14 DAY TRIAL // With Windows 10, Microsoft is making some changes to its Windows lineup and is dropping the RT version of the operating system as part of a new approach that would bring the same flavor on both smartphones and tablets.
Basically, Windows 10 Mobile can be installed on both smartphones and ARM tablets, and screenshots that got leaked today confirm that this is indeed the plan for the new OS.
As you can see in these photos published today by Chinese website ITHome, Windows 10 Mobile is running on a 10-inch tablet with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels and powered by an ARM processor, a mix that serves as living proof that Windows RT has no future in Microsoft's plans.
Windows RT to get a limited Windows 10 experience
While it's hard to tell if these screenshots are legitimate or not, the source claims that they were made at Computex 2015, so they show a fully working prototype running an existing build of Windows 10 Mobile.
Windows RT, designed for ARM tablets, was launched by Microsoft in October 2012 together with Windows 8, and running on the Surface RT, Redmond's first tablet powered by a modern operating system. Windows RT caused confusion among Microsoft buyers because, as compared to the full version of Windows 8, it didn't offer support for desktop software and was limited to Metro apps.
Microsoft finally decided to give up on Windows RT this year, so when Windows 10 comes out later this summer, devices powered by this operating system, including both the Surface RT and the Surface 2, will only get few updates that are part of the new release.
In other words, Windows RT tablets won't get the full Windows 10 treatment, but it's not yet clear whether Microsoft is planning to release the Windows 10 Mobile update to these devices or if such a thing is indeed possible for RT devices.
Windows 10 Mobile is likely to be released in October this year, so there's still plenty of time for Microsoft to bring this OS flavor on tablets.
