So it has recently been more or less confirmed that Microsoft has given up on Windows 10 Mobile, with company exec Joe Belfiore saying that building new hardware is no longer a focus at the company. Based on that it is safe to say that the much-rumored Surface Phone may never see the light of day.However it seems that there could be an alternative. In a report from Windows Central, they have heard from their sources that Microsoft is working on a prototype device codenamed “Andromeda” (not to be confused with Google’s Andromeda project). According to the report, it has suggested that Andromeda will be a revisiting of Microsoft’s Courier digital journal concept from many years ago, which is basically a foldable digital notebook.
At this point in time not much is known about the device, such as whether it could sport a single foldable display, or if it would use two separate devices and a hinge. However one of the focuses of the device is on the use of a pen and digital ink.
Windows Central’s Zac Bowden writes, “I’m told the device puts pen and inking at the very forefront of its experience, with some prototypes opening up into a notebook app that’s tied to OneNote with support for your usual inking options via Windows Ink. The notebook app itself is designed in a way that mimics writing in a real notebook, with virtual pages that spread across the foldable device.”
Unfortunately for those wondering when we might see this device, their sources have told them that it is unclear if Andromeda will ever see the light of day, and if it does, 2018 will be the earliest that it will be announced, so until then we guess you should take it with a grain of salt for now.