This, according to a report by Zac Bowden of Windows Central.

The fresh new operating platform was first announced in October of 2019, as an OS for dual-screen devices. Microsoft even released some emulators that are still available for download, with the last one being released in March 2020.

That launch was followed by the news in May of that year that Windows 10X was delayed. And not just delayed, but the OS was being repurposed for entry-level single-screen PCs. Fast forward to today, and the technology world was anticipating the arrival of Windows 10X in spring, with all new devices.

But apparently, that’s not happening.

Instead, Windows 10X should be finalized some time this spring, with new hardware only slated to ship in the second half of the year. A delay for the single-screen version of Windows 10X also means that the dual-screen version is further delayed — these types of devices are very much on the back burner now.

What’s even more concerning is that every delay to Windows 10X also seriously impacts the development of Windows 10, which has been getting minor updates recently.

Windows 10 version 21H2 is supposed to be a major update to the OS, codenamed Sun Valley. It is supposed to bring along UI and design changes, as well as support for Android apps via Project Latte. There is also the little deal of Windows on ARM PCs finally getting x64 emulation.

A Windows 10X delay could result in all these features being pushed back.

It’s a rocky road, alright.

Hopefully, we get some official details from Microsoft on this. The software titan has been awfully mum on Windows 10X, with zero updates on this new platform and what it aims to do with it. If there is a time to release a statement, that time is now.

Out of character, some may say, for the company. But it was the main himself, Panos Panay, doing the talking. And he was visibly excited about what’s in store for the operating system in the near and immediate future.

Add in the rumors that the software titan wants to market this as The New Windows, and things start to get tantalizingly teasing that something big is on the way.

Microsoft has not used this terminology since the debut of Windows 10 in 2015, and that was due to the logical reason that Windows 10 was a new operating system that replaced the previous one. Though the modern journey of the OS did begin a few years back with Windows 8.

Therefore, when you think about it, Panay referring to “the next generation of Windows” is a much bigger deal than one might imagine.

For real, we know that two things are real. First is the upcoming Sun Valley update for Windows 10 that is supposed to a substantial one in scope and size. Second, of course, is the looming launch of a whole new variant of the OS in the form of Windows 10X.

To that end, the term “next generation of Windows” refers to both of these releases.

It is hard to imagine Windows 10X being ready for mainstream markets yet, not at launch certainly. Plus, the Windows desktop is still one of the biggest Microsoft products around. And that is not going to change for the foreseeable future.

At the same time, the Sun Valley update is being planned as a sweeping rejuvenation of Windows 10 that will give it a modern and consistent UI design and new features.

Moral of the story?

Microsoft seems to want to leave behind the baggage that has weighed down on the Windows platform with these two new releases.

It all comes down to trimming the codebase and dropping the legacy components in a new version, and the long overdue refresh of those very components in the other. Throw in something like Project Reunion as one final fix for the app situation, and you have what you might call a generational leap.

Not natively, of course, but a solid enough experience.

But at the same time, the software titan is also working on something a bit more elaborate. A bigger project of adding support for native Android apps for the Windows platform is underway behind the walls of Redmond.

And there are signs that its introduction could happen soon, both for Windows 10 and Windows 10X.

As in, this year.

The codename of this little endeavor is “Project Latte”, and the aim is to help developers package mobile apps as MSIX and enable native support for the Android subsystem. This technology will be built on top of Windows Subsystem for Linux, and will initially support apps published in the Windows Store.

If you guessed this as a bid from Microsoft to solve the app gap problem in the Windows platform, particularly the upcoming Windows 10X, then you think right.

This is a move that will massively improve the app experience on — more so on variants of the operating system like Windows 10 ARM and Windows 10X.

The report claims that the first preview of this project could be released by the software titan in the second half of this year. The company is also reportedly planning to replace Google APIs with Windows APIs to streamline the native application compatibility.

Microsoft will also allow the sideloading of applications with the developer mode enabled in the Developer Settings.

That said, applications that require GMS integration like Gmail and Google Play Store will not work.

All in all, 2021 promises to be quite a year.

Microsoft is, after all, hyping it up like nothing else.

From sources unexpected.

With talk that this new variant of the operating system will see daylight this month, people have been tinkering with prerelease builds of Windows 10X on whatever hardware they manage to get it on. Including old Windows Phone smartphones.

One such user managed to do so on a Nokia Lumia 950 XL.

This, as you may recall, was a handset that was released all the way back in 2015. It featured a 5.7-inch display and was a power packed device fit for the Microsoft logo. Well, that same device is in action now showing how the OS behaves.

Windows 10X has a "camera in use" indicator, whenever an app is using a camera.. Neat! pic.twitter.com/uMoHBQIQ95

— Gustave Monce (@gus33000) February 7, 2021

As shown, Windows 10X notifies you when the camera is in use.

This is good news for those that value privacy above all else, but also goes to show that Microsoft is taking care of the little things in this new operating system. The company may be taking its sweet time with it, but it certainly wants to go in with a fully baked approach in terms of features.

Comparing this with Windows 10, the mainline OS only includes an indicator for the microphone.

But if this is any indication, then we could see the same indicator being rolled out for all variants of the Windows operating platform in due time.

Microsoft definitely likes to move features around here and there.

Microsoft is working on what it calls the “next generation of Windows”.

And at the first day the Ignite 2021 conference, Panos Panay talked a bit about what the company is cooking. The Chief Product Officer hyped things up, without diving too much into the details, and saying that what the software titan has to show is not for this event.

His words:

“Windows is such an important platform, for connecting people, helping people be as productive as they possibly can be. It is the heart beat right now of what is modern work. It really is, just take a step back. But it’s also the heartbeat of what we do every day in our lives. It’s familiar, it’s intuitive, it adapts to you. These are really important elements.

This is a product right now that more than a billion people all over the world are relying on every day, to work, to learn … and ultimately to create. And that’s what this is about, how we continue to see where technology can take us versus what it does for us today and where is it that we will be and how can technology be there for you, Windows is the core of that.

It’s there to light up Microsoft 365 experiences, it’s there to light up the devices for OEMs, but most importantly like we talked about it’s there for people to connect, create, and ultimately be productive as they need to. We have new features coming—here I got to tell you this—look and I haven’t talked about the next generation of Windows and what’s coming next, but I can tell you I am so pumped. We’re not talking about that today.

Because we have so much right now, we talked about the depth of features and the breadth of what Windows can bring for each of you for IT Pros … I know that the future of Windows is incredible, what we’re bringing to the table for sure. But ultimately, we’re here today to talk about Windows 10 and what Windows 10 brings to the table, and how we can support our customers and partners here at Ignite.”

You can almost feel the hype!

Of course, that Microsoft actually has some big plans for Windows is perhaps the company’s worst kept secret. It is already readying Windows 10X for release soon, while also working on a major overhaul of the mainline Windows 10 codenamed Sun Valley.

Whether Panay is referring to either one of these, or both of these things as the next generation of the operating system remains to be seen.

It is, of course, the marketing name for Windows 10X.

This lightweight version of the OS is expected to be announced sometime this month. At least, as per Microsoft leaker WalkingCat, who first floated a time frame of this month, then clarified that the release may be delayed.

Correction: its coming, but maybe not next month, sorry https://t.co/vbEjaJ8if8

— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) February 26, 2021

Though he backs his claim of Windows 10X launching this year for sure.

Earlier, it was believed that this new variant of the OS would be built from the grounds up for dual-screen devices. But Microsoft had a quiet change of heart, and changed the plans to launch this new platform on single-screen devices first.

Including laptops and tablets.

Now, though, there are hints that this new OS will enter the ring as a challenger to Chromebooks and their dominance in the US education market.

Windows 10X will come preinstalled on PCs specifically designed for it, with these low-cost models having education and corporate users are their target audience. The target market will shift to consumers later down the road, as more features come online.

Including support for traditional desktop programs, which is missing from the initial launch.

This shift in release dates also means that Microsoft may be planning to release Windows 10 21H1 first, as a major full feature upgrade to Windows 10.

The New Windows, or Window 10X as it is known, will follow suit.

Expected to make its debut for education-focused devices very soon, we have a few hints regarding the marketing play Redmond is making for this upcoming OS. According to the very reliable WalkingCat, the official marketing material for Windows 10X is being called “The New Windows”.

Yeah.

more clarifications: the (primary) point here is not about timing, it is the naming https://t.co/vbEjaJ8if8

— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) February 26, 2021

Not much telling, this nomenclature, and there were whispers that the software titan may end up calling this new operating system something else entirely. Because, after all, if there was a time to move away from the Windows branding, this was it.

But it seems like Redmond want to keep the goodwill of the Windows brand flowing.

This new version of the OS will, of course, be optimized for devices in the Chromebooks category. That is to say that Windows 10X is not meant to be a replacement for the Windows 10 platform. The mainline operating system itself is soon going to be six years old.

What we do know about the new “New Windows” is that it will become available this year and target the education market.

A consumer push will follow next year.

At launch, Windows 10X will not be able to run legacy Win32 apps natively, though support for these desktop programs is sure to follow at a later date

The main goal of this new operating platform is a lightweight version of Windows that is both easy to manage for IT admins, and works great with Microsoft Store and web apps. And its main competition is going to come from Chromebooks, which have started to enjoy some real momentum in the US market.

Quiet a turnaround for an OS that was destined for dual-screen devices like the Surface Neo, but its current evolution should come as no surprise for those who follow the technology industry.

It’s all about the New New Thing.

Windows 10X doesn’t have a dedicated tablet mode, but it does have several features that make it work well on tablets.

For example, you can swipe up from the bottom bezel of a tablet to bring up the Start Menu rather than tapping the relatively small Start Menu icon.

Here’s the video.

What do y’all think..

This video is from the team at OnMsft.com and this their hands-on analysis on Windows 10x.

This video is from Brad Sams (on Thurrott.com) and this is his hands-on analysis on Windows 10x.