Microsoft plans to launch a new version of Win10: prohibit the installation of external EXE and only allow access to its own store

Google has two operating systems, Android, which monopolizes the global smartphone market, and ChromeOS, which is designed for laptops . ChromeOS mainly runs web applications and currently supports downloading Android programs from the Google Play Store .

According to the latest news from foreign media, Microsoft plans to imitate Google's ChromeOS and launch a new version of Windows 10. It does not support running traditional Windows software downloaded from outside, but only supports "universal software" officially downloaded from Microsoft.

Recently, many foreign media such as ZDNET disclosed the information of this new branch version of Windows 10, which is named "Windows 10 Cloud". This version is actually a simplified version of the existing Windows 10.

In terms of user interface and main functions, this version is almost the same as Windows 10. The biggest difference is in the source of application software. The existing Windows 10 can support users to download and install software from any website, including massive, old EXE software (based on Win32).

However, in this new version, users can only download "Universal Software" (UWP) from the Microsoft official store. The so-called "Universal Software" is a new software concept introduced by Microsoft in Windows 10, that is, developers only need to develop once, and the software will be compatible with various hardware such as computers, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, wearable devices, etc.

According to reports, foreign media once tried to install third-party applications in this new version, and the system prompted: "This version of Windows can only run applications from the Microsoft Windows Store, in order to protect you and your privacy."

Such an application ecosystem that does not support external third-party software is very similar to Apple 's iOS and the current ChromeOS.

For Apple mobile phones and tablets, users can only download software, games and digital content from the Apple Software Store. This closed model has allowed Apple to make huge profits, but it also makes iOS less open than Android, affecting iOS's influence and coverage in the global market.

Foreign media also pointed out that Microsoft's version naming of "Windows 10 Cloud" will mislead consumers. In reality, "cloud service" or "cloud computing" means obtaining computing and software services through the Internet rather than installing software locally.

Google's ChromeOS system used to only support web apps, but now it has begun to support applications running the Android operating system. It is reported that starting from 2017, laptops equipped with ChromeOS on the market will be able to download applications from the Google Play Store.

At this year's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, computer manufacturers such as Acer and Samsung Electronics exhibited laptops equipped with the latest version of ChromeOS, which can support running Android programs. In addition, Google also stated that it will try to make older versions of ChromeOS also support Android programs.

When Microsoft first released Windows 10, it vowed to achieve an installation volume of 1 billion devices in three years. For the first time in history, Microsoft launched a policy of free system upgrades within the first year (which has now expired and been cancelled). So far, Windows 10 has covered 300 million devices, but Microsoft said it might be difficult to achieve the goal of 1 billion devices.

In the important smartphone market, Microsoft has suffered a major failure. Whether in the operating system or mobile phone hardware, the market share of Microsoft Windows 10 and Lumia is approaching zero. Microsoft has basically stopped selling Lumia phones, and Microsoft's application software is even too lazy to develop versions for Windows phones. The failure of the mobile phone business means that the penetration progress of Windows 10 will be dragged down.

According to foreign media analysis, if Microsoft wants to increase the coverage of Windows 10, it may need to learn from ChromeOS and work with computer manufacturers in markets such as schools to launch lower-priced products, while further simplifying the operating system.

As of now, it is still unknown when Windows 10 Cloud will be released to the public and whether it will follow the ChromeOS policy of licensing it to computer manufacturers for free.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.