Windows 10: Microsoft is working on web-first Windows 10 OS for low-cost PCs

We’ve long heard rumours of Microsoft making a new lightweight version of Windows codenamed “Windows Lite”. Last year, Microsoft finally announced Windows 10X, a modular and lightweight operating for the dual-screen hardware with the ability to run Win32 apps in a virtualized container, but now it seems plans may have changed.

Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch Windows 10X as a web-first i.e web-focused operating system on low-cost PCs to take on Chromebooks.

Windows 10X will first arrive on low-end PCs without local support for legacy Win32 apps, but support for legacy apps on Windows 10X could be delivered later through an “app streaming solution” in 2022.

According to a job post on LinkedIn, Microsoft has already started exploring a new virtualization service called “Cloud PC” where software such as Office will be delivered virtually by Microsoft.

The tech giant’s work on “Cloud PC” might allow users to run Win32 apps on Windows 10X in future, but the highly-anticipated Win32 container support won’t be there next year because of power and resources problem.

As I reported earlier this year, Microsoft has had problems with Win32 app performance in internal builds of Windows 10X apps.

The core interface of Windows 10X will be similar to Windows as it exists today, but it will work like a lightweight OS with greater touch optimizations and less cluttered interface to deliver long-lasting performance and battery backup.

Officially, you won’t be able to modify your Registry to customize the experience and Microsoft will also remove the legacy components, such as Control Panel and classic File Explorer for their modern counterparts.

When is Windows 10X web-focused OS coming?


Reports have pointed at December 2020 as the RTM date for the new web-focused Windows 10X. Hardware supporting Windows Lite may launch next year and Microsoft might show off its Surface Go 3 with this operating system sometime in 2021.

Microsoft’s upcoming Build conference in 2021 would be an optimal time for the company to formally highlight the changes to the Windows 10X platform.

PWAs and UWP apps


Windows 10X will be both faster and leaner than previous Windows operating systems because it ditches the legacy components. Like Windows 10 in S Mode, it will reportedly only run UWP and PWAs downloaded from the Microsoft Store.

Windows 10X is being designed to offer competition to Google’s Chrome OS and Chromebooks, which also depend on web apps. PWAs, which operate as an offline app, will be the key focus on the operating system.

With this change, Microsoft has reportedly pushed back support for Win32 app container to 2022 at the earliest. According to reports, Microsoft has also decided to delay Windows 10X for dual-screen hardware.

The post Microsoft is working on web-first Windows 10 OS for low-cost PCs appeared first on Windows Latest

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Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.