AfterDawn: News

Windows 8 will be on phones?

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has ended speculation today by announcing that Windows 8 would be made available on phones.

The operating system had been confirmed for PCs (obviously) and tablets, so far.



Says Ballmer: "We are driving Windows down to the phone with Windows 8."

Because the operating system will also be somewhat integrated to the Xbox 360, the OS will unify all of Microsoft's platforms for the first time ever.

Windows Phone will likely not be identical to its tablet and desktop counterpart but will most likely share the same NT kernel.

There is a debate as to whether Ballmer just misspoke (didn't pause long enough to separate sentences but guess for yourself):



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Nov 2011 17:47

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• 7 comments

• mike.m

  This would be great for Tablets, and maybe all-in-one touch screen PC's, but I just can't see myself using this on laptops or a desktop PC instead of Windows 7.

  15.11.2011 21:51 #1

• keola37

  i haven't seen anything about Windows 8 that seems to be an improvement for PC users... they seem far to worried about making changes for tablet users.
  

  15.11.2011 23:32 #2

• KillerBug

  It does look like a tablet operating system, but it appears that you can turn that crap off and use it as a real OS. The obvious question would be, "Why do I need it on a PC"...and the answer would probably be driver-related once new parts start dropping support for Windows 7.
  
  As for phones, it would have to be very scaled back. Even with plenty of processing power and unlimited battery life, windows is more complex than Android...and Android confuses Ballmer.
  

  
  

  15.11.2011 23:41 #3

• keola37

  Originally posted by KillerBug: It does look like a tablet operating system, but it appears that you can turn that crap off and use it as a real OS. The obvious question would be, "Why do I need it on a PC"...and the answer would probably be driver-related once new parts start dropping support for Windows 7.
  
  As for phones, it would have to be very scaled back. Even with plenty of processing power and unlimited battery life, windows is more complex than Android...and Android confuses Ballmer. I just wish MS would woo me a little more, instead of it being an upgrade "just cuz"
  

  16.11.2011 00:04 #4

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by keola37: I just wish MS would woo me a little more, instead of it being an upgrade "just cuz" Why would they start now? The only reason I moved from Windows 2000 was the 4GB memory limit, and the only reason I moved from XP64 was for lack of drivers.
  

  
  

  16.11.2011 05:12 #5

• the_hoolie

  Ha. Get ready for the blue screen of death on the Xbox!!!

  16.11.2011 13:25 #6

• eLeCTR0n

  These remarks don't mean anything. He's just talking out of his ass to keep the shareholders from running away with their money.

  30.11.2011 03:12 #7