The versions of Windows 10 that users receive through the Insider program come loaded with very interesting details that Microsoft sometimes decides not to announce. A good example appeared in build 15003 under the name Windows Cloud. The name makes us think of something like a special edition that works from the cloud, but other sources indicate that it would be a compact version of Windows 10, compatible only with universal apps, and designed to compete in Chrome OS territory.
This is the rumor control, here are the facts: Windows 10 finally broke through the 25 percent ceiling. Its Creators Update is still scheduled for April (though we don't have an exact date yet), and with the growth recorded in sales of "high-end" components, more and more gamers out there are adopting Microsoft's flagship operating system. But no matter how flexible and persistent the Redmond giant is, there are certain sectors it hasn't been able to enter strongly. Now, shelves are full of very low-cost laptops that include full Windows 10 licenses, but in certain regions they face pressure from Chromebooks. Yes, what started as a strange Google experiment now deserves its own category, and it has consumers' interest in both price and functionality.
With that in mind, we received news of what appear to be hidden references to new builds in Windows 10 15003 from the Insider program. There are two entries: Cloud and Cloud N. The first theories pointed to an online version of Windows 10, powered by the beast that is Azure; however, new sources indicated that Windows 10 Cloud will be a more compact and simplified edition of Windows 10, compatible only with universal apps downloaded through the Microsoft Store. If this sounds very similar to what Windows RT was in its time, it's because they share several concepts, but at the same time there are important differences. While Windows RT was a half-baked hybrid without compatibility with classic apps or an upgrade path, the base of Windows 10, x86 emulation on ARM, and the current state of universal apps give it greater chances of success.
The official response from Microsoft? "Press silence" I guess the company has its hands full with the upcoming Creators Update, and maybe it will wait to clear that out of the way before commenting on what could really be (or not) Windows 10 Cloud.
