TECH BRIEF
Windows 10X is launching next year on a new wave of foldable PCs. Let’s see how Microsoft is adapting its OS for this new form-factor.
Windows 10X explained
Windows 10X is a new version of Windows 10 that Microsoft says has been built from the ground up for foldable PC experiences in both dual-screen and single-screen configurations.
It’s built on top of a new modern version of Windows 10 that guts legacy components and features in favour of contemporary user experiences and enhanced security. This means everything from the Windows Shell to the underlying OS has been re-done with modern technologies, while still maintaining legacy app support for those who need it.
Win32 programs, which Microsoft considers to be a legacy app platform, now run in a containerised mode on Windows 10X. This means the components required to run Win32 apps are only active when the user is actively running a Win32 program. This reduces system load when not running a Win32 application, which improves battery life and system performance overall.
Containerising the Win32 layer also makes the OS much more secure, as Win32 programs are now sandboxed and can’t negatively affect system files.
Unlike the containerised Win32 programs, UWP and web apps run “natively” on Windows 10X. Users shouldn’t notice a difference in performance between UWP and Win32 programs, even though the Win32 programs are being containerised on top of the OS. It’s great to see that Microsoft is supporting legacy apps on Windows 10X, as many Windows apps today are still Win32.
Microsoft is hoping developers start to update their apps to support the new dual-screen and foldable screen designs that they expect to start shipping at the end of next year. A new feature called “spanning” is being introduced as an API that lets developers take advantage of the extended display capabilities from using a foldable PC.
The shell has been designed from the ground up with Microsoft’s Fluent Design System in mind, meaning it’s much cleaner and more consistent than the experience found on Windows 10 today. It has a new adaptive taskbar that minimises when using touch, which can be swiped up to access pinned and running programs. There’s also a new Control Center that also houses system notifications, similar to an Android smartphone.
Pinned and running apps on the taskbar are now centred instead of positioned off to the left. Apps run in full-screen, as most foldable PCs will be used as tablets first and foremost. However, there will also be a mode that allows apps to run in a more traditional windowed environment, which will be handy when using a foldable PC as a laptop.
The Start menu itself has been redesigned with productivity in mind. It features a system-wide search bar along the top, with a grid of apps below that in place of live tiles. It also has a “recommended” area that suggests things the user might want to jump straight into, such as recent Office documents and websites.
Windows 10X will only be available on devices that ship with it, and those devices will begin shipping in the second half of 2020. This means if you want to use Windows 10X, you will have to buy a new PC that comes with Windows 10X preinstalled. The OS will not be made available to purchase or download to install on existing hardware, and won’t be pushed as an update for Windows 10 users either.