Windows 10: Microsoft unveils its "Cloud PC" service Windows 365

Rumors about a new cloud-powered Windows by Microsoft circulated for quite some time. Microsoft put an end to the rumors with today's announcement of Windows 365 Cloud PC, a "hybrid personalized computing" experience.

The core difference between regular versions of Windows and Windows 365 is that the latter is streamed from the cloud, in this case using Microsoft Azure. Personal settings, files, programs and content is streamed from the cloud to any device that supports Windows 365 Cloud-PC.

Since it is cloud-based, Windows 365 supports different device types and operating systems. Windows desktop systems are best suited but users may also use Windows 365 from Android and iOS devices, Mac OS devices, and web browsers.

Here is the full feature matrix of Windows 365

Windows desktop< Store client Android iOS/iPadOS macOS Web>
Keyboard X X X X X X
Mouse X X X X* X X
Touch X X X X X
Serial port X
USB X
Teams AV Redirection X
Multi-media redirection Coming soon
Multi-monitor 16 monitors
Dynamic resolution X X X X
Screen capture protection X
Cameras X X X X
Start menu integration X
Clipboard X X Text Text, images X text
Local drive/storage X X X X
Accessibility X
Location X
Microphones X X Coming soon X X In preview
Printers X X (CUPS only) PDF print
Scanners X
Smart Cards X X
Speakers X X X X X X

Microsoft highlights advantages of Windows 365 over regular installations of Windows on local systems. Among the advantages are decreased costs, less environment complexity, personalized desktop experiences regardless of device used by a worker, scaling, fast provisioning and deployment (in minutes)

Windows 365 will be available on August 2, 2021. Different packages are available that range from single virtual CPU systems with 2 Gigabytes of RAM and 64 Gigabytes of storage space to 8 virtual CPUs with 32 Gigabytes of RAM and 512 Gigabytes of storage space. No information on graphics processing units are provided at this point.

A test base for Microsoft 365 is now in public preview.

Check out the table below to see which packages are available. Microsoft lists example scenarios and recommended applications for each.


source: Microsoft Tech Community

Pricing, per-user, has not been revealed yet by Microsoft.

Windows 365 is designed for Enterprise customers only at this point. The technical requirements are listed below:

• Microsoft Azure subscription (subscription owner)
• Microsoft Azure Virtual Network (vNET) subscription.
• Windows 10 Enterprise E3 + EMS E3 or Microsoft 365 F3/E3/E5/BP for users with Windows Pro endpoints.
• Windows VDA E3 + EMS E3 or Microsoft 365 F3/E3/F5/BP for users with non-Windows Pro endpoints.
• AD must be in sync with Azure AD to provide hybrid identity in Azure AD.
• Microsoft Intune supported licenses: Intune Service Admin.

Microsoft published an introductory video in which it provides detailed information on Windows 365:


Closing Words


Several questions remain unanswered at this point. Besides pricing, Microsoft did not reveal information about the service's availability or backups.

Windows 365 is a cloud-based operating system that is designed for the Enterprise. Office 365 started as an Enterprise service at first as well before it was rebranded to Microsoft 365 and opened for small business customers and consumers. Microsoft could have similar plans for Windows 365, but marketing would highlight different advantages if launched for small businesses and end users.

Now You: what is your take on Windows 365? Will we see a "home" version eventually?

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft unveils its "Cloud PC" service Windows 365 appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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Microsoft to Hold a Big Windows Event in Late-September

Windows 9 is scheduled 2015 wasn't it? So i go for the 'Microsoft and cloud' or other service for enterprise, suggestion.
Too early for Win 9 this year.

 

Microsoft Releases Office 365 Home Premium

Microsoft Corp. today announced worldwide availability of Office 365 Home Premium, a reinvention of the company's flagship Office product line for consumers. Office 365 Home Premium is a cloud service designed for busy households and people juggling ever-increasing work and family responsibilities.

The new offering includes the latest and most complete set of Office applications; works across up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs and Macs; and comes with extra SkyDrive storage and Skype calling -- all for US$99.99 for an annual subscription, the equivalent of US$8.34 per month.







"Today's launch of Office 365 Home Premium marks the next big step in Microsoft's transformation to a devices and services business," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "This is so much more than just another release of Office. This is Office reinvented as a consumer cloud service with all the full-featured Office applications people know and love, together with impressive new cloud and social benefits."

Microsoft also announced it will now deliver many new features and services to the cloud first, transforming the company's traditional three-year release cycle. Now, new features and services stream to subscribers as soon as they are ready, keeping subscribers always up to date while eliminating the hassles of upgrading.

"This is a major leap forward," said Kurt DelBene , president of the Microsoft Office Division. "People's needs change rapidly, and Office 365 Home Premium will change with them."

Simultaneously, Microsoft today released Office 365 University for college or university students, faculty and staff at a price of just US$79.99 for a four-year subscription -- the equivalent of US$1.67 per month. Globally, the company also released updated versions of the traditional Office suite: Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013 and Office Professional 2013. Office 365 for businesses will be released globally with new capabilities on Feb. 27.

Time to Do the Things You Want
In a recent global survey, nearly 60 percent of people said they don't have the time to do the things they want to do, and more than 80 percent said they could save one or more hours a day if they were better organized. Office 365 Home Premium is designed to help people be more productive from virtually anywhere and find the flexibility to do the things they want.

"Between kids and career, I'm never completely at home or completely at work -- and thanks to technology, that suits me just fine," said Jen Singer , an author, blogger and mom of two teen boys. "With Office 365 Home Premium, I can work around my kids' schedules, so I can drive the soccer carpool, coordinate errands while at a doctor's office and still hit my deadlines at work. And, with one subscription for everyone in my family, it's an absolute steal."

To help people find more time to do the things they want, Microsoft is introducing Time to 365 (http://www.office.com/timeto365), a new crowd-sourced website where people can find and share tips, tricks, ideas and inspiration from around the world. Contributors include experts such as "techorating" pro Janna Robinson (Janna Robinson The Techorator) and everyday working parents who have found ways to simplify their lives. Tips on the site include, for example, an idea for organizing your grocery list with OneNote on your phone, a pointer on how to pick the right-sized TV for your living room, and ways to use Office applications to help plan a child's birthday party.

About Office 365 Home Premium
Office 365 Home Premium is available in 162 markets in 21 languages and includes the following:

● The latest and most complete set of Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access
● One license for the entire household to use Office on up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs or Macs, and Office on Demand available from any Internet-connected PC
● An additional 20 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, nearly three times the amount available with a free SkyDrive account
● 60 free Skype world calling minutes per month to call mobile phones, landlines or PCs around the world
● Future upgrades, so you always use the latest time-saving technology

People can learn more about Office 365 Home Premium or try it free for 30 days at Office 365 Login | Microsoft Office.

 

Microsoft launching Cloud PC service possibly this summer

Read more: Microsoft marches toward launching its 'Cloud PC' service, possibly this summer | ZDNet