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Microsoft's Windows strategy

I am sure it's just me, but I'm completely confused by MS's Windows strategy now. Things were easy when they had XP for the desktop, Server 2003 for servers and Windows Mobile for phones :)

I understand that we have Server 2012 for Servers, so that's ok - but are they unifying the smartphone, Surface and laptop/desktop OS into one? Does that start with Windows 8? Or Windows 10?

For example, a Surface runs Windows 8.1. What do the smartphones running Windows use? Windows Phone 8 is the same as Windows 8? Or different? For example, if an application worked on Windows 8/Windows 8.1, does that mean it should work on Windows Phone 8 too?

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John

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dbrunton

>> if an application worked on Windows 8/Windows 8.1, does that mean it should work on Windows Phone 8 too?

No.

You may wish to read https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/jj714071%28v=vs.105%29.aspx and the various development scenarios here. Look especially at https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/jj681693(v=vs.105).aspx

In short a lot of code may be usable but there will still be tweaking and coding to go from one platform to the other.

John

You can run Office 2013 on an iPhone and I think you can run it on Windows Phone (code is different as noted above). Browser will work, and so on. So similar stuff (but of course, not exactly the same).

McKnife

The latest development is linked here: http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/26/8295177/microsoft-windows-apps-universal-apps - we will see "windows apps" which will run anywhere.

alexwhite19800

ASKER

Ok thanks

So basically with Windows 10, they are looking to deploy Windows App which will run on any platform?

McKnife

MS offers the prerequisites to build such apps, yes.

dbrunton

Run on any Windows 10 platform.

That is the theory.

John

So basically with Windows 10, they are looking to deploy Windows App which will run on any platform? <-- Yes, any Windows platform that is new enough.