Reports have suggested that Microsoft is secretly working on Cloud PC, a new service that will allow users to access desktop apps from any device within minutes.
Windows 10 Cloud PC is expected to drop sometime between March and June 2021, and new exciting details surrounding the service have now been leaked online.
For starters, Cloud PC is a new Azure-based service built on top of “Windows Virtual Desktop” and it aims to redefine the “Modern Workplace” and revolutionize computing environments.
What is Cloud PC?
With Cloud PC, you can have your own personal desktop in the cloud, which can be accessed from anywhere just like your OneDrive and Google Drive files. Cloud PC would be hosted on Microsoft Azure servers and users can access it using the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for Windows, Android and iOS.
Currently, you can use the Remote Desktop app to mirror the desktop screen to your phone or devices. Cloud PC will take things to the next level with a virtualized version of Windows 10 in the cloud. This will allow you to stream the desktop apps over the internet for improved performance.
There’ll be at least three different configurations for Cloud PC – Medium (general-purpose computing), Heavy (better performance) and Advanced (business customers)
According to a new support document, Cloud PC will also use Microsoft Graph technology, which is a tool for real-time collaboration, Azure integration, and other features. Microsoft Graph v1.0 has been updated to include new APIs for Cloud PC, which suggests that this new service could be ready to roll out in the near future.
“The cloud PC API is in preview and is currently available only to a select group of customers,” Microsoft noted in the document.
Rumours have also indicated that Cloud PC would allow users to stream Win32 apps over the internet to their Windows 10X-powered PCs. The theory makes perfect sense because Windows 10X is going to be a lightweight and web-based operating system with support for apps via the Windows Store.
Support will come for Win32 apps in 2022 when Microsoft is planning to announce Surface Neo with an improved version of Windows 10X.