Back in 2009 and 2010, many rumors told us Microsoft was working on a folding tablet called Courier. In the end, that never saw the light of day, and Apple's iPads became the kings of that market.
Intriguingly though, Microsoft is now said to be developing another device that is similar, at least in concept, to the canceled Courier. It's codenamed Andromeda, and will be a folding tablet that will run Windows 10 on ARM.
Microsoft Courier
It will come with telephony capabilities, but won't be a smartphone - although, when folded, it's allegedly "pocketable". That said, the main selling points of this device will be centered around pen input and inking. For example, there's a notebook app built-in that mimics writing in a real notebook, with virtual pages spreading across the foldable device.
Expect to see the latest Snapdragon SoC powering Andromeda. Microsoft will not position this against any Android or iOS-running competitors, but instead it will try to create its own niche. A 'digital journal' is what it may be called. The company has in fact already admitted that if it ever makes a mobile product again, it will be a new kind of device, and not a smartphone. All of that fits perfectly with what we're now hearing about Andromeda.
It could be Surface-branded when (or if) it launches, something like Surface Note or Surface Journal. Microsoft's hardware partners might choose to create similar devices if it takes off, but this is just speculation for now. Unfortunately no specs have leaked for Andromeda yet, so we don't even know if it will have one folding screen or two separate displays separated by a hinge.
Anyway, if it is to ever become reality, don't expect Andromeda in stores earlier than next year.
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