Microsoft releases preview SDK for Surface Duo, proposes web standards for dual-screen devices

2 min. read

Published on January 22, 2020

published on January 22, 2020

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Microsoft first started talking about the Surface Neo and Duo developer story back in November, and the company is following up today by announcing dual-screen preview SDKs for Surface Neo and Windows 10. Developers can download the preview version of the Surface Duo SDK today, while the Windows 10 version will be available in the coming weeks.

“The preview SDK gives developers a first look at how you can take advantage of dual-screen experiences,” explained Kevin Gallo, CVP of Windows Developer Platform. Starting today, developers who download the SDK will have access to an Android Emulator with a preview Surface Duo image for Android Studio, as well as native Java APIs to create dual-screen experiences for Surface Duo. Microsoft has more documentation on how to create apps for dual-screen devices on this page.

While today’s announcements are software-related, Windows Central’s Zac Bowden did spot in the documents mention the dimensions of the Surface Duo displays, and the two separate screens will have a 1350×1800 resolution.

Surface Duo display dimensions. 1350×1800 for each display. pic.twitter.com/h7IPWhK5hM

— Zac Bowden (@zacbowden) January 22, 2020

If Microsoft will be pushing app developers to optimize their Android and Windows 10 apps for dual-screen devices, the software giant isn’t forgetting about web apps. Indeed, the company also announced new web standards for dual-screen layouts that web developers could implement for websites and PWAs running on both Android and Windows 10X devices. Microsoft’s Edge browser on Android, which is based on Chromium, is ready for dual-screen experiences on the web, Gallo explained today.

Microsoft will share more details about dual-screen experiences with developers during its Microsoft 365 Developer Day on February 11 at 8:30 AM PDT. This will be an online event that will be streamed on this page.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.