Microsoft sets its sights on the Internet of Things with lightweight Windows 10 preview

By Brad Jones April 30, 2015

Raspberry Pi 2 mini PC — Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

It’s no secret that Microsoft wants to use Windows 10 to expand the OS beyond the traditional PC. Phones and tablets are already set to be brought closer to traditional computers thanks to its focus on device agnosticism — and now it seems that microcontrollers and mini-PCs are set to join the party, too.

Devices like Arduino, Raspberry Pi and Intel’s Minnowboard Max will be able to run the new edition of Windows 10, which has been designed specifically for this branch of technology. The intent is for Microsoft to continue developing its relationships with creators working with such platforms, as that was a major focus of the company’s keynote at BUILD.

This version of the OS is called Windows 10 IoT Core, and a preview is being made available today for developers enrolled in the Insider program. IoT stands for Internet of Things, the movement towards taking advantage of connectivity in physical products that have traditionally done without it. The small size and low cost of microcontrollers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi make them ideal for prototyping and manufacturing such devices.

The IoT Core Insider Preview offers support for both the Raspberry Pi and Minnowboard Max. Microsoft’s partnership with Arduino was only officially announced today, so at present the only software being made available for those devices is Windows Remote Arduino and Windows Virtual Shield for Arduino. Windows 10 was also announced as the world’s first Arduino-certified OS, so expect to see more from this relationship in the future.

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean a full Windows 10 desktop will operate on these devices. Windows 10 IoT is stripped down and intended for people looking to build on devices with very limited resources. It exists to let developers leverage Windows development tools and the Azure cloud platform, rather the desktop GUI environment.

Microsoft continues to target the breadth of the industry with Windows 10. It will certainly be interesting to see whether this strategy results in their greatest success to date — or results in a product spread too thin. More information on Windows 10 IoT Core can be found at the Windows Dev Center.

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Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

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