Canceled Mid-Range Surface Duo Leaks With Dual-Camera Array and Plastic Exterior (windowscentral.com) 12
Images of a canceled mid-range version of the Surface Duo have appeared online thanks to an archived eBay listing. Dubbed as a Surface Duo 2 "dev unit" on eBay.com, the listing (which has since been deleted) provides us with a first look at what appears to be a "lite" version of the Surface Duo 2. From a report: The images reveal the device to have a smaller camera bump, slightly more rounded external design with a matte finish, and flat displays similar to the Surface Duo 1. Unfortunately, the eBay listing provides no details other than images of the handset. I had come across the eBay listing last month but was unsure if it was legitimate. By the time I was able to verify, the device had been sold to an unknown buyer and the listing was removed. I've since been able to confirm that the listing and device were indeed real.
Do we care about hardware anymore? (Score:3, Insightful)
I think the iPhone X or the Galaxy fold, was the last big hype event for hardware that I know of. For the most part, I don't get much of an impression that people are really caring to much about the next cool gadget.
The closest I have seen, is some hype around Electric Cars, however that isn't a good comparison, as there is a big difference between a $1k premium gadget, to a $25k low end EV, or a 130k premium EV. As even for a poor person, they can save up $1k every few years and get a gadget without too much hinderence to their general quality of life. While having to pay $25k and up is a major expense for most people.
It's a great question (Score:1)
Even something more new, like the Apple AR headset, is similar enough to stuff we already have I don't think people will generally get excited about it...
Lots of hardware now is good enough for most people, so the tech industry is having a harder read to come up with why you should buy a new, more advanced device.
More than ever it makes a ton of sense to wait at least three years before upgrading anything, probably longer.
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No, not really.
I got the new Note aka S22 Ultra and it's indistinguishable from my Note 9 in normal usage. Other than the obvious extra cameras. The foldable phone is a great idea though, give you way more screen real estate in the same footprint.
Everything is just good enough and has been for years. I'm a pretty big nerd but there's no exciting gadgets any more. The last category I can think of is VR and that's been stagnant for a while. It's cool but seems to be staying a niche for a while.
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The Nothing Phone (1) [pcmag.com] seems like a device that's designed to drum up buzz. But it seems like it's not going to be much after a week, once it sets in that it's just an Android phone.
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I think the iPhone X or the Galaxy fold, was the last big hype event for hardware that I know of. For the most part, I don't get much of an impression that people are really caring to much about the next cool gadget.
The closest I have seen, is some hype around Electric Cars, however that isn't a good comparison, as there is a big difference between a $1k premium gadget, to a $25k low end EV, or a 130k premium EV. As even for a poor person, they can save up $1k every few years and get a gadget without too much hinderence to their general quality of life. While having to pay $25k and up is a major expense for most people.
If you mean mass-hysteria, no. If you mean individual excitement over increased choices that match our desires, yes.
Off the top of my head, in the last few years, I've acquired a Surface Duo, a couple 27" 4k HDR high-refresh monitors (LG first-to-market), and thruple of DualUp tall-aspect monitors, and an RTX3080, and a couple KeyChron Q6 keyboards. All of those were products I was excited by the announcements of and eagerly awaited the ability to acquire. But that's me.
There are more and more intere
Surprised Surface Duo still exists (Score:2)
Lackluster sales, by all accounts mediocre hardware and software, extremely high pricing; how is it this product still exists at all?
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Few outside the walls of Microsoft would care but it keeps them in the game.
They can relaunch a "Windows phone" any time they wish - assuming they have it running Windows 11 on internal builds.
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The ship on Windows Phone has long since sailed. Satya Nadella became CEO shortly after the Nokia purchase- Windows Phone market share was increasing, it had well-reviewed phones on the market. He inexplicably decided to kill the business anyway.
I don't know what innovation Microsoft thinks it's bringing putting out a crappy, overpriced Android phone. As if there are any lack of Android options out there.
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Lackluster sales, by all accounts mediocre hardware and software, extremely high pricing ...
You're on-point on the pricing. But "mediocre hardware"? That's way too generous. Dog$hit hardware might be a better description. Had one. It died. Unrepairable.
It leaks? (Score:2)
Eww, I got Microsoft all over me.