Demo app shows off dual-screen working on the Microsoft Surface Duo

Reading time icon 2 min. read


Readers help support MSpoweruser. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser sustain the editorial team Read more

surface duo

A  few days ago Microsoft released the preview SDK for Microsoft Surface Duo that will allow developers to start creating dual-screen experiences for the Surface Duo.

Now dev John Weise, a Principal Technical Architect at Microsoft working mainly in Xamarin and UWP, has shown off a basic app written in Flutter, an open-source software development kit, giving us a brief idea of how apps are supposed to work on the platform.

The video demonstrates the simple app running on one screen, stretched across 2 screens, and showing different content on the two different screens, both in portrait and landscape mode.

The preview SDK for Microsoft Surface Duo includes the following:

  • Native Java APIs to support dual-screen development for the Surface Duo device, including the DisplayMask API, Hinge Angle Sensor, and new device capabilities.
  • An Android Emulator with a preview Surface Duo image that is integrated into Android Studio so you can test your app without a physical device. The emulator simulates postures, gestures, hinge angle, mimicking the seam between the two screens, and more. We’ll continue to add functionality over time.

Microsoft will reveal more information about developing for dual-screen devices at Microsoft 365 Developer Day on Tuesday, February 11th at 8:30 AM PDT.

More about the topics: dual screen emulator, Dual screen SDK preview, Flutter, microsoft, Surface Duo