Microsoft today announced Windows 365, a new desktop PC operating system that is built in the cloud. The new platform will allow users to access their files and applications from anywhere, and it will also include features like Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant. “Windows 365 is the perfect platform for today’s mobile-first world,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group. “With Cortana and the new Windows Ink capabilities, users can take notes, sketch ideas, and work on documents with ease.” The new platform will be available starting this summer as a subscription service for businesses. For individuals, it will be available starting in early 2016 as a standalone product. ..
To use a Windows 365 “Cloud PC” after the service launches on August 2, 2021, you just need a device with a modern web browser. Your Windows desktop in the cloud retains its current state even when you disconnect. If you’re editing an Excel spreadsheet and switch from a Mac to an iPad, for example, you’ll instantly see the desktop state right as you left it when you reconnect so you can get right back to work. It’s just like waking a PC from sleep mode.
The benefit is clear: You can run Windows applications without running Windows on your hardware. This means access to a full Windows 10 desktop on Macs, iPads, Chromebooks, and more—just as long as you have an internet connection. (When Windows 11 launches, you’ll be able to access a Windows 11 desktop in the same way.)
At launch, Windows 365 will only be available to businesses, and it will have a per-user monthly subscription cost. Microsoft offers a variety of different hardware configurations at different price points, all hosted on Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service. Businesses will be able to easily spin up cloud PCs, manage them, and control access.
At launch, single-person businesses are eligible. It’s not just for large corporations with thousands of employees—and it’s easy to imagine Microsoft offering the service to consumers in the future, too.
Other services already offer cloud-based desktop PCs you can access in a browser for everything from gaming to productivity, but now Microsoft is offering its own solution.
For more details on Windows 365, check out Microsoft’s Windows 365 Cloud PC website or read the company’s announcement.
Just don’t confuse Windows 365 with Microsoft 365, a subscription service that is essentially a rebranded version of Office 365 with a few more features.
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