Thanks to some fantastically detailed WinHEC slides, we’re learning a lot more about Windows 10 Mobile—the Windows 10 version aimed at phones and small tablets. Here’s what I’ve found so far.

It’s not really the same as desktop. Despite all the “One Windows” baloney we’ve been served, Microsoft very clearly states in its technical documentation that Windows 10 Mobile “is a separate OS from Desktop.” It has different hardware requirements, a different disk footprint (see below), and does not require activation. (It’s also not available for download or purchase separately.) There’s no MSI installation, no desktop mode, no command line, no console, no Device Manager. And there is a wireless carrier dependency (at least on phones).

RAM. Windows 10 Mobile requires 512 MB of RAM or more and is a 32-bit OS.

Storage. 4 GB of flash storage or more. But devices with just 4 GB of flash storage are required to have microSD expandability.

Graphics. DirectX 9 (compared to DirectX 12 in the PC/tablet version).

Hardware buttons. Power, Volume Up, Volume Down, Start, Back, and Search are required (but the latter three can be software-based on low-res screens).

Screen sizes. Windows 10 Mobile devices support screens from 3 inches to 7.99 inches.

Screen resolutions. It’s complicated. In that there are a lot. But the maximum resolution is 2560 x 2048 (QSZGA) for devices with 4 GB or more of RAM, 2048 x 1152 (QWXGA) for devices with 3 GB or more of RAM, 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) for devices with 2 GB or more of RAM, 1366 x 768 (WXGA) for devices with 1 GB or more of RAM, and 854 x 480 (FWVGA) for devices with 512 MB or more of RAM.

Required components. Cellular radio (phones only) with data and voice, loudspeaker (with earpiece required for phones), headphone/headset jack (phones only), 802.11g (phones only), vibration mechanism for notifications,

Optional components. Accelerometer, Magnetometer, ALS, Proximity, and Gyroscope sensors, touch (!, must be two-finger if implemented).

More info as I continuing poring through the WinHEC slides…

Tagged with Windows 10 Mobile