Mysterious dual-screen Microsoft Surface Centaurus will run Android apps
We have to admit that we were disappointed to hear that Google’s hardware team is throwing in the towel on the tablet form factor, but a new detail regarding the upcoming dual-screen Microsoft Surface could be the perfect solution.
IHS Markit revealed to Forbes that the foldable dual-screen Microsoft Surface will include Android app support in its Windows Core OS (WCOS) operating system. The new Windows Core OS is internally referenced at “Windows Lite” and is intended to be stripped down version of Windows which will compete directly with Google’s Chrome OS.
The code name for Microsoft’s foldable Surface device is Centaurus. The dual-screen tablet will apparently feature two 9-inch, 4:3 displays, 10nm chips from Intel and LTE or 5G connectivity. The Microsoft Surface Centaurus is expected to be shown off for the first time later this year but will likely make its retail debut in the first half of 2020.
Adding Android app support to a Windows tablet may seem counter-intuitive since Microsoft has been pushing its universal Windows apps for a while now. That being said, Microsoft hasn’t had much luck with getting developers on board. Adding in native Android app support into Windows Core OS would make the platform a lot more appealing.
At this time it’s still unclear what Android developers will have to do to make their apps compatible with Windows Core OS. Presumably, Microsoft would launch its own Android app store for the Android apps or include them directly into the Microsoft Store on the Microsoft Surface Centaurus and other compatible Windows Core OS devices.