Is it possible that Microsoft is about to hit the
mobile market with a hot new product? Late last week, we showed you images from
a patent application filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO). The device shown in the application is a tablet that can fold in
various ways such as tablet mode, tent mode, laptop mode, and folded mode. It
morphs from having one large screen into a device with two smaller displays. It
also is said to have telephonic features, and runs on a special version of
Windows 10 codenamed Andromeda.
The tablet uses an intricate hinge with mechanical
parts and magnets in order to fold open and close. Microsoft's new Windows
Shell, CShell, will be able to make the proper adjustments on the fly, no
matter which mode the tablet is in. The folding tablet would seem to be aimed
at enterprise users and possibly even students. A dedicated app offered with
the device will allow those with the tablet to fold it into two side-by-side
screens and write on the displays as though they were using a regular
notebook.Since the folding tablet can be manipulated into the form of a
smartphone, some believe that the device is actually the long awaited Surface
Phone.
We have no idea when, or if, this product will be
mass produced. We do expect to see Samsung's foldable Galaxy X device unveiled
next year, possibly as soon as next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas.
