Today's smartphones are PCs — that's a challenge (and opportunity) for Microsoft

This is obvious to some, but a matter of semantics to others. Smartphones, despite the word "phone" in the name, and their use for vocalization communication after their primary utilize for spider web surfing, listening to music, gaming, text-based communication and more are categorically more than PCs than phones.

Usage patterns have transitioned from a phone-focus, and manufacturers purposefully design these devices to fit tablet (and in Samsung'south Dex'due south case, desktop) usage scenarios. Device dimensions average between v.5- and vi.5-inches, are powered by laptop and tablet processors, have iv to 8 gigabytes of RAM, up to 512 gigabytes storage and expandable storage capacities into the terabytes. They have loftier-resolution displays, advanced bogus intelligence (A.I.) and high-speed mobile broadband e'er-on connectivity.

Someone reading these specs years ago would have been convinced they were describing a mini tablet computer. And they would have been right. Smartphones are mini tablet PCs with telephony existence just ane adequacy amid many. Apple's A12 processor, that powers its iPhone and iPad, Samsung's Continuum-like Dex and recently revealed Infinity Flex Display that unfolds to a seven.3-inch tablet, (and Microsoft'south ecosystem-deprived Continuum-powered Windows phones) point nosotros've moved from a phone to a pocket PC paradigm. This is a challenge and opportunity for Microsoft.

Smartphones became tablet PCs

Smartphones disrupted PCs, and then became tablets

Consumer-focused smartphones impacted the PC market as they overlapped traditional PC tasks like spider web-surfing, music, messaging, electronic mail and more. Leisure computing activities like gaming, watching videos and more than eventually demanded larger displays which fueled the slate tablet market place. The iPad, Android tablets and after Windows tablets further impacted the PC market.

Bigger smartphones did to tablets what tablets did to PCs

Ever-expanding smartphone dimensions eventually did to tablets, what smartphones and tablets did to PCs. The slate tablet market has been declining since its 2022 pinnacle. Beyond the diminishing size advantage, slate tablets offering little value over the always-continued and equally powerful ~~smartphones~~ mini tablets in our pockets.

Withal, with Surface Microsoft created the growing, productivity-focused two-in-1 PC category that is both Windows laptop and tablet. Apple, Google, and others mimicked this category. Apple added a keyboard and pen to its iOS-powered, bear upon-axial, iPad Pro. Google launched Pixel Slate with customized Chrome Os, keyboard and pen. All these devices clothed the failing leisure-focused slate form factor in a productivity-focused laptop-similar package.

Microsoft's Andromeda must span the productivity-focused 2-in-1 and pocketable folding tablet scenarios.

On the other end of the tablet spectrum, is Samsung's folding phone that expands into a seven.3-inch tablet. This, and other devices similar it will exist expensive and notwithstanding must bear witness feasible in the marketplace. However, a device that gives users more screen real estate while still having telephony seems to fit current market trends and consumer usage patterns.

Thus, on i terminate of the tablet continuum is the laptop-like 2-in-1 that gives productivity value to tablets. On the other stop are foldable pocketable devices that requite ultra-mobility value to leisure tablets scenarios. Our mobile devices are tablet PCs by design and function and accept moved from a position where Microsoft is weak, phones, to where it is potent, PCs. Microsoft can seize the opportunity to innovate a PC that that embraces the productivity-focused aspects of two-in-1s and the pocketable, foldable aspects of a leisure-focused tablet with telephony. But does information technology accept the volition?

Samsung's Infinity Flex Display is the adjacent footstep

Samsung'southward Infinity Flex Display that unfolds into a seven.3 -inch "tablet" with the ability, specs, and OS of smaller slate devices should convince naysayers that calling these devices tablets isn't semantics. Now that folding "phones" are officially crossing the telephone-tablet barrier these devices will have to occupy measurable categories as phones, tablets or something else (think 2-in-1s).

As folding devices grow in popularity their perception past consumers may eventually transition to the tablet PC category every bit the form factor will meliorate lucifer their current tablet PC usage patterns. This may be affirmed by official categorization as a new tablet category or within the existing tablet category in time. If so Microsoft won't have to struggle to introduce Surface Andromeda against a smartphone backdrop. Though it will be niche and face ecosystem challenges Microsoft launching a pocketable Surface PC with a unified platform has an opportunity.

The end of the slate shaped smartphone

Positioning Surface Andromeda as PC

Dissimilar Samsung's folding device, Surface Andromeda will exist categorically a Surface Windows Core Bone PC, that tin be used every bit a digital journal, unfolded every bit a leisure-focused tablet, docked (at monitor and keyboard or HP Lap Dock-similar peripheral) as a productivity-focused PC. Windows Cadre OS and Microsoft's OneCore potentially allows Microsoft the unique opportunity to bridge the ii-in-one and folding device categories with a single device.

As a PC it should not be assumed Surface Andromeda will follow the aforementioned marketing, positioning, and distribution channels as smartphones. It may follow Microsoft's PC model. Microsoft tin can leverage its ecosystem to market it:

As a digital inking focused PC.
A collaborative tool within the Surface family with Whiteboard, Teams, Skype.
Capable of beingness docked for desktop experience (or to HP Lap Dock like peripheral).
Capable of game streaming via xCloud and able to connect to Xbox as other Windows 10 PCs.
Able to unfold to tablet fashion.
Capable of integrating with iPhone and Android phones via Your Phone, Cortana and more.

It should be market-defined as a "Windows 10 PC for the mobile age," with telephony mentioned sounding like an reconsideration, not headlining the device, merely there if you want information technology.

As the side by side evolution of Ever Continued PCs, where users have control of their data and carrier choice via Windows 10 Microsoft could leverage a growing reward with carriers. Since customers can change carriers virtually "on the fly" via Windows 10, carriers like Sprint early this year, offer bonny packages for consumers who buy ACPCs from them. This same pattern may continue every bit voice is potentially added in the future. This isn't nigh a PC paradigm entirely replacing a telephone epitome. This is nigh a PC category that potentially adds a new dimension to the communication and calculating models as they keep to overlap.

Additionally, Microsoft tin can utilise current retail and business-to-business distribution channels to market and distribute Surface Andromeda and OEM pocket PCs.

Smartphones are dead

Still challenges

Though our mobile devices being PCs opens opportunities for Microsoft that a smartphone epitome precludes Microsoft still has barriers. With a subpar tablet fashion and weak app ecosystem, Samsung's and others folding phones volition be better tablets than Surface Andromeda. Microsoft's Continuum-based docked style would offer better productivity experiences, but express "docking" areas and the cost of an HP Lap Dock-similar laptop peripheral touch on that advantage.

Pocket PCs tin exist niche and still be successful, still. Surface Andromeda should exist an ambitious showcase device for all of Microsoft'south strengths. Highlighting context sensitive Surface hardware and Windows Cadre Bone software, digital inking, collaboration, and productivity via Teams, Office 365, and more, gaming via xCloud and cross-platform deject collaboration via Your Phone, Sets and more than.

Microsoft must put its full weight behind this new mobile PC experience while the market is shifting its perception from a "phone" to "tablet PC" perspective. Andromeda must "tell Microsoft's story" of what it envisions modern mobile computing exist. Microsoft must also fully support OEMs in building that vision. Even a niche device bridging the productivity 2-in-1 and leisure tablet space has the potential for growth. Merely no move ensures that yet another opportunity volition pass Microsoft past.

Minecraft Preview can now be downloaded and played on Windows

New ways to test

Minecraft Preview tin now be downloaded and played on Windows

On Monday, Mojang Studios announced Minecraft Preview, a new Minecraft game that volition let players test upcoming changes and updates before they release. Minecraft Preview will eventually supplant the current Minecraft: Bedrock Edition beta program.