The highly-anticipated Windows 10 will arrive this summer and will allow some phones to serve as desktop PCs, thanks to the neat Continuum feature.
It's worth pointing out that Microsoft's "Continuum" should not be mistaken for Apple's "Continuity" feature, which aims to allow seamless switching between phone, tablet, and desktop. Instead, Microsoft's Continuum will turn a Windows 10 phone into a desktop PC by adapting its interface.
Microsoft offered more details regarding its upcoming Windows 10 OS at its BUILD 2015 developer conference, which kicked off on Wednesday, April 29, in San Francisco, and will run through Friday, May 1.
As you may well know, Windows 10 is coming to desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, aiming to serve as a universal OS. With the neat Continuum feature, users will be able to pair a Windows 10 phone with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and hook up a monitor via HDMI to enjoy their apps on the big screen.
The desktop extension is part of the Windows 10 Continuum feature, which also allows devices such as the Surface Pro slate to seamlessly switch between laptop and tablet modes.
In an on-stage demo at the conference, Microsoft's Joe Belfiore connected a phone to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, and the User Interface (UI) he was using automatically adapted instantly to the new inputs and outputs. The executive further highlighted that the Continuum feature will be especially impressive and useful with apps built to scale across form factors.
It's worth pointing out, however, that not just any Windows phones will support this neat Continuum feature. Only next-generation Windows phones that will ship later this year with Windows 10 are expected to pack the necessary hardware in order to work with a second display. At the same time, Continuum only works with Universal apps, but there should be plenty of them in the Windows Store by the time the new Windows 10 OS is ready to roll out this summer. That said, Continuum might just be a major selling point for future Microsoft Lumia devices, finally giving Microsoft a boost on the highly-competitive smartphone market.
In the meantime, check out the video below to learn more about the Microsoft Continuum feature for Windows 10 phones.
