Windows 10 to get just one big update a year as Microsoft shifts focus to Windows 10X?

ZD Net writes Microsoft might change the cadence of its Windows 10 feature updates. For the last couple of years, the software giant offered users two feature updates a year but this may be reduced to just one update.

The website heard this change may go into effect next year. This will give Microsoft more resources to prioritize the development of Windows 10X, a more modular version of Windows 10 with a simplified interface. It's said that Microsoft will roll out Windows 10X in Spring 2021, single-screen devices will be first with support for dual-screen devices to be added in Spring 2022.

One of the big changes in Windows 10X is that this OS will not support Win32 software, at least not initially. ZD Net's Mary Jo Foley heard Microsoft is still working on supporting traditional Win32 software on Windows 10X via virtualization, but that this feature won't be ready until 2022 at the earliest.

The first release of 10X will not include support for running Win32 apps in containers, as originally planned, as Windows Central reported, and I am that hearing, as well. Instead, it will be able to run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and web apps only. Windows Central's Zac Bowden believes that Microsoft might be counting on Microsoft's new Cloud PC virtualization service which I reported on this week to provide those who need Win32 apps with access to them. My bet is Win32 container support won't be there not just because of power/resource overhead, but because Microsoft has had problems with Win32 app performance on 10X.

So going forward, it looks like Windows 10X releases may hit the release channel in the Spring season, with Windows 10 feature updates to follow in the Fall season.