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The Universal Apps idea makes a lot of sense, and I don't think the refactors are what harmed it. Getting a late start is the primary problem, since it is all a

by nwah1 9y ago

The Universal Apps idea makes a lot of sense, and I don't think the refactors are what harmed it. Getting a late start is the primary problem, since it is all about getting apps. Windows succeeded on the desktop for that reason, and failed on mobile so far for the same reason. But they have made all the right moves over the past five years, and have lots of momentum, cash, and goodwill from the tech community. They will do some sort of big mobile push in the near future. Probably some kind of Surface Phone, which can double as a desktop.

roryisok 9y ago
I agree this is likely. Windows 10 is very successful, thanks to answering what people hated about 8, huge marketing effort, and the surface hardware. UWP will continue to grow because it is the way to build apps on win10, xbox and hololens. A surface phone would leverage the surface brand, retain compatibility from wp10 (and wp8/8.1 despite what some seem to believe), and be able to run a full Desktop OS via continuum, the killer feature that never killed. Windows 10 S is a clear attempt to push UWP going forward. I think this is with a view to future arm devices. It really seems like winRT again from the other direction. Right now you can upgrade 10S to run full Desktop apps but on future devices (ARM) who knows? There's also talk of x86 emulation on ARM now that Intel has given up on mobile.
- WorldMaker 9y ago
  I'm a weird optimist, but I don't see Windows 10 on mobile devices "dying", even if it is in a zombie state, precisely for these reasons that they've been making a lot of the right moves. With Windows 10 on mobile just being another SKU of mainline Windows now and with Windows 10 S being a very similar SKU, it doesn't make sense for Microsoft to "kill" anything so long as there are devices that want to run it. So too with x86 on ARM emulation there's a bridge for that gap that "ARM Windows is not real Windows" now. I expect Microsoft will continue to make plays in the space for Windows 10 on mobile/pocket PCs, especially when the timing is right (the right hardware combo, perhaps; or more of the mobile-intended "Redstone" features finish out, maybe).

by nwah1 9y ago

roryisok 9y ago

I agree this is likely. Windows 10 is very successful, thanks to answering what people hated about 8, huge marketing effort, and the surface hardware. UWP will continue to grow because it is the way to build apps on win10, xbox and hololens. A surface phone would leverage the surface brand, retain compatibility from wp10 (and wp8/8.1 despite what some seem to believe), and be able to run a full Desktop OS via continuum, the killer feature that never killed. Windows 10 S is a clear attempt to push UWP going forward. I think this is with a view to future arm devices. It really seems like winRT again from the other direction. Right now you can upgrade 10S to run full Desktop apps but on future devices (ARM) who knows? There's also talk of x86 emulation on ARM now that Intel has given up on mobile.

WorldMaker 9y ago
I'm a weird optimist, but I don't see Windows 10 on mobile devices "dying", even if it is in a zombie state, precisely for these reasons that they've been making a lot of the right moves. With Windows 10 on mobile just being another SKU of mainline Windows now and with Windows 10 S being a very similar SKU, it doesn't make sense for Microsoft to "kill" anything so long as there are devices that want to run it. So too with x86 on ARM emulation there's a bridge for that gap that "ARM Windows is not real Windows" now. I expect Microsoft will continue to make plays in the space for Windows 10 on mobile/pocket PCs, especially when the timing is right (the right hardware combo, perhaps; or more of the mobile-intended "Redstone" features finish out, maybe).