Windows Central Insider
As we look ahead to Windows Central’s 20th anniversary in 2027, we’re taking time to revisit the stories that shaped our community. From Microsoft and Xbox to Windows and PC, these throwbacks remind us how far we’ve come together.
11 years ago, Microsoft unveiled Continuum for Windows 10 Mobile. It was a feature that promised to blur the line between smartphone and desktop PC. By connecting a phone to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, users could run a desktop-like environment powered entirely by their pocket device. We’re reaching into the Windows Central vaults to revisit the moment Microsoft tried to change how we define a "computer. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief
This breaking news article below was first published by Dan Thorp-Lancaster on April 29, 2015, during the Build 2015 keynote.
When users connect their phone to an external monitor via HDMI, along with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, they'll essentially be working from a desktop environment. The UI will adapt to fit the larger display, start-menu and all. As far as apps are concerned, it looks like this is where the universal model is going to pay off. During the demo, Microsoft showed off Office running from a phone on an external screen, and it looked very much like the PC app.
Overall, this looks like an amazing use of Continuum, showing off the universality of Windows 10 across devices. Given the right equipment, you're basically carrying a PC in your pocket at all times. It is important to note, however, that Continuum for phones will be limited to "select premium phones." So it's unlikely to come to low-end Lumia devices.
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