Windows 10 was released last year in late 2015 and for many it is saw Microsoft’s most important operating system release in over a decade. It arrived in the wake of the problem child that was Windows 8 and as such had a lot to prove, especially in the mobile market.
Here is more information about the platform and the latest reports covering how Microsoft intended to make Windows 10 work with smaller tablets, specifically those with displays measuring between seven and eight inches across the diagonal.
This adaptability was going to be key to the success of the OS, because the idea is that irrespective of the device that users pick up, the experience will be the same and certain apps will be universally functional and accessible.
For third party apps to achieve this, companies such as Net Centrics, a team of web designers in Cardiff who offer their marketing advice would be invaluable.
But first Microsoft had to prove that its first party apps can achieve adequate levels of cross-device continuity in the Windows 10 ecosystem.
Compact Ambitions
Although Microsoft had been making waves with its Surface range of larger tablets running Windows 8, there is still a lot of enthusiasm amongst consumers for smaller devices. So if it wants to compete with the likes of the iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus range, making Windows 10 work well on seven and eight inch devices is a must.
To that end demonstrations of Windows 10 running on a model of this size from Chinese manufacturer Lenovo were made recently, indicating that the software will be able to run in two distinct modes. A standard tiled interface will be used when the tablet’s small screen is being harnessed, while if the device is combined with a docking peripheral it will activate full desktop mode similar to that of a standalone Windows PC.
Crucially the compact Windows 10 experience will still be rich thanks to the option of being able to run programs designed for the desktop OS. Although of course how well these adapt to touchscreen interactivity will vary.
Phone Home
Windows 10 will behave a little differently on smartphones, but Microsoft is still going to pursue cross-compatibility as a key asset of its new OS. And it was also revealed recently that one of the new Lumia handsets it is developing to debut alongside this software will be a full 5.7 inch phablet that can compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S6.
With a QHD display resolution, 3GB of RAM and a processor with eight physical cores, the flagship Windows 10 smartphone will be a technically impressive device. And it is certainly possible that it could offer similar hybrid capabilities to its tablet siblings, specifically through the use of a docking station.
Microsoft is making Windows 10 more visible in the market through various promotional efforts, but at the end of the day it will need to prove that its software works as advertised to convince tablet, smartphone and desktop users to upgrade.