Surface Neo Camera Theory

Today, Microsoft previewed their re-entry into the mobile computing space by revealing the Microsoft Surface Duo, a dual screen smartphone that runs a Microsoft-skinned version of Android. The device was revealed after the unveiling of the Microsoft Surface Neo, a spiritual successor to the Microsoft Courier concept long revered by tech industry enthusiasts. The Surface Duo, originally rumored & rendered in nearly dead-on detail as the device code-named Andromeda, has also been previewed a year early by Microsoft in order to garner support from developers & to build up anticipation in a very busy consumer electronics market which has been lacking creative, ambitious innovation.

I’m sure I will write more about the Duo & its older sibling in the future, but for now, I want to address one very important thing that I observed from today’s Microsoft event: the Surface Neo camera. Cameras have become a vital measuring stick for mobile devices in recent years, with Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, OnePlus, and a host of other Android manufacturers all vying to have the best pocket-able camera experience in both hardware and software.

If you watched the Microsoft unveil carefully, you likely noticed there was no visible camera on the “back” of the device. The back of the device can technically be all four plains that exist on the hinged device, but only one was revealed to have had a camera: the right-side screen. The right-side screen of the Surface Duo, curiously also home to what appears to be phone call ready speaker grill, also had a clear, defined camera. In the animation showing the internals of the Intel-powered mobile device, the camera mount & hole can clearly be seen to the right of said speaker grill. Curiously, the area is rather large, along with the aperture of the camera. Much bigger than any normal forward-facing selfie/video chat camera.

The sole visible camera on the Surface Neo preview video, with a curiously large size for a selfie camera

My theory? That is truly a fully-featured camera that would be found facing outward on a traditional camera, complete with optical image stabilization & competition ready specs to possibly record 4K and take competitive pictures from a single sensor. Something Google proved is possible through the marriage of powerful hardware and well-defined software. Just look at the mounting area & surrounding electronics in the video (around the 1:21 mark), that looks like OIS to me. You could go from taking a selfie or video chatting to taking a picture or showing your surrounding just by flipping the device over or closing the hinge, screens out.

What do you think? Is Microsoft ready to re-enter the mobile hardware fray? Let me know on Twitter at @ghost_reiter!

Windows 10 Home Will Update Automatically

Tim Anderson at The Register found the following passage in the License Agreement for Windows 10 Build 10240:

"The Software periodically checks for system and app updates, and downloads and installs them for you.

You may obtain updates only from Microsoft or authorised sources, and Microsoft may need to update your system to provide you with those updates.

By accepting this agreement, you agree to receive these types of automatic updates without any additional notice."

As many are already aware, Windows 10 Build 10240 is the current release candidate for Windows 10. Now we know Microsoft's intent to become more flexibile with their software updates, much in the same way as Google handles Chrome OS. Policy changes for home users enables Microsoft to target consumer apps in a more efficient mannor, granting developers more power to iterate and less worry about feature support. Good news for developers and consumers alike.

Windows 10 Will Be Raspberry Pi 2 Ready

In what will likely be the most expansive and tide shifting news of the week, Microsoft announced that a build of Windows 10 is coming for the new quad-core Raspberry Pi 2, which was also announced today. The Raspberry Pi 2 also received double the memory alongside micro SD support and four USB ports. The entire package ships today for $35 just as the original Raspberry Pi did nearly three years ago.

Raspberry Pi has been a valuable education tool since introduction. With the addition of a Windows 10 compatible model, teachers will now be able to teach their students computer interaction and development concepts on a platform they are both familiar with and can use on a regular basis. Now a child can compile their sample code and take it home to use on their family PC. Such a step will bring pride and intrigue to the surface of many students.

Makers, the bread and butter of the modern technology movement, are going to run with the new expanded Input/Output capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 2 and will also be able to use the full software stack that has made Microsoft so popular amongst enterprise users and developers. Code which runs as a simple task on a Raspberry Pi 2 can also run seamlessly run on any PC with Windows 10 thanks to the universal app framework introduced by Microsoft last month. 

What makes this so interesting is how little was know and is still not known about this announcement. Signs point to strong positive influence and bolstering of a number communities in the technology world that desperately needed the validation of Microsoft. The humble Raspberry Pi Foundation and the software and services behemoth of Microsoft managed to hide their secret relationship in order to surprise educators and makers around the world. I'm sure Microsoft Build 2015 will hold many juicy details details about Windows 10's future on connected systems such as the Raspberry Pi and other modern connected systems.