Microsoft’s “Immature” Operating System Support Makes Its First 2020 Victim

2020 is supposed to be the year of foldable and dual-screen devices, not only in the smartphone industry, but also when it comes to products that are specifically focused on boosting productivity both at the office and on the go.

Microsoft itself is projected to enter this market with two different devices, Surface Neo and Surface Duo, and one operating system built specifically for such products.

Codenamed Windows 10X, the operating system was announced in October and in addition to powering Microsoft’s own Surface Neo, it’s also likely to serve as the engine for a series of other devices released by companies like Lenovo, HP, and Intel.

On the other hand, a report from Digitimes indicates that Intel is one of the names that could delay the unveiling of a foldable device because of two different reasons.

Intel pushing back product unveiling

First, it’s the insufficient flexible panel supply, which is something that several other device manufacturers are likely to struggle with, especially as the demand for such components is expected to skyrocket in 2020.

And then, it’s the so-called “immature operating system support,” which Intel sees as a critical thing for its foldable device strategy moving forward.

Undoubtedly, Intel’s device would run Windows 10X, and the report appears to suggest that the company isn’t necessarily pleased with the current state of the operating system. Microsoft hasn’t publicly provided an ETA for Windows 10X, but the operating system should be finalized sometime next year, most likely just before the first wave of foldable devices hits the market.

However, app support will definitely be critical, and this is something that Microsoft has long struggled to resolved, not only with Windows 10X, but also with other operating systems, such as Windows Phone. Unless developers start investing in Windows 10X, dual-screen devices running this platform could seriously lack in terms of apps, which in the long term, could lead to the operating system itself biting the dust.