Let's Talk Tech
The Surface Duo performs great. Full Stop.
It’s a powerful phone, with a focus on Office work and productivity. Some have been concerned about the older processor in this folding phone, so let’s REALLY take a look at what that means for HEAVY lifting. Continue reading “Surface Duo By The Benchmarks: No Performance Worries Here!”
Let’s not pretend this is a great camera. It CAN shoot 4K video, and this is what your video will look like! But the capabilities of the Surface Duo extend beyond an OK selfie shooter. Who is this phone for? That’s the first question of a longer conversation… Continue reading “Who is the Surface Duo for? 4K Vlog Shot on the Surface Duo!”
You’ve seen all the pre-embargo “reviews”, now we start using this thing for real! Kicking off my Surface Duo coverage, what SHOULD we expect from a “Pocket Surface”, and what is it like setting one up?
I think I need to call in some help on this one! How about those crazy guys Sam and Matt from ‘Across the Pondcast‘? They should be good for a laugh! Continue reading “Microsoft Surface Duo Setup Live Stream With Guys Who ACTUALLY LIKE Dual Screen Phones!”
It’s a little bit brilliant.
I’ve written several editorials voicing my concerns about popularity algorithms and the responsibility of reviewers. We can’t escape the fact that online content creators need to be compensated for their work, but YouTube and Facebook style algorithms are designed to manipulate viewers into staying on a platform as long as possible. When those two objectives meet, it creates an echo chamber, a reinforcing cycle of confirmation bias which highlights and celebrates the most popular options. Any product outside the algorithm zeitgeist is dismissed as efficiently as possible.
Precious few smaller-volume sellers have successfully broken through this popularity trap.
What’s a manufacturer to do? Play the influencers against themselves! Continue reading “How Microsoft is Gaming Influencers and Algorithms with the Surface Duo”
It’s not great.
I’m still excited to take a Surface Duo for a test drive, but Microsoft’s headphone adapter is not one of the highlights. You can watch the video for more info, but the TLDR is “It’s not worth the $12”. Continue reading “Surface Duo Headphone Dongle? Hard Pass.”
Microsoft has been busy.
Office recently got an update where it combined multiple apps into one Office platform. It’s a handy upgrade, not having to swap apps to look through documents or reference spreadsheets.
On top of that, we know Microsoft is working aggressively on future hardware form factors, with a particular focus on dual screen devices.
The platform which runs the service seems less important to Microsoft than whether people are using their services. When a dual screen Surface phone arrives, it’ll run Android.
Microsoft’s services need to be ready to go at launch though. If an expensive gadget sporting the Surface brand stumbles on core Microsoft services, it’ll be an embarrassing misstep for a company which has struggled with their mobile strategy since the rise of the iPhone.
Thankfully, folks don’t need to wait for the Surface Duo launch to get a taste of Microsoft’s dual screen strategy. Current dual screen devices are ready to go. Continue reading “Microsoft Office and the Future of Dual Screen Phones”
Well, your phone is PROBABLY faster than a laptop. I don’t know exactly what phone YOU own. The line between pocket computer, and portable computer is getting really blurry. Chances are pretty good that your phone is powerful enough to meet most (or all) of your computing needs. More than just “covering the basics”, let’s see what a smartphone can REALLY do… Continue reading “Your phone is faster than a laptop.”
A HUGE surprise during today’s Microsoft Surface event. Showing off two products shipping in 2020, Microsoft took the wraps off the Surface Neo tablet, and the Surface Duo phone.
Dual screen, running Android, stylus support. We have a LOT of questions, but it’s just refreshing to be taken by surprise. I don’t think anyone really saw this coming! Continue reading “Microsoft Surface Event Reaction: We’re FINALLY Getting a Surface Phone!”