Microsoft working on more big features for Redstone

Nov 1, 2015 09:55 GMT  ·  By

Although Threshold 2 is almost here, Redstone is actually the first big Windows 10 update that will be released by Microsoft, and according to people close to the matter, it won't arrive sooner than the summer of 2016.

And yet, even though we're more than half a year away from its launch, we already know a thing or two about the new features that the software giant plans to ship with this update.

For example, a report by WinBeta reveals that Redstone is the update that could bring us a new feature that would work very similarly to Apple's Continuity, which brings together Mac OS X and iOS devices.

Microsoft is obsessed with bringing PCs and phones closer, and that's why the company is rolling out Windows 10 as a unified platform with universal apps and a single store, but Redstone is supposed to be an even bigger step in this direction.

How it works

Basically, Continuity is a feature that allows users to work on one device and continue on another from where they left off, no matter if it's a PC, phone or tablet. Apple explains:

“When you use a Mac or an iOS device, you’re able to do incredible things. And when you use them together, you can do so much more. Make and receive phone calls without picking up your iPhone. Start an email, edit a document, or surf the web on one device and pick up where you left off on another. Even activate your iPhone hotspot without taking your iPhone from your pocket or bag.”

That's exactly what Microsoft might be trying to do. For example, if you are working on an Office document on your PC and you need to leave right now, you can fire up Microsoft Word on your phone and see the document with the very last changes you've made. This is pretty much continuous synchronization of content between devices and should really come in handy to those who want to use the full Microsoft ecosystem.

The same for browsers. If you load a website on a phone and then you start working on the PC, when you launch Edge, you get the same page automatically, thus making sure that your work can continue uninterrupted. You should also be able to answer phone calls from your PC and control everything from the desktop, just as OS X users can do with their iPhones right now.

Redstone is also expected to bring some other major improvements, including extension support for Microsoft Edge browser, but keep in mind that the feature lineup is not yet final and anything can change before the update hits the market.