We have Windows 10 for long. Although initially this operating system was going to last until 2025, the development model that Microsoft adopts with it has marked a before and after as far as Windows is concerned. This system receives new versions every 6 months, adding new functions and features and expanding, from 18 months to 18 months, the support of each version. However, Microsoft has several very ambitious projects under its belt, and one of them is its new Windows 10X operating system .
Windows 10X is Microsoft’s new operating system with which the company intends to break through into the tablet market, especially among the new models with double folding screens. This operating system has already been presented a year ago, in autumn 2019. However, this OS was in a very early phase of its development, although we did see the most interesting functions and features such as its new search engine, the appearance and the menu.
This new operating system was intended to debut with the launch of Microsoft’s new Surface Neo . However, this tablet has been delayed until 2022. Microsoft does not want to delay the launch of this new operating system any longer, so Windows 10X will be released in a few weeks for devices with a single screen.
Windows 10X arrives in December
According to Microsoft’s plans, this new operating system will reach its RTM version in December of this year, that is, in a few weeks. The RTM version means that the OS is finished and that it is the version that the manufacturers begin to install on the devices. In case of last minute bugs they will be corrected by post-launch updates.
This operating system is not intended to compete against Windows 10 desktop. What’s more, we don’t even know if it can be installed on any PC or will only be distributed pre-installed using specific images (such as ROMs for mobile phones). The idea is that it competes directly against Chrome OS, as a web operating system, light and fast.
Win32 support is up in the air
One of the most asked aspects about this new operating system is, what will happen to Win32 applications? At first, Windows 10X was going to be focused especially on the use of UWP applications and the web. However, Microsoft said that normal apps, Win32, could be run using a revolutionary virtualization system called VAIL .
Unfortunately, everything indicates that Microsoft has removed everything necessary to be able to run the VAIL abstraction layer, which means that Windows 10X will put Win32 applications aside and will only be able to run native UWP and PWAs . By default, it will bring several apps installed for all users, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams and Skype.
Virtualization of Win32 applications could come with a future update to Windows 10X. If all goes well, it should arrive in 2022 with the launch of the Surface Neo tablet, for which 10X has been specifically designed.
While it arrives, users who want to try this operating system can do so simply by downloading and installing the Windows 10X emulator thanks to Windows Emulator.
