Will Microsoft discontinue Windows RT?


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With Intel coming into (and probably eventually dominating) the tablet scene, I would expect yes.

 

I thought at one stage, Microsoft were going to implement an Intel x86/x64 emulation layer in RT (so it would be possible to run standard Windows apps).

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It would make sense to kill RT and modify Windows Phone 8 into a tablet OS. Or, Microsoft would modify Windows RT to be cross platform with Winphone 8 minus the desktop. I like Windows RT on my Asus tablet, but it needs to mature a lot more.

 

Then if Windows Phone becomes a tablet and phone OS, then what is going to happen with Windows 8?

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No, you can't shorten Windows RT to WinRT. The title of this thread is very misleading.

 

You're right -- I can't change the title of the thread (perhaps a mod can?).

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Like LaP said, they will probably merge the Windows Phone and Windows RT codes and have one that runs phones and tablets, much like iOS that runs on phones and tablets.

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This is the most interestiong part of that article, to me.

 

 

Asked how Microsoft would compete in tablets, Larson-Green said: "with Apple there was an inflection point with tablets, or with phones, with touch?

There will be another inflection point and it's going to come from the hardware input model.

So that's why you've seen us doing things with Kinect, with gesture. You see us doing things with voice. There's one coming."

 

Asked how Windows on tablets could compete with Apple's app ecosystem, she said: "So you enable a new kind of app.

So [Apple] were very successful in creating a curated set of applications that took what most people were trying to do on the web and made it valuable to

do it on the device and created a model for them to get paid and all those things.

There will be another one of those coming is my belief. I think you already start to see some of it.

I think connecting apps to each other, because so many things are special purpose, you'll start to see new ways for apps to integrate across.

I think there's a lot that's going to come from the web in smart information about you and your location."

 

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Like LaP said, they will probably merge the Windows Phone and Windows RT codes and have one that runs phones and tablets, much like iOS that runs on phones and tablets.

 

No, they'll merge Windows Phone and Windows RT to run on ARM-based processors. The form factor is irrelevant. There will be both ARM-based and x86/x64-based tablets, notebooks, two-in-ones, and, yes, phones. Intel is already pushing Atom processors for phones running Tizen. Some Samsung Galaxy Tab 3s already run on Atom processors.

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Um, MS has been hinting about their plans for some time.

The goal is to unify it all under one windows core and to unify an app model across all of their devices.

Windows RT will not be discontinued. Instead, it will merge with WP.

That will mean merging the features of both and the app store. Eventually, the idea is that it will all be windows and there will simply be UI modifications that suit the form factor.

So that means pcs get the desktop along with metro/WP features, while tablets and phones get the Metro/WP features. All would share an app store and updates/improvements could be more easily shared between them.

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I think merging Windows RT and Phone into one and having the apps be able to work on both will make it a stronger platform, just the same as Android and iOS.

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Richard Windsor, who runs the Radio Free Mobile consultancy, commented: "I have long suspected which is that Windows RT will be killed off sooner rather than later. Always one to treat hot potatoes delicately, Microsoft has not explicitly said that RT will be terminated but has made it very clear that there will not be three operating systems. Windows RT is an orphan child that sits between Windows 8 and Windows Phone and is neither fish nor fowl. Hence the devices that are based on it are underpowered with hideously limited functionality on the desktop making them inferior to both Android and iOS tablets."

"I suspect that there will be no Surface 3 and no successor to the Nokia 2520 [an 8in tablet running Windows RT]. Furthermore I am confident that RT will be quietly put to sleep during 2014."

you couldn't find a bigger idiot on this planet.

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It's much confirmed from earlier MS VPs interviews. Eventually there will be only two versions of Windows exist with Unified UI/Experience and App development

1. Windows Phone [supports upto 8" - ARM Processor]

2. Windows OS [supports from 8" to anywhere - x86/x64]

 

And both platforms share same code/api and one app/market for all

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The article in the Guardian is sensationalist click bait, nothing more. Microsoft have stated that they plan to merge Windows Phone and Windows RT not kill off Windows RT entirely. The fact is that if you want to have a presence on mobile devices, I don't care how good lab tests say that Bay Trail is, then you have to have an ARM based OS. Most of you on here won't admit that though!!

 

There's more chance of them killing off the 32-bit version of Windows than Windows RT.

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This, MS will not kill Windows RT, it will merge with Windows Phone to become a unified ARM platform. The topic header will also need to be changed as WinRT =/= Windows RT.

Compatibility with the current Windows Phone and Windows RT will also not be a problem as the apps written for both now are already within a walled environment with quite a lot of code parity.

 

MS should merge win RT with windows phone.

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What will definitely happen is Microsoft will be "unifying" Windows Phone and Windows RT. What that really means remains to be seen...

 

Will Microsoft kill Windows RT and just stretch Windows Phone into its place?

 

Will Microsoft kill Windows Phone and pull RT down into its place?

 

How that unification will work in practice is the question the industry has and only time will tell. My estimation is Microsoft will again kill off Windows Phone and just pull Windows RT down since it is already "real windows" on ARM and would further their "one Windows everywhere" mantra. How bad this next Windows Phone death will be on consumers remains to be seen. Ideally, they will make it go a lot smoother than last time by not artificially segmenting the stores.

 

Of course, I can be wrong as I'm not a psychic.

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This, MS will not kill Windows RT, it will merge with Windows Phone to become a unified ARM platform. The topic header will also need to be changed as WinRT =/= Windows RT.

Compatibility with the current Windows Phone and Windows RT will also not be a problem as the apps written for both now are already within a walled environment with quite a lot of code parity.

My question for a while has been .. what exactly needs merging here? Windows Phone 8 derived from the tests they did with Windows 7/8 ARM. Wouldn't Windows Phone 8 already be pretty closely related?

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It would be nice if they merged Windows RT with Windows phone. It would give the users more choice of apps - which is by far the biggest downfall...The Surface (RT/2) have such great potential, but the apps are just lacking. I want to use the device for more than just browsing/Office. 

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My question for a while has been .. what exactly needs merging here? Windows Phone 8 derived from the tests they did with Windows 7/8 ARM. Wouldn't Windows Phone 8 already be pretty closely related?

 

Windows Phone and Windows 8/RT are still pretty different animals.  Lots of APIs don't match up.  You can't just slap on a new UI on an RT program and have it run on Windows Phone. 

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