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From Here To Andromeda OS: Or, Why Windows 10 Mobile is DEAD

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From Here To Andromeda OS: Or, Why Windows 10 Mobile is DEAD


Paul Briden

11/08/2017 – 10:06am

Windows 10 Mobile is being phased out over 2018 in favour of new Microsoft devices running the “Andromeda” build

Microsoft previously revealed that Windows 10 Mobile would be updated to a new build dubbed “feature2” but would not be further developed beyond that point. Importantly, however, the firm downplayed the importance of this move when questioned whether this would be the end of Windows 10 Mobile, implying that it was not. 

But according to Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, this is not the case; he states that his sources “paint a different story,” adding that “Windows 10 Mobile development has been separated from the rest of Windows 10 on other platforms.”

He says that this is happening because Windows 10 Mobile is “no longer needed,” for Microsoft’s future plans for Windows on mobile devices. In other words, Windows for mobile devices is not dying, but the current form of it as Windows 10 Mobile appears to be on death row, so to speak; it’s not going to be axed any time soon, but it is going to be put into a lower priority sub-bracket of development and support to prop up existing users.

The focus, however, will shift onto what may be yet another big reboot to try to get the Windows brand some kind of traction in the mobile device space. Bowden’s sources mention “Microsoft’s next mobile device” running on a so-called Andromeda OS. An interesting choice of name considering Google’s alleged Android and ChromeOS hybrid also has the same moniker.

Microsoft’s Andromeda OS: What We Know So Far… 

20th time’s a charm? 

Whenever I read or write about Microsoft’s mobile initiatives, I kind of get the impression that there are a lot of smart people with good ideas at work on making Windows a player in the mobile space. Each new attempt is always better than the last, but it is never spot on – there’s always something missing (apps, phone support, reach, etc).

Andromeda OS, if you’ve been following the Microsoft vs. Mobile saga seems as if it is what the company has been angling towards all along – a proper unified platform. I know that was meant to be what Windows 10 Mobile was all about in the first place, but adoption of that has been so low you cannot blame Microsoft for trying a new way.

“Andromeda may not sound huge yet,” notes MS Power User, “as it’s part of something bigger Microsoft has been working on for a while — and that is the new Composable Shell (aka CShell). Composable Shell, for those unfamiliar, is a new adaptive shell in Windows 10 which will allow the OS to adapt to the device it’s currently running on. Parts of Composable Shell are already in debug symbols in Windows 10, recently found by Microsoft enthusiast walking cat.”

It’s just a shame that those who believe in Microsoft – the people that adopted each new idea as it came around – are now, obviously, being left behind in favour of a grander, more far-reaching endeavour. In this respect, though, it really just comes down to numbers from Microsoft – in that, it is better to annoy a few people and gain a million new users, than it is to just stay put.

Microsoft’s Andromeda, according to the report, is a “modular” Windows build that can be used on any device form factor. Unlike previous version of Windows 10, that will be facilitated by the whole thing using the same development SKU instead of having a dedicated one seperate for Windows 10 Mobile.

Because of this, Microsoft no longer needs a phone-specific version of Windows 10, which means Windows 10 Mobile is now redundant,” says Bowden.

What that means is, the feature2 build of Windows 10 Mobile is entirely designed to “continue supporting existing Windows phone handsets over the next year and a half,” he said.

“The feature2 branch’s main goal is to continue servicing Windows 10 Mobile devices through 2018 with bug fixes, security updates, and new Enterprise specific features. I’m also told Microsoft will be backporting new UWP APIs that are introduced in Redstone 3 and Redstone 4 on PC.”

Bowden said that these APIs are being backported rather is “because the feature2 branch is technically Redstone 2 under the hood.”  

“This means Windows 10 Mobile will be keeping with Redstone 2 for the remainder of its life,” he added.

“It’s also worth noting that Microsoft’s effort of backporting new APIs to Windows 10 Mobile is only planned up to Redstone 4, but that could change down the line,” said Bowden.

He said that once Microsoft stops porting APIs Windows 10 Mobile handsets, such as the Lumua 950 and its ilk, will “very quickly fall behind the rest of Windows 10”.

“As developers start targeting new APIs that get introduced in Redstone 5, those apps won’t be able to run on feature2 Windows 10 Mobile.”

He said that Microsoft may, however, continue to support Windows 10 Mobile via security updates for the rest of 2018.

“Microsoft is keeping Windows 10 Mobile around for the foreseeable future to cater to its remaining users,” said Bowden.

“The company is hoping to have its next attempt at Windows 10 on a mobile device ready before it drops support for Windows 10 Mobile entirely, which we’re expecting will happen by the end of 2018.”

In closing, Bowden adds that he believes Microsoft’s next big mobile device will be “some sort of reboot,” due to the fact that existing Windows phone handsets will be getting left behind at the software development level.

Paul Briden 11/08/2017 - 10:06am

Windows 10 Mobile is being phased out over 2018 in favour of recent Microsoft units working the "Andromeda" construct

Microsoft in the past printed that Windows 10 Mobile could be up to date to a brand new construct dubbed "feature2" however would no longer be additional evolved past that time. Importantly, on the other hand, the company downplayed the significance of this transfer when wondered whether or not this will be the finish of Windows 10 Mobile, implying that it used to be no longer. 

However in keeping with Windows Central's Zac Bowden, this is no longer the case; he states that his resources "paint a unique tale," including that "Windows 10 Mobile building has been separated from the remainder of Windows 10 on different platforms."

He says that this is going down as a result of Windows 10 Mobile is "now not wanted," for Microsoft's long term plans for Windows on cell units. In different phrases, Windows for cell units is no longer demise, however the present type of it as Windows 10 Mobile seems to be on dying row, so that you could talk; it isn't going to be axed any time quickly, nevertheless it is going to be put right into a decrease precedence sub-bracket of building and beef up to prop up present customers.

The point of interest, on the other hand, will shift onto what is also but every other giant reboot to check out to get the Windows logo some more or less traction within the cell software area. Bowden's resources point out "Microsoft's subsequent cell software" working on a so-called Andromeda OS. A fascinating collection of identify making an allowance for Google's alleged Android and ChromeOS hybrid additionally has the similar moniker.

Microsoft's Andromeda OS: What We Know So A ways... 

20th time's a attraction? 

On every occasion I learn or write about Microsoft’s cell projects, I more or less get the influence that there are a large number of good other folks with excellent concepts at paintings on making Windows a participant within the cell area. Every new try is at all times higher than the ultimate, nevertheless it is by no means spot on – there’s at all times one thing lacking (apps, phone beef up, succeed in, and so on).

Andromeda OS, in case you’ve been following the Microsoft vs. Mobile saga turns out as though it is what the corporate has been angling against all alongside – a right kind unified platform. I do know that used to be supposed to be what Windows 10 Mobile used to be all about within the first position, however adoption of that has been so low you can not blame Microsoft for making an attempt a brand new method.

"Andromeda won't sound large but," notes MS Energy Consumer, "because it’s a part of one thing larger Microsoft has been running on for some time — and that is the brand new Composable Shell (aka CShell). Composable Shell, for the ones unfamiliar, is a brand new adaptive shell in Windows 10 which is able to permit the OS to evolve to the software it’s lately working on. Portions of Composable Shell are already in debug symbols in Windows 10, lately discovered through Microsoft fanatic strolling cat."

It’s only a disgrace that those that imagine in Microsoft – the folks that followed every new thought because it came to visit – at the moment are, clearly, being left at the back of in favour of a grander, extra far-reaching endeavour. On this recognize, even though, it actually simply comes right down to numbers from Microsoft – in that, it is higher to harass a couple of other folks and achieve 1,000,000 new customers, than it is to only keep put.

Microsoft's Andromeda, in keeping with the document, is a "modular" Windows construct that can be utilized on any software shape issue. In contrast to earlier model of Windows 10, that shall be facilitated through the entire thing the usage of the similar building SKU as a substitute of getting a devoted one seperate for Windows 10 Mobile.

"On account of this, Microsoft now not wishes a phone-specific model of Windows 10, which means that Windows 10 Mobile is now redundant," says Bowden.

What that suggests is, the feature2 construct of Windows 10 Mobile is fully designed to "proceed supporting present Windows phone handsets over the following 12 months and a part," he stated.

"The feature2 department's major function is to proceed servicing Windows 10 Mobile units via 2018 with worm fixes, safety updates, and new Endeavor particular options. I am additionally advised Microsoft shall be backporting new UWP APIs which can be presented in Redstone 3 and Redstone 4 on PC."

Bowden stated that those APIs are being backported moderately is "since the feature2 department is technically Redstone 2 below the hood."  

"This implies Windows 10 Mobile shall be maintaining with Redstone 2 for the rest of its existence," he added.

"It is usually value noting that Microsoft's effort of backporting new APIs to Windows 10 Mobile is best deliberate as much as Redstone 4, however that might exchange down the road," stated Bowden.

He stated that after Microsoft stops porting APIs Windows 10 Mobile handsets, such because the Lumua 950 and its ilk, will "in no time fall at the back of the remainder of Windows 10".

"As developers get started concentrated on new APIs that get presented in Redstone 5, the ones apps will be unable to run on feature2 Windows 10 Mobile."

He stated that Microsoft would possibly, on the other hand, proceed to beef up Windows 10 Mobile by means of safety updates for the remainder of 2018.

"Microsoft is maintaining Windows 10 Mobile round for the foreseeable long term to cater to its final customers," stated Bowden.

"The corporate is hoping to have its subsequent try at Windows 10 on a cell software in a position ahead of it drops beef up for Windows 10 Mobile fully, which we are anticipating will occur through the tip of 2018."

In ultimate, Bowden provides that he believes Microsoft's subsequent giant cell software shall be "some type of reboot," because of the truth that present Windows phone handsets shall be getting left at the back of on the device building stage.

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