Microsoft teases Neo dual-screen
Surface
At the annual Surface event in New York,
Microsoft today announced the expected set of updates to its existing hardware
offer. However, the biggest surprise was certainly the announcement of Surface
Neo with two screens, which will go on sale before the 2020 holiday season. To
enable the use of this type of device with two screens, Microsoft has also
built a new version of Windows 10: Windows 10X.
Microsoft says it announces hardware and
software today to get into the hands of programmers before the premiere. Just like HoloLens, Surface Hub and
Xbox use the basic technologies of Windows 10, so the Surface version with a
double screen will work in this new version, as will devices with two screens
Dell, HP, Lenovo and other partners. Not surprisingly, these devices - and
Windows 10X - will have improved pen support (and a virtual keyboard).
Windows 10X is
the result of Microsoft's work to make Windows 10 more modular, so that it can
take components of the operating system and use them when needed. As Microsoft
told us before today's announcement, Windows 10X is essentially a continuation
of the architectural changes introduced in Windows 10 that allowed it to enable
HoloLens, Surface Hub and Xbox. The company
emphasizes that this is not a new operating system, but takes Windows 10 as you
know it, and makes it better adaptable to other forms. It also means that you
won't be able to buy a stand-alone copy of Windows 10X. The only way to do this
is with new devices with two screens.
By modulating the basic Windows 10
technology, including the user interface, Microsoft can do things such as
downloading the Start menu and displaying it in HoloLens. Windows 10X does
similar things and lets you put the taskbar or Start menu in any panel if needed.
Similarly, you'll be able to use the Start menu on any panel, depending on what
is happening on the second panel.
The overall appearance is no different from
Windows 10, which you probably already know, but of course it has all the
functionality to move applications between devices - or to stretch them to
different screens. The device flows automatically, no matter how you hold the
device. Windows 10X also includes a Neo keyboard cover that covers about half
of the screen and then reveals what Microsoft for some reason calls the
"Wunderbar" with a virtual trackpad.
But modularization efforts allow Microsoft
to do intelligent things under the hood. While a regular computer will start
and immediately start all the services necessary to run a Win32 application,
for example, Windows 10X will not load this subsystem until you need it. The
company claims that this allows for very efficient work with the resources
available on the machine and significantly extends the battery life.
