Surface Hub 2, Andromeda, and Windows 10 on ARM — #AskDanWindows 47

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

This week's #AskDanWindows is all about Surface Hub 2, Andromeda, with a dash of Windows on ARM ("Always Connected PCs"), because the future is fun!

Grab a cup of coffee and tune in to these audience-driven questions and see what I think (and what I know)!

Audience questions Episode 47

  • How will the rumored "Andromeda" foldable device fit into the new concept of working environment highlighted by Surface Hub 2? – Angelo S.
  • Is Microsoft still working on improving the Win32 emulation on ARM or did they pull down the whole Windows 10 on ARM Idea? – Johannes H.
  • Does the amazingness of the Surface Hub 2 make you more excited for how well done "Andromeda" could be? - @KingNerdIII

Thanks to everyone for the questions!

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Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Executive Editor

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

15 Comments
  • Do we want more Rubino content on Windows 10 on ARM? Uhm, yes, definitely.
  • Awesome, thanks for the Windows on ARM news (Computex!), enthusiasm and leadership in reporting.
  • Daniel, Any rumblings on how all these enterprise features etc will benefit consumers?
  • Windows in arcade cabinets, in surveillances, in water meters, in vending machines, in Sphero's new robot, in various machines and PC with AI and Azure as their backbone.
    DirectX is the industry standard.
    VisualStudio is the backbone of many games.
    Including Uncharted and Zelda, Havok is the backbone of many AAA games.
    etc, etc.
    No benefits?
  • Well...to be honest, I use almost NONE of those...Windows in water meters, vending machines and surveillance is USELESS to the average consumer. I am talking about being mobile, doing every day tasks, etc.
  • More WOA! And hopefully more WCOS too!
  • I’ve heard the Win RT comparisons but WoA seems a totally different beast. Very excited about its potential. Wish they’d never have abandoned the Surface 3 line in the first place, but hey it’s back! 2018 could be a stellar year for the Surface line AND for Windows AND the entire MS ecosystem should MS bring the 10.1 inch Surface (hopefully with an ARM variant), Hub 2, and Andromeda all into reality! Maybe we’ve reached rock bottom on the great Nadella retreat/reboot/retrench? And are seeing a resurgent MS? Sure hope so. Seeing a little light at the end of this very dark “windowless” tunnel he’s led us into, just hope it’s not a train!
  • Surface Studio 2 could share some of the amazingness of Hub 2. The Andromeda could be great if it is built like the Motorola foldable phone with phone features. Andromeda would doom to fail without adequate phone features. https://mspoweruser.com/motorola-files-patent-for-a-foldable-smartphone-...
  • Echoing the voices of others here: yes, please, more on WCOS, WoA, and Andromeda!
  • Is it still unknown if it's Intel or ARM on the upcoming Surface? If targeted at students, I could see the importance still today of Intel for gaming performance. Most of the main Windows games are not yet in the Store and not compiled for ARM. Students will be disappointed and resent the brand if they get a system and can't play their favorite games on it, at least as well as on a comparably priced Intel-based laptop/tablet. However, if the target market shifts to schools themselves or lower-rung mobile professionals, then ARM makes a lot more sense. However, Microsoft generally leaves that market to its OEMs.
  • love these dan, keep the well presented info comin'! always enjoy hearing the closing "take care e'erbahdy"!
    keeping my hopes up for something this year that I can replace my lumia icon with, these other devices are cool but not useful for me, do need a phone replacement though but do not want a standard phone because they are quite boring after all these years of the same. i'll keep my fingers crossed...
  • Positive news is rare, but always welcome, around here. I hope something big pertaining to Andromeda Surfaces by the end of the summer.
  • The issue is, we all acknowledge that Emulation of Win 32 apps is only a stop-gap solution for Windows on ARM and that the real goal would be native ARM64 compilation - which essentially solves all performance issues.
    If above statement holds, then it must be of strategic importance for Microsoft to introduce their own Windows on ARM device - however going with Intel with the supposed Surface 4 would be a big mistake then - not to mention about the message such decision sends to OEMs, which will do much damage.
  • : ) trolls are crying now
  • Some of them maybe. There is one old fogey who didn't make the WinCentral list of 50 people to follow on Twitter who is still on his rant that Surface is a failure.