An unidentified source has given WinBeta more details regarding the Windows RT update set to arrive later this year. Microsoft have given little information so far, but promised that the update will feature ‘some of the functionality of Windows 10’. Since this announcement at the start of the year, no information has been leaked or confirmed.
Many hope that this will give Windows RT users more freedom and options, however according to the source, ‘Update 3’ may include fewer features than originally expected.
Windows RT is built for ARM devices, therefore regular x86 applications cannot be executed on the platform. This version of Windows 8 was designed to be a simplistic, cheap alternative. Sadly, few developers support the awkward platform, and Microsoft have show little enthusiasm to continue updating it.
The source claims that while some features are indeed coming, they may not be as large as originally hoped. Many Windows 10 features have been built up using XAML, and Windows 10 API’s, which means these are tied to the new operating system. To tackle this problem, without recreating features from the ground up, it is stated the update will add the DirectUI Start Menu, first seen in the early Windows 10 Technical Preview builds. This version of the Start Menu was designed using Windows 8.1 code, and will be further tuned to run on Windows RT.
The article continues by explaining in detail some features that will not make an appearance, if Microsoft’s plans do not change before release. Supposedly there are no plans to run any Modern UI apps in windowed mode, which improve the experience for mouse and keyboard users. There will also be no support for Continuum, allowing a seamless switch between tablet mode and a traditional style.
From previous statements and actions from Microsoft, it appears that Windows RT has been put behind them, and few upcoming plans are directed towards the platform. This looks to be a dead platform soon, and the few updates will be rolled out to the existing user base. Many RT users have been disappointed since launch, and like me, many are also unhappy with their purchase. Surface devices running Windows RT looked promising pre-launch, but the platform is almost abandoned as of today.
The update was supposedly set to release alongside Windows 10 on July 29 according to WinBeta’s source, however rumours state that the release date has now been delayed.
Source: WinBeta
Matt was a regular ICXM contributor in 2015, publishing 110 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One’s first full year of post-launch coverage, including the early days of Backwards Compatibility and Windows 10 gaming. They post on X as @RTEnvi.