Does this tie into the "universal apps" business?
On Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 2:13 PM, ILT (O) <il.tho...@outlook.com> wrote: > I’ve been reading some of the opinions from pundits in the IT press, such > as Mary Jo Foley [1 > <http://www.zdnet.com/windows-threshold-more-on-microsofts-plan-to-win-over-windows-7-users-7000031070/>]. > In this quote, she’s discussing the next Windows OS – assumed to be for 3 > distinct platforms: desktop/laptop, 2-in-1 devices like Surface Pro, and > tablet/phone. “Threshold” or Windows 9 are used interchangeably for the > next Windows release after 8.1.1. > > The Threshold OS will look and work differently based on hardware type. > > Users running Threshold on a desktop/laptop will get a SKU, or version, > that puts the Windows Desktop (for running Win32/legacy apps) front and > center. Two-in-one devices, like the Lenovo Yoga or Surface Pro, will > support switching between the Metro-Style mode and the Windowed mode, based > on whether or not keyboards are connected or disconnected. > > The combined Phone/Tablet SKU of Threshold won't have a Desktop > environment at all, but still will support apps running side by side, my > sources are reconfirming. This "Threshold Mobile" SKU will work on > ARM-based Windows Phones (not just Lumias), ARM-based Windows tablets and, > I believe, Intel-Atom-based tablets. > > One of Microsoft's primary missions with Threshold is to try to undo the > usability mistakes made with Windows 8 for those who prefer and/or are > stuck with devices that are not touch-first and for which keyboard/mouse > use is of central importance. > > A sensible enough vision, if true – certainly it is more palatable from a > user’s point of view (there are numerous articles that point out that > desktop / tablet / phone devices are used differently, for different > purposes – by the same individual, who may be predisposed towards on or > other platform). > > And I think this insight or “realisation” by Microsoft (if that is what it > is, as MJF and other media pundits like to say) may permit developers to > focus more clearly on applications appropriate to these reasonably distinct > Windows platforms. > > The Mary Jo Foley article is short, and of course has to throw in some of > the attention-getting criticisms (Vista, start menu, etc) but this and > other articles bring into focus some of the issues that forthcoming APIs > need to address to bring this vision to reality. > ------------------------------ > > Ian Thomas > Victoria Park, Western Australia >
