Articles by Daniel Rubino

Android brings plenty of options to Surface Duo – here are two of them you may not know about.

Android is a demanding OS, and it has been years in the making of it trying to feel as fast and fluid as Apple’s iOS. Spoiler: it probably never will feel that good. But that doesn’t mean devices like Surface Duo can’t benefit from some tweaks. Indeed, while Surface Duo’s hardware is excellent, the software needs some fine-tuning.

Here are two simple tricks that should improve the overall fluidity of Android on Surface Duo. One is obvious, the other not so much.

Tip #1: Turn off navigation gestures

Android and gestures have been a challenge. Whether its older Pixels, Samsung, or LG phones, gestures tend to be a bit janky.

By default, Surface Duo uses swipe gestures for navigation. Besides having a learning curve, some people don’t like swiping to go back or bring up the app switcher. But you don’t have to use that nav gestures at all and can instead rely on virtual buttons for back, …

The inner workings of Surface Duo are revealed in this video from CNET, along with thoughts from Panos Panay.

What you need to know

A new video shows Surface Duo’s internal hardware.
Interviews with Panos Panay and his team talk about the ideas behind Surface Duo.
See a working model of how the hinge works and Surface Duo in action.

Microsoft’s Surface Duo is garnering a lot of interest from the tech community, if only because it is a breath of fresh air compared to the cycle release of current smartphones. Conceived nearly five years ago, it has been a long road for Surface Due to finally land in customer’s hands early next month.

CNET managed to get a non-working Surface Duo prototype from Microsoft that reveals all the dual-screen Android devices’ inner workings. The prop is a 1:1 to replica of Surface Duo, including all the Corning Gorilla Glass (both sides), and those captivating working hinges.

But the real charm comes from seeing the inside of Surface Duo, including a…