Windows 10 S is a new edition of Windows 10 built with one specific purpose: to take on Google Chromebooks and the education market. Education is an important area for Microsoft, and with Windows 10 S, the Redmond giant plans to take back the education industry by storm.

This is everything we know about Windows 10 S so far.

It's locked to the Windows Store

The biggest difference between this edition of Windows 10 and the other editions is that Windows 10 S is locked to the Windows Store for all apps and games. That means downloading programs from the web won't work on this edition of Windows, because Windows 10 will simply refuse to install software unless it's from the Windows Store.

There's no way to turn this function off on Windows 10 S, because it is designed specifically for the added security. You could upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, which subsequently would enable the ability to install programs from outside the Windows Store, but that would no longer be Windows 10 S.

Hands on with Windows 10 S

It looks and feels just like any normal Windows 10

On the surface, it isn't immediately clear that Windows 10 S is different than any other version of Windows 10. It looks just like any other edition of Windows 10 available on the market today, apart from the fact that it has a slightly different default wallpaper when setting up for the first time.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because it means users will be familiar with the Windows experience no matter what version of Windows 10 they're using. This is especially beneficial for students, who Windows 10 S is mostly aimed at.

It's a little more secure

Because app installers can't execute from outside the Windows Store, you're technically more secure. You won't get any rogue installers installing malware behind your back, because they simply don't run on this edition of Windows 10. Everything in the Windows Store is (for the most part) safe, being screened by Microsoft's own app approval system before being available in the Store for download.

It's not a 'lite' version of Windows

There's a common misconception that because Windows 10 S is locked to the Windows Store, it's technically a "lite" version of Windows 10. That's not true, because it still has the ability to run full Win32 programs much like any other edition of Windows 10. As long as the software is available in the Windows Store, it'll run on Windows 10 S.

That means if Google decides to put Chrome in the Windows Store, Windows 10 S users will be able to use Chrome. If Adobe puts Premiere Pro in the Windows Store, it'll work on Windows 10 S, too. This is a full version of Windows, the only difference is the fact that it's bound to the Windows Store for all your apps and games.

Office is a big part of Windows 10 S

Microsoft will likely push the full version of Microsoft Office 2016 on Windows 10 S, if the fact that Word 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Excel 2016 and OneNote being pinned to the Start menu by default is anything to go by. The apps aren't installed by default, but clicking the pinned tiles will take you to the Store to download them.

Considering Windows 10 S can't run programs from outside the Store, this means Microsoft will be bringing the full version of Office to the Windows Store as Centennial apps, which is super exciting. This also means you won't be limited to the "Office Mobile" version of the apps.

It can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro

If you're not a fan of the limitations of being locked to the Windows Store, you can upgrade it to Windows 10 Pro for a small fee. In some cases, your Windows 10 S device might come with a free Windows 10 Pro upgrade too! So keep a look out for that..

This week, on May 2nd, Microsoft will be holding a hardware event in New York City, in which the company is expected to unveil new hardware and talk about Windows 10 and the cloud, with a focus on the education market. Unlike previous hardware events, we're expecting this one to be toned down dramatically when it comes to new hardware.

So, what do we expect to be announced? Well first, it's probably a smart idea to cross off the things we know won't be announced. According to our sources, both a Surface Pro 5 and Surface Book 2 are off the table for announcement on May 2nd. It's also incredibly unlikely that we'll see a Surface Studio refresh so soon.

Oh, and definitely no Surface Phone.

What's more, considering Microsoft's own BUILD developer conference is a week later, we probably won't be hearing about any future Windows versions just yet. So Project NEON, My People, etc. are all off the cards, unless Windows 10 Cloud is part of Redstone 3, which we don't think is the case.

A new non-pro Surface

We're expecting Microsoft to unveil some kind of new non-pro Surface device on May 2nd, aimed at the education market running Windows 10 Cloud. It's currently unclear what form-factor this device will take, however if recent rumors are anything to go by, it may be a traditional laptop style device without a detachable display. It could also end up being a successor to the Surface 3, with that traditional tablet form-factor with a detachable keyboard. I'm hoping for the former, however.

Considering this device is aimed at the education market, we assume Microsoft will want to keep the cost of this thing on the cheaper side. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be super affordable, we're thinking somewhere along the lines of Surface 3 pricing. Remember, with the Surface line, Microsoft want to show other hardware makers how to build the best hardware possible, not undercut them with premium, low-cost devices.

It's unclear how well spec'd the new Surface will be. It could be a mid-ranger, sporting an Intel Core Y processor (formally known as Core M chips), or maybe something a little more beefy such as an Intel Core i5 or i7. Maybe, it'll rock an Intel ATOM or even ARM processor, although we're not expecting Windows 10 on ARM to be ready until the fall.

In regards to its name? CloudBook is the rumor. We're not so sure, as this device is aimed at schools. We'll know for sure on Tuesday.

Windows 10 Cloud

We're also expecting Microsoft to officially unveil Windows 10 Cloud (which we're hearing will actually debut as Windows 10 S) on May 2nd. Windows 10 Cloud is a new edition of Windows 10 that has been in the works alongside the Creators Update, and is a special version of Windows 10 that's locked to the Windows Store for all your apps and games, this means you can't download programs from the web.

If an app you want is in the Windows Store, then it'll run just fine on Windows 10 Cloud. Apps like Evernote, Slack and Photoshop Elements will all run on Windows 10 Cloud as they're available in the Store, but apps like Google Chrome won't. If you do want to run apps from outside the Store on Windows 10 Cloud, you can purchase an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro directly from the Windows Store.

Windows 10 Cloud won't be a version of Windows you can buy on store shelves, but rather will be an edition of Windows 10 available to hardware makers for pre-loading on to their own hardware. Cloud will benefit mostly at the low-end of the laptop/tablet market, however it isn't limited to low-end devices. Hardware makers, if they so please, can pre-load high-end devices with Windows 10 Cloud too, something we expect Microsoft to do with its new non-pro Surface.

Office 2016 Centennial

In the light of a version of Windows 10 that's locked to the Windows Store, we're expecting Microsoft to officially announce that Office 2016 is coming to Windows 10 via Centennial apps, available in the Store. We already know this is coming, as the leaked Windows 10 Cloud builds have Word 2016, PowerPoint 2016 and Excel 2016 all pinned to the Start menu by default, but clicking them takes you to an empty page in the Store.

Office 2016 coming to the Windows Store means devices running Windows 10 Cloud won't be missing out on the full Office experience, and won't have to use the far more limited Office Mobile apps. I'd also say the ability to one-click install an app as complicated as Word or PowerPoint is super convenient to the user.

Another benefit of bringing Office 2016 to the Windows Store is that you'll no longer have to download the entire suite if you just want to use Word 2016. Each app will have their own Store page and install buttons, which is excellent.

Joe Belfiore!

Joe Belfiore recently announced that he was back at Microsoft and working on improving the education market with Windows 10. Considering this hardware event is focused heavily on education, we wouldn't be surprised to see Joe Belfiore make an appearance to show us what the deal is with Windows 10 Cloud.

It would be the first time Joe Belfiore has made a public appearance for Microsoft since his year sabbatical, so it'll be exciting to see him on stage. If not Joe Belfiore, we'll definitely be seeing Satya Nadella at the event.

What do you expect?

That's what we're expecting will show up on May 2nd, but what are you expecting or hoping to see? Let us know!

Do you want to know when Redstone 5 and Redstone 6 is coming? We have the answers! Do you want to know more about Windows 10 Cloudbooks? We have the answers! Do you want to know what feature2 is and the future of Windows 10 Mobile? We don't have the answers for that but you bet we're gonna speculate about it in this weeks epsisode of the Windows Central Podcast!

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Show Notes

• 1:10 Creators Update Mobile Review
• 7:50 What is feature2?
• 19:40 Would another Windows phone reset be a good idea?
• 26:30 Windows 10 Cloudbooks
• 38:25 Redstone 3 coming September

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On May 2, all eyes will be on Microsoft at its New York City event. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to take the stage and unveil a new push into the education market, likely focused on the U.S. initially.

Google has been making big inroads into the K-12 education sector with its low-cost and easy-to-manage Chromebooks. According to IDC's latest numbers, Chromebooks represented 49 percent of that market last year, up from 40 percent in 2015 and just 9 percent in 2013.

Another research firm, Futuresource, puts the number even higher at 58 percent, up from 50 percent in 2015.

Apple, which has taken the brunt of the damage from the Chromebook wave in education in the U.S, meanwhile lost significant momentum in recent years. Apple's iOS, featured on the waning iPad series, went from a peak of 26 percent of the market in 2014 to just 14 percent last year, according to Futuresource.

Microsoft's Windows, by comparison, did better, dropping from 25 percent to 22 percent in that same time period.

For non-U.S. markets, the tale is very different. There, 65 percent of the education market is Windows, with Chrome OS at just six percent and Android at 17 percent. Apple held steady at just nine percent of the global education K-12 markets.

The timing is right for Windows 10 Cloud

Google is on to something with its Chromebook line, at least in the U.S. Combined with hardware support from major manufacturers, a mature app ecosystem, and ease of IT management, Chromebooks are the preferred choice for school IT departments.

In speaking with some local school IT administrators – both public and private – here in Marlborough, Mass., it is the ability to lock down and secure Chromebooks, followed by cost, that is driving Chromebook adoption.

7 things you need to know about Windows 10 Cloud

Microsoft is poised, however, to get back into education. Windows RT was a disaster for the company on many levels, including its confusing name, poor marketing, software limitations, and pricing.

The Windows 10 Cloud OS, which may go by the name "Windows 10 S" when unveiled on May 2, is a different scenario. This time, Microsoft has a story to tell and a strategy to market this version of Windows to the right audience.

Key differences between Windows RT and Windows 10 Cloud OSes include:

• A more mature Store for Windows Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps.
• The ability for the OS to be upgraded to a Home or Pro license.
• Capacity to run Win32 apps via "Project Centennial" bridge apps via the Store.
• A hardware team that's more in tune with commercial and consumer needs and desires.

Combined with advancements in hardware and improvements to the OS, Microsoft has clear goals it wants to achieve with Windows 10 Cloud.

In an internal document obtained by Windows Central (above), we can see exactly how Microsoft views Windows 10 Cloud as competing against Chromebooks in performance benchmarks.

Additionally, recommended minimum specifications for a Windows 10 "CloudBook" are listed for hardware manufacturers:

• Quad-core (Celeron or better) processor.
• 4GB of RAM.
• 32GB of storage (64GB for 64-bit).
• A battery larger than 40 WHr.
• Fast eMMC or solid state drive (SSD) for storage technology.
• Pen and touch (optional).

Microsoft is focusing heavily on all-day battery life, as evidenced by its new "Power Throttling" initiative that's being tested in recent Windows Insider Program previews for the "Redstone 3" release expected this fall.

Windows 10 on ARM will go further

Windows 10 on ARM is another big step for Microsoft that is expected to come to fruition this fall, as well. With the ability to run what was an x86/64 OS on mobile ARM processors, the company can further drive down hardware costs, improve battery efficiency, and make thinner and lighter devices.

Intel is making significant strides in reducing battery consumption, and Microsoft's Power Throttling goes further. According to the company, its Power Throttling support will be extended to other processor types (currently it is limited to 6th and 7th Generation Intel processors), which likely includes ARM.

The Achilles heel of Windows laptops has always been two-fold: poor battery life, and risk management due to viruses and installing .exe software. Both of those problems are now being ameliorated through Windows 10 Cloud.

Windows 10 on ARM devices are expected at the end of 2017 in the fourth quarter.

Today's Surface Book is too expensive

The current problem for Microsoft and its Surface line is the price.

At Microsoft's Surface Studio event in October 2016, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Devices Panos Panay used a photo of his son to demonstrate how children naturally adopt digital inking on a PC. In the picture, presented as a backdrop, the child is using a Surface Book. That device starts at $1,600 and increases to more than $3,000 for the high-end version.

While in a perfect world all kids would be able to afford a Microsoft Surface Book, the chances of that happening are minuscule. Clearly, Microsoft needs a lower-cost, entry-level device that provides a similar experience with an emphasis on a touchscreen and digital pen.

A new "Surface Laptop" running Windows 10 Cloud is the ideal solution, if it meets the minimum hardware specifications mentioned earlier. It also could also replace the now deprecated non-pro Surface 3.

Microsoft is expected to announce such a device on May 2, though some of our sources say the new hardware may not come until Microsoft's Build conference the following week.

A traditional laptop without a detachable keyboard would keep production costs down (fewer product SKUs), and it would work for schools, where losing a keyboard (or breaking it) could cause headaches for IT staff. As a solution to making the laptop more Surface-like, the keyboard could rotate around like Lenovo's Yoga series or HP's x360 line.

I also suspect a Surface Pen will be a part of any Surface Laptop, because the recent Creators Update focuses on inking.

Likewise, the seemingly odd addition of EPUB support for the Edge web browser and corresponding digital book section in the Windows Store makes more sense once you bring education into the equation.

However, one issue Microsoft could face in schools is app selection. While UWP is evolving and improving the selection of quality apps specifically related to education, it cannot possibly match the Google Play Store. That could change over time, and perhaps Microsoft has some strategies in place to help lure companies to create apps specifically for this genre.

Windows 10 Cloud and Surface for schools makes sense

Recently, a nephew of mine who is nine years old saw my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. He said, "That looks like my Chromebook." I jokingly corrected him by stating "No, your Chromebook looks like my PC laptop."

The point should be obvious: The education market is critical to Microsoft's future based purely on familiarity. The debate between macOS and Windows preference, for instance, almost always comes down to what you were exposed to first. Rarely in today's world do adults try both OSes, evaluate them equally and come to rational decisions.

If Google is already at 50 percent adoption in the U.S. education market, that is a generation that's now in the Google and Android ecosystem. Microsoft needs a plan to take that on and, for once, I feel like it may have some significant advantages with Windows 10 Cloud and a new Surface. The recent announcement that it will align the servicing models for Windows 10, Office 365 ProPlus, and System Center Configuration Manager also likely plays a part in this plan.

Windows 10 Redstone 3: Everything we know so far

Microsoft's hardware partners are likely to pick up the slack and deliver even lower cost hardware to run Windows 10 Cloud in the coming months in preparation for fall 2017. All of that combined with Apple's declining popularity in schools is a perfect opportunity for Redmond.

As such, Microsoft's May 2 event could be the start of a significant push for the company — one that will have a lasting effect on a new generation.

Microsoft has some new hardware in the pipeline to reveal to the public. The company has just announced that on Tuesday, May 2 in New York and they will be giving details on a new product likely in the category of Surface. Media invites were sent to cover the event ensuring that this is not a small announcement.

Considering the release of the Windows 10 Creators Update this week and the recent press regarding Joe Belfiore's return to focus on education we may be seeing some connection between the two. Belfiore was cagey on Twitter last night about his return noting it wasn't just random timing.

Rumors about what can be announced seem to focus on Windows 10 Cloud. Microsoft likes to create new hardware to demonstrate the power of Windows 10 making it likely new hardware will match the announcement.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is also expected to be at the May 2 event signaling that whatever is announced is a significant shift for the company.

Windows 10 Cloud can only run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps is more manageable for the education market. Likewise, we have seen internal documents comparing hardware goals for Windows 10 being compared directly to Google Chromebooks e.g. boot and resume times. Microsoft has been working very hard to make Windows 10 a full competitor to Chromebooks, and they could be ready to show that to the world.

Windows 10 Cloud hands on: An edition of Windows for Store apps only

Not the Surface Pro 5 (or phone) you are looking for

What is not expected, however, is any mainstream consumer products including any Surface Pro refreshes or anything related to phones. While Microsoft is likely working on such a product, we do not hear anything like that for this event.

Windows Central will be in NYC on May 2 to cover the announcement live as it happens including any hands-on and interviews. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Joe Belfiore has today officially announced his return to Microsoft, doing exactly what he was doing before he left on a year sabbatical, but with a few crucial changes. Belfiore is now in charge of making Windows 10 the best it possibly can be for the education sector, and isn't necessarily focused on fixing Windows Mobile anymore.

In an interview with Mashable, Belfiore says his new job evolves around making sure Windows responds to the education market in the best ways it can, as that was something he saw when on his sabbatical that needed improvements.

The announcement for his returns is timely, as there are rumors that Microsoft will be holding a hardware event in early May, which could also be where Windows 10 Cloud is announced. Windows 10 Cloud looks an awful lot like something that can compete against Chromebooks, and therefore compete in the education market.

And Belfiore thinks Windows 10 is definitely up to the challenge when it comes to competing against Chromebooks thanks to several improvements being made in the Creators Update, such as making the OS take up less space on the hard drive and less memory when in use, allowing costs to come down when making hardware.

Microsoft is yet to announce an upcoming hardware event, but when/if they do, we wouldn't be surprised to see Joe Belfiore take the stage to announce a few new things, especially Windows-related things.

It's a security feature that many of us are excited about, especially on devices aimed at Enterprise or Education, but some reports incorrectly titled this news as if Microsoft were forcing this feature onto users, rather than giving them a choice. Here's what you need to know.

The reality is, it isn't even a choice that you have to make. It's just a feature that's hidden in Settings and it is off by default. You need to know about the feature to even be able to turn it on in the first place, so reports that claim Microsoft is planning to block your desktop apps on your PCs and laptops are wrong. Now, what's actually happening is Microsoft is building a new, optional security feature into Windows 10 that will stop unauthorized apps from installing on your machine.

When phrased like that, it doesn't sound all that bad right? That's because it isn't. If you own a current Windows 10 machine, your device isn't going to change behavior when it comes to installing apps from outside the Windows Store unless you specifically change the option that's buried in the Settings app. What's more, there are two levels to the "block," which make for an even more customizable feature.

Customizable security, with options

The first level will just warn you before installing an app from outside the Windows Store. When launching an installer, Windows will say "Careful!" with an option to search the Windows Store for the app instead. If you want to install the app, just hit "install anyway." The second level will block apps from installing from outside the Store completely, with no override option.

It's incredibly unlikely that Microsoft will enable these by default in the future either, and here's why.

Microsoft is actually building an entirely new edition of Windows 10 specifically for that, separate from the Home and Pro editions we all use on our PC's today. Windows 10 Cloud is the new edition in question that's aimed at laptops designed to take on Chromebooks at the low-end of the market. The selling point of Cloud is that it's a much more secure version of Windows 10 as it acts similarly to Windows RT did, where apps would only install if they came from the Windows Store.

This is where Microsoft will be enforcing any "app block" on Windows 10. It won't affect any Windows users already using PCs, laptops, and tablets. If you're on Windows 7 and are looking to upgrade, you'll continue to be able to install desktop apps if you wish. Same goes for users on Windows 8 or Windows 10. Microsoft is not changing anything for users who currently use Windows unless the user wants to change the setting themselves.

This "enforcement" will only come about when shopping for a future low-end device that ships with Windows 10 Cloud. If you buy a Windows 10 Cloud machine, installing apps from outside the Store will be blocked, and you'll be required to purchase a license to Windows 10 Home or Pro to unlock that capability. As noted, what's important here is Microsoft won't be enforcing the same block for Windows PCs currently on the market, in fact, it won't even be on by default. If your PC is running Windows 10 Home or Pro, you're fine.

And before you ask, it's incredibly unlikely that hardware makers will want to ship flagship devices with Windows 10 Cloud. This new Cloud edition of Windows 10 is essentially the same as Windows 8.1 with Bing, which only shipped on cheap, low-end devices. This is the same ordeal, so you won't be buying powerful desktops and ultrabooks in the future with a version of Windows that's locked to the Store. They'll still ship with the "unlocked" versions of Windows 10.

It's also worth noting that the "block" is only for apps that are being installed from outside the Store. If the app is in the Store, whether it be a Win32 or UWP app, it'll install just fine. This is because Microsoft's Store team has checked the files for malicious code. Windows 10 Cloud and normal Windows 10 machines running Home and Pro with the block enabled will be protected from harm.

Don't panic!

I'm personally incredibly excited to see Microsoft bringing this security feature as an option to Windows 10, as I own several Windows 10 devices in which I only install apps from the Windows Store. Devices like my HP Stream 7, which I use primarily as a tablet, I don't need apps from outside the Store, so being able to block them from installing is beneficial to me. It will also be a boon for less tech-savvy users to protect them from obnoxious programs.

So there's no reason to panic, Microsoft isn't evil, and they're not going to take away your precious desktop apps from outside the Store on your current Windows machines. You'll still be able to install Steam, Google Chrome, Premiere Pro and whatever other programs you love using on your Windows 10 desktops and laptops from wherever you found them on the web, no questions asked.

Windows 10 Cloud is an upcoming edition of Windows 10 that's aimed at low-end devices that take on the likes of Chromebooks. It's not an edition of Windows you'll be able to buy on store shelves, and will, for the most part be sold preloaded onto new low-end devices with the Creators Update.

One of the reasons why this edition of Windows is being sold on low-end devices is that it's limited in where you can download and install apps. Similarly to Windows RT, Windows 10 Cloud can only download apps from the Windows Store, meaning you'll be unable to install apps from outside the Store.

Yes, that means unless Google decides to put Chrome in the Windows Store, you can't use Google Chrome on Windows 10 Cloud. That's a big deal for some people as many users swear by apps like Chrome. But on Windows 10 Cloud, the goal is security and performance, meaning no apps from outside the Store.

It's also worth noting that although the name implies there'll be a heavy tie in with cloud services, there aren't actually any additional cloud-features outside of what Windows 10 already offers. It's essentially identical to any other edition of Windows 10, with the only difference being that you're locked to the Windows Store. It also has a slightly different wallpaper, which is nice.

Before you panic and freak out about being locked to the Store, keep in mind that this isn't an edition of Windows that won't be rolling out as an update, and it won't ever be pre-loaded onto gaming PCs, ultrabooks, or other mid-to-high end devices. It's literally for low-end or lightweight devices shipping with the Creators Update, where being locked to the Windows Store isn't so bad.

I've been using Windows 10 Cloud over the last few days, and I honestly like this edition of Windows. I've been using it on a Surface 3, and for me, the Windows Store has basically everything I need. It has Slack, it has Evernote, it has Twitter, it has everything I'd be willing to use on a device like the Surface 3.

I'm not a Google Chrome user, but even if I was, I'd much rather use Microsoft Edge on a low-end device anyway. Chrome is heavy on performance, and on these low-end devices using a browser that's less resource intensive is always beneficial for performance improvements and battery life.

What's interesting is that on Windows 10 Cloud, even built in apps like Regedit, CMD and PowerShell are blocked. This is likely to help with keeping everything secure, and forcing users out of being able to edit registry settings and change system functions.

The Windows Store on Windows 10 is far more accepting of different app types than the Windows Store on the old Windows RT. Developers are now free to put not only UWP, but Win32 apps in the Store too. This means apps like Slack and Evernote, both incredibly powerful Win32 apps, can be downloaded from the Store and work just fine on Windows 10 Cloud.

Hopefully down the line we'll see more developers putting their apps in the Store, whether they be Win32 or UWP isn't a concern to me. Again, on low-end devices you're not going to be running apps like Premiere Pro, so the Windows Store as it currently stands is actually pretty bearable, especially on Windows 10 Cloud.

You've got to remember as well, this edition of Windows is aimed at devices that'll be taking on Chromebooks, meaning the majority of users buying a Windows Cloud machine will be people who use the web browser for a lot of what they do. Email, YouTube, Twitter, Shopping, and basically everything else can all be done via Edge.

The Windows Store is just a bonus, especially compared to Chrome Store which houses mostly extensions and a few lightweight apps. The Windows Store can be home to full, powerful apps fit for desktops, so this puts these new Windows Cloud devices at an advantage.

The question is, will someone interested in a Chromebook want to use a Windows 10 Cloud device instead? Microsoft is expected to announce Windows 10 Cloud alongside the Creators Update this April. In the meantime, would you rather a Windows 10 Cloud machine over a Chromebook?

Build 15025 of Windows 10 Cloud leaked onto the web just a few weeks ago, giving us a first look at what we can expect from this newly locked-down edition of Windows. Curiously, that leaked build had blocked Win32 apps from everywhere, including the Windows Store, which caused some reports to incorrectly claim Windows 10 Cloud wouldn't be able to run Win32 at all.

Today, we can confirm that Windows 10 Cloud will be able to run Win32 apps from the Windows Store, much like on any normal edition of Windows 10. That means you can run apps like Slack on Windows 10 Cloud. This is excellent news for both users and developers, as it means you won't be locked out of the Win32 ecosystem entirely if developers wish to add their programs to the Windows Store.

This news is confirmed thanks to a much newer Windows 10 Cloud leak that appears to be untouched and working as expected. You still can't run CMD or Regedit, but we've confirmed the ability to download Slack, Tweeten and other Win32 apps from the Store, which run perfectly fine.

What's more, Microsoft has updated some of the dialogues when trying to install a program from outside the Windows Store on the latest build of Windows 10 Cloud. When attempting to install a browser like Google Chrome, Windows 10 will popup a message telling you why Edge is better, instead of just saying Chrome can't run on this edition of Windows.

Windows 10 Cloud will be the first edition of Windows since Windows RT that can't run Win32 apps from the web. With Windows RT, it was an architectural limitation with x86 programs, but with Windows 10, it's simply a security measure that also encourages users to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro if they really do need to run Win32 programs. It's highly likely that Windows 10 Cloud will be aimed at enterprise and education, rather than consumers. We'll hopefully learn more about Windows 10 Cloud over the next few months.

Microsoft's upcoming 'Cloud' variant of Windows 10 is an edition of Windows designed specifically for keeping users locked to the Windows Store when wanting to download apps and programs. It's a good idea for certain device types, however not everyone is pleased with the idea , especially considering how 'lacking' the Windows Store is right now.

Well, perhaps you won't have to worry much once Cloud is available on the market. A Twitter user by the name of @never_released has teased that he has already bypassed the block, enabling Win32 programs to be downloadable and installable from outside the Windows Store, much like on any normal edition of Windows 10. The only extra step required is launching the Program from PowerShell, as SmartScreen still does a good job at trying to block a Win32 program from running.

Considering the Cloud variant of Windows 10 hasn't even been announced officially yet, it's pretty cool to see people trying to bypass the block already. The method for bypassing said block is yet to be revealed, and likely won't be for the foreseeable future, or at least until Windows 10 Cloud has been officially released. 

Being able to bypass the block might be useful for a few hardcore users, but the majority of people who Cloud is aimed at won't really know how to even begin bypassing a block like this. As a result, most normal people might just opt to pay Microsoft for a Windows Pro license if they really need a Win32 program running on their Cloud-based machine. Still, I'm pretty excited for Cloud as I can see its benefits, especially when positioned as a much more "secure version" of Windows.

A new report from Petri published today claims that Microsoft is working on a new Windows 10 SKU that is being internally referred to as Cloud Shell. Although details are still pretty scarce, it sounds like Microsoft is building a new edition of Windows 10 for lightweight devices, similar to the Surface RT.

Windows Central understands that internally, Microsoft does have a new Windows 10 SKU in the works called Windows 10 Cloud, and with this new report referring to a "Cloud Shell", we're hearing the two are likely related. We're told Cloud Shell is separate from CShell, Microsoft's upcoming modular shell for Windows 10.

In fact, a lightweight version of Windows 10 would actually make sense now that full Windows 10 is coming to ARM. With CShell in the works, many have been wondering where that leaves Windows 10 Mobile now that Windows 10 on ARM is a thing. Jumping into speculation territory, but Windows 10 Cloud could end up simply being Windows 10 Mobile but for lightweight laptops and tablets, running UWP only and being fast with low-specs, powered by CShell.

Internally however, at least for now, Microsoft's Cloud SKU is based on the normal desktop variation of Windows 10. This suggests the Cloud SKU may be more for lightweight full Windows 10 ARM devices.

It's said that Windows 10 Cloud will show up at some point in 2017 (we're hearing RS3). Once that arrives, Windows 10 Mobile, in theory, could be used as a viable lightweight desktop OS replacement, as the desktop continuum experience will look and act almost identically to a normal Windows 10 desktop machine. Stay tuned at Windows Central for more.

Updated January 26th 2017 12:19 PM ET