This article has been updated with the latest info about the upcoming CloudPC service.
Microsoft is believed to be working on a new virtualized desktop experience called 'Cloud PC' to help administrators deploy and manage Windows 10 PCs in the cloud via web browser, mobile app or another PC.
Cloud PC will also allow Microsoft to handle your organization's device configuration by applying updates security improvements regularly, and offer managed support. Reports have suggested that this new feature is part of the company's "Windows as a Service" tagline, which has become more apparent this year.
Cloud PC is based on Azure and Windows Virtual Desktop and it won't replace any version of Windows. Instead, it will be offered as an option for enterprise customers who want to access their Windows PC from anywhere at any time.
According to leaked screenshots, Cloud PC's tagline is "Access your work apps and programs online from any device," which implies that Cloud PC will deliver a Desktop as a Service for businesses.
What is Cloud PC?
Microsoft Cloud PC is a new "strategic offering" built on top of Windows Virtual desktop, which is an Azure-based system used for virtualizing Windows and applications in the cloud.
According to reports, Cloud PC uses Microsoft's existing Windows Virtual Desktop and Azure infrastructure to deliver Desktop as a Service and enable a modern, elastic, cloud-based Windows experience.
"It will allow organizations to stay current in a more simplistic and scalable manner," Microsoft noted in a now-deleted job listing.
Microsoft is currently experimenting with three different tiers for Cloud PC service:
- Medium tier: 2 vCPUs, 4GB of RAM, and 96GB of SSD storage.
- Heavy tier: 2 vCPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 96GB of SSD storage.
- Advanced tier: 3 vCPUs, 8GB of RAM, and 40GB of SSD storage.
Based on the screenshots posted by Windows sleuth Walking Cat, Cloud PC will be supported by all remote desktop applications, including those Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Windows 10X, Microsoft Graph API integration
While Cloud PC is aimed at enterprise customers rather than at individual users, it will reportedly ship with Windows 10X (modular OS) to enable support for Win32 apps streaming.
As discovered by BleepingComputer, Microsoft added new APIs to the Microsoft Graph API in December to support the CloudPC service. Using these APIs, administrators can list existing CloudPC instances, get information about an instance, or reprovision new CloudPC instances.
In another support document, Microsoft confirmed that it's testing new APIs to help businesses create "cloudPcDeviceImage, "cloudPcOnPremisesConnection", and "cloudPcProvisioningPolicy".
From the CloudPC dashboard source code, Microsoft considers this service to be in beta and is likely being previewed by a small group of organizations. Reports suggest that the virtualization service will be finalized or enter public preview by Spring of 2021 (between March and June).
Comments
Some-Other-Guy - 3 years ago
The latest standalone version of 64 bit Windows 10 runs less software than the last version
Next year, it will run even less, but a cloud version will run less software than a standalone version of Windows
If you want to keep using all the software you bought for Windows 7 or 8.1 without endlessly updating everything, you will need to keep Windows 7 or 8.1
Standalone versions of Windows are not even compatible with Windows
ARM and Cloud versions are just an endless road to nowhere
What's the point?
I'd rather use my computer without endlessly trying to fix what Microsoft breaks
Al_Capella - 3 years ago
"The latest standalone version of 64 bit Windows 10 runs less software than the last version"
What are you talking about? That's not been my experience at all. I have dozens of software titles running just fine on three Win 10 devices. Two 64-bit and one 32-bit tablet, all running 20H2. If you're going to spew hate about Win 10, at least try to be somewhat intelligent about it.
EmanuelJacobsson - 3 years ago
Hes a troll going around every windows post barraging on how bad it is, dont bother.
Edit: I just noticed this is a 2 month old comment, welp.
ctigga - 3 years ago
Windows 10 & the cloud...sounds like either an early April Fool's joke or fodder for a nightmare. No thank you.
TanyaC - 3 years ago
God help us all.
Lots of my favorite games won't run on Windows 10. But them I'm old. I miss those classics :(
Several old programs also don't run. I recently updated to Adobe CC for a couple of products. I wish I could get a refund because I'm going to uninstall them and go back to CS6. At least they were stable and don't bring my PC to it's knees. Dreamweaver for example runs 14 processes. Insane. I know that seems off topic, but the point is new is not always best, and sometimes the older programs worked better than the new stuff. Windows included.
I fear for organizations that hand over the last shred control of their PCs to Microsoft. Their track record in the last 7 years has been abysmal and there doesn't seem to be any improvement on the horizon.
Some-Other-Guy - 3 years ago
I still run ACDSee 3.1
It worked on the first few versions of Windows 10, but would not install in 1 or 2 versions in 2017 or 18, and now it installs fine on the newest version
I'm really tired of jumping through these nonsensical incompatibility hoops
Some apps work on windows 7 / 8 AND 10
Some only work on 7 and 8
and some only work on Windows 10
I now have working copies of every version of Windows on separate drives just to keep the software collection I have
Of course Al_Capella has a right to his opinion above, but I have the right to keep my software as well
tinyhands - 3 years ago
OK Boomer, why are you hanging on to old software? That's like my dad still using his VCR to "tape" shows, while the clock is always blinking 12:00. What are you keeping a software collection for? Think the Louvre is going to call you up for help with a special exhibit? Software is MEANT to be updated, to evolve. By clinging to the past, you're denying the software's true purpose.
Some-Other-Guy - 3 years ago
Because I can...
New software is rarely better, and often much worse
I only keep what works, so why break it?
NewSurak - 3 years ago
A lesson: Software's true purpose is to exercise functions on behalf of users. No more, no less. It is not MEANT to evolve.
The evolutions are either a result of:
1) other functions intruding on the gestalt of the original system ( e.g. OS changes, which are the pain in the butt under discussion, but there's also exposed security vulnerabilities, and other stuff)
or
2) an effort to introduce functions perceived by the developer to be of value to the users. But that value is usually tiny compared to the value of the prime desired function of the software. Maybe or maybe not useful. If not useful, why bother other than for curiosity's sake?
It is not "clinging to the past" ... it is simply exercising a working function without having to research and implement (or gamble on) a replacement function.
Ewwww. a scary thought... Imagine if hammers and screwdrivers had OS changes or security breach vulnerabilities that altered the tools function in a manner we see in IT. This hammer now causes that kind of nail to melt, to pierce right through the wood. Or the screwdriver now only unscrews. Gah!
Bitbeisser - 3 years ago
<p> No, software is not meant to evolve, it's true purpose is NOT to exist just to be updated. Software purpose is to fulfill a real world use for its users. While there can be updates and new features to a piece of software, that doesn't mean that everyone HAS TO update that piece of software when they do not have any use for any of the new feature. The basic problem with Windows 10 (and macOS for that matter) is that updates to the operating system, which has the purpose of enabling the user to run software that fulfills a real world need, a lot of time prevent that software to run, for no related reason at all.</p>
kevinfreels - 3 years ago
"God help us all.
Lots of my favorite games won't run on Windows 10. But them I'm old. I miss those classics :(
Several old programs also don't run. I recently updated to Adobe CC for a couple of products. I wish I could get a refund because I'm going to uninstall them and go back to CS6. At least they were stable and don't bring my PC to it's knees. Dreamweaver for example runs 14 processes. Insane. I know that seems off topic, but the point is new is not always best, and sometimes the older programs worked better than the new stuff. Windows included.
I fear for organizations that hand over the last shred control of their PCs to Microsoft. Their track record in the last 7 years has been abysmal and there doesn't seem to be any improvement on the horizon."
Extremely good point regarding CS6. I think something has been lost through the years when it comes to software and I posted a huge rant in several places 4-5 years ago about it. Change in itself is not a bad thing. The problem is when change begins to happen for the sake of change and no other reason.
This is how it happens......A program is developed and is well-liked. A lot of people buy it, they make a lot of money, they take on investors who want more return on their investment, so they add features to draw people into upgrades and gain new customers who didn't buy before. This continues until a point is reached where the market is saturated and the devs can't come up with any new features that would draw more customers or entice current customers to upgrade. The growth curve begins to slide or even decline and the devs are pushed to "do something". So they move things around, change the interface, and when that fails, begin cutting off the ability of it to work with older versions of Operating Systems to force people to spend money on things that otherwise work perfectly well for them.
Adobe Photoshop is an excellent example. Not only did they force people into upgrading to CC, but when they did, they broke hundreds or even thousands of dollars in plugins purchased for CS6 which were incompatible with CC.
SamObert - 3 years ago
I've found this article very interesting. I like when the necessary info is written in such way
ken_smon - 3 years ago
Seems like a great idea to me.
Instead of trying to figure out why a Windows box fails, has performance problems, software won't start we will be left wondering why a cloud device we have no or very limited insight into isn't operating correctly.
I am sure if we are willing to buy a maintenance contract, any issues will be resolved within a short period of time.
Hahahahahahahaha
Display3 - 3 years ago
Windows 10 Cloud is a simplifed version of Windows 10 that will be able to run only Unified Windows Platform (UWP) apps installed from the Windows Store. Think of it as being similar to the version of Windows 10 formerly known as Windows RT or the Windows 8.1 with Bing SKU.
doncoyote - 3 years ago
Reasons I dual boot Manjaro. Keep those Linux skills honed and your install updated and ready for the day MS pulls the rug out.