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Bob’s Byte

Microsoft Doubles Down: The Two-Faced Surface Duo

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Microsoft Doubles Down: The Two-Faced Surface Duo

Starting at $1399, Microsoft’s Surface Duo opens into the thinnest mobile device on the market and connects two PixelSense™ Fusion Displays to create one expansive 8.1-inch screen.

With Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and dimensions of 145.2 mm (H) x 93.3 mm (W) x 9.9 mm (T at hinge), there’s room for an eSIM5 and one Nano SIM. It runs on Android 10.

But don’t call it a smartphone. Microsoft really, really wants to create a new category of mobile device-- that is, a popular new category.

“We designed Surface Duo for people who want to get more done with the device in their pocket. Our internal research shows that 3 out of 4 people report struggling to complete complex tasks while away from their computer. That’s because smartphones with a single screen aren’t designed for you to easily do multiple things at once,” says Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer for Windows + Devices,\.

“Think about it. You continually have to switch between apps to get even the most essential things done – breaking focus, breaking flow. Just like using two monitors at your desk, having two distinct screens lets you open up two apps side by side…”

He goes on “..as we look ahead to the next wave of mobile productivity and creativity, we see an opportunity to create something new with Surface Duo-- not to reinvent the phone, but to inspire people to rethink how they want to use the device in their pocket.”

Folded up, the Duo is 9.9 mm thick. Unfold and the Surface Duo’s 360-degree hinge allows you to use each screen individually or together, across a variety of modes. Most smartphones sport a tall, pocket-wide size but Microsoft went wider--for an aspect ratio more similar to a laptop or monitor. Like your old iPhone, Duo its slip showing with bezel above and below the screen.

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The Man Who Didn’t Know He Had a Brand

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The Man Who Didn’t Know He Had a Brand

In my DISTREE XXL keynote in Monaco, I share several entertaining stories about retail and brand experience.

Without ruining the surprises in the talk, here are some of the topics included...

First, the man who invented the STOP sign has a lesson for all of us. Next, off to the Middle East where you'll meet THE MAN WHO DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD A BRAND. Then a discussion of B8TA's significant new retail approach and the beginning of their international expansion.

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Ingram Micro: A Deal on the Table

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Ingram Micro: A Deal on the Table

Bloomberg describes the Chinese HNA Group Co. as "embattled" and Ingram Micro is now on the front lines.

According to Bloomberg reporters in China, RRJ Capital, an $11 billion private equity group in Hong Kong, is cutting a deal to put a $4 billion investment in Ingram Micro Inc.

The deal centers around an HNA bond that can be converted into close to 50% of Ingram Micro’s shares. RRJ’s investment in Ingram Micro began more than a year ago, when it bought preference shares with rights to invest more if HNA decides to dispose of the U.S. company and another asset.

The bond proceeds will be used to pay down a loan taken by HNA from Chinese banks for the acquisition: at the end of 2016, HNA bought Ingram Micro in an all-cash transaction with an equity value of about $6 billion.

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Who Needs a Flatbed Envelope Printer? We Do.

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Who Needs a Flatbed Envelope Printer? We Do.

Inventor Paul Onish has recently been awarded United States Patent #9,747,531 for the design of a flatbed envelope printer for the desktop. You could say, "It's about time" as this new printer solves a real-world problem for end users, SMB companies and organizations that need to mail letters.

While many print services have moved to the cloud, many businesses still have instances where they need to physically mail what's printed. For example, invoices, invitations, and sales promotions...

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When the Shark Bites

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When the Shark Bites

Sharkonomics. That’s a title of a book that takes a big bite out of the subject of how to compete against bigger competitors.

Author Stefan Engeseth from Sweden, corrected us when we asked him at CEBIT 2018 about the metaphor his book title suggests.

“This is more than just a metaphor,” explains Engeseth. “This book explains real shark behaviour and applies the principles to business. The shark is one of nature’s top predators, highly strategic and efficient in survival. Our species is an an Continue reading...

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