Microsoft is done supporting the original Surface Duo, three years after it first launched on September 10. The company has stated from the very start that the Surface Duo would receive just three years of OS updates, meaning today is the last day that Microsoft has to stay true to its word.
Going forward, Microsoft will no longer ship new OS updates or security patches for the original Surface Duo, meaning Android 12L is the last version of the OS it will ever officially receive. Surface Duo only ever got two major OS updates, one shy of the average three that most high-end flagship Android devices get these days.
$1200 at launch, three years of updates. no wonder we’re burying the planet in e-waste and plastic.
You know, I don’t disagree with vendors putting whatever hardware they want in their devices, and I don’t mind vendor-customized software. But what I do mind is the barrier of supporting these devices without relying on the vendor.
If I buy an x86 computer, I can use it basically however long I want to. I can put a variety of operating systems on it, and I don’t really need to rely on vendors much aside from binary driver blobs, which isn’t really that much of a problem these days.
I really wish that Android wasn’t so customized per device. I wish I could just install upstream Android on anything that can run it, instead of special binary images for each vendor’s make and model. Android is open source and all, but simply having the sources to work with is the easiest part. Making it actually work is significantly n more difficult.
Imagine buying that aforementioned x86 machine, but you had to run a giant, customized binary blob specifically made for a laptop’s make and model. And you had to throw it away after a few years not because you need more resources, but because you cannot upgrade the OS anymore.
The reality is that we need laws that force them to either to continue to offer affordable support or publish all the specs and documentation when they drop support. Vendors shouldn’t be allowed to do otherwise.
Yup. All these devices that release, like do we need 6 different iphones every year, 20 different samsung phones, etc.
It’s a fucking joke.
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Music players in general haven’t been doing well. Phones are too big to be proper replacements for all uses.
They’re doing pretty good, they just aren’t a huge market like they used to be. It is a niche market nowadays.
Typically you only see people buying one for one of three reasons:
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They cannot have a phone/do not want a phone
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They want to separate music listening from their source of contact (getting a phone call forces you from the music)
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They chase higher fidelity audio (only the case with quality DAPs)
4 (bonus). Phone has no headphone jack, but that’s usually only the case in conjunction with 3
I still use my 2016 SE despite having a never phone. But I need pockets to carry that around, custom fit pockets if I want to be able to run with it without it being obstructive, because of how big even that old phone is.
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It’s really sad how dirty most companies seem to be doing the consumers when you’ve got Apple still pushing support for 6 year old phones. At least one company sets the standard. Now, can we get a Linux device that is a clone of the Surface Duo and has security updates for 5 years? Please?
Indeed but this highlights a fundamental issue with phones (and all devices): because Apple can continually monetize their devices with locked-in app stores and a litany of services etc they can easily afford and are incentivised to support devices for a long time.
Device makers third-party to platform ecosystems, like Microsoft to Android (but not Windows) find it extremely difficult if not impossible to gain these sorts of long-term monetisation which incentivises maximizing profits on the sale and then immediately dropping support.
Yeah, great standard setting by apple, supporting their users by intentionally slowing down their phones to encourage them to buy new ones.
Is the standard to attract class action lawsuits?
Typical misinformation. The lawsuits that worked are for Apple not informing people, not because Apple slowed down the phones. The ones that have been about the slowing down have either lost or been thrown out.
Also, your logic doesn’t make any sense. Are you saying that a slow phone is more likely to encourage someone to buy a new phone versus a phone that constantly dies at random times?
And if you wanted your phone back to full speed, all you had to do was replace your worn out battery. That seems like a dumb way to upsell someone on a phone if they can pay $100 for a new battery and have their phone back to full speed.
I actually mostly agree with you apart from one thing.
Are you saying that a slow phone is more likely to encourage someone to buy a new phone versus a phone that constantly dies at random times?
Yes. I think this could be true in a lot of cases.
Personally, if I saw that my phone was dying at 50% battery but was otherwise fine, I’d think that my phone needs a new battery, and I’d weigh up my options between taking it to a service centre or buying a new phone.
If my phone was rendered almost unusably slow, but died instead at 20%, I’d think my battery is a bit degraded, but that my phone is too slow to be useful after a battery swap anyway, and I’d jump straight to buying a new one. I wouldn’t know that the battery is what’s causing the slowness to begin with.
IMO, as long as you inform the customer, option 2 is the best. Otherwise I’d prefer option 1.
If it was really beneficial to the consumer, Apple would have been advertising it before they were legally required to tell people about it.
It was listed in an update change log.
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I stopped using the iPhone when Apple’s “support” involved rendering my 4S unusable. They set a standard, but it’s not consumer-friendly.
This is why I got a Nokia Lumia 1020 and used some duct tape to stick it to a Motorola Droid. I get it all: multitasking. 2 screens that fold up. Great camera. 2 SIM card slots. 2 operating systems for max compatibility. Plus, a slide-out keyboard and multiple batteries.
People ask me “Is it secure?” Shiiiiit. Come try me and we’ll see who is secure when you get knocked upside the head with it. “Is it up to date?” It’s two phones, my man. I’m up to date your girl and her friend.
No OS updates is one thing, but no security patches is not great. The base Surface Duo can easily do another 2-3 years.
Yup. Just like my Nexus 10. Even though no one loves it I still do…
As one of the 17 people on the planet who daily drives the Surface Duo 2, which I traded up from my SD1 for on launch day - I really hope they pull it together for this “maybe/maybe not” SD3 next winter.
This is my all time favorite device I’ve ever owned, and every day I dread the standard wear and tear knowing the few New In Box Surface Duo 2 devices are getting more and more expensive by the day, and there are literally 0 devices in this category besides the SD2.
Sad times.
I moved from the SD1 to the Samsung Fold and love it.
I’ve been considering the GFold5 if my SD2 bites the dust, at least over a Pixel Fold. But I’m making this thing run until it completely dies.
I just worry about those plastic feeling screens, such as on my wife’s GFlex4- I’m always worried I’d scratch the interior with a fingernail and a stylus for editing a spreadsheet is just a no go, from what I understand. Have they improved in that regard?
I upgraded from the fold 2 to the fold 5, specifically for the pen support. the screen does feel more durable but it is still soft. I don’t fear the pen scratching it though.
I will say, there have been many times I’ve taken the pen to draw something on the cover screen and get disappointed there’s no support for a pen on the cover screen. maybe the fold 6 will?
I haven’t had any issues with the inner screen and it doesn’t feel soft to me. I didn’t even put a protector on it. I do pay for the extra Samsung insurance every month, tho.
The continuation of why I don’t buy Microsoft hardware.
It’s become obvious that their success with Xbox was pure dumb luck.
I’m having issues finding an article on how once installed Linux on a Surface Duo, but there’s a got page on building the kernels so I’m guessing it’s doable.
Now that updates are done, maybe all the Linux users can find them for cheap and convert them
If you find it, please update me, I’ll snag one for sure
both of y’all should try here: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installation-and-Setup
Sadly this is just the Intel/x86 Surface. The Duo is an ARM devices and doesn’t work the same way.
It’s like one needs some patches so some hw works properly. The other one needs rewrite most of stuff to barely function. That’s why so little Linux ARM device except ones made to run it in the first place. Generally ARM devices run Linux like able to run Android, but the other way around doesn’t always hold (more like 99.99% as seen in all Android phones)
damn I didn’t realize they were arm devices, I assumed all surfaces were x86. thanks for the info!
More like a Pi than a Surface Pro architecture-wise, but there’s still plenty of cool Linux software that runs on that
Pretty standard for Android phones. I don’t know of many that go to 3 versions besides the Pixel.
As much as I dislike Apple, I do have to give it to them for software support. The oldest phone that has the current iOS is the iPhone 8, a phone from 2017. 6 years of updates. That makes it as old as a Pixel 2, and that only goes to Android 11, from 2020.
Pathetic. Even more pathetic that Microsoft doesn’t even make its own mobile OS anymore.
I lost hope for Microsoft after the RT.
I’m no expert but I imagine that with a device like this, which will no doubt be popular amongst techie-types, there’ll be a custom ROM out for it soon enough
There’s a very grassroots Windows 10 ARM hack for the SD1, actually. It’s quirky, and lacks a LOAD of the driver blob that comes in a normal x64 install of Windows on AMD or Intel, but it can make outbound calls and run simple WinonARM apps.
That’s cool if you’re into Windows, but Linux or even Lineage OS should be able to run on it.
Linux time boiz!
Yeah lemme go buy that fire ass Linux phone thats a pocketable, foldable tablet with split displays, a pen with haptic feedback and rigid glass screens for stylus use and a great camera and has support for my office products and also isn’t totally busted half the time. Where is it? Because I legit would buy the fuck out of it
Try StarLite.
That’s Android. You want an Android. Buy a Samsung and flash whatever rom you want onto it.
No it’s not. Android is shit
Android is literally Linux, and also you can put whatever custom rom you want on your phone. Write your own if it’s that big a deal to you. Don’t stick with stock Android, but if you want a customizable phone, that’s your option. Microsoft and Apple don’t give you the option for custom firmware. Android does.
Android is literally Linux
It’s a heavily-forked version of Linux with so many changes that it’s not really Linux anymore.
Is XboxOS literally windows?
Is MacOS literally FreeBSD?
Is PlayStationOS literally FreeBSD?
Omg do MacBooks and PlayStations have the same OS?? I can play Ratchet and Clank on a MacBook???
Android does not use an up to date, or mainline Linux kernel. It gets rid of most of the GNU core utils. It doesn’t use other big parts of Linux like Wayland or X11. I can’t install random Flatpaks on my Android phone. Etc etc.
Calling Android “literally Linux” is incredibly misleading to the point of basically being a lie.
Never trust in microcrap
By the way: I’m running Arch on my surface 3 and I’m loving it .
