As expected, the Microsoft today announced a new version of the operating system that it calls “Windows 10 S” and is aimed specifically at schools and is limited to applications available in the Windows Store.
We've heard the new version of Windows like it Windows 10 Cloud when it was still in the process of development.
Windows 10 S can only run apps that are uploaded to the Windows Store, and Microsoft says (re-framing positively) that a key security feature, because everything will be completely secure as it will be verified by itself company.
Windows 10 S is easy to install and manage, as Microsoft's Terry Myerson explained, explaining that teachers or IT staff can use special tools to quickly set up the devices and prepare them for their classes.
Devices running Window 10 S will be available from 189 dollars and will come with a free subscription to Minecraft Education Edition. In addition, Windows 10 S will be available for free to all schools using Windows 10 Pro on their computers.
But every time users will attempt to launch a Win32 platform software on a device with Windows 10 S, they will appear with a notification saying that only apps from the Windows Store are allowed.
According to Microsoft, there are alternatives for each application in the Store, and there is no available Windows 10 S can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro directly from the Windows Store, apparently by paying a license.
The Windows 10 S operating system will be released this summer, "in time for the new school year," Myerson explained, adding that Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung and Toshiba will be some of the companies that will install the OS on their upcoming devices.
It remains to be seen how successful this new version of Microsoft's operating system is to hit the Chromebooks.
