Exclusive: 64-bit SDK coming

We had a chance to ask Erin Chappelle GM of the Windows and device group and lead on Windows 10 on Snapdragon about the lack of 64-bit emulation support at launch.

Erin Chapple General Manager, Microsoft As a General Manager in the Windows and Devices Group was the right person to ask why the Windows 10 on Snapdragon is missing the 64-bit emulation application support. She also leads the team delivering the base components of the operating system including the Kernel, Hypervisor, Containers and Storage and was certainly the right person to address this elephant in the room.

64 Bit on ARM in the future
Erin confirmed Fudzilla that the Microsoft was considering the 64-bit emulation support for the future, but it was a time to market and executive decision that prevented 64-bit to be supported at launch. Microsoft will enable 64-bit SDK for developers and this might be the way to optimize the applications going forwarded. Our understanding is that if Adobe comes up with an idea that they want to make a native Photoshop for ARM, Microsoft and its SDK will be there to help.

Erin also said that most X64 applications in the market are the high-end games. This is not what the Snapdragon platform is tailored for. At the Snapdragon technology summit in beautiful Maui Hawaii, it was pointed out by Erin as well as Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Windows and Devices Group at Microsoft pointed out that always connected PC is a completely new market for Microsoft.

Always connected PC is the new market
Of course Microsoft sees a potential as the company has invested a lot of time and resources into the Windows on Snapdragon, always connected PC project. The motivation is very straightforward. Microsoft wants to get into the new markets as they do realize that people need the connectivity on modern devices.

HP Envy X2 device comes with 4GB or RAM while Asus NovaGo always connected Snapdragon 835 device comes with up to 8GB memory. While the OS can support 8GB of memory, the applications will be limited to 4GB. This might become an issue in some extreme scenarios but both Qualcomm and Microsoft pointed out that these devices are targeting casual, every day use market, rather than the high end video editing professionals.

You start with a market where you have a good value proposition and in this case this was the consumer market. In the future Microsoft hopes to bring the always connected PC idea to the enterprise who will benefit the security and cloud opportunities of a mobility that 4G and 5G for the enterprise.

Snapdragon 835 devices are it seems first of many to come. There is an opportunity for higher and as well as lower cost devices. This is what Miguel Nunes Director of Product management for Windows on Snapdragon and Erin Chapple left us with.