Why are Microsoft killing Windows Phone, when they have Continuum and x86-on-ARM?

Microsoft have x86-on-ARM emulation tech that they're developing so Windows 10 laptops can have ARM processors.

Microsoft also have a Windows 10 Mobile feature called “Continuum” that lets you connect a phone to a monitor, mouse and keyboard, and use it as a Windows desktop.

Why have they not noticed how these ideas can be combined, and why are they killing off the platform?

2 comments

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xor_null 8y ago ↗

I think they have noticed, but running windows desktops apps on arm doesn't give you mobile apps. So yeah, you can plug your phone into a docking station and use all your desktop apps but as soon as you remove the docking station your phone is useless....because there are no apps. And by mobile apps i mean apps which are customized for a phone screen.

Also i think Intel is still holding a handle on the x86 patent thing when it comes to emulating x86 on arm.

Its really sad that the whole UWP app development stuff didn't went so well. Technically Xaml and C# are awesome, there was (is?) also a react native uwp implementation.

ocdtrekkie 8y ago ↗

The key word is "developing", as in, they don't have it yet. Microsoft has constantly been stuck behind developments that are waiting to be done. They obviously held out on Windows Mobile because they were gonna switch it to x86, until Intel abandoned their plans to support that, kicking the legs out from under that project. Now it's emulating x86 on ARM, a work in progress.

The problem is, they've strung along their mobile platform for years while trying to do all this, and left everyone on it without a paddle. With no devices and no point where they can conclusively say they're ready to try again, it makes sense for them to "kill it". And then launch as a new thing as some indeterminate point in the future where they actually have a product together.

As long as the Windows desktop (and particularly, Windows 10 S) development continues to push UWP, adding mobile support again later won't be particularly difficult.