Microsoft is bringing Windows to robots and coffee mugs
Microsoft is travelling to San Francisco tomorrow to start the company's Build developer conference. While the software maker will largely focus on Windows Phone 8.1 this week, it appears Microsoft has big ambitions for bringing Windows to even smaller devices. A new site,
Windows on Devices, briefly launched ahead of the Build keynote tomorrow, and it revealed Microsoft is "bringing Windows to a whole new class of small devices."
Suggestions include a smart coffee mug, a talking bear, and robots. It appears that Microsoft is taking advantage of development hardware from Intel, specifically its Galileo system-on-chip. Intel is currently using Galileo to
encourage adoption by educational institutions for hands-on engineering teaching. Microsoft says it plans to release a software development kit in the spring, with regular software updates to enable integrated cloud services and better tools for developers. The site also mentions that Microsoft will demonstrate a life-size piano at Build tomorrow.
The question is whether "Windows on Devices" will power devices like
smartwatches or
Google Glass-like eyewear, both of which Microsoft is rumored to be working on. Microsoft's announcement comes just weeks after Google revealed its
Android Wear plans.
The Verge will be live blogging Microsoft's Build keynote, and the piano could be part of many ways the company will likely show it’s ready to bring Windows to all electronics for the Internet of Things.
Update April 2nd, 3:35AM: Microsoft has pulled its Windows on Devices site offline. The article has been updated to reflect that.
