The Verge is reporting that Microsoft has outlined a significant feature of its upcoming Windows 10X operation system (OS)—90 second updates.
Windows 10X is Microsoft’s OS designed specifically for foldable devices. The OS is an all-new version of Windows, with the legacy components removed and rebuilt. The OS emphasizes security and a modern user experience. At the same time, 10X will have the ability to run legacy apps if needed.
In what is a major quality-of-life improvement, Windows 10X updates will take less than 90 seconds. Much of this is due to the way the OS is designed. The Verge reports that “the Windows 10X operating system, drivers, and apps are all separate so Microsoft can simply switch to the latest OS update once a device is rebooted. Microsoft is using container technology for win32 traditional desktop apps that run on devices like the Surface Neo, meaning these apps cannot interfere with system files or data.”
As an added bonus, many of the devices that will initially ship with Windows 10X will use Intel’s Lakefield processors. These processors “include big and small cores that run asymmetrically for power savings. That means devs can run a typical desktop app on the larger cores for performance or lightweight apps on the power-sipping cores to save battery life.”
Microsoft’s announcement is welcome news, especially to anyone who has had to sit though a long and boring OS update. It’s a safe bet the company will have a hit on its hands later this year.