Just bought Duo...

[Gayle Lynn]

Fun interesting toy, but I now day #3.

Takes getting used to and not a lot of apps work in dual screen mode, not even Gboard.
Instagram doesn't fit aspect ratio.
Screenshots are saved as PNG and so far uses Google Photos to edit.
Very easy to take screens of. But it does capture both screens, and the not just the active window.
It crashes or freezes out of the blue.
Gsam battery monitor reports it runs hot 39°C
OneDrive is sluggish, but that happened on latest iPhone 12 Pro too.
Must be Android 10, unable to interact with Status bar notifications to launch app.

I wish Microsoft would skip 11 and go straight to 12.
I wanted to test drive and get a taste, just $420 @ Amazon.

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you on AT&T? If not, was it a pain to get it unlocked? (My understanding is that all of these are locked to AT&T, is that right?)

 

[Gayle Lynn]

I'm on AT&T so no issue but it sounds like they will unlock if asked.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Found a pen that is Microsoft certified and works so far, no issue with it so far.

No on button either.

Stylus Pen for Microsoft Surface, SkyMirror Magnetic Digital Pen Compatible with Surface Pro X/7/6/5/4/3, Surface Book 3/2/1, Surface Go, Surface Laptop with 1024 Pressure Sensitivity (Sliver)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08SKD58VM/?tag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU6974455

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Edited out previous post:

Learning and getting better, takes some time to learn gestures.


Battery drain is very real though it recharges quickly but something to be aware of...

Do i trade this in come October for D2, or wait for 12 to drop? Or a Duo 3 in 2022/23? Also give it time to fix bugs and apps after 3-4 months.

There are dozens of YouTube video but haven't found one i want.

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm curious, would this be a reasonable replacement for a conventional 7 or 8 inch tablet (which is often held in portrait orientation)? I'm getting more dissatisfied with the performance of my Lenovo Tab M8 FHD, but there just aren't many good 8" tablet options available with good performance. I don't want an Amazon Fire tablet, and the Samsung 8" tablets are all pretty much underpowered as well. 8" is really a sweet spot when it comes to media consumption -- big enough screen to enjoy video or e-books, but small enough to hold comfortably for extended periods of time or to prop up somewhere without needing a lot flat space.

From what I've read and seen, it seems like you can't really open the Duo up and lock it securely in a flat position -- is that the case?

 

[Gayle Lynn]

The next model comes with the 888 and 8GB.ive always had a fondness for 7-8" too. The Duo has replaced my iPad Mini 5.

It can work in its dual screen but with gap. Hints that D2 will have more screen and resolution. Android 12 has more support for this form factor.

Today i started using it flipped to just one screen which i like.
But having two apps side by side is nice.

YouTube and Music are well integrated.

At $415 great for test drive. Pen, extra bumper, and screen protector accessories.

I had planned to buy Fold 3 but the cost... not ready to trade in S21U with its stellar camera.

Oh, i did use BT keyboard with it. And Buds. The built-in speakers were covered up by bumper and not great..

Using it is fun which I've rarely or never felt about a device in 10 years

 

[Gayle Lynn]

More tidbits...

Charging - no setting to turn off quick charging

The "dock" is too large, only allows 3 icons.

One idea is have the dock follow home orientation to bottom when in portrait mode - makes the screen too narrow right now.
Allow stretching dock height like you can Taskbar, or Apple Mac's dock.
Add recent apps to dock?

Hope Android 11/12 remedies those.

Leave an app that's in double screen and when I come back it's no longer. Lacks smart memory of app window mode.

Previews of recent apps are not what was currently showing. Minor or poor memory management? Needs 12GB in my book so it'll "remember."

Yes, lot of things that Android updates and the Duo 2 will hopefully fix.

SwiftKey typing needs improvement.
Gboard hides the space at below the screen hidden by that awful dock. Works in portrait mode but not horizontal for one thing.
And even MS Launcher

App Library - put aps into folders - Google, photo editing, utilities, Microsoft.

Forget Nova Launcher which isn't working on Fold 3 either.

Did I mention I don't want the left most screen even when news and cards are not enabled?

News: users need to choose what media, and not just broad topics. Want CNN but not someone else? No way to curate.

 

[B. Diddy]

This is great stuff. You should catalog all of these and send them in as feedback to Microsoft!

 

[anon(50597)]

I'm curious, would this be a reasonable replacement for a conventional 7 or 8 inch tablet (which is often held in portrait orientation)? I'm getting more dissatisfied with the performance of my Lenovo Tab M8 FHD, but there just aren't many good 8" tablet options available with good performance. I don't want an Amazon Fire tablet, and the Samsung 8" tablets are all pretty much underpowered as well. 8" is really a sweet spot when it comes to media consumption -- big enough screen to enjoy video or e-books, but small enough to hold comfortably for extended periods of time or to prop up somewhere without needing a lot flat space.

From what I've read and seen, it seems like you can't really open the Duo up and lock it securely in a flat position -- is that the case?

Good question and I was wondering the same thing. Android has few good choices in the tablet market. Had a Lenovo and sold it as it was a PITA. I’m not sure these foldable devices are ready to replace tablets but hopefully some day soon.
That’s the only reason I hold onto my iPad Pro.

 

[B. Diddy]

I just saw the new 8.7" Galaxy A7 lite at Costco, but that uses the same Mediatek Helio P22T CPU that my sluggish Lenovo M8 FHD does, so I doubt that would be an improvement. I've gone back to using my old Lenovo Tab 4 8", with the Snapdragon 425, which on the whole is smoother.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Over a month...

The UI has major problems. When in full dual screen mode, only the top half is active when it comes to highlighting text to copy. Affects any login dialogue box. Sometimes a submit button is caught in the middle of two screens.

And editing a photo or sharing an article to Twitter reverts from dual screen to using just one screen. And good luck dragging and dropping the app window in the middle to get back into dual mode. Microsoft has a lot of work to do, and I suspect it won't be fixed or work right on the Duo 2 out of the gate. Would think updates for MS Launcher daily almost would behave the same on both Duo models. Wishful?

Swiping and navigating between screens - to get back to home - is a hit or miss. Sometimes swipe left or up but not always. Lost trying to get home.

A tap of the pen can send a page fast scrolling down a page or two.

Launcher 10 is only one I've seen recommended but it leaves Microsoft launcher in place and your apps and folders are now inert part of background and inactive, plus an forced to allow and use their app page, and can't add pages, or remove some apps from "Start screen" (home).

Without knowing how much Android 11 fixes this or why it is left as such a UI mess, hard to know ahead of time if it will be sorted out.

Seems more I use it the more these glaring bugs stand out - to those that use it as daily driver.

 

[B. Diddy]

Thanks for the useful updates!

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Latest discover: OneDrive - never great, always slow and sluggish, I'm sure the hardware should be capable enough. I signed up for preview test version after seeing what if offers on my S21U, running 12 beta. There are settings differences between the two... Seems like Android 10 gets no love. And we won't see 12 or 12.1 (see XDA news on possible changes to address dual screen devices) until... 2022 and likely not until? Spring? on the Duo 2.

Frequently it complained it wasn't online, cannot process requests, loses connections, can't load or refresh photo albums. And to sign up for OD preview, instructs you to use... Chrome. Not Edge, not default browser. Chrome is a no show for me, I keep it disabled always. Hard coded nonsense.

Google Photos is much better photo library.

For all the updated hardware it really is more a software issue.

Case in point, Outlook email accounts today using 3rd party email apps ran into trouble today. Microsoft is both in the security business and busy with Windows 11 roll out next Tuesday. Their hands are full.

The future of Duo 1 looks dim. I'd like to wait until 12.1 is caked in on the Duo 2 - next June or so. (I'm the same way with Apple iOS, wait 6 months for the air to settle.)

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Your Feed. Can't reclaim a page I don't use. And if I did, maybe use someone else's. At least Samsung you can set to off. Not Microsoft.

Add Start app to my list, can't be Uninstalled so I disable it. I'd prefer fewer pre-installed apps that can't be removed.

Settings app is archaic and hope to see significant improvement.

Files app is weak. Change sort? Resorts to same default so it doesn't retain sort settings. Should be major update. It is terrible. Trying 3rd party file managers but prefer that pre-installed is as good as Samsung's. Crappy apps have no place.

Lack of Android 11 in a year? Black eye. Did they think they could fix the phone using Android 10?

 

[Laura Knotek]

Over a month...

The UI has major problems. When in full dual screen mode, only the top half is active when it comes to highlighting text to copy. Affects any login dialogue box. Sometimes a submit button is caught in the middle of two screens.

And editing a photo or sharing an article to Twitter reverts from dual screen to using just one screen. And good luck dragging and dropping the app window in the middle to get back into dual mode. Microsoft has a lot of work to do, and I suspect it won't be fixed or work right on the Duo 2 out of the gate. Would think updates for MS Launcher daily almost would behave the same on both Duo models. Wishful?

Swiping and navigating between screens - to get back to home - is a hit or miss. Sometimes swipe left or up but not always. Lost trying to get home.

A tap of the pen can send a page fast scrolling down a page or two.

Launcher 10 is only one I've seen recommended but it leaves Microsoft launcher in place and your apps and folders are now inert part of background and inactive, plus an forced to allow and use their app page, and can't add pages, or remove some apps from "Start screen" (home).

Without knowing how much Android 11 fixes this or why it is left as such a UI mess, hard to know ahead of time if it will be sorted out.

Seems more I use it the more these glaring bugs stand out - to those that use it as daily driver.

Is it possible to use Nova Launcher on this device? That's what I've used on every Android device I've owned. I would not consider the Duo if I were forced to use the Microsoft launcher.

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Big on Nova

Maybe check Fold 3 users. MS Launcher is okay to me but I don't go into customizing any more, OneUI 3 is enough for me on Samsung Would hate to dismiss D2 on that alone.

 

[vimagreg]

I tried Duo 1 some months ago, and it seemed just to buggy for me. Made me remember the old days of Android 3 or 4. It was a no brainer for me, I sent it back.

Typical Microsoft. It seemed just a prototype released to see people acceptance. Maybe - and just maybe - the Duo 2 will fix some of the problems. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Unfortunately Microsoft seems to be lost on this race. Again. What it’s a shame, since I really like the concept. Waiting for my Fold 3 to arrive.

I still miss the old Windows Phone OS, and still wonder what it would be if received the correct direction - resources it always had…

Microsoft is just for Windows and Office. Still…

 

[Gayle Lynn]

Microsoft lost its way with Windows, if it ever had one - maybe NT with mere 65,000 bugs, not the bug free they hoped. Did OS/ Warp give them a head start?

Windows ME, 95, XP (can of security headaches), VISTA, 8/8.1, and now 11 removed a lot of good and added candy. So that leaves 7 and 10 as the “good guys.” And skip MS DOS and 3.x.

Microsoft needed NT to help bring workstation market down from $10k plus and the era of $5k workstations. Though the PC XT and AT were not cheap in 1980s.

I was and am hoping they can’t won’t screw up Android 11 at this point. If they do, back it goes, which would be a first for me. Blackberry died I guess with the move to Android, not unique or compelling enough.