Has the dream of Microsoft "one Windows" been shattered?

Guide

When Windows 10 was officially unveiled, Microsoft said the system would open a more personalized computing era, allowing users to enjoy a consistent, familiar, and compatible experience with all types of devices, from Xbox to PC and mobile to tablet. This is the so-called "one Windows" strategy, but do you feel it today?

What is the idea of "one Windows"?

Two years ago, Microsoft CEO Satia Nadra Satya Nadella The company's long-term vision of "one windows" ecosystem, hoping that a windows can be used on the widest range of devices, with more scenes to use. Whether it's a large-screen or small-screen device, including desktop desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, Xbox consoles, and IoT devices, all can be "unified through a single converged operating system."

Initially, this strategic slogan was loud and popular. After all, starting with Windows 10 is not just a single device, it also includes mobile computing devices. Microsoft believed that all devices should be able to naturally inherit the work experience on the computer, whether applications, services and content should be easily and seamlessly bridged across all devices. More importantly, the device and people should also be human and natural interaction, so Windows 10 has also added a lot of new features, including voice, handwriting, gestures and even through the eyes to interact with the PC.

In the near future, if the above concepts can be entered into our life in the right way and at the right time, it is really worth applauded. So, how much has Microsoft done today?

The ambitious "one Windows" effect is minimal

The first thing to mention is the universal Windows Platform UWP, a common application platform that can be used on every device running Windows 10, initially formed between Windows phones and desktops, when Microsoft also established a unified Windows store between the two devices 。 Today, however, it continues on to Xbox consoles, where Microsoft provides a unified distribution channel through the Windows store so that all device types can access running applications.

Furthermore, we have seen the Continuum mode of merging the desktop experience, which allows the smartphone to become a "mini PC host" after connecting the external display device and the input device. Third, Bing and Cortana are the most prominent artifacts in the cross-platform unified experience, and the data collected can be synchronized across all devices. Finally, after today's E3, Microsoft said the Xbox game will be landed on the PC platform, using Xbox Live across two platforms.

Of course, in order to accelerate the process of Windows Unified, Microsoft in the Windows 10 system officially released, in particular, for Windows 7 and Windows 8 with a one-year free upgrade activities, prompting Windows 10 to become the fastest growing Win Dows version, the number of users per month increased by more than 30 million.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's "one Windows" program has so far had no outstanding results. At the end of the Windows 10 free event in late July this year, there are still more than half PC users using the Windows 7 operating system, and the sales of their Xbox One consoles are significantly behind PS4, and the ability to stream games to Windows PCs is not attracting too many users. As for the mobile two smartphone Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, the Continuum ended in failure.

In July, Microsoft once again recalled its 2014-year goal of "1 billion Windows 10 devices in two or three years", admitting that it had been wrong to specify a target completion time, and that officials had to postpone it to fiscal year 2018. In other words, is the dream of one Windows broken? If not, what are the problems with Microsoft's plan?

What's wrong with "one Windows"?

Microsoft's biggest mistake is overestimating the appeal of a unified operating system. Simply put, if the user uses a variety of applications on the mobile platform and PC, and the data is stored in the cloud rather than on the local device, this means that the value of the operating system disappears. Since Microsoft has been advocating for more people to use more cross-platform applications than to take advantage of the platform's benefits, does that mean that Android users can have the same application without buying a Windows phone? includes features and experiences.

This is one of the reasons why Microsoft's rival Apple has never merged IOS and OS X. At the same time, Microsoft has created a tile application on Windows 10 to merge PC and mobile operating systems, which is awkward for the hybrid experience of desktop coexistence, which is one of the reasons why most PC users still stick to Windows 7, after all, the purest or the last "desktop" system.

Another embarrassing issue is that Windows Mobile devices are not converted to "real, complete" PCs because of the Continuum feature, and users can only install applications designed for ARM mobile processors through the Windows Store. This means that the so-called "desktop Experience" is equivalent to using another unfamiliar operating system, rather than the most familiar x86-based application.

More interestingly, Windows Mobile's "fake Desktop Experience" also limits the orders of enterprise customers, they do not know Continuum for the real attraction of the enterprise, do you really want to spend a lot of money to buy the base, keyboard and mouse or plus display device? Does this pile of stuff add up to be no more cumbersome than a laptop computer?

On the contrary, Surfacepro Tablet PC is popular, I believe Microsoft will not understand because this 2-in-1 device runs a complete Windows system, more suitable for the traditional solution. If you use cloud apps and cloud desktops for enterprise users, Windows phones don't have compelling reasons to do it, whether it's IOS, Android, or other Web access methods.

In fact, the biggest and most critical issue with the one Windows initiative is mobile devices, which have less than 1% market share in the global smartphone market, and will not allow Microsoft to expand the ecosystem of "one Windows", which is far less effective for IOS and Android Platform to create the application. A large number of developers or developers prefer IOS and Android platforms, the lack of application causes users have to make a choice to give up.

when will "one Windows" finish?

Microsoft does not seem to want to abandon the one Windows program, and consider using the long-rumored surface Phone to break new ground again, after all, the biggest reason seems to be the "Surface effect." However, as mentioned earlier, Surface Pro is popular not just for tablet-to-pen switching, but also for x86-based systems and hardware drivers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Surface Phone is still based on ARM design, which seems to imply that the same problem may still be faced with the Lumia 950.

In short, "One Windows" is a bold attempt by Microsoft to change the entire business model, but no one can tell whether it is the ultimate success or not. For now, the strategy extends to smartphones, which have been the first to fail, and have only just started between PC and Xbox two platforms. Given that Microsoft is a major player in game consoles, there seems to be a greater chance of success, and it is unclear how long it will take to get the phone on the wall.

Although Microsoft is implementing the "one Windows" strategy, Microsoft Nadra says we live in a "mobile first, Cloud first" world. Focusing on cloud business, he not only defines the future of Windows as a service, but also aggressively implements cross-platform applications that focus on penetrating IOS and Android, rather than on bringing windows to all devices. So, back to the "one Windows" on what exactly is the topic, do not know what Microsoft's answer is now.

Has the dream of Microsoft "one Windows" been shattered?