Skip to main content

Leaked video shows cool way to peek at notifications, calls on Surface Duo

With the holiday 2020 release of the Surface Duo coming ever so near, more information about the much-anticipated Microsoft smartphone is becoming apparent through leaks. In the latest, video courtesy of Twitter user @h0x0d shows how you’ll apparently be able to use the folding action on the Surface Duo to your advantage to peek at notifications and calls on the device while on the go.

Recommended Videos

Peek pic.twitter.com/vnawzLrf6k

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) February 26, 2020

Seen above, pulling the top screen of the Surface Duo partly open will offer a small peek at notifications on the right-hand side of the second internal screen. The video also shows how Microsoft has adapted the Android lock screen to the format of the Surface Duo. Likely for privacy, when the screen is left open in this mode, it has a small view of the system clock on the top of the screen in the corner. There are also mini notification tiles that can be dismissed with a swipe.

It is being suggested by @h0x0d that this feature could go by the name of “Peek,” but a separate video also shows how this could be used for calls, too. When a call is incoming, you will get a peek of it on the corner of the screen as you initially fold the device open. You’ll then be able to accept the call and answer it to bring it full screen as you fold the device to a 180-degree orientation.

Interestingly enough, the Surface Duo in the leaked video does also have a specific date and time on the screen throughout. It is labeled with June 18, 2020, with the time 6:18. It is known that Microsoft will be holding a hardware event sometime this spring and this has caused some publications to suggest this could perhaps be a launch date for the device.

However, that is best to be taken lightly. Microsoft is still in the process of helping developers code apps for the Surface Duo and has promised the device won’t be ready until the holiday season. There has been an instance where the Surface Duo was spotted in the wild, though, so there could perhaps be hope a release might be coming sooner rather than later.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: Which reigns as king?
The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 rests on a staircase railing because: right angles.

Microsoft released a series of new portable powerhouse products at its Surface event, including the next generation of their mobile line, the Microsoft Surface Duo 2. This is the successor to the much-criticized Surface Duo, which received negative reviews and lackluster sales due to issues with subpar hardware and software. With the Duo 2, Microsoft has taken criticism to heart and revamped it with flagship-level hardware and promises of an improved software experience.

The Duo 2 now joins other foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, which is widely considered to be one of the best on the market in terms of performance and features, and the compact, consumer-friendly Galaxy Z Flip 3. The specs between the Duo 2 and Fold 3 are similar in most regards, but there are some key differences, and Samsung has generally had more experience when it comes to folding-phone hardware. There's also a price disparity, with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 costing an extra $300 over the Duo 2. Read on to see our breakdown of how they differ and which one is better.
Specs

Read more
Everything announced at the Surface event: Duo 2, Surface Laptop Studio, and more
All the new Surface products against a white background.

Ahead of Microsoft's fall Surface event, there was a lot of anticipation for what the company would announce. Not only is Microsoft's hardware event arriving weeks ahead of the company's debut of Windows 11, but it's widely believed that the company's Surface platform will serve as a launchpad for what consumers can expect for the next-generation operating system.

"Throughout our history as Surface, we have seen that the most meaningful experiences come from innovation at the intersection of hardware and software," Microsoft said of the launch. "This idea was the catalyst for Surface -- to build hardware that would not only be a stage for Windows, but push the platform and the ecosystem forward."

Read more
The new Surface Duo 2 costs $1,499, and that’s probably OK
The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 has a triple camera setup.

Microsoft introduced its successor to the Microsoft Duo today at its annual Surface event and had the absolute gall to charge yet another $100 for its all-new not-a-phone, the Surface Duo 2. You'll recall last year, when the original Duo hit the shelves, it carried a $1,399 price tag. Since then, the price has dipped to fire-sale levels, hovering around a far-more-palatable $400. So, when Microsoft introduced the Surface Duo 2 at a higher price point, it's bound to give you some pause, and rightly so.

Last week, I wrote up my wishlist for what we needed to see in the Surface Duo 2. Long story short, I asked that Microsoft ditch the not-a-phone narrative, add in flagship specifications, and for the love of Pete, fix the software. Today we found out that Microsoft at least checked one of those boxes.

Read more