MONEY USA TODAY z THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 z 5B
TECH
NEW YORK – Microsoft is coming out
with a “phone” based on Google’s An-
droid operating system. And a dual-
screen mobile Windows PC, to boot.
But what look to be innovative, if un-
proved, products won’t be released until
holiday 2020. And at a New York City
showcase where Microsoft unveiled its
latest Surface PC lineup, the Surface
Duo – that’s the Android phone/com-
municator – and the Surface Neo –
that’s the computer – were roped off and
kept at a safe distance from the media,
as if Microsoft was showing off the Mo-
na Lisa.
We’re a long way from determining
whether Microsoft will eventually deliv-
er masterpieces with these unfinished
and not-yet-priced prototypes, but the
company appears bent on reshaping
what you think about Windows and the
company’s hardware and the buzz in the
room was largely positive. And it want-
ed to showcase the new products early
to get developers busy designing for the
new hardware.
The Neo is a modular machine with
two Gorilla Glass-protected 9-inch
screens that run on what Microsoft is
referring to as an “expressive” version of
Windows 10 known as Windows 10 X,
which apparently supports Microsoft
Office and other Windows-compatible
software. “There’s truly nothing else
like this out there, nothing,” said Micro-
soft chief product manager Panos Pa-nay on stage.
But expect other PC makers to take
advantage of Windows 10 X for their
own hardware, which you should think
of a version of the operating system that
is optimized for two screens.
You can run the same app on both
screens, or different apps on each. There
is a clear hinge where the two screens
fold. We would have had to get up close
and start playing with the computer to
see if this proved to be a distraction.
And you can magnetically attach a
keyboard – it’s not clear at this point
whether this will be included or an op-
tion. When you fold the keyboard out
onto one of the displays, it still leaves
some extra real estate called the “Won-
der bar” for icons or to use as as a track-
pad or inking surface. And if you need to
use the keyboard while binging on aNetflix show, Microsoft demonstrated
how you can easily move that content to
the second screen.
Panay actually seemed reluctant to
call Surface Duo a phone. He prefers to
call it, well, a Surface.
But from a distance anyway, it sure
looks like a phone, maybe even a bit like
Microsoft’s version of the Samsung Gal-
axy Fold that recently went on sale in
the U.S. Only the rotating 5.6-inch dis-
plays on this two-in-one device do not
fold like Samsung’s handset – instead,
the device folds using a hinge. In its un-
folded position, the Duo measures 8.
inches.
Whatever Microsoft wants to call it,
Surface Duo can make calls, and in part-
nering with Google, the device runs all
your Android apps.
As with the Neo, you can run differ-
ent apps on each of the two screens, or
the same app across both screens.
Microsoft has a long history with
phones or phone-like devices, dating
back to Windows CE, Pocket PCs and
what became Windows Mobile and
Windows Phone. But the company un-
der CEO Satya Nadella eventually sur-
rendered to Apple and Google/Android.
While you’ll have to wait more than a
year for both Surface Neo and Surface
Duo, Microsoft didn’t abandon the core
Surface customer looking for new de-
vices in the meantime. The company in-
troduced the latest version of the Sur-
face PC laptop, known as Surface Lap-
top 3. It starts at $999 for the 13-inch
model and $1,199 for the brand new 15-
inch version.
Microsoft also updated its pen-based
Surface Pro with the Surface Pro 7. It
starts at $749. The company starts tak-
ing preorders today; the computers will
be available Oct. 22.
Microsoft also unveiled a new 2-in-
called Surface Pro X, billed as the com-
pany’s thinnest Surface yet, with an
edge-to-edge 13-inch display. Starting
at $999 and available Nov. 5, the com-
puter is powered by an ARM processor
and supports LTE. Microsoft claims you
can juice it up to 80% by plugging it in
for less than an hour. It’s compatible
with a Surface Pen and has 2 USB-C
ports.
Microsoft also unveiled something
for your ears in the form of wireless Sur-
face Earbuds, a would-be Apple AirPods
rival. Through tapping, swiping or using
your voice, you can summon Spotify
(playing on the Android phone in your
pocket), manage your Outlook calendar
and even dictate live captions into a Po-
werPoint presentation, and Microsoft is
claiming 24-hour battery life.
They’ll be out soon and sold at $249.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait
much longer for what is potentially the
coolest stuff coming from Microsoft.Panos Panay, chief product officer of Microsoft, shows off a surface laptop at a Microsoft unveiling event in New York on
Wednesday. ROBERT DEUTSCH/USA TODAY
Microsoft showcases its
Surface ‘phone’ called Duo
But it won’t be released
until holiday 2020
Edward C. BaigUSA TODAY
We hear often about video games as a
form of escapism. When you want a
break from the real world, you can im-
merse yourself in another world, or sim-
ply distract yourself for a few moments
matching gems.
Apple Arcade, the gaming subscrip-
tion service from the makers of the
iPhone, is an escape of its own: from a
modern mobile marketplace featuring
games often inundated with ads or re-
peated calls to spend money.
Apple Arcade launched for iPhone
and iPod Touch last week with iOS 13
and is available for $4.99 a month, but
users can experience it through a one-
month free trial.
The service currently features more
than 70 games, and Apple is promising
an additional 30 titles over the coming
weeks.
Arcade features a unique selection of
games across a variety of interests.
Among some of my favorites:
zWhat the Golf.A fantastic “golf ”
game where players must conquer
physics in crazy ways. Sometimes,
you’re trying to knock a golf ball into a
moving hole. Other times, you’re strik-
ing a giant soccer net. It surprises and
delights in countless ways.
zSayonara Wild Hearts.Described
as a “playable music video” during Ap-
ple’s event earlier this month, this game
combines the visual style of games like
Rez with the game mechanics of a Tem-
ple Run into a gorgeous, neon-bright ad-
venture.
zBig Time Sports.This collection of
sports-themed mini-games features gi-
ant characters attempting to compete
in a series of events including basket-
ball, swimming and cycling. The con-
trols are super simple, paying homage
to classic arcade sports games like
Track & Field.
zAssemble With Care.This puzzle
game stars Maria, an antique restorer
who travels to a new town to help its
citizens repair possessions such as
cassette players and old-school tele-
phones. The puzzle portion comes
with trying to determine how you’ll fix
every object brought to your attention.
The real draw of Apple Arcade is the
focus strictly on the games them-
selves. There’s no waiting for an ad to
end so you can keep playing. No timers
that need to expire to gain the energy
you need to play again. No endless
prompts begging you to spend 99 cents
on an in-game item. You just get to
play.
Of course, there’s the $4.99 you
spend monthly to enter this mobile
gaming oasis. So long as the roster of
games continues to grow, it might be
worth every virtual quarter.Apple Arcade: Why it’s
worth the $5 a month
Brett Molina
USA TODAY
Apple Arcade subscription service
includes “Overland.”APPLESEATTLE – Ring, the company best
known for its video doorbells, is un-
veiling its lowest-priced and first in-
door security camera, Ring Indoor
Cam, for $59.99.
The initial Ring doorbell sold for
$199 until Amazon bought the compa-
ny in 2018 and lowered the price to $99.
Most Ring products are aimed at
curbing crime. But Ring founder Jamie
Siminoffsaid consumers used his out-
door products inside to remotely mon-
itor their pets and babies and to con-
firm that their kids got home, so he
wanted to come up with a dedicated
pure indoor cam for them.
“Outdoor cameras require a lot of
weatherproofing that’s not needed for
an indoor camera,” he said, so the
company was able to lower prices.
Ring also unveiled a third edition of
the Stick Up Cam, an outdoor security
camera, available as a plug-in that
connects to power outlets($99.99) or
units that run on batteries ($99.99) or
solar power ($148.99).
The Indoor Cam is available now,
and the Stick Up Cam models begin
shipping Oct. 23.
At an event to unveil about 80 prod-
ucts, Amazon touted several that are
enabled with the personal assistant
Alexa. Echo Frames, the $179 smart
glasses that were introduced, connect
to Alexa for directions, music and noti-
fications. Audio feedback alerts the
wearer about who’s at the door.
Siminoffsaid he likes working with
Amazon’s Alexa Guard program,
which tells the personal assistant thatthe home dweller is outand can send
notifications if the Echo detects the
sound of smoke or carbon monoxide
alarms or glass breaking. It can turn
smart lights on or off as well.
“You can also set it from Ring,” Simi-
noffsaid. “Our mission is to make neigh-
borhoods safer, so when we can inte-
grate with Guard, that’s great.”
Ring drew a wave of headlines this
year when The Washington Post
reported that the company shared
videos from consumers’ video doorbells
with about 400 police forces.
Siminoff said consumers have the
right to withhold their videos.
“Ring has never, ever given police ac-
cess to customers’ videos,” he said.
“We’ve allowed for communities to
work together in a permission-based
system.”
Law enforcement can request access
to videos, and the consumer has three
choices, Siminoffsaid: Yes, no or opt out
of the program.
“We’re never putting our customers
in a situation where video is given with-
out their knowledge,” he said.Ring Indoor Cam can beyours for a low, low priceJefferson Graham
USA TODAYRing Indoor Cam is the company’s first
security cam for inside the home.RING