According to the source, Microsoft has finalized Windows 10X; which is a completely new version of Windows 10 designed for installation in low-cost laptops; competitors of mobile computers running Chrome OS. Microsoft has completed internal work on Windows 10X Build 202XX; and is ready to release it in Release to Manufacturers (RTM).
Recall that initially Windows 10X was supposed to come out with a dual-screen Surface Neo; but later the strategy was adjusted, and in the current version it is intended for ordinary laptops with a number of limitations (remember that we are talking about budget models with small amounts of memory).
Despite the fact that Windows 10X is already ready, laptops running it will only appear on sale in the spring. Tentatively, in April. Microsoft is not going to distribute Windows 10X as a free downloadable firmware, so ordinary users will not be able to install it on their PCs just like that; at least until the system image transferred from the system partition of one of the laptops with this OS appears.
Windows 10X is a lightweight version of Windows 10 with unified drivers, no initial support for Win32 apps, and a simplified Start menu (no tiles). Another innovation in the Windows 10X interface is the rounded corners of the windows. If in Windows 10X this innovation has already been implemented, then in regular Windows 10 it, apparently, will appear only in about a year.
Windows 10 versions 1909 and 20H2 are rapidly gaining popularity
Statistics agency AdDuplex has published the results of a recent study of the prevalence of various versions of the Windows 10 operating system.
The most recent major update Windows 10 20H2 is steadily gaining popularity, but the May 2020 update, Windows 10 2004, which barely became the leader, began to lose ground. The Windows 10 2004 version took the lead only in October, gaining then 37.7%.
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In the November ranking, Windows 10 2004 has a 37.6% share and still ranks first. The share of Windows 10 20H2 increased to 8.8% from the previous symbolic 1.7%; which allowed this update to take the fourth place. Last year’s autumn update Windows 10 1909 with 36.4% and the spring Windows 10 1903 with 10.2% remained in second and third places.
Note that Windows 10 1909 is even up 32.4% from last month. This happened after Microsoft began automatically migrating PC users from Windows 10 1903 to Windows 10 1909. As a result, the share of Windows 10 1903 “sank” from 22% in October to 10.2% in November.
Windows 10 will receive support for Android Apps and other interesting features next year.
Microsoft stated that is considering the idea of bringing Android apps into the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 sometime next year. Well, Microsoft mobile OS attempts proved to be a failure. For that reason, the company may stick with Android and its applications. According to the report, Microsoft is planning a minor update in the first half of 2021. It will prepare the framework for another, major update coming in H2 2021. The giant will launch an x86 emulation program. It will allow ARM-based PCs to run regular desktop programs. Windows Central states that these features will enter preview soon, but will launch only in 2021.
Microsoft will also introduce an interesting feature dubbed “Cloud PC”. This service will allow users to stream a Windows 10 instance over an internet connection to run high-resource programs without local hardware. It’s an interesting concept and we are curious to see how this will work in the real life. In the same way, players will be able to stream games running on a remote computer.
If 2020 has been a quiet year for WIndows 10 enthusiasts, the next year is shaping up to be an exciting year for the operating system. Previous reports revealed that the OS will receive its biggest update ever in the next year. Of course, only time will tell if these claims are accurate. Microsoft, obviously, can’t keep a low profile now that Apple is advancing with its M1-powered MacBook and macOS Big Sur.
