by failing to push out an update to Android 11 before the end of the year. You're probably thinking that we got it wrong and certainly we mean that an update to Android 12 is what is late. Sadly, we have it all correct.Microsoft released the OG dual-screened Surface Duo in September 2020 and 11 months had gone by since the unveiling of the device and its release.
Today, Kimmo Lehtosalo, Senior Director of Program Management at Microsoft, released a statement that said,"We're finalizing the validation and certification for Android 11. We originally planned to deploy Android 11 as an update for Surface Duo in December, but we needed a few more weeks to ensure a great experience for Surface Duo customers. We expect to begin Android 11 rollout in the next few weeks, beginning with unlocked devices.
The next update for the Surface Duo 2 will reportedly give users a way to customize the Surface Pen's shortcut buttons and will add support for the Your Phone's app which allows users to connect their handset to a Windows PC to checkout messages, photos, and notifications. Windows Central's sources also say that the next Android update for the Surface Duo 2 won't be Android 12.
If you're wondering what OG Surface Duo users will notice when they belatedly receive Android 11, it will be a built-in screen recorder, a way to schedule when Dark Mode gets turned on automatically, a more useful power button, and the ability to give apps temporary permission. And with Android 11, users can pin conversations on top of other apps so that they can always be connected to a specific conversation even if they are busy doing something else.with two hinges and three screens.
But don't expect to see this form factor anytime soon, patent and all. The one image contained in the documentation didn't show where any cameras might go and while this might have done for competitive reasons, it also could mean that Microsoft hasn't put much thought into this device. And that is probably a good thing since Microsoft probably should improve the Surface Duo first before adding on to the phone.