The more I think about this, the less likely it seems that MS is going to cancel, or even indefinitely delay a dual screen mobile device.
If we break the story down into its two parts, one part could lead to a possible, short-term delay, while the other part (that could lead to a product cancellation) just doesn't stack up at all.
1. MS don't believe the Andromeda components are ready for launch in Redstone 5 and are delaying a launch until software/performance quality improves
Ok, that one I get, and actually agree with. The OS needs to be as close to perfect as possible. We don't want another half-baked Windows10 Mobile launch. And besides, a 6 month delay will help to get more PWA's on board.
2. Microsoft can't find a compelling reason to launch the device
Now that one makes no sense at all, and there are numerous reasons why...
Firstly, we know for a fact that almost every hardware maker is working on the dual-screen technology. A quick web search reveals that Apple, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP and even Intel are filing patents and building prototypes of dual screen devices.
They're not doing this on the fly. This isn't just the whim of a couple of bored engineers, killing time in the lab because they have nothing else to focus on. These companies are going hell-for-leather to bring these devices to market, because they know a market exists for them.
Every one of these large and well-respected firms has identified dual-screen mobile technology as a thing that's going to happen because their customers want it. Are we honestly going to believe that Microsoft is working with totally different market research, that tells them dual-screen technology isn't a thing? Very, very unlikely.
Secondly, we have a tonne of evidence that points to Andromeda, but for me the most promising is the June 27 tweet from walking cat (
https://twitter.com/h0x0d) where he shows the actual screen code that's being written into Windows 10. This goes beyond device renders, cryptic tweets from Panos and internal email leaks. This is actual reference in the WindowsUI that supports a hinged, closed, flat and conclave device. People, that's Andromeda.
Thirdly, this was signed off by Satya. He blessed it. To be clear, every single device that he's canned so far was blessed by Balmer, so in killing those devices he could argue Ballmer misinterpreted the market and now it's up to Satya to fix it. But this time round it's different.
If he kills Andromeda, he's essentially saying "I screwed up. Sorry for wasting everyones time and money. Sorry I wasn't able to come up with a new device strategy. Sorry that W10 won't reach full capacity because we have no workable way back into mobile. Sorry."
Honestly, I can't see him killing his own baby.
Lastly, it's mobile. We all know MS need a place in that market. Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus...they all need a place in that market. Microsoft have worked hard to bring Qualcomm to the table to develop a mobile chip that works well with Windows 10. If MS step off of this, every other OEM will do the same, and they'll be stuck making laptops in a dwindling market. They all know the importance of this.
It would be bizarre in the extreme if they all collectively decided on Monday that dual screen technology is no longer a thing.
And they're all looking to Microsoft to build the software and create a hardware template for them to follow.
This device is happening. There's no way it isn't.