14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Lite, the stripped-down version of Windows 10, is currently being developed by Microsoft with a major goal in mind: to make dual-screen devices happen.
A report from The Verge reiterates that Microsoft wants to retain the familiar Windows 10 approach but packed in a Google Chrome OS-like product, technically allowing the company to launch devices that would help it compete against Chromebooks.
However, Microsoft hopes Windows Lite would also support the launch of a new product category with dual-screen devices. This means the software giant itself could finally be planning to pioneer this market with the debut of its own device.
Surface Andromeda, the dual-screen device that Microsoft is believed to be working on, was reportedly sent back to the drawing board back in 2018, with the company’s leadership team now said be looking into several feature changes. At the same time, people familiar with the matter said Microsoft could even kill off the device completely if it doesn’t advance at the pace it was expecting.
All-in on Microsoft Store apps
Launching Windows Lite to power dual-screen devices is part of a more ambitious plan that would allow Microsoft to win a key part of the market that’s currently dominated by Chromebooks, including the education sector.
Windows Lite, which could eventually launch under a completely different name, is internally codenamed Santorini, and it features a simplified interface without a dynamic Start menu and built around Microsoft Store apps. Previously, it was speculated that Windows Lite could also support Win32 programs in one way or another, with Microsoft said to be looking into a bunch of solutions, including a cloud-based approach.
We expect Windows Lite to make the headlines in May at Microsoft’s Build developer conference, while a release date for the final product could be shared later this year. However, given that everything happens behind the closed doors at Microsoft, anything could change by the time the whole strategy gets the go-ahead.