Microsoft reportedly axes dual-screen Surface Duo 3 in favor of a ‘true’ foldable

Microsoft’s dual-screen Android phones have been less than successful, to put it mildly, and there are now hints the company is shaking up its mobile strategy. Windows Centralsources claim Microsoft has cancelled a twin-screen Surface Duo 3, which was reportedly slated for release late this year, and will instead focus on a “true” foldable phone. The new device’s specs and name aren’t known, but it would have a 180-degree hinge with an outside cover display akin to the Vivo X Fold.

The cancelled Surface Duo 3 was “finalized,” according to the sources. It would have supposedly addressed some of its predecessor’s shortcomings with narrower edge-to-edge screens and wireless charging. Microsoft isn’t said to have settled on a release window for the foldable, suggesting that the product is unlikely to arrive in 2023.

The purported insiders also say Microsoft is planning to expand its Android phone offerings. It’s apparently “exploring” other form factors, including prototypes of more conventional smartphones. A software initiative, “Perfect Together,” would also provide tighter integration between Surface phones and Windows, much like the iPhone’s close ties to the Mac.

We’ve asked Microsoft for comment and will let you know if we hear back. The Surface Duo series has struggled in the market between its high prices (up to $1,500), unreliable software and performance that frequently trails the latest Android flagships. While the dual-screen design has offered some clever multitasking features, it’s been a tough sell when rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line have generally been more powerful and trustworthy.

A foldable Surface phone would put Microsoft into more direct competition with brands like Samsung and Vivo. There’s no guarantee it will stand out in a growing field. If the rumored pivot is real, however, it also indicates that Microsoft is still committed to Android devices — it’s not giving up just because its first forays failed to gain traction.

Netflix inches further into livestreaming as it snags the SAG Awards

Netflix is slowly starting to make more waves in the world of livestreaming, as the company has snagged the rights to broadcast the Screen Actors Guild Awards. This year’s ceremony will take place on February 26th and stream on Netflix’s YouTube channe…

FAA grounds US flights following NOTAM computer outage

Update 1/11/23 9:03am ET: According to the FAA, the ground stop has been lifted, and air traffic is resuming “gradually” across the country. The agency continues look into the cause of the problem with the NOTAM system.

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures in the US until at least 9:30AM Eastern time while it’s restoring its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system. On early Wednesday morning, the agency issued a notice through an Air Traffic Control System Command Center Advisory that the US NOTAM system had failed. “Operations across the National Airspace System are affected,” the FAA said in a tweet, along with the information that it was working to fix the outage. 

In follow-up tweets, the agency said that while some of the system’s functions are coming back online, it was still working to fully restore the system. Pausing all domestic departures will give it time “to validate the integrity of flight and safety information.” The FAA originally announced that it was pausing all domestic flights until 9AM, but a newer notice from the agency says ground stops will continue until at least 14:30 Zulu/UTC (9:30AM ET).

According to Simple Flying, this is the first time the US NOTAM system has failed, affecting flights across the country. People have been reporting delayed flights since at least the evening of January 10th — based on the the FAA’s advisory, the system failed at 2028Z or 20:28 Zulu/UTC (3:28PM ET). Reuters says over 400 flights flying within, from and into the US had been delayed by 5:31AM ET today, January 11th. 

The FAA has also issued a newer advisory announcing the nationwide ground stop and promising further communication once system restoration is complete. It’s unclear whether the FAA will be able to fully remedy the issue by the suggested time. As the news organization notes, a NOTAM contains information that’s essential to flight personnel. Some NOTAMs for long-haul international flights could have as many as 200 pages and include details, such as runway closures and low-altitude construction obstacles.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has tweeted that the President has been briefed about the outage and that he has directed the Department of Transportation to conduct a full investigation to find out what caused it. At this point, Jean-Pierre said, there’s no evidence of a cyberattack.

The Morning After: Microsoft’s VALL-E AI can replicate a voice from a three-second sample

Microsoft’s latest research in text-to-speech AI centers on a new AI model, VALL-E. While there are already multiple services that can create copies of your voice, they usually demand substantial input. Microsoft claims its model can simulate someone’s…

Apple Watch ruled to have infringed Masimo’s pulse oximeter patent by US judge

In mid-2021, medical technology company Masimo sued Apple over the Watch Series 6’s blood oxygen monitoring capabilities. Masimo accused the tech giant of infringing on five of its pulse oximeter patents after introducing a device that has the ability to measure blood oxygen saturation. Now, a US International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has ruled that Apple did indeed infringe on one of Masimo’s pulse oximeter patents. 

While the judge has also concluded that the tech giant did not infringe on the other four patents involved in the case, the ITC will now reportedly examine whether to impose an import ban on Apple Watches with the feature, as Masimo had requested when it filed the lawsuit. Newer Apple Watches, namely the Series 7 and 8, Ultra and SE, have blood oxygen monitoring features, so the ITC’s decision will also affect them. 

Masimo CEO Joe Kiani told MD+DI in a statement that his company is happy that the judge “took this critical first step toward accountability.” Kiani continued by saying that “Apple has similarly infringed on other companies’ technologies” and that the “ruling exposes Apple as a company that takes other companies’ innovations and repackages them.”

Meanwhile, Apple accused Masimo of being the one that copied its intellectual property in its statement to the publication. “At Apple, our teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users with industry-leading health, wellness, and safety features. Masimo is attempting to take advantage of these many innovations by introducing a device that copies Apple Watch and infringes on our intellectual property, while also trying to eliminate competition from the market. We respectfully disagree with today’s decision, and look forward to a full review by the commission,” a spokesperson said. 

The judge’s decision was only an initial ruling that reflects the ITC’s findings during its investigation, and the final ruling for the case won’t be handed down until May 10th.