A Eulogy for the Surface Duo 2: How Microsoft Broke My Heart...

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  • Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024

Комментарии • 92

  • @mvz
    @mvz 2 дня назад +40

    Unlocked bootloaders should be an available option for every phone. Letting the nerds go to town on products like this, especially towards end of life, would benefit everyone.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  2 дня назад +14

      Getting scary out there, especially seeing Xiaomi end their unlocking support. These companies are hellbent on turning all our gadgets into ewaste as fast as they can.

    • @Harith21AL
      @Harith21AL 20 часов назад

      Actually Xiaomi is one of most mod/unlock friendly devices
      My 7 year old redmi note 5 pro with unlocked bootloader and running custom android 14 with latest September 2024 security patch even android 15 is available for my redmi note 5 pro, but still in beta, and the community keep updating the ROM on monthly basis which is impressive.
      Even Lineage Os has stopped their support for older devices
      But luckily Xiaomi has pretty huge community support that keeps those old android phones running on the latest Android version.

  • @FAT8893
    @FAT8893 2 дня назад +41

    Microsoft really never take mobile hardware business seriously. I still believe Windows Phone still has so much potential to be a real mobile PC, especially when they introduced Continuum for Lumia 950/950 XL two years before Samsung DeX and Huawei EMUI Desktop even a thing. Just imagine Surface Duo running native Windows ARM.

    • @TheTheShizzler
      @TheTheShizzler 2 дня назад +1

      Maybe at first but seeing what they're doing with Windows 11 and copilot, not sure I'd want that on my phone too

    • @aurelian1
      @aurelian1 День назад +3

      Microsoft's problem at the time was that it treated mobile as subservient to desktop. It was never going to get the full resources it needed because it was there to help sell Windows PCs. Apple and Google succeeded in part because they were willing to up-end their businesses to make mobile work.

    • @scottlawson3365
      @scottlawson3365 День назад +2

      I was a staunch Microsoft, especially Windows Phone and Surface, supporter. After having the rug pulled out from under me 1 too many times I switched to iOS and never looked back. I’d love to think I could put my trust in Microsoft long term, but unfortunately history shows me why I can’t. It really is a damn shame as Microsoft’s platform had so much promise even if only 1% were on board.

    • @Ozzymandius1
      @Ozzymandius1 День назад +1

      I second this. The Lumia phones with the high-megapixel cameras hold up surprisingly well against the flagships released this year. It’s a shame they didn't just modernize their OS or give a crap about its all store to make it more appealing.

    • @FAT8893
      @FAT8893 9 часов назад

      @@Ozzymandius1 Can agree with my Lumia 1020. It might be more than a decade now, but my goodness the camera can still produce great photos.

  • @jakesyoutubezone9808
    @jakesyoutubezone9808 День назад +6

    actively watching this on a duo 2 as part of my go-to ultra portable productivity setup. It's amazing how the "dual monitor workstation" mindset translates so easily to the dual-screen form factor.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад

      It worked so well...

    • @handlemonium
      @handlemonium День назад

      Can't wait for more polished rivals to the Mate XT! Gonna be rocking a 6-11 inch productivity setup while streaming games via StarLink across The Pacific! ✈️🌏🛰️

  • @scaryifliteral
    @scaryifliteral 2 дня назад +29

    Glad I wasn't the only one more or less eulogizing this phone lol

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  2 дня назад +9

      I JUST caught your video too! It's sad to see. We could be doing this better.

  • @markfinlay422
    @markfinlay422 2 дня назад +7

    This is the end
    Beautiful friend
    This is the end
    I would say RIP Duo, but I'm still using my OG Duo as a productivity device and ebook reader. There's still a wee bit of life in it yet and NOTHING ELSE COMES CLOSE.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      I'm gonna be rocking these longer than any plastic screened foldable. Only my V60 is going to give this a run for its (longevity) money.

  • @michaelcorcoran8768
    @michaelcorcoran8768 День назад +7

    lack of even a 2nd OS update On a $1,500 phone is truly something else. It's such a shame because my OG Duo is one of my favorite products of all times in terms of hardware and at least that one got two OS updates

  • @farishanafiah8461
    @farishanafiah8461 2 дня назад +10

    What I found it funny is that the OG Surface Duo was shipped with Android 10 and got two major OS update, while the Surface Duo 2 only got one since it was shipped with Android 11. The latter is more than possible to get official Android 13 or Android 14 OS update. I still find this way more interesting than foldable screen phone since the dual 3x2 screen can merged into one 4x3 screen. That is the kind of aspect ratio you'd find on an iPad, not on the likes of Galaxy ZFold or Pixel Fold.

  • @clem9031
    @clem9031 2 дня назад +12

    Take this form factor, make it e-ink. And voilà, you have a true ebook. Add pen support, call it moleskin. I'd buy that.
    RIP surface duo.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  2 дня назад +5

      I always wanted a dual screen kindle...

    • @evindrews
      @evindrews 20 часов назад +1

      dude. YES

  • @SomeRandomPersonOnTheNet
    @SomeRandomPersonOnTheNet День назад +4

    i think future iterations of the surface duo would have accomplished the goal of MSFT.
    A thinner centre bezel would have mimicked today's folding glass but be more durable.
    I wish MSFT would revisit this in the future.

  • @impulsesystems
    @impulsesystems День назад +3

    There is a time when you want a slightly bigger screen than a phone and two separate apps. I am more interested in the SD form than a foldable tablet. I was late to the SD party and got a great price. I didn't want cameras or even a phone but for podcasts, Spotify, banking apps etc, it is really useful to me!

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +2

      It's one of the best tablets ever made.

  • @RossChase
    @RossChase 2 дня назад +8

    It makes me a bit sad. I wanted this form factor to work.

    • @farishanafiah8461
      @farishanafiah8461 2 дня назад +2

      Ikr. Because it have an iPad-like screen aspect ratio when using both screen together, there's no need to worry about app compatibility.

  • @towcactus
    @towcactus День назад +2

    That's a sick skin on duo

  • @TommyCrosby
    @TommyCrosby День назад +1

    Man, that HTC Touch Pro is a nostalgia blast from the past. It was almost my first smartphone, and the reason why I was highly skeptical of the iPhone at first.

  • @handlemonium
    @handlemonium День назад +1

    I feel the same way about the Moto Z series that brought easy phone modding to life for 4 years from 2016-2019.
    Still rocking the Moto Z4 even though I'm on my 4th one cuz I'm not kind to my phones while biking. Luckily, both the phones & JBL mods are dirt cheap, in plentiful supply, and still work as great little pocketable boomboxes. 🤘
    I will be moving on to the Pixel 5a by the end of this year as I need the eSim compatibility for traveling ✈️ and then the endomodular Fairphone 6/7 a couple years after that, but I'll keep the music blasting from my Moto Z2 Play and Z4!

  • @davidburns8113
    @davidburns8113 2 дня назад +10

    Thanks to the calcification of the tech market nothing fun or new can come out, especially in the US. this market doesn't want new, innovative, or interesting.
    I really wish they had put an 8 Gen 2 in a duo. but alas

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  2 дня назад +7

      God... Just imagine this form factor, with an 8Gen2, and the equivalent of Continuum...

    • @farishanafiah8461
      @farishanafiah8461 2 дня назад +8

      Meanwhile, Android OEM keeps on chasing to copy whatever Apple is doing. Only Sony manages to be different, but even its smartphone division now seems to be on life support. If Sony decided to shut down their smartphone division, it means the real death of headphone jack and microSD card slot on flagship phones.

    • @FAT8893
      @FAT8893 2 дня назад +1

      @@farishanafiah8461 Brand ecosystem really ruins everything.

    • @DavidNgo86
      @DavidNgo86 3 часа назад

      US government banning Huewai over "security" was the death knell

  • @MrBaskins2010
    @MrBaskins2010 День назад +1

    saw one of these at my cousin's c0vid era wedding, i've thought about this device ever single day since

  • @TheAlex-A
    @TheAlex-A День назад +1

    Sad to see that be the last update it will receive 🙁I feel like Panos Panay was probably the biggest supporter for this product, but he's no longer at Microsoft.

  • @PrinceMalachi7
    @PrinceMalachi7 День назад +1

    I had the original surface dual. It had it's issues but overall I liked it

  • @GtheJuggler
    @GtheJuggler 2 дня назад +2

    The fact that Duo 2 didn't get A13 isn't thethe biggest problem. My V60/Velvet got A13 (3 major updates) but there is no meaningful difference. The biggest problem with the Surface Duo 2 is that not all the bugs been fixed and now never will be.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +2

      No computer ever has "all the bugs fixed", but I certainly agree the Duo should have had more/longer security patching and bug fixing support.

  • @christopherkinslow5432
    @christopherkinslow5432 День назад +1

    I hate their trend of ending support for products that don't take off initially. The only push I've seen from them recently was when Nokia joined up as the official partner for WP, which was a golden era. I wasn't a fan of the Duo 2 due to functions they opted out of putting into the device hardware and also lack of software updates. I'm not one of the fan boys that gripes about lack of major updates, but for what this device was selling for initially, it kept me away from being a potential buyer

  • @TheBismrk
    @TheBismrk 2 дня назад +2

    Separating android version upgrades and software security updates is something I'm in favour of. Some of my non techy relatives refused to update their phones because they'd rather not have to adjust to the changes that upgrades bring. Whether it be moving of options or removal of functions, for security or whatever reason

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      A LOT of folks are like that, and I wish companies like Samsung wouldn't change things JUST to change them. UI is important to people, but not in the way a lot of techies talk about it. Novelty is neat, but I think it turns most people off.

    • @DavidNgo86
      @DavidNgo86 3 часа назад

      That's why when I buy old phones I look for ones with the orginal Android versions

  • @wilko8225
    @wilko8225 2 дня назад +1

    After Windows Phone (I really enjoyed Windows Phone), I swore off Microsoft products in the mobile sector. It was clear as day this would happen. I would be interested to see what the strategy was for this.

  • @masterquake7
    @masterquake7 21 час назад

    The Duo 2 is the best phone I've ever used still. The only reason I don't use mine anymore is because the layers literally started peeling away from each other, causing the back glass to break. Microsoft told me back when it happened that they couldn't honor my warranty because they had no stock. This was before they admitted they had stopped making them.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  21 час назад

      I got really lucky with Duo 1. Got it replaced, and the only model they had was a higher storage tier.

  • @moranmono
    @moranmono 3 часа назад

    I really sad that Microsoft didn’t succeed to bring another smartphone to the mainstream. I really miss windows phone and I really like to see more competition in the mobile world

  • @MrLoipurz
    @MrLoipurz День назад

    I had OG Duo. LOVED IT despite its numerous flaws. The design, the build, the feel, the usability. Unfortunately one drop onto a concrete proven to be deathly for Duo. After that I dabble with other foldable but I never get the feeling of excitement and happiness I get when I use my Duo. Decided to jump the gun and bought Duo 2 (cost more than $2,000 in my country since it needs to be imported). I fall in love all over again. Will keep using it until the battery gave up (because MS can’t even replace Duo 2 battery). The only deal breaker for me in terms of design and usability is that horrendous camera bump. It bugs me. I can’t fold it flat. It feels really uncomfortable using it folded back. Now it rocks on table too. I wish MS had a version of Duo 2 without camera. MS definitely lose its way in the market direction for Duo 2. They trying to please general user while basically ignoring Duo very very niche but very very loyal user base. I’m pretty sure Duo real user doesn’t need that huge or amazing camera. I rather trade the camera for cleaner, neater, and more comfortable design for me to get my work done

  • @guymontag5
    @guymontag5 День назад +1

    I miss my Surface Duo so much. If I could justify the crazy prices for a SD2 I would jump on it, but I'm not willing to pay current market value for one =/

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +2

      I feel itll be a weird one for a while, like the BB Key2. For a time I could have sold off that Key2 for a CRAZY amount.

    • @guymontag5
      @guymontag5 День назад

      @@SomeGadgetGuy yeah, the EOL will probably drive the price up more too, weirdly, but I'll just keep a weather eye out I suppose, maybe a good deal will crop up

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      I'd sell you mine, but this is going to be a museum phone for me.

    • @guymontag5
      @guymontag5 День назад

      @@SomeGadgetGuy Nice! I have a number of lumia devices serving the same roll, I can appreciate the museum :)

  • @jothain
    @jothain 14 часов назад

    Apparently I'm not only one that would like MS to try mobiles once again with ARM inside finally make true multipurpose device. Performance/tech wise so many things would actually now be possible. They could make foldable device like this that could run full Windows and borrowing bit the idea of like OnePlus Watches having low power secondary chip device could run Android simultaneously on smaller display as mobile phone. I'd actually want to see Metro revived. It was so insanely ahead of time and only thing they failed imo was they forced its usage on desktop computers which was a major screwup. But like I honestly think that from computer UI's point of view. Windows 8 was and still is quite solid touch device UI. MS was so close to create successful phone and computer UI...

  • @evindrews
    @evindrews 20 часов назад

    I really think the Duo design is underrated. Unfortunately it was a microsoft device so it was doomed, but I wish other manufacturers gave it a shot. Folding screens are cool, theoretically they let you see things bigger, but 90% of the time I hear people barely using it, and the tradeoff of a plastic screen is really really big. Glass + metal is beautiful and I can see this one lasting for awhile.

  • @ignaciorodriguez5008
    @ignaciorodriguez5008 День назад

    I remember being so excited for this product. I firmly believe taht if the priced it at ~$800, it would have been a very good option. It's sad to see Microsoft repeatedly fail at this

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      The price argument is one of the worst aspects of tech reviewing.
      "This fone wold be gooder if it cost less" is one of the least insightful "critiques" the bigger channels offer up.
      We're ONLY just getting to Flip phones that cost properly under $1000 in SOME markets. Mini-tablets with a hinge still haven't fallen significantly in price. If we want this kind of manufacturing, and a lifestyle durable hinge, we have to expect the MSRP to be roughly $800-$1000 more than a comparably specced premium slate phone.

  • @arkkhamful
    @arkkhamful 22 часа назад

    Yes!!!!

  • @levisayev4398
    @levisayev4398 День назад

    I had Huawei mate9 for over a year after Google said they won't support it anymore. Got stuck with Android 8 best android phone experience ever.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  21 час назад

      Mate 9 was a monster. Loved that phone.

  • @philipperostin
    @philipperostin День назад

    Batteries still working, thus the phone IS NOT dead.

  • @spellerlittlewing
    @spellerlittlewing День назад +1

    I wished this tan windows

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад

      Still hoping MS might do that in the future... Sigh...

  • @WaffleusRex
    @WaffleusRex День назад

    It's still my favorite phone, despite the occasional jank.

  • @JalanJalanAroundTheWorld
    @JalanJalanAroundTheWorld День назад

    Remember the time when gadget tech is all about full functionality product without software update that you can use for several decade? not now i guess

  • @User24x
    @User24x 2 дня назад +2

    I just carry two phones.

  • @Zombies8MDingo
    @Zombies8MDingo 22 часа назад

    Microsoft have XBox and Copilot, they could really make something good based on the Duo, but I'm not holding my breath.

  • @Slapsco
    @Slapsco 9 часов назад

    Well done !! Let's Hope Microsoft will give it one more shot at the mobile world... even though, I felt sad by the forced ending of Windows Phones, then Windows 10 Mobile then Surface Duos..... if todays's chips are strong enough to compete with PC chips... especially with AI... why not give it another shot at the Mobile World, Microsoft!! Come on!!

  • @Samp1eTech
    @Samp1eTech 14 часов назад

    I really wish Microsoft had stuck with making phones. It's a shame.

  • @greggski3710
    @greggski3710 2 дня назад

    I don't know what is going on, but I still can't see your videos is my subscription feed.

  • @Mojomanultra
    @Mojomanultra 21 час назад

    Security and bug fixes are the most important, don't care about android updates.
    Note: I personally think we need new os design. An os design for a specific device.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  21 час назад

      Same. Especially now with "longer support" promised, individual android updates are smaller and more iterative. I'd have been fine on Android 13 with a couple years of security and bug fixing.

    • @Mojomanultra
      @Mojomanultra 21 час назад +1

      @@SomeGadgetGuyYup, the updates don't improve anything.

  • @LiveAerosmith
    @LiveAerosmith 19 часов назад

    About Duo simply did not sell much, spent a lot of money on product development and to put on the market, now about Windows Phone was a matter of market share and boycott of developers.

  • @oladrolahola
    @oladrolahola 2 дня назад

    From all the good examples you gave in this video, I'm starting to think companies need to market properly more often and should stop trying to copy Apple

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      That's been my drum beat for YEARS now. LG left the phone market. Sony seems to be on their way out. Moto is giving up on premium phones in the USA. Microsoft labeled this a SURFACE and advertised almost not at all.
      Seems it doesn't matter how good a phone is. People wont buy what they dont know about...

  • @eddietorres1059
    @eddietorres1059 День назад

    first oall the reason why MS Surface phone did not work out, because it was two seperate screens. with z fold 6 you can do the same the damn with a continous screen. you can read a book or study with screen that big. on your phone it break the page a apart not good. don't forget that on the z fold you can window all of you apps on the large screen without dex. so the answer the question that was not asked the z fold form factors is better.

  • @fabricius2642
    @fabricius2642 День назад

    I get your reasoning with manufacturers "perfecting" their android version, but honestly, what TCL and BlackBerry did to the key2 is unacceptable. Android updates bring features, and in the case of 8 to 9 to possibly 10, we could've gotten dark system theme, gesture navigation, etc. Not to say anything about app support

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      Android 8 is STILL being supported for new Android features. Like quick share and the new find my phone framework, still accessible to the Key2. Any developers ending support for Android 8, that's a recent issue. It would have been nice to get another year or two of developer support (after Android 8 is official removed from Google's support), but we're currently at SIX years of feature support, and the Key2 is still pretty current.
      Yes. Dark theme would have been nice. That still wasnt the point of the phone. TCL/BB were upfront about what they were doing in making a secure messaging platform, and Android was the spine they decided on.

    • @fabricius2642
      @fabricius2642 День назад

      @@SomeGadgetGuy Again, I get everything you're saying, but I didn't even know about Play updates until yesterday, I don't think we have them there, do we? And monthly security patches surely must do something, right? Otherwise, what's their purpose? And in that regard, Key2 must be behind for at least a couple of years. Recently, Google Pay dropped support for Android 8 and that's not something you can patch hardening the ROM or anything. Like I said, not even ONE major android version is absolutely unacceptable in my eyes. Back in the BB10 days, every phone released got like 2 or 3 years of feature updates (however little you want to call that) so it's not like BlackBerry doesn't believe in feature updates

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  День назад +1

      You're asking great questions. If you're curious, there are answers to those questions. What we would want to follow up with your questions, what are the support expectations of a manufacturer today versus a manufacturer from 2018?
      If a company front loads a TON of investment in a phone's security six years ago, and it's still impossible to root it or flash it, wouldnt we say they did a "good" job supporting their security claim?
      TCL/BB still delivered roughly 3 years of BLACKBERRY feature updates and app updates and services updates. If the phone had been on BBOS, it wouldn't have benefited from almost FOUR additional years of Android core services and Play updates.
      Since then, there are definitely issues running an Android 8 device today, but not because of what BB/TCL did, and more because of Google's apps and security.
      If you only just discovered this kinda stuff yesterday, I'd recommend making it matter to you more than just trying to pick apart one thing I said in this video about an almost seven year old phone. The point of my video wasn't "you should use an almost seven year old phone today".
      You do get that right?

    • @fabricius2642
      @fabricius2642 День назад

      @@SomeGadgetGuy of course, I just got interested in that particular point because I was in fact until very recently a KeyOne/Key2LE user. My budgets are very limited and when I buy a phone, I really want then to last for as long as possible. KeyOne is from 2017 right? What other phone came out in 2017 and was not that well received? Essential PH-1. Now, the Essential Phone ended its run with an update to Android 10... That's a full 2 more versions of Android. Did essential had a massive team of developers and BlackBerry was a small start-up? Definitely not. Would you say using a KeyOne is more secure than using the Essential Phone only because it cannot be rooted? I think that even though it is very commendable that they did a fantastic job making sure that you can't hack into the phone, that doesn't mean in itself that it's secure. Case in point, you cannot root a BB10 device. That's absolutely not to say that nowadays those are secure phones, or the Priv, since you've mentioned it on your video (and I also had but sold because of the lack of new features) Now I think I might be giving the impression that I'm nitpicking. I'm not. I found your video super interesting and it made me think about the point of hardening the ROM instead of focusing on updates to the major version. I get it. I think that's more of a Google job than the manufacturers though. Also, 100% sure that if I ask 10 random people if they knew about Play updates and what they mean, the vast majority would say they don't. Anyways, I enjoyed your video, sorry if my comment made it seem otherwise

  • @JessicaFEREM
    @JessicaFEREM День назад

    I don't care about the android version, as long as my phone isn't insecure and I can still get the apps I want, then it could be running reactOS for all I care.

  • @otopico
    @otopico 21 час назад

    Never trust Microsoft when it comes to hardware. I *LOVED* Windows Phones, especially 8 and 8.1. In 2014 I had a device that had a fantastic UI, great use of live tiles for ambient info without needing to open any apps, and hardware that while not cutting edge, was solid and had features it took Android and Apple until now to start to adapt ( like a camera button).
    And a change of leadership killed it all and left people like me stuck with shit like Android and the lack of consistency, and iOS and being locked into what Apple *allows*.
    The only Microsoft branded hardware it is safe to still purchase are their keyboards and mice. That's it.
    Microsoft sometimes takes bold moves and comes up with something genuinely good and with an original take on a thing. But they always punish those of us that forget how they kill off almost as many useful things as Google.

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  21 час назад

      LOL They split off those hardware accessories. Seems the folks who own Incipio will make those products moving forward?

  • @djdontgetcooked
    @djdontgetcooked 17 часов назад

    Lovely phone tied to the worst hardware company in the world

  • @ChadAndChill
    @ChadAndChill День назад

    oh remember the days spending so much money on Windows phone and being screwed by Microsoft😅

    • @SomeGadgetGuy
      @SomeGadgetGuy  21 час назад +1

      I remember the days of spending so much money on WINDOWS MOBILE and getting screwed by Microsoft 😅