Windows 10X still struggles with Win32 Apps

[German]First reports indicate that the planned Windows 10X operating system still has a problem running Win32 applications. The applications are lame or cause problems.

What is Windows 10X?

Windows 10X is Microsoft's approach to managing dual-display devices under Windows. There is a slimmed down launcher on one screen, and on the second screen an app runs full screen. Both apps and Win32 applications should run on Windows 10X.

A few months ago the Redmond company released an SDK and a Windows 10X emulator for testing. I had published that within the blog post Install Windows 10X (Emulator Image) on bare metal. Martin Geuß took the trouble to torment himself with the emulator released by Microsoft and published this German article. I've learned that there is no desktop in Windows 10X. A launcher allows to start apps on a screen. The apps then run in full screen mode on the second screen. Windows 10X can only do UWP apps, but somehow has the possibility to support Win32 apps.

A few days ago Microsoft had to announce that the dual-screen Surface Neo would not be available this year. However, they want to release Windows 10X for single-screen desktops at the end of this year. It will be sold exclusively through OEMs, so you will only be able to buy devices with Windows 10X. I wrote a few days ago a critcal German blog post Windows 10X der nächste Flop für PCs?.

Win32 applications have a problem

Well, the whole thing is still under development and will certainly be improved by the end of 2020. As it looks, Microsoft still has a long way to go for the new concept to work at all. According to sources familiar with Windows 10X development, Microsoft is not satisfied with the performance of a number of Win32 applications when virtualized on 10X.

• These applications struggle with basic features such as screen sharing or docking in the notification area while minimizing the app. Then the features that are available in the notification area are missing.
• The Win32 applications run in containers and cannot send notifications. This is exactly what applications use intensively – although Microsoft will certainly get this under control at some point.

The charm of Win32 applications is that they have been developed for decades and are available for Windows in large numbers. The applications must be running if Windows 10X is to have any chance at all.

According to insiders, some older applications also have compatibility problems. All in all, not a good omen for the new operating system – it all reminds me of earlier flaws with Windows 10 RT and the 'emulator promise' regarding the execution of Win32 applications. If you need some more information, you can get it from Martin Geuß (German).