Microsoft Windows has been the leading PC OS for as long as I can remember. There have been many different versions through the years.
There have been favorites like Windows 3.1, XP, and Windows 7 – and less well-received versions, like ME (Millennium Edition) and Vista.
Windows tried a new approach with Windows 8, something they envisioned would take over mobile device platforms, and designed an OS that would be similar across many devices.
This never truly came to be as Windows 8 was generally not well received, and the mobile version wasn’t exactly a hit either.
Enter Windows 10. While there are problems from a technical standpoint, Windows 10 (as it currently stands) is a pretty user-friendly OS and continues to make improvements and security enhancements with the user in mind. Windows 10 spans many devices.
Smart TVs, cell phones, laptops, desktops, tablets, Microsoft’s Xbox One, and so many other devices have a version of Windows 10.
I stress the fact that these devices have a version of Windows 10 for a reason. These operating systems look and function very similarly, but each is a uniquely programmed version of Windows 10. Essentially, each device type has a custom operating system developed to look and run like Windows 10.
These operating systems are fine-tuned for the type of device they are running on. You wouldn’t have a great experience using Windows 10 for desktops on a cell phone. It would be much too resource-intensive and create a real battery use issue.
So what is Windows Core OS?
Windows Core OS is a new project underway by Microsoft. Windows Core OS would create a base version of Windows that could be installed on any type of device. This is great for users and developers alike.
While it will be a long time before Core OS is available, Microsoft is already using it for testing their new Hololens and other devices they’re currently showcasing. It is also a huge part of the development for operating systems that will thrive on foldable devices and mobile devices with more than one screen.
Currently, when a new type of device comes out, like a foldable screen phone, an all-new version of Windows 10 is written specifically for the phone.
It’s programmed from the ground up and works around the device specifications and limitations to create the closest thing to a normal Windows 10 experience as possible.
While many users who use Windows 10 on multiple platforms may not notice many differences, each version requires a lot of work and each device gets a lot of attention.
Windows Core OS would change everything. Microsoft is developing Core OS to be buildable and scalable.
It would allow for a base version of Windows that would run on any device.
Whenever devices are launched with new capabilities, features can be added instead of creating an entirely new operating system. This lightweight operating system will be used on every kind of device you could think of in the not too distant future and – sooner than you think – it will also be running on a lot of devices that you probably couldn’t dream of.