Questions for Duo Owners

[pavvento]

I'm curious to hear how duo owners are finding the inking experience on the duo.

I suppose almost all use cases can be distilled down to these 3 questions:

1) Digital signing - has anyone tried any apps like docusign or signable yet?
2) Sketching - has anyone tried to any sort of sketching / drawing / doodling on the duo?
3) Note taking / minute taking - how responsive + accurate is the converstion from hand written notes to typed text in one note?

Expanding on 3 - Mind mapping / flow chart design / creation - any issues in adding a shape, hand writing into the shape (not sure if shape conversion has been added to one note yet), written info turned into typed text?

So far I've been disappointed with this, as inking was one of the main reasons I sold my Pro X to buy this. I'm using the Surface Pen that came with Surface Studio and not the slim pen. Using the sticky notes in the launcher resulted in quite a few skips and ink being registered on places I didn't touch. I'll try it out in the OneNote app and other places where I can write to see if that makes a difference.

It's a bit frustrating that there isn't a sticky note app or even the ability to stick certain notes as widgets on your home screen like you can in Windows 10. I believe it syncs with the Samsung notes app but I don't know if it syncs with any other apps that would be available on the Duo. On my iPhone there's a Sticky Notes button within OneNote but for some reason the version of OneNote on the Duo doesn't have it.

 

[Bkr11]

Pavvento - have you updated to the Beta version of the Microsoft Launcher to see whether that helps?

 

[fatclue_98]

Get Squid from the Play Store. It works great - OR - download Gboard and use the handwriting recognition on Google Keep, OneNote or any other note-taking app. I prefer Squid for quick handwritten notes I can pop off as a PDF via text or email.

 

[jnjroach]

It's working as expected from the Launcher for me...I use the Slim Pen but that shouldn't make a huge difference

 

[pavvento]

Pavvento - have you updated to the Beta version of the Microsoft Launcher to see whether that helps?

Thanks for the tip. I get this message.

 

[jnjroach]

Thanks for the tip. I get this message.

You would need to side-load it either from another device extracting the APK or from a trusted site....

 

[Michael Bromley]

Ditto on your experiences w/ OneNote and Kindle. In fact, the dual-screen w/ hinge makes it truly seem like two facing pages of a book, unlike on a Kindle PC app. I simply couldn't bear to read Kindle on my iPhone -- to small, no idea where on the page I was, etc. I am rather thrilled by the Duo's abilities with Kindle. As for OneNote, the dual screen and ability to rotate work brilliantly.

 

[pavvento]

You would need to side-load it either from another device extracting the APK or from a trusted site....

I see. Are you noticing much of an improvement with the beta?

 

[jnjroach]

I see. Are you noticing much of an improvement with the beta?

It's snappier I also did the Reddit Battery Hack - https://www.reddit.com/r/surfaceduo..._app/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

 

[Keith Wallace]

How is GPS on this thing? I have a G8, and the one thing I feel is consistently a downgrade from Samsung phones is GPS performance. I lose GPS in a lot of larger buildings, like a Best Buy or Lowe's, and some older, brick buildings. I've even had rare occasions where starting up the GPS takes longer to pinpoint on my device when using HERE Maps in my car.

Has anyone noticed inconsistent GPS performance like that, or seen it be better/worse than a previous device?

 

[dsaelwuero]

This is probably more of an Android question, but any help is appreciated. So when I am watching a show or movie on the Duo, in the Chrome browser or in an app like Hulu, even when I enable fullscreen the white bar that you swipe to close or minimize the app still appears. On my iPhone or iPad or should I say iOS, it disappears. Is there a setting I can enable to hide that white bar while watching a video in fullscreen?

 

[Kaliaspaz]

I still bust out the Microsoft Band from time to time....best watch experience ever.

 

[beastmode112]

If this wasn't so laggy it would be by far the best device to use. It reminds me of dual monitors once you get them you'll never go back. Typing on it is a dream as long as you're able to use 2 hands. The size is perfect to use but a bit hard to put in your pocket. its a lot easier to hold like a book or even closed then a normal phone for some reason. It is hard/odd to answer phone call but perfect with headphones.

Couple major lag issues, sometimes can't unlock the phone and get to the phone screen fast enough to answer a call. Camera is almost impossible to use if not wanting to take selfie and the rare times it pulls up on the correct screen and stays there the image is backwards. This is before the update yesterday which everything seems much faster. not perfect but much better

 

[NelsonF]

I would say no for this operating system is unrefined. I would say if you're interested in simply multi tasking 2 apps at once? Yes. However, some apps like Microsoft outlook don't work in full screen as of yet. . I do enjoy an ear piece linked phone call while running 2 apps simultaneously. But as of now, you may find yourself a bit frustrated with Android on a surface duo. The recent update has improved some issues. Unfortunately, the Duo is probably 2 updates away from making a dent in the bugs.

Yet I'll say this. Something about the feel of this device, software bugs and all, makes me want to keep it. I have about 3 more weeks to make a decision.

 

[11B1P]

..... Remember the Microsoft band?

Yep, I remember it twice.

 

[tgp]

Yep, I remember it twice.

That's all? Only twice?

 

[Harveysjag]

Have you tried the Blackberry Hub for Android? I used to have a passport and loved the Hub. just wondering if it would make your life easier.

 

[fatclue_98]

Have you tried the Blackberry Hub for Android? I used to have a passport and loved the Hub. just wondering if it would make your life easier.

I've used the Hub for various Androids and the experience is mostly pleasant. However, the Sparks do not work well with any version of Android since Nougat. If you want the notification Sparks you have to use the BlackBerry Launcher and seeing how few, if any, launchers work with the Duo I won't even try it. The BlackBerry Keyboard is my favorite but once again, even Gboard has issues when in landscape so I'll let someone else be the guinea pig. We are early adopters, patience is a must.

 

[Tim-ANC]

How you all liking your Duo now after 3 months? I'm a Blackberry guy by nature but currently have a Note10+. The Duo intrigues me but I'm due for an ATT upgrade for 9 months.

 

[Indistinguishable]

How you all liking your Duo now after 3 months? I'm a Blackberry guy by nature but currently have a Note10+. The Duo intrigues me but I'm due for an ATT upgrade for 9 months.

I'm honestly obsessed with my Duo. The camera isn't good. And the software continues to improve. But I just love the hardware.