Windows 10 Anniversary Update is coming soon, fulfilling Microsoft’s long-time vision of uniting all its hardware under one operating system. Just in time for this momentous occasion, Peter Bright of Ars Technica has written a new piece detailing Microsoft’s road towards Windows OneCore.
The write-up is a fascinating read on how Windows has evolved and diverged, to finally converge again in Windows 10. Simply put, there were an astonishing amount of parallel development happening at Microsoft for all of its operating system over the years, starting from the first time “Windows” was uttered as a software name; one almost wonder how the company managed to put up with such a convoluted process and still produce the most popular OS in the world, as well as the (then) most popular home console in the world.
Several interesting Windows-related details were mentioned, like how Xbox 360 was still running on a forked version of Windows 2000 as the world went into the XP era, resulting in even the Wi-Fi function having to be developed separately for the Xbox OS despite sharing the common Windows architecture, or how the ill-fated Windows Phone 7 was conceived. One thing that stays relevant throughout the Windows history, however: all these OSes and hardware shared the intricate link, either technically or in branding, with the main Windows OS on PC. It just was not possible for Microsoft to unify all of them, not until now.
Overall, Bright’s article is a recommended read for any Windows enthusiasts looking to reminisce about an important part of the OS’s history, and will surely spark some excitement for the future of Windows. We know we are, and we can’t help but look forward to the upcoming Anniversary update, as well as how Microsoft will use its advantage as the first company with a unified ecosystem in the years to come.
