Report: Surface Phone put on hold; project named Andromeda will not be unveiled this year

by Alan Friedman / Jul 02, 2018, 10:17 AM

Report: Surface Phone put on hold; project named Andromeda will not be unveiled this year

For those who were enthralled by the renders and the rumors, and had already decided that the foldable device rumored to be the mythical Surface Phone would be their next phone, we have bad news. The foldable phone/tablet with the codename Andromeda has reportedly been put on hold for at least the remainder of this year. The problem, according to the report, is that the Andromeda OS, which was supposed to be included in the Redstone 5 update to Windows 10, is not yet ready to be integrated into Windows 10 due to quality and timing issues.

Additionally, the guys in Redmond do not see any demand for a device like the one that has been the subject of a number of patents, especially if it only runs apps available from the Microsoft Store. Recent speculation, which was at a fever pitch thanks to a leaked Microsoft document or email, had propelled the status of the foldable device to that of a disruptive game changer.

As far as future iterations of Andromeda are concerned, some say that the device could be looked at again in the future, though not necessarily as a pocketable device. A future version could take the form of a laptop.

So once again there is disappointment among Microsoft and Windows fans as the excitement generated by David Breyer's renders, and word that the device would be unveiled later this year, comes to a sudden end.

source: ZDNet

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22 Comments

1. kiko007

Posts: 7490; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

The people running MSFT are incredibly shortsighted. If they continue ignoring mobile, they will regret it.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:19 AM 3

3. sgodsell

Posts: 6843; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

The thing is Microsoft has to wait for companies that develop display technology, first. Companies like Samsung, LG, Sony and a few others actually make screens for smartphones. So until they make a foldable screen, then Microsoft has to wait, since Microsoft doesn't make any displays.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:30 AM 1

6. Nine1Sickness

Posts: 896; Member since: Jan 30, 2011

Flip phones should stay extinct.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:41 AM 0

7. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2293; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

Considering all 3 have introduced flexible screens to the public, they could all start producing them soon. Samsung is rumored to begin production later this year. LG would soon follow. And there are even startup companies like the Royole Corp that just opened a factory in China that can produce 50 million displays a year, including flexible displays. http://www.eenewsanalog.com/news/flexible-display-startup-enters-mass-production There is nothing preventing Microsoft from even introducing a prototype to the public later on this year to get people hyped up and then say it’ll be released by summer of 2019. If you want to disrupt the mobile market that would do it considering it might stop people from buying the next Galaxy or G device.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:51 AM 1

13. Phullofphil

Posts: 1747; Member since: Feb 10, 2009

The Apple iPhone X has a screen that’s folded on itself. That and the foldable screen has been out for awhile as far as technology is conserned

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:16 PM 2

12. Phullofphil

Posts: 1747; Member since: Feb 10, 2009

This reminds me when Microsoft did not think a glass screen phone where you use your fingers as input will work. Hence they missed out on a huge thing what the iPhone did and then android.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:12 PM 1

21. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

They are not ignoring mobile. They are ignoring making hardware for mobile. This version of Microsoft is not Steve Ballmers' version. They see mobile as a place to sell their options and software, not exist as a separate entity. Tablets, PCs, and laptops are a different animal and MS still owns that shrinking but still profitable market. But mobile? That ship has sailed. And as someone who used WP until the Windows Mobile 10 release, I say that with a heavy heart.

posted on Jul 03, 2018, 6:51 PM 0

2. Sparkxster

Posts: 1178; Member since: Mar 31, 2017

Disappointed...

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:19 AM 1

4. Landon

Posts: 1242; Member since: May 07, 2015

I was really looking forward to seeing what this device would bring to the table. You done f'd up, Microsoft.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:36 AM 0

5. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3098; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

This may be their last crack at mobile so they have to get it right. Quality has fallen across the board with devices and OS releases because people want the next big thing and they want it now! Microsoft has the luxury of deep pockets to wait this out until the hardware is right and the software is ready.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:38 AM 5

9. Subie

Posts: 2295; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

That's sound logic Crispin! I agree - if or when they do something new in mobile, I hope they get it right.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 11:18 AM 1

8. power21

Posts: 80; Member since: Jul 15, 2015

Microsoft please stop trying to make cell phones and try to get Microsoft on cell phones.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 10:52 AM 1

10. CreeDiddy

Posts: 2125; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

No one is buying and supporting Windows Mobile...a complete flop from the start...

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 11:50 AM 3

11. Zylam

Posts: 1807; Member since: Oct 20, 2010

They need to work on the touch experience with their Surface line and build a Surface Mini that takes on the iPad 9.7. I absolutely adore my Surface Pro and can't imagine life without it, but I'll be the first person to say MS has a long way to go with their touch interface throughout the entire Ui including their Office suite. The hardware is top notch but the software lacks big time. And 3rd party apps being scarce on Windows 10 I put down to form factor, nobody buys a Surface Pro to use as tablet only device, reason? 1. It's too expensive. 2. It's too big. 3. It's lighter than other core processor tablets but it's heavier than iPad and Samsung tabs. You get a Surface Pro to get an awesome writing experience and an awesome lightweight laptop that you can occasionally consume media on in tablet mode. Because of this the developers are at a cross roads with app development, do they only develop tablet focused apps or do they develop desktop based apps? It's a confused state you can feel when you use the different apps on a daily basis. MS have the hardware nailed but they need to made a 500 dollar Surface designed to be a tablet first to get developers to focus on apps. All these years later and MS still has an app gap. Browsing the Windows 10 store reminds me of my Windows Phone days, where you didn't want to admit it because you loved MS so much, but the reality is it's a 3rd world app store. I'm glad they delayed this, they need the basic infrastructure first before they disrupt the market.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:03 PM 2

14. BL4NKF4CE

Posts: 122; Member since: Aug 06, 2017

Of course the Surface Pro is expensive... It has full windows, which makes it a full fledged PC. The iPad is not a a full fledged personal computer. If Apple decides to make iOS and MacOS into one OS, the prices of iPads will increase a lot becuase they will become full fledged PC's.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:20 PM 1

15. BL4NKF4CE

Posts: 122; Member since: Aug 06, 2017

The Surface RT is the closest thing to an iPad competitor for Microsoft.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:21 PM 0

16. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3098; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Don't even need RT anymore now that they have S-Mode. The entry level Surface already comes with Windows 10 in S-Mode but you have the opportunity to go full Windows 10 Pro and it's no longer a $49 upgrade. Edge has become a solid desktop browser with a very good adblocker and with the advent of PWAs, it's looking better every day. I'm giving S-Mode a spin and to be perfectly honest, I don't feel like I need 10 Pro on such a lightweight device.

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 12:32 PM 1

17. Cat97

Posts: 1766; Member since: Mar 02, 2017

If this was a full x86 mini laptop, able to run any Windows app, I would have bought it !

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 3:33 PM 0

18. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3098; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

That has always been the premise. Do your own research and not follow all the ignorant haters here. Windows on ARM is Microsoft's vision for the next phase of mobile computing, not just phones. This device is/was intended to be a portable PC that makes phone calls and has "always on" connectivity. What did you think all the hoopla was about, just another Windows phone?

posted on Jul 02, 2018, 5:46 PM 1

19. aihpcfl

Posts: 4; Member since: Apr 20, 2013

Count me as disappointed. I'm one who planned on this as next mobile device, and I'm ready to buy.

posted on Jul 03, 2018, 7:42 AM 0

20. Xxtoxicskittlexx

Posts: 161; Member since: Jun 11, 2018

Maybe good for the future. Work out the kinks and announce it when it is perfected. Don't rush to market with a BS device. I'm willing to wait.

posted on Jul 03, 2018, 8:47 AM 0

22. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Miss the option of Windows. Not a huge fan of Android, but since I refuse to spend the extra money on iOS Android is the winner by default. If this had been a supported Windows mobile product, I would have perked up. But I actually never thought it would be released. I was hopeful.... but excited? Nah. Too good to be true.