Surface 'Centaurus' is another dual-screen Microsoft PC with Windows Core OS

Photograph credit: The Verge

Microsoft is working closely with Intel on a new dual-screen Surface device powered by Windows Core OS that's similar to Intel's Copper Harbor paradigm that was revealed earlier this year. Codenamed "Centaurus," this device is alike to Microsoft'south canceled Courier project, which saw the company conceptualize the idea of a digital journal in 2022. Centaurus marks the second dual-screen device we believe Microsoft is currently working on internally, the showtime of which is codenamed "Andromeda."

What we know almost Surface 'Centaurus'

According to my sources, Microsoft has been working on Centaurus for most a year now and is hoping to denote the device in the fall of 2022. It is supposed to exist the first of what Microsoft calls a dual-screen 2-in-1, a new device course factor for Windows that utilizes ii screens for productivity, inking, and more.

Like it did with the Surface Pro, Microsoft is building Centaurus to show hardware makers what can exist done with this new course factor. These devices are adaptable and tin transform into a tablet, laptop, digital book, a bigger tablet, or somewhere in between. Since Microsoft is working closely with Intel, it should come as no surprise to hear that an Intel processor powers Centaurus. This means Centaurus will be able to run x86 apps.

I'one thousand told that Centaurus runs a flavour of Windows Core Os, Microsoft's new modern version of Windows 10. It runs an experience that has been designed from the basis upwards for dual-screen devices, and equally such, provides a tailored feel that takes advantage of the dual-screen setup, that tin also adapt the user feel to fit other orientations the device may be usable in.

Photo credit: PC Globe

While Windows Cadre OS can run legacy Win32 programs, it tin only practice and then if they are containerized or are from the Store. Every bit such, Microsoft has been focused on getting as many Win32 programs into the Microsoft Store every bit possible during the concluding couple of years. This means in that location will exist a library of Win32 programs for users to take advantage of on Windows Core OS devices like Centaurus.

Since Windows Cadre Os is adaptable, the user experience can change on the wing. For example, if Centaurus is existence used in a tablet orientation, y'all can fold it into a laptop position, and the OS will adjust to provide an experience akin to a laptop. This would make one screen a keyboard and trackpad and the other screen a familiar desktop with a taskbar along the bottom and windowed apps.

What does Surface 'Centaurus' hateful for Andromeda?

Surface Andromeda is believed to be a pocketable dual-screen phone, and reports from earlier this year had suggested that Microsoft was scrapping the pocketable phone idea in favor of a larger tablet form gene. This larger version is Centaurus, just nosotros hear that Andromeda hasn't been scrapped.

I'm told that Microsoft has put Andromeda on agree and is prioritizing the release of Centaurus instead. That's all in the name of ensuring that Andromeda has a successful launch when Microsoft finally decides to re-enter the mobile market. The problem with Andromeda is that when it'south being used as a phone, it's as well modest to have whatsoever real advantage of Win32 programs, and there aren't plenty Progressive Spider web Apps (PWAs) or Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps in the store for people to warrant buying one as a phone.

If Andromeda were to send in the next year, the device would launch with no apps, just like Windows Telephone did, and information technology would more or less be dead on arrival. Microsoft is pushing hard on PWAs to help solve this, only it's going to exist a while before any of that takes hold. In the meantime, Microsoft will endeavor to kickstart this new course gene by releasing a bigger version, one that isn't a phone and doesn't depend on UWP apps to be useful. And information technology will attempt to convince OEMs to do the same.

If this form factor proves to exist pop, the idea of a pocketable version becomes much more appetizing. Microsoft's goal is to give the larger dual-screen two-in-i devices a piffling fourth dimension to breathe, push button developers to build UWP apps that accept reward of the dual-screen setup, and give PWAs more time to mature. Then perhaps in a couple of years, a device like Andromeda will brand much more sense.

As far as I know, Microsoft doesn't have a release window for Andromeda correct now. It's still being worked on internally, and Microsoft actually does want to ship it eventually, merely it'south waiting to encounter how Centaurus is received showtime. I'm told Microsoft is also considering (but hasn't committed to) the utilize of Android apps on Andromeda equally some other way to fill up the void of apps when beingness used as a phone, but that's something I'm still digging into at this fourth dimension.

For now, Centaurus looks similar it'due south going to be Microsoft's first foldable PC to launch during the next year. It volition exist the first new Surface form-cistron since the Surface Laptop of 2022 and the first new class factor device for Windows since the introduction of the 2-in-1 with the Surface Pro. It will also exist one of Microsoft's commencement Windows Cadre Os-powered devices to ship publicly, as Surface Hub 2X isn't expected until the 2022 timeframe. Of course, all of these dates tin can and will change, every bit nothing is prepare-in-rock when things are still being developed.

New ways to test

Minecraft Preview can now be downloaded and played on Windows

On Monday, Mojang Studios announced Minecraft Preview, a new Minecraft game that will allow players test upcoming changes and updates before they release. Minecraft Preview will somewhen supervene upon the current Minecraft: Boulder Edition beta program.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/centaurus

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