Microsoft has been working on a new mysterious Surface device; codenamed Andromeda for at least two years. Though the device appeared in patents, reports, and in operating system references multiple times and will include a dual-display design, it never saw the day in the light. According to a Microsoft internal document, the device is said to be a pocketable Surface device.
Microsoft describes the Andromeda project as something that it has been quietly incubating internally, and that will create a “new and disruptive” device category to influence the overall Surface roadmap. It will also blur the lines between a PC and mobile. The company details “It’s a new pocketable Surface device form factor that brings together innovative new hardware and software experiences to create a truly personal and versatile computing experience.”
The Andromeda is still under development and it is said to come with a wraparound display that bridges the gap of the hinge when it’s fully opened. The company is also experimenting with stylus input for Andromeda. The prototype device includes styluses and notepad-like apps to capture notes.
It will come with ARM processors, but it’s not clear if the company will go with Intel or Qualcomm for a final device. Sources also warn that the company could pull the plug at any stage. Microsoft is tentatively planning to release Andromeda in 2018, with follow-up devices in the same series from OEM’s launching later.