Here's how Ayaneo Pocket DS' software will work

Ahead of the release of the Ayaneo Pocket DS, the manufacturer has highlighted how the software on the dual-screen Android handheld will work. The info not only covers details about how the two screens will work but also states the features that have been completed and those that are still under development.

The Ayaneo Pocket DS will ship with a custom launcher called Ayaneo DS Launcher. The launcher will have an app drawer with a one-click function to display all apps. There will also be the option to sort apps according to a user's preference. Ayaneo calso revealed that users will be able to scroll alphabetically to quickly find a desired app. This specific feature hasn't been completed yet unlike the aforementioned two.

Images provided by Ayaneo show that the secondary screen on the Pocket DS will display a card-style multitasking menu when the Task tab is selected. Each app will have a three hamburger menu with the option to either close the app or push it to the main/home screen. Another image shows that if an app is running in full screen on the bottom display, users will be able to close it, push it to the home screen, or minimize it using the control bar.

Another feature the secondary screen will have is a Quick Control Center. This menu can be brought up when you select the Control tab at the bottom of the screen. The Quick Control Center will allow users to turn on/off features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi or switch between light and dark themes. It will also have a slider for adjusting the brightness of the two displays as well as shortcuts for taking screenshots on either display, and shortcuts for screen recording and screen dimming on the main display.

Ayaneo says it has also completed a feature called Focus Lock which is a three-mode feature for using the two displays. The three modes include “Auto Switch” which automatically allows users to switch focus from one screen to another by tapping on the screen. The other two modes are called “Lock Main Screen” and “Lock Secondary Screen” and like their name says, it locks focus on the main screen and secondary screen respectively. So even if you touch the other screen, focus remains on the screen that is locked.

In addition to revealing details about the Pocket DS's software, Ayaneo also revealed that the popular Nintendo DS emulator, melonDS has been tested and verified to work with the Pocket DS. The feature was added in version v0.2.0 of the Android version of the app. The changelog shared by the developer also stated that by having compatibility with the Pocket DS, other dual-screen handhelds such as the AYN Thor will benefit from the changes.

Last but not least, the Pocket DS also supports Rocknix OS, a Linux distribution designed for handheld gaming devices.

The Ayaneo Pocket DS is available to pre-order via Indiegogo at a starting price of $399 and is expected to begin shipping in October.