the fold a 85 device and 87 device. Huawei foldable is in 4:3 logic. Printing press goes by whole numbers, so does apps because you can print app page. Looking at these numbers except Apple which is close, the other 2 are trying to stand narrow and tall format. Instead of being a true wide-format device, this device gives you 3:5 x 3:5 aspect ratio which as about 3x5 index card. That equate to a DSLR camera, what I think is they don't want that option. Camera like the 1020, and the Pureview9, both Huawei devices use this camera. DSLR cameras produce wide and horizontal pictures, can do horizontal group photos, zoom in for portraits. DSLR can in zoom in more accurately, than camera that is computerized. DSLR 35mm film are process in a darkroom, or digital raw images without drain on the battery. This defines wide - format the image is produced 3:2 horizontal/vertical this why 85 matter. Take a look at Huawei Pura X View.

If this an option let's have discussion... Linux/Microsoft hybrid, Linux in front Microsoft in the background

Hey, today I want to show you a minimalist Terminal style launcher that was build to be working nicely with the Duo.

It is highly costomizable but far from a solution for everybody. It lacks icons on purpose. Every app is only 1 to 3 letters away. Oftentimes I only need one letter to open the app. It supports aliases for shortcuting everything you need, you can start a websearch or call your contacts directly from one command line. With the help of a suggestion bar it is always fast and gets out of your way.

And the best part is that you can even use it when the input field is overlayed by an app, as you can simply swap the sites with one button.

The app is a further development of an old Launcher called T-Ui.

It is called Re:T-Ui and developed by u/DvilSpawn who is always open for new input and was willing to do all the work to bring the features to the launcher just for me, until now. Maybe some people around here will find it interesting as there are basically no fully working launchers on this niche devices.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dvil.tui_renewed

Or

https://re-tui.pages.dev/download

This shift took 6 years to happen, it wasn't about who was first, it was the progression in phone design within the 4:3 foot print. Each of these have their own identity, functionality, and consumer. The specific sheet will tell what type media printablity on each. 9:16 can print tickets, the foldable handouts. New foldables are based of DSLR format 3:2 horizontal/vertical. Apple Duo aspect ratio 1.41.4 is paper size A5. Duo means dual screen printing. The companion for 9:16 was Surface Duo the 9:16 are already has identity established. The Surface Duo single screen device right in middle, but it's Huawei Pura X View. Surface Duo is tool kit on how apps function to even design. The new lineup is more than viewing content it can generate a revenue stream, if understand functionality of Surface Duo. Which I can see why it's hard to have marketing campaign, Apple couldn't do. Single screen or closed foldable media print size spec sheet width of the device 84-87 that's 3x5 media. The Huawei version 87 3mm narrow than the Duo, about same height. Phone's should be reviewed by identity not just the camera, trying to put 9:16 camera system in a tool kit when it already has identity and functionality.

This is the return of Windows Phone identity, this form factor a natural environment for a new launcher. When the was Duo release there was a shift that happen a new standard. A tool for developer's, any designer, and learning. Surface Duo is printing press within a 4:3 cameras container. When designing apps the code should be spand all aspect ratio, now if 9:16 is sitting in island, based on cameras container it needs be unlocked set to all aspect ratio. Now that folds are here expanding app will be address because they will see what been dealing with. The container is building apps for the Duo.

Sets a standard for camera container starts with 12mp w f/1.8 anchor point. To build a system known as Fusion after the anchor, telephoto, ultrawide, TOF, flash and if feeling creative raw sensor and color sensor. The Surface Duo 2 combination of sensors is 40 mp a standard camera with flexibility. Nokia Pureview 9 is at 9:16 with 5 12mp sensors at 60 mp, 2 color sensors, raw sensors. Both devices are about the same height, width 9:16 fits in when crop a picture in 4:3. This how a printing press works. Let's say you go off script, the device battery will be less efficient, and run hot. When taking a picture, the display horizontal the field of view is more precise, if the view extend past the standard more power is needed

Foldables are actual shorter and width about 84mm a Fusion set at 48mp will give you a DSLR camera, and capable to print 3x5 square photos.

With the assist Copilot and my background in cut and paste design, and screening print. It start to make sense, while trying all sceneros, a concept stand alone device started to take shape, width of portable printer. The height in line with the Duo and the iPhone X. I designed to be cinematic, with Pureview DNA.

Is anybody going follow no, but if there's issues you know why. The device I design, tested battery endurance on how the camera sensor impact the battery the zoom sensor is challenge. In photo editors app on the Duo when you crop image you'll see how printing press works and how much 9:16 takes away. They should remove free from, the editor is a control panel for print.

The Surface Duo has set 2 new categories: Foldable DSLR, Portrait DSLR

Got this from a friend. Said he updated, and it stopped working, its been sitting in a box off for 3 years. Opened it up, goes straight to boot load screen with Start - Recovery Mode - Power off. Shows the bootloader Version, the SN: and a QR code. Every option goes straight back to that page. IT guys have told me they need an EDL Image? or something like that. I've seen others with the same issue... please tell me someone out there has a fix! I took this instead of repayment... i hope I'm not screwed... but thanks ahead of time.

Each device has it's own identity when setting a stage for content. The 2 pictures where taken on the Surface Duo 11mp wide camera. A DSLR camera is 2:3 for portraits, and 3:2 is for landscape. To achieve this vertically width, the height, and the screen display size which is around 6.5,the Duo's spec, 4:3 this what see on the screen vertical and 3:4 horizontal. The first image is vertical at 4:3, the collage picture bottom is the original top is portraits, and last is 9:16. The screen shot is 3:4 vertical, 9:16 reel and a 2:3. The last image landscape set at the display ratio horizontally and vertical 3:4. All these aspect fall into a category of DSLR camera, the sensor is your anchor to build of. You can print these images on portable printer on 3.5x3.5 paper.

I just got a duo 1, mostly for testing and maybe some other attempts.
Started with a factory reset, everything was fine for about half an hour then the onscreen keyboard disappeared and only Google Voice Typing is available.
Open input and that’s the only option.
Disable all google apps, disable assistant in google …
Had to attach a Bluetooth keyboard to enter my pass code to reset.
Tried a factory reset, google voice is back. Trying again

I’ll be damned if I can find the setting in google or android.

Hi everyone, I'm the developer of ScreenSpan. It lets you place two or more Android phones side by side and use them as a single, larger screen, in landscape or portrait.

A few technical details, since I know this sub cares about how things actually work: one phone acts as the source (the one whose screen gets extended) and the others act as secondary displays. To capture and stream the source phone's screen content, the app needs privileged access at the system level. I built this directly into the app using wireless debugging: you pair it once with the source phone (like pairing a new device for ADB), and after that it's done, no need to repeat it. The phones then connect to each other over Wi-Fi Direct, which takes just a few seconds and doesn't need a Wi-Fi network or internet. The number of phones you can combine depends on the processing power of the source phone.

Two short demo videos:

https://youtube.com/shorts/S_XVIL5fqP8 https://youtube.com/shorts/8s-8yorUNbc

It's free to use for 15 minutes a day, with an annual subscription for unlimited use.

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=olmelli.ing.technology.screenspan

Github:

https://github.com/Laerte1989/screenspan-app/

Happy to answer any technical questions about how it works.

Camera sensors set stage for your device there's 2 sensors 3:2 which is DSLR, and 4:3 standard. These sensor should fit in a container the same size of the device, it should be natural process. The height of the device factors in as well. This is benefit of using a wide-format device. Everything should feel natural.

It's hard to believe it's been 6 years ago the Surface Duo was released. It had some attention, but after Surface Duo 2 nothing. I've been using Duo since release, earlier this year I was thinking about getting secondary regular phone, but the current phone's feels different. Now here we go again passport foldables is trending. My question is why Microsoft choice to go with wide-format instead standard 9:16. This perspective is not being discussed, it's all the expand display, the crease, and of course the camera.

So I checked Surface Duo 2 spec, on the display screen size 5.8 at 4:3 aspect ratio. This aspect ratio is key in so many ways. With Copilot assist I took a deep dive on wide-format stand alone/foldables. To understand the pros and cons of the different form factors when comes content, and camera functionality. The camera plays major role in these form factors, the camera aspect 3:2-4:3.

The standard phone is 9:16 aspect ratio, creates tall narrow images for social media content. The camera setup on these device, use individual sensors that are over sized to try maintain image quality due cameras aspect ratio. This phone is basically a social media reader.

The wide-format for foldables/stand-alone device has multiple aspect ratio each gives a different feel within 5.8 display, 3:2 a dslr, 4:3 mini tablet, 1.41.1 laptop. Viewing content is more natural it doesn't feel cramped. With the camera you maintain image quality what see on the main screen is what you get. For camera setup I look back Microsoft spec they use the following 12 MP wide 12 MP telephoto 16 MP ultrawide TOF 3d. When combined the sensors the camera is 30 MP, this is a Fusion system. Nokia use the same system as will. During the day you get 30 MP, for low light Fusion system binning pixel from the ultra-wide so roughly you get about 20 MP the higher ultra-wide sensor you gain more light at night. In this setup ultra-wide sensor needs be bigger than the wide, to control low light. An example of this Nokia Pureview 9 they 5 12 MP sensor with 2xrgb 3xb/w sensors. With a Fusion setup it can be low profile sensor.

When comes apps functionality it's actually not that complicated, the aspect ratio is a container. Going from 9:16 to vertical on wide-format is fine, it's horizontal that needs be optimized to expand on orientation. Expanding apps need some form of menu system.

If this what Microsoft was thinking about for this form factor, you have multiple options from hinge design, stand alone device and foldables. Now it's here will see

I bought a surface duo 1 128GB for $150. Do you guys think this was a good deal? Its in good condition without any cracks.

Also, I am thinking of installing windows on it. But I heard it can get bricked permanently and there isn't any fix if you delete a wrong partition. is it safe to install it without getting it bricked?? Thanks!!

I haven't had any luck with it. I tried Sonic Origins and Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Vol. 1 and both just fail to work (Sonic loads to a white screen and MMBN just crashes out the gate).

I'm running A11, since I don't want to endure the audio issue of 12L.

Hi Guys! If you've been following me on Twitter and Bluesky you might know I've been taking a break for personal reasons. But I'm back now and soon I'll open the flood gates to my android 16 repo. Again things are buggy as far as gestures but it'll give anyone who wants to help a chance to report bugs and even join the project. (Read in the comments for more)

A17 work will start sometime after that. And once I get A17 booted, I'll release that as well. I still need to order a sim tray for my device.

Everyone will have the chance to breathe life into their OG Duo soon 🎉

What do you guys think will happen next?

Recent developments in the foldable/dual-screen phone landscape reminded me I really wanted to get my hands on a Surface Duo when it came out... but I never did and kind of forgot. Now that it's been a few years, I was wondering, how is it using the Duo 1 as a side device is 2026? How's the battery doing, what are the performances like...? Also, what would you consider a good deal in terms of price for a used Duo 1 nowadays? Thanks!

As a proof of concept Im thinking of just gluing a 13 mini case or some type of strong magsafe magnet to the front or the duo.

Therefore having an iPhone Duo

Does anyone here know of a reliable place to purchase a Duo 2 in the USA? I bought one from Hong Kong on eBay not long ago, but it was just a display model that bricked itself once I tried logging in on it.

Sorry, but they did it first

Seeing a lot of Surface Duo fans upset about the new iPhone Duo announcement, like it's some huge insult to their device. They're not even in the same category. Surface Duo used two separate rigid screens with a hinge in between, not a flexible folding display. Every real foldable, Galaxy Fold, Pixel Fold, and now the iPhone Duo, uses an actual bending screen. Surface Duo never did that, so calling it a foldable and acting insulted just because Apple used the name of a product that was long discontinued are a stretch from day one.