Microsoft Device Chief Julie Larson-Green hints at unified Windows OS for all devices

Microsoft may be looking at combining the three branches of its Windows operating system into one unified version in the near future. At the UBS Global Technology Conference held last week, Julie Larson-Green, Head of Devices for the software giant indicated that there was a strong possibility of Microsoft merging its operating systems. 

According to the Microsoft head, “We have the Windows Phone OS. We have Windows RT and we have full Windows. We’re not going to have three.” This is not the first time we have heard word of Microsoft considering a single OS version.

During the company’s financial analysts meeting held in September, Windows Chief Terry Myerson had hinted at phablets being the future of Windows RT. At the time, Myerson had said that, “Windows RT was our first ARM tablet. And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future.”

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Windows devices, all running the same OS!

The first sign of this unification could be Microsoft’s decision of creating a single app store for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Until now, applications for both operating systems have been separated by two differing stores, but are now being brought under the same roof through a simple developer registration process. Adding to this, Larson-Green said, “We do think there’s a world where there is a more mobile operation that doesn’t have the risks to battery life, or the risks to security. But it also comes at the cost of flexibility. We believe in that vision and that direction and we’re continuing down that path and that direction and we’re continuing down that path.”

Wearable devices are another market segment that Microsoft is also looking at. While talking about this, Larson-Green said, “Sensors are going to become a big part of how you think about things. You see all these fitness devices that people wear on their wrists that do some interesting things. And there are lots of things we can do by bringing those things together in a new way of thinking about how people interact with technology. Just as the mouse was an invention, touch was an invention, there will be the next new way to interact. And that’s why we’ve been focusing on natural user interface for a while, working on that”

While the Microsoft Chief did not go into details about the kind of projects that the company is looking at, there have been reports of a smartwatch with a 1.5-inch display and Surface connector being tested.  In addition, there was also speculation that Microsoft may be working on a new Google Glass-like eyewear for the market as well.