Over the past couple of years, Microsoft has made a pitch that not only would its Windows operating system evolve to do away with big “annual numbered releases” but that the software was being developed as a baseline canvass to be used on a multitude of devices. The idea of One-Windows is becoming more of a reality every day as Microsoft engineers continue to develop and add support for a growing list of devices.
To further facilitate Microsoft’s vision of an ecosystem of devices all running Windows 10, Cam Scott a program manager at the company took time out today to discuss a new software initiative intended to help developers link a multi-device experience for its users.
The new initiative is called Project Rome (presumably a codename), and with it, developers are emboldened to create human-centric experiences that harmonize across devices rather than forcing users to reestablish themselves in apps on various devices.
More specifically:
Project Rome is a platform for creating experiences that transcend a single device so they can harmonize across devices – empowering a developer to create human-centric scenarios that move with the user and blur the lines between their devices regardless of form factor or platform. This vision is beginning to take shape in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Windows 10, Version 1607) with the Remote Systems API, enabling developers to extend their app experiences across Windows devices connected proximally or through the cloud.”
In a very informative post at the Microsoft Windows Developer blog, Scott covers the functionality of the Remote Systems API, how developers can properly implement RemoteSystemWatcher as well as adding simple users controls through the RemoteSystemAdded events, among other items.
Scott also offers a relatable example of how the Remote System APIs come together to create seamless user experience across devices that include the creation of a Contoso Music App streaming scenario where a user begins streaming music on the phone but then moves across devices such as an Xbox or home PC.
Paul decides to create a scenario where users can transfer the current song they are streaming over to a new device. Sample scenarios include listening to music on your phone then after arriving home, transferring to your Xbox; listening on your work PC then transferring to your phone to go for a walk, etc. All the tools he needs are available from Project Rome, namely, the Remote Systems API.”
For more on how the Remote System APIs work and code examples from Windows engineers, we encourage anyone who is remotely interested in developing or Microsoft’s One-Windows strategy to visit the Windows Developer blog today.
Further reading: Microsoft, Project Rome, Windows 10, Xbox
