Just when it seemed that Windows 10 news had fizzled out, we arrived at the 2015 edition of the BUILD conference. Microsoft's keynote stretched on for nearly three hours, packed with new information about the future operating system. One of the most striking aspects is the update to the Continuum feature, which now aims to transform smartphones with Windows 10 preinstalled into full computers.
Those who have had the chance to evaluate Windows 10 on a hybrid system are already familiar with the virtues of Continuum. In simple terms, Continuum modifies the user interface according to the primary input method. If the computer has a keyboard and mouse, Windows 10 adopts a traditional desktop format, then switches to the new interface when a touch screen is used. Microsoft concluded that there is no point in limiting Continuum to hybrid computers, so at the recent BUILD conference it presented a demo of Continuum for smartphones, delivering an experience very similar to that of a desktop system.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-oi1B9fjVs4
To be honest, what Continuum offers has been latent for years. Smartphones are already computers in their own right, but all the solutions we have seen so far (I recall some Asus models) only extend mobile apps. In contrast, Windows 10 bets heavily on universal apps, with the mission of delivering the same experience across all compatible devices. All this new variant of Continuum needs is an adapter to connect the smartphone to an HDMI display, and a Bluetooth-compatible keyboard/mouse combo. I imagine that in more advanced models of smartphones with Windows 10 we will see dedicated “docks” that take full advantage of Continuum to turn each device into a full AIO computer.
The universal profile of Windows 10 doesn't end there. Alongside the Continuum demo, the Redmond giant dropped two bombs that could change the essence of the mobile market. They are Islandwood and Astoria, two new SDKs designed so that iOS and Android developers can take their apps and run them on Windows 10. The version of Candy Crush Saga on Windows Phone is an excellent example of what Islandwood can do with iOS apps, while in the case of Astoria, it is estimated that it can run any APK as long as the necessary APIs are present. A desktop in our pockets, and initial support for iOS and Android apps. It is logical to assume that not all Windows 10 smartphones will be compatible, but out of nowhere, the future of Windows has become much more interesting than that of its competitors...
