Microsoft Designs Windows 10 Custom ROM for Xiaomi Mi 4
Windows 10 is coming this summer but wait there is more important announcement from Microsoft. Microsoft said that it has been secretly testing Windows 10 with “power users” on a Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 4 Android smartphone.
The Redmond based tech giant has designed a custom ROM for Xiaomi Mi 4 which, a elite band of users are testing. The custom ROM is pretty much like what other Android ROMs are available worldwide, the only difference is that these custom ROMs like CyanogenMOD run on Android which Microsoft’s version will run on Windows 10.
The testing which was done in collaboration with Xiaomi and will mean installing Windows 10 ROM on Xiaomi Mi 4.
Neither Microsoft nor Xiaomi provided specific details of the Windows 10 ROM being tried out but according to news reports, the Windows 10 ROM complete wipes out Android and installs Windows 10 on the Xiaomi Mi 4.
The ROM doesnt come with dual boot option so users will have to select either Android or Windows 10 alone for the smartphone. The Windows 10 ROM which was tried on Xiaomi Mi 45 will be available for all Android users soon, says Microsoft,
As part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft will partner with Xiaomi to offer Windows 10 free downloads to a select group of Xiaomi Mi4 users. Xiaomi Mi4 users will get the ability to flash their phones with the new Windows 10 OS and provide feedback to Xiaomi and Microsoft on their experience. This partnership will allow Xiaomi and Microsoft to get direct user feedback and continue to improve the experience for China. Microsoft is thrilled to see Xiaomi embracing Windows 10 and offering this great value to their customers. We’re excited to see the feedback we receive from this audience.
Xiaomi is a leading phone manufacturer in China undergoing significant global expansion. We are excited to partner with them in China and jointly gather feedback from Chinese users on their experience with Windows 10 to jointly collaborate on product and services development for the platform.
Availability will be announced in the months to come.
Microsoft had earlier tried to collaborate with Cyanogen with the intent putting some Windows Apps on CyanogenMod but the talks failed due to some reason. Earlier it had been linked with another custom ROM being designed by Tencent and Baidu which also failed to materialise.
Microsoft hopes that the Windows 10 will have a ‘wow’ effect on Android users and egg them to switch to Windows 10 on their Android smartphones thus converting a sizeable Android population to Windows 10 in due course of time. It remains to be seen whether it can do so.
If they leave you the opportunity to ditch the tiles look for something custom it might have an impact, if not it will fail.