Microsoft’s Canceled Surface Duo Running Windows Phone Revealed

Sure, let’s dive into this quirky tale about Microsoft’s little secret project. You know, sometimes I wonder why some stories stick while others slide right off. Either way, this one’s about Surface Duo — a project that almost didn’t see the light of day. Crazy, right?

So, picture this: It’s 2017. Microsoft is hush-hush working on something called Andromeda. A dual-screen thingamajig with Windows running the show. Bold move, Microsoft! But, by 2018, poof! The project vanished into thin air. Why? A mix of hiccups, delays — the usual drill. Ah, the tech world, always a rollercoaster.

Fast forward… the gadget gets a facelift into what we now call Surface Duo. But hey, the OG idea? Way cooler! Picture a digital notebook replacing your phone. Styluses welcomed! Imagine jotting down notes, sketches flowing free, unlike the smartphone sea today. I mean, who thought a phone could feel so pen-friendly?

Now, here’s the kicker, we get a sneak peek into what Andromeda could’ve been. Thanks to some treasure trove listings—think tech archaeology—discovered on, of all places, GooFish. Okay, pause. GooFish? Not what you’d call a usual suspect for this scoop, but it works!

Among the finds, prototype gadgets from 2017-2018, still hanging by a wire, some literally. Funny how they showed a different kind of Surface Duo. A camera, a premium metal vibe, wireless pen charging. Makes you wonder about the road not taken, doesn’t it?

Oh, almost forgot. There was the whole smaller hinge experiment, which they scrapped for sturdier ones in the actual Duo. Why the change? Weight issues. Imagine lugging around extra metal, no thanks! But, sometimes, less isn’t more. Those plastic parts? Not the best, honestly.

And about the Windows side, it had a journaling home screen! Perfect for scribbling. Even the lock screen was a canvas. Makes you want to go back in time and demand its release, though I guess it was rough around the edges.

Anyway, back to reality—whoa, almost drifted into a reverie there. This whole saga kinda marks the end of Windows Phone. Like, really, the last curtain call. If they’d pulled it off, who knows? Maybe Andromeda would’ve been Windows Phone’s savior. Or maybe it’d still be gathering dust. Guess we’ll never know for sure.

So yeah, the story leaves us hanging. What would’ve happened if Microsoft went all in? Let’s mull it over, and while you’re at it, drop your thoughts below.