Microsoft's New Cloud PC Service Can Stream Windows to Mac and iPad

[MacRumors]

Microsoft has announced Windows 365, a new Cloud PC service that allows users to stream a Windows desktop via web browser to any device, including Macs and iPads.

The service works similar to the company's Xbox Cloud Gaming service – the Windows OS is loaded on a remote computer in the cloud, and Microsoft streams the entire desktop PC experience to the user's device. Microsoft is calling it a "hybrid Windows for a hybrid world" where office and remote working interchange.

Windows 365 provides an instant-on boot experience that enables users to stream all their personalized applications, tools, data, and settings from the cloud across any device including your Mac, iPad, Linux device, and Android," explained Microsoft 365 general manager Wangui McKelvey. "The Windows experience is consistent, no matter the device. You can pick up right where you left off, because the state of your Cloud PC remains the same, even when you switch devices."

Users will be able to choose the configuration of the virtual PC, such as the amount of storage and working memory. According to Microsoft, a cloud PC can be configured with up to 512GB and 16GB of RAM.

There will be two edition options with multiple Cloud PC configurations based on performance needs: Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Information and files are encrypted and stored in the cloud, to avoid security concerns about leaving sensitive data on local devices.

The service will launch in early August and, initially at least, will be offered to business customers on a per-user, per-month subscription basis. Microsoft hasn't mentioned whether a personal product is in the works, but the company has been working from a roadmap that should see all its main services eventually move to a subscription model.

Assuming Microsoft offers a consumer plan down the line, not only should Windows 365 offer a full desktop experience on iPads, it may appeal to owners of Apple silicon Macs who are unable to run Windows through Boot Camp.

Article Link: Microsoft's New Cloud PC Service Can Stream Windows to Mac and iPad

 

[peteyD]

Is this just a simplified RDS-style service where the PC runs on a virtual machine in a datacenter, or is the OS actually streamed to the client? It sounds like the former. I'll be interested to see how a single PC instance translates in to user experience on the different devices, e.g. a desktop computer v. a touchscreen tablet without keyboard.

 

[ian87w]

I guess this is Microsoft's answer for Windows for Apple Silicon. Just stream it.
Still quite groundbreaking imo. This also means people on older machines who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 might be able to do so through this (assuming the minimum requirement is not Windows 11).

 

[polyphenol]

Could be very interesting for those who have one, or a few, key apps that they cannot run.

Availability, cost, performance are all key. As well as licensing of the apps. Might some vendors seek to prevent use in such a cloud service?

Also interesting how maintenance will be managed. Can’t see Microsoft wanting unpatched instances but also an issue if the app has issues with patches. Even if only temporarily.

 

[Marbles1]

So it's just Amazon WorkSpaces then:

VDI Desktops - Amazon WorkSpaces Family - AWS

Fully managed, secure, reliable virtual desktops for every workload.

aws.amazon.com

 

[xserret]

Ehu.... AKA since almost 10 years Windows VM by Amazon, Azure... etc.
No technology innovation, just marketing and BM.

 

[MakeAppleAwesomeAgain]

"But you know underneath it all... it's still Windows."

 

[LFC2020]

I guess this is Microsoft's answer for Windows for Apple Silicon. Just stream it.
Still quite groundbreaking imo. This also means people on older machines who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 might be able to do so through this (assuming the minimum requirement is not Windows 11).

Does that mean we’re getting macOS on iPad via safari? ??

 

[Marshall73]

Is this just a simplified RDS-style service where the PC runs on a virtual machine in a datacenter, or is the OS actually streamed to the client? It sounds like the former. I'll be interested to see how a single PC instance translates in to user experience on the different devices, e.g. a desktop computer v. a touchscreen tablet without keyboard.

Yup, you can also connect to it with Microsoft Remote Desktop/terminal services client

 

[threesixty360]

I think what could be interesting with this is how fast / resolution etc.. of the desktop thats streamed vs normal RDP. If this is using the xbox cloud technology then you could actually do more serious graphics stuff (even play a game?).

Now that would be interesting. Could also feel smoother and more like an actual physical machine... Not holding my breath, but that would be amazing as many RDP solutions are not that performant in my view.

 

[ruka.snow]

Better solution than VM for all those people still needing Windows on M1.

 

[0924487]

Meanwhile, Parallels Desktop employees are panically brushing up resume writing skills.

 

[polyphenol]

Does that mean we’re getting macOS on iPad via safari? ??

Have to say that Microsoft's RDP tool works very well onto a Windows PC. (I find it easier to use RDP than to switch the input source of my monitor.)

I wish that the best aspects of that were available when remoting into MacOS. The rescaling to work well on the viewing device works amazingly well. TightVNC, for example, is a pain. Ideally as an Apple tool built-in and without any additional charges. (No experience of Apple's charged-for remote tool. Too darned expensive.)

 

[jgbr]

Hmm, I don't thing it will hit VM that hard and it's target is different. Bootcamp/VM will still serve many people better.

We are really in the age of cheap computing power.

 

[oldoneeye]

this doesn't appear to be new to me ?

thin client anyone ?

 

[blackboxxx]

Does that mean we’re getting macOS on iPad via safari? ??

It should theoretically be possible to run a VM in the cloud and install macOS on it as a guest OS.

So you could have virtualized macOS running on a cloud instance of Windows 365, streamed to your iPad via Safari.
The question is whether it will be usable with so many levels of indirection.

 

[subjonas]

I like local computing using my own machines/devices so I really hope this isn’t the direction everything is going.

 

[=Alb=]

Welcome back to the mainframe / stupid terminal era, where all your content belong to the master.

 

[centauratlas]

Multics 2021 - What's old is new again. Timeshare redux.

The real question is: who holds the encryption keys and is the VM/kernel accessible? Probably Microsoft and yes.
Meaning: completely insecure.

 

[ruka.snow]

Welcome back to the mainframe / stupid terminal era, where all your content belong to the master.

For the vast majority of users that is all they need. A iMac like device with little or no processing in it that they can log into a cloud OS from home, work, coffee shop, and just use. We have low latency multi gigabit internet now with equally low latency multi gigabit 5G. Why on earth does the average person browsing the web or making Excel spreadsheets need their own computer?

 

[peteyD]

Yup, you can also connect to it with Microsoft Remote Desktop/terminal services client

It'll be interesting to see how this deals with high bandwidth requirements like 4K video. The usual way is to offload the media playback to the local client (Citrix HDX) which then makes the experience dependent on the capability of the local hardware.

Also, if the OS isn't actually streamed, presumably this won't work offline.

 

[Nobody19]

Is this just a simplified RDS-style service where the PC runs on a virtual machine in a datacenter, or is the OS actually streamed to the client? It sounds like the former. I'll be interested to see how a single PC instance translates in to user experience on the different devices, e.g. a desktop computer v. a touchscreen tablet without keyboard.

Basically Window Virtual Desktop that you can get for years from Azure has been made available to general consumer

Microsoft has announced Windows 365, a new Cloud PC service that allows users to stream a Windows desktop via web browser to any device, including Macs and iPads.

The service works similar to the company's Xbox Cloud Gaming service – the Windows OS is loaded on a remote computer in the cloud, and Microsoft streams the entire desktop PC experience to the user's device. Microsoft is calling it a "hybrid Windows for a hybrid world" where office and remote working interchange.

Users will be able to choose the configuration of the virtual PC, such as the amount of storage and working memory. According to Microsoft, a cloud PC can be configured with up to 512GB and 16GB of RAM.

There will be two edition options with multiple Cloud PC configurations based on performance needs: Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Information and files are encrypted and stored in the cloud, to avoid security concerns about leaving sensitive data on local devices.

The service will launch in early August and, initially at least, will be offered to business customers on a per-user, per-month subscription basis. Microsoft hasn't mentioned whether a personal product is in the works, but the company has been working from a roadmap that should see all its main services eventually move to a subscription model.

Assuming Microsoft offers a consumer plan down the line, not only should Windows 365 offer a full desktop experience on iPads, it may appeal to owners of Apple silicon Macs who are unable to run Windows through Boot Camp.

Article Link: Microsoft's New Cloud PC Service Can Stream Windows to Mac and iPad

Basically Window Virtual Desktop that you can get for years from Azure has been made available to general consumer

 

[peteyD]

For the vast majority of users that is all they need. A iMac like device with little or no processing in it that they can log into a cloud OS from home, work, coffee shop, and just use. We have low latency multi gigabit internet now with equally low latency multi gigabit 5G. Why on earth does the average person browsing the web or making Excel spreadsheets need their own computer?

If they have an iMac then they already have their own computer? Also, not everyone has 5G and multi-gigabit internet now, or at least not everywhere and all the time.

 

[ruka.snow]

If they have an iMac then they already have their own computer? Also, not everyone has 5G and multi-gigabit internet now, or at least not everywhere and all the time.

I said a iMac like device. And multi gigabit internet is quite common and cheeper to setup in a office. Depending on terminal power requirement, you could install hundreds of terminals with just PoE and those users get a better experience than the £300 Dell than was going to be there. As for home users, they already steam games, videos, and music. Why not stream the word processor and browser down?

 

[R.T.J.]

Why do they call it Windows 365? What is 365? Why not 360 at least?

The best talent people at Microsoft have is placing forgettable names on their products that will only end up remembered in time for the biggest failure they were.