Re: Sorry, but I've had it!
Boy that's a lot of questions. HoloLens is still in development, in a sort of insider program.
Windows on ARM will likely eventually replace windows 10 mobile. That seems to be everyones best guess right now. They have be porting features of windows 10 mobile, into windows 10 proper, like calling, texting, mobile hotspot. Because win32 runs on an emulation layer, it will probably require quite high end hardware to run properly. ie, more or less new.
As I understand it, there is a hack somewhere around these parts, for spoofing another device, such that you get the creators update. So if that's what you are after, then you might be able to get what you want - the update, and the one after.
Commercially speaking, Microsoft have less than 2-5% marketshare in mature markets. Surpisingly they've had a small spot of growth in those markets, but that is after years of lost ground.
Whereas by comparison they have solid market growth in tablets against their competitors (fastest growing segment), and have lost ground to chromebooks in laptops an area where they still have dominance.
I think the main priority is to push into those markets, particularly budget tablets and laptops, where their is momentum and very good odds of success - if they can capture a large share of tablets, two in ones, and stylus enabled laptops - then that will be good for the windows store.
If they can kill the chromebook, and capture decent tablet marketshare - then there will be a viable demand for touch based "UWP" apps, and more development on the platform AND THAT, would open the possibility of taking on the big boys again. The same apps you use on your phone.
You see the google play store has 2.8 million. The windows store has 700,000. They have a bit of catching up to do, its a complex problem you can't just throw money at.
Basically its a matter of focusing on fighting the battles you know you can win. Which I know isn't great for current windows 10 mobile users. That said, bb10 devices under blackberry receive no feature updates. They released new phones, -themselves- like a year ago, and its been dropped like a rock. No roiling updates, no love, and no official statement. Sheer rejection. At least there are _some_ updates to windows 10 mobile, even if on limited devices, that's more that some other companies would do.
I'm sure apple was just as hard on its risc chip customers when they pulled a similar strategy to current micrsoft before the ipod (cut costs, slim down, invest in future technologys, or as steve jobs put it "wait for the next big thing)
I reckon, have a look around here and see if there's a way you can get the update. As I understand it, its possible, and if that is at least part of your grievance, you might be able to get some satisfaction.
Nobody knows exactly whats happening to windows 10 mobile, other than MS seems to have some kind of convergence planned into windows 10 proper. Probably windows 10 on arm.
But it likely won't happen, or be announced this year, because MS has pressing issues in markets it needs to win, in order to have a robust app platform. This may it should be announcing windows cloud. Windows on arm is supposed to be arriving for tablets/servers/laptops or something late this year.
Because sadly, not many desktop users seem to use UWP apps! I use them on desktop and on tablet, but MS needs those numbers, those higher numbers of users, to get developers to write apps. Writers need audiences to survive.
And with not enough apps, its hard to sell smartphones.
BUT If MS can win back budget laptops, and continue to grow in tablets this year - gain some real ground, I think we can put smartphones back on the table personally. If it makes those wins, UWP will grow faster.
Right now, MS's strategy is to keep making plays, like windows on arm, and windows cloud, try to develop the next step (like the upcoming Cortana bot intergration, or hololens), and hope it finds the right footing to tackle the problem of the smartphone market.
I'm not trying to invalidate anything you have said. I've been a blackberry user, I know exactly what having a great platform dropped feels like.
But at least MS, has some games afoot, to try and claw its way back. I'm quite optimistic about windows cloud and windows on arm - budget is the only other growth sector in tablets, "ink" makes windows cloud quite attractive next to ChromeOS for education - if windows can make LTE enabled, long battery life, thinner, cheaper tablets, hybrids and laptops, it could easily conquer that market, or at least make serious headway. And that would definitely mean a lot more UWP app development. And that would open up mobile in a way, it isn't right now.
Indeed if Windows could have dominance, or decent marketshare in tablets, as well as laptops, desktops and servers - that would make it far easier to leverage into the phone market. It's not stupid, its kind of clever.
I don't exactly use voice activation for it. I just set my destination before I start driving, and it calls out directions (so theirs no need to see the map).
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