14 DAY TRIAL // The Redmond-based software giant is currently developing a series of improvements for the desktop that would expand across the entire ecosystem in an effort to push OneCore one step further.
Surprisingly, Microsoft’s new project is called Windows 10 Andromeda, a name that Google itself is using for a hybrid platform, and what’s even more unexpected is that the software giant has a similar goal with the search engine company: to build a universal experience across all desktops, thus making the transition from one device to another as seamless as possible.
MSPU writes that Windows 10 Andromeda will bring a series of features that will improve Continuum as we know it, and Microsoft has already announced some of them. For example, Continuum will soon get support for resizable windows, toast notifications, a full taskbar that works just like the one on the desktop, and UI improvements bringing mobile phones in line with PCs.
Andromeda could essentially be the next version of OneCore, the company’s internal goal of bringing the Windows 10 experience on all its devices.
Possibly coming in Windows 10 Redstone 3
Andromeda is already in the works at Microsoft and is part of the Composable Shell project that we’ve recently learned about and that’s coming later this year in Windows 10.
The Composable Shell (also known as CShell) is a new shell developed by Microsoft that would adapt to different devices, with Microsoft planning to offer it on all devices across its entire ecosystem. Microsoft did make Windows 10 a platform available on most of its devices, including PCs, smartphones, and consoles, but different shells are still being used, so with Composable Shell, the company is aiming at offering a similar experience everywhere.
As far as the name of this project is concerned, it’s a little bit unexpected to see Microsoft calling this effort just like Google does, but there’s a good chance that the company would pick a different name when it’s ready for prime time.
For the moment, it’s better to take this as a rumor, at least until Microsoft publicly details its plans, which is likely to happen later this year at the BUILD developer conference.
Also, the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update is unlikely to bring any changes that are part of Composable Shell or Andromeda, so look forward to Redstone 3 (due in the fall) to see these plans becoming available to users.