Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella explained the future of Windows platform is to have one unified operating system on all devices. This means Windows 9 will be on desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, and the Xbox One. Currently Microsoft is slightly fragmented by having their mobile platform Windows Phone, and their gaming platform Xbox one, on different OS’s. This unification of operating systems is good for consumers, technicians, and developers.
For the consumer you just have one operating system to learn and one experience across all your technology. With cloud syncing you can also have your settings, apps, and files synced across all devices so there is no difference between using one device or the other, other than screen size and input method. Microsoft has stated that Windows 9 will be catered to whatever device you’re using, so it will be optimized for whether you are using a touch or a desktop with mouse and keyboard.
Also, being able to buy an app once, and have that app on all your devices with your settings saved across all devices is great benefit to join the Microsoft platform. Microsoft is starting this trend with their current app store having some universal apps that work everywhere even without the unified OS. This not only saves the consumer money it also is very beneficial to the developer.
For developers a big obstacle to selling your app is having to create it five or six times to cover all the platforms and reach your largest audience. You have to write a version for iOS, Android, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Mac, and maybe blackberry. Once you have written it you also have to continue to maintain it on all these platforms as well with updates. This is highly inefficient. Microsoft is announcing what developers call the ‘holy grail’ of programing. One universal OS with one set of developer tools allows developers to write and app once, and it applies to all Microsoft devices. This will attract many developers to the platform which is currently lacking compared to Apple and Google.
For the IT professional this is also great news. Only having to learn and troubleshoot one operating system saves time in testing, troubleshooting, and implementation of new software.. If you envision an enterprise which chooses to go full Microsoft, where all employees have a Windows desktop, maybe some Surfaces, and Windows Phone, from an IT perspective it would be total harmony. You would never run into with cross platform compatibility, or learning three operating systems and how to troubleshoot each of them. Our smart phones are computers, just likes our tablets, just like our desktops, why can’t they all run the same OS and look and feel similar?
