If you own an iPad, you might be disappointed by the lack of advanced multitasking and window support; features that extend over the bounds of iPadOS. Similarly, if you are an M1 Mac user, you might be disappointed by its inability to run x86 based operating systems via Bootcamp.
Microsoft might solve this problem. The company is employing its Cloud smarts to enable businesses to stream an entire instance of Windows 10 or Windows 11 via a browser. This is similar to Microsoft’s already existent xCloud game streaming service that you can access via Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Microsoft calls it Windows 365, a simplistic effort of continuing the “365” brand. Windows 365 will originally only be available for businesses of any size (even if it’s a single person running it). However, there’s a chance the company might make it available for individuals in the future.
The premise of Windows 365 lies in instant access to the latest Windows OS versions. You can use any device, fire up a browser, and instantly access Windows there. Microsoft says you’ll be able to stream all your “personalized applications, tools, data, and settings from the cloud across any device including your Mac, iPad, Linux device, and Android.”
You can, furthermore, continue using your own instance of Windows 10 or 11 in the same state you left it on any device. For instance, you can begin working on your Mac at work and then continue using Windows 11 on your iPad while on the commute to your residence.
You will be able to choose your own configuration of the virtual PC. For example, you can choose to integrate 512 GB storage capacity alongside 16 GB of RAM. Microsoft says Windows 365 will be offered on a “per user per month” pricing. Moreover, organizations will be able to choose between two different tiers of plans namely Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise.
If you are an organization that plans on using more than 150 instances of Windows 365, you also get App Assure, which is a service that promises to fix any app issue that pops up at no additional cost.
Microsoft also emphasizes security with Windows 365, thanks to Zero Trust. It secures your data by storing it on the cloud as opposed to storing it locally on the device. Furthermore, it is also protected via multi-factor authentication that is integrated with Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory
Microsoft is also making it easy for IT departments in companies to set up and manage Windows 365 instances. It can be managed alongside physical Windows 10 or 11 PCs and will show up right beside them in Microsoft Endpoint Manager. Furthermore, the process of applying management and security policies will be consistent across all devices.
While personal instances would be a great deal for users, the fact that they will soon be only available to businesses for a while is no small feat. Consider the implication; businesses will no longer need to dispense expensive hardware to meet their needs.
Tasks that would otherwise require considerable hardware prowess would be sufficiently fulfilled by virtual Windows 365 instances on the cloud being accessed on even the most basic machines through a browser.
For iPad and Mac users, it will hopefully fill up the gaps left for improvement. Hopefully, that is, if Microsoft ever releases it en masse.
According to Microsoft, Windows 365 will be available on August 2, 2021, which isn’t much farther down the line. The company, however, hasn’t yet shared prices or the different configuration options that will be available at launch.
Guess we’ll have to wait a while to learn.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Note: This story contains affiliate links that may earn The 8-Bit commissions on successful purchases to help keep the site running.
