Cloud operating system windows. Cloud operating system ZeroPC or Windows in the browser. Why do you need a virtual desktop?

Some people have a slightly skewed view of Windows 10 Cloud, and maybe I'm partly to blame for that, so let's figure out what this beast really is.

So, the first thing I would like to note is that the Cloud edition should still support Win32 applications, but in build 15025 this feature is completely absent. When rumors about the Cloud version just started circulating, screenshots of this cloud version appeared on the Internet, although the build there was 15019, but it allowed you to install and use Win32 applications from the store. To be honest, I forgot that Microsoft allowed desktop applications to be published in the Windows Store, which were converted using the Desktop Bridge program. It’s just that in their mass they are easily lost in UWP applications. Therefore, x86 applications will most likely work, even your favorite games, as long as they are in the Windows Store and meet your system requirements. Looking at these changes in the 19th build, where you can use Win32 applications from the store, and in the 25th build, where it is prohibited to use Win32 applications, it makes you think that perhaps a Windows 10 Cloud edition is being prepared for ARM processors. This is where there should be such restrictions on the operation of x86 applications.

Apparently Microsoft is still working on this, even the error states that a device running this OS only works with applications from the store, and, therefore, if the architecture allows, it will be possible to run Win32 applications. Although the same ARM chips will also have their own version of Windows 10 with an x86 emulator, which seems more promising to me. And yes, Windows 10 Cloud is not exactly Windows RT, but the Cloud version was created based on its paradigm. Also, some publications compare Windows 10 Cloud with Windows 8.1 with Bing, which was essentially free for hardware manufacturers, but there were no restrictions on functionality.

By the way, it is worth noting that in build 15025 there is the ability to choose where you can install applications - from the store, or from anywhere, but essentially installing applications from anywhere does not work. Most likely this drop-down selection menu is left over from old builds of other editions.

Also, the Command Line and PowerShell do not work in the Cloud edition. Apparently this was done on purpose so that users would not be able to perform any manipulations with the system.
The name Cloud, i.e. Cloud in English means that the system is focused primarily on cloud services and applications, that is, it is the same Windows Store, Office 365, universal Skype, and so on. That is, this is not a cloud OS in its pure form, but a regular desktop system, with some functionality reduced in some places, but with cloud services from Microsoft. This hints a little at competition with Chromebooks, but, frankly, this is a fairly niche product and it is not clear how users will react to this. There is also information on the Internet that it will be possible to easily upgrade from the Cloud edition to other editions, i.e. to Home or Pro.
And yes, this edition is not fake, as you can see, classic Win32 applications really don’t work. I said this because people come to me from the “Oh, how simple” channel and start saying that Windows 10 Cloud is a fake and there are no changes in it, although even from my video you can see the limitations of the OS and how can you then say that it is fake - unclear. Even in the system registry this version is listed as a Cloud edition. I have nothing against Stas’s channel, he has an excellent channel, almost a TV format. Over the past year he has grown very well, and I am far from him, but it is clear that just editing his videos takes a lot of time, so he most likely has no time for testing the Ten, if he even installed it at all, but at least I have to do it , since I’m just interested in understanding this, and viewers won’t understand if I take someone’s videos and talk about something I haven’t touched myself, with the exception of some exclusive information.

To summarize about Windows 10 Cloud, it can be noted that this is the most secure version of the OS, which allows you to use Microsoft software and third-party applications, which are also available in the same Microsoft store. It's like a company monopoly.

If you have a small company and you just need Office for work, or if you are an ordinary user who just needs to surf the Internet and use VK, then perhaps you don’t even need to pay for the full version of Windows 10, but it will be enough to purchase a lightweight version and a secure Cloud version, since it will be much cheaper, if not free. It is also possible that the Cloud version will find its application in educational institutions, where students, when they sit down at any computer and log in, will immediately pick up their work applications and files from a rented server, which is very convenient. But for ordinary users this edition will most likely not find success. It is expected that Microsoft will present Windows 10 Cloud to the public this year at Build 2017. We are waiting...

Cloud systems are systems located on the Internet, where your data and software are stored and run on a remote server, and applications are used more as services than individual programs. You can run a virtual application or OS inside your browser that stores your session and data. It's like traveling with your own computer without the internals.

With the help of Cloud OS (also known as Web OS), you can do your office work, prepare projects and so on. The process is very similar to working on your own computer without the Internet. The essence of the idea is that everything is stored on the Internet, and you can always access your information!

Want to try cloud OS? We want to offer you several cloud operating systems to choose from, and absolutely free!

ZeroPC offers you 1GB of free storage space, and allows you to connect to various cloud storage services, including Box, DropBox, Google Drive, SkyDrive, SugarSync and 4Shared, so you can access your paper files. ZeroPC is also available on Android, iPhone and iPad, giving you the ability to use the service on the go.

For photo enthusiasts, this tool is an excellent photo manager that allows you to connect photo and video services like Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, PhotoBucket, Picasa and Recood. Plus, it also has native instant messaging apps, a text editor, and productivity tools for working with documents and spreadsheets.

Jolicloud brings you Joli OS, which you can download and install on your system (even if it's 10 years old!), or use it through your browser. Joli OS offers you a complete cloud experience - you can store and access your favorite apps anytime, anywhere. Jolicloud has more than 15,000 web applications that you can use using this system.

You can integrate your DropBox and Google Drive accounts with Jolicloud. The system also offers you a Jolicloud Me version in which you can manage your life online. Jolicloud Me currently supports integration with Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Picasa, Tumblr and Twitter.

Glide OS is a great choice if you need to collaborate on a group project. The Glide team offers you 30GB of free disk space and you can add up to 6 users to your account. The OS may not be the most attractive in appearance, but it is very convenient. It comes with additional features like an email inbox and profiles, as well as standard tools like a calendar, notes, a word processor, a presentation tool, and so on.

Glide also brings you the ability to sync with Windows, Mac OS and Linux so you can easily sync files between Glide HD (you can call it Glide Hard Disk) and your local storage. There are also browser extensions and a mobile version.

SilveOS is a cloud OS developed using Silverlight. You can run it in any browser on a device that has Silverlight installed. There are plenty of built-in apps that let you write messages, listen to music, take notes, and even play Solitaire. You can also install Silverlight applications from the Internet in SilveOS.

However, you're not presented with any storage here, so it's not the best cloud OS for the long term. But this is a very convenient tool if you often have to work with other people's computers.

iSpaces only has the basic features that allow you to do your job. For example, Browse, file manager, office suite (Zoho office) and so on. Here you can use 3 work surfaces from the taskbar. The OS gives you the ability to keep your work environment clean and you can easily access any work surface.

You can work with files from Box and DropBox using the file manager. iSpaces has a very simple environment that allows you to access files on Box and DropBox in the same window, and you can move files from one space to another simply by dragging and dropping them. Changes will be reflected in your respective cloud storage accounts.

Although Cloudo is still in beta, the OS is already quite interesting, and is designed to be launched using a browser. It is equipped with applications for working with mail, calendar, audio player, RSS reader, contact manager, text editor, and search. The OS has a good interface through which you can run commands, install applications, play music, and so on.

This OS allows you to perform multiple tasks quite quickly and conveniently. It also offers you an application manager through which you can install new applications directly on Cloudo.

xOS doesn't offer many design options, but this OS offers you a great collection of apps for personal use. It has a web browser, file manager, text editor, notepad, calendar, Paint, email client, and Canvas Rider (a cycling game).

ZimDesk is a cloud-based operating system filled with various applications and features. Here you can set your own wallpaper, use office applications, contact manager, RSS reader, calendar, email client, FTP client, downloader and file manager, and so on.

Another great cloud OS that offers you basic applications including Radio, Calendar, File Manager, Bookmark Manager, Notes Manager, Email Client and so on. You can add web applications. There is also support for instant messages between users.

Cloud operating systems are unique in their kind, and allow you to have all your documents, projects, music, personal files, photos and videos with you, and access them from any place and device where there is Internet access. Now you can travel without having to carry your personal heavy laptop everywhere. With a cloud OS, all you need is an Internet connection.

How convenient is it for an accountant’s computer with all the settings and 1C databases to always be with him? But what if it cannot be lost, broken, and its battery does not run out?

A miracle or simply progress does not stand still - let's figure it out!

So what we want to get:

• Access to a computer from anywhere (for example, from an Internet cafe on vacation)
• All settings and installed programs are saved, including 1C;
• Reliable data storage with daily backups, the ability to improve your computer;

Solution: We will set up your computer in the cloud. The computer will be located in a reliable data center (Data Processing Center).

For this we need:

• Decide on the choice of data center, or trust the professionals (us, of course;);
• Conclude an agreement and select the required hardware capacity (you can rent a cloud from us for a few days for a trial absolutely free), the cost of renting a cloud computer to work in 1C starts from 800 rubles per month including VAT;
• Install the selected operating system on the virtual machine; at the time of writing this article, we provided Windows Server for your cloud computer for free;
• Install the required software, for example 1C;

We We perform initial computer setup in the cloud for free, but for the curious, a few pictures:

Select a tariff for a computer in the cloud:

After creating a cloud, you can manage it and distribute resources:

At this stage, it is the cloud that is created and not the computer (virtual machine in the cloud). Why not a computer right away? Because you can rent the required computing power and create several computers and even combine them into a virtual network.

Now we create our cloud computer (virtual machine):

You will be allocated an external IP address that will allow you to connect to your cloud computer from anywhere in the world. When connected, you will see a familiar desktop, just like on your home computer.

To connect to a remote desktop in Windows Server, you need to configure a terminal server; if you are using a regular operating system, then the setup is easier:

Don't forget to use strong passwords! It also makes sense to read ours.

Let's summarize:

1. Now we can connect to a cloud computer from anywhere!
2. Our computer is always with us and configured the way we want!
3. We can improve the cloud computer by switching to a different tariff!
4. We can set up an entire network of computers in the cloud (if required).

• Find out which licenses are free for the cloud and purchase the missing ones (licenses can be rented);
• Remember that you can Upgrade your cloud computer simply by switching to a different tariff;
• You can rent more than one virtual machine and set up a network between them;
• You can rent a VPN channel to the cloud - just check compatibility with your equipment;

You can always contact us for help!

Modern computer games require significant investments in hardware in order to play at medium and higher settings. Prices fluctuate from year to year and from generation to generation, for example, to purchase the current Xbox One X you need 30 thousand rubles, the same for the PlayStation 4 Pro.

In the world of PC gaming, the choice is more flexible, but building a computer with an inexpensive video card will cost about 30 - 40 thousand. If you have the money to invest in your own gaming system, then there will be advantages such as high-quality graphics and almost zero latency.

Perhaps you are still thinking about the choice, but now you want to play. Maybe you're someone who wants to travel with a lightweight laptop and run through the latest Far Cry. Gaming cloud services may be your solution.

What is a cloud service for games?

Cloud gaming service is a relatively new way of playing that takes advantage of all the advantages of servers. Typically, you run the game on your console or PC. At the same time, the gaming cloud service (Gaming-as-a-Service) provides the opportunity to play remotely; games are launched on servers.

You log in from your computer and control using your keyboard and mouse or gamepad. The server receives all your actions, displays the game, and then sends back the gameplay video. It's more like Netflix than online gaming.

Even ten years ago, such technology would have looked rather unrealistic. The running servers, which were quite powerful, were very expensive. Streaming high quality video would consume too much bandwidth. A delay between input and video reception would render the gameplay unusable.

But now that we have fast internet, you can play on computers with cloud computing without the gameplay being disrupted by lag.

Games as a Service

The term "games as a service" is not that new, but depends on the context in which it is used. Two meanings have emerged in the gaming community: one is a new technology, the other is a business model for providing access to computer games via subscription. This is not the way video game publishers are moving toward monetization.

In the latter case, companies like Ubisoft develop games with the expectation that players will continue to pay money for things like DLC and loot boxes after the first purchase. Ultimately, the player will have to pay extra to get more features in the game.

What does the cloud mean for gaming?

Gaming in the cloud rather than on expensive hardware may seem like a good option, but there are a few caveats.

The first problem is that while latency has been reduced to the point where cloud gaming can be enjoyed, it will still never be as low as running it on your own machine. Some cloud gaming services offer benchmarks to test for additional latency.

The second problem is that the video needs to be compressed for streaming. Compression of the data stream is a key point when comparing services and depends on the connection speed. The faster the Internet, the better quality video services you can get. A good service will use the extra bandwidth and give a better result.

Another challenge is the power of the hardware. Hardware parameters vary widely between services and are not always comparable. Playstation Now gives you the power of your PS3 or PS4, depending on what you play. Some advertise 4K capabilities, although not every PC can handle 4K resolution, let alone transmit it over a network. More often than not, the hardware will be about as powerful as a PS4 Slim, Xbox One S, or mid-range gaming PC.

The last issue is convenience. Since this is a new technology, many have not yet improved the user interface, and problems may arise during use.

For example, you won't be able to use alt-tab in the game because it's simply not supported by the platform. There are services that do not support game controllers. Most of them do not support audio input for in-game chat.

Why play games through a cloud service?

First you need to decide whether you are ready to make concessions when using the service. Services are available for less than $10 per month. A $1,000 gaming PC will be paid off over four years, plus game purchases.

As time goes on and you want to upgrade your hardware, cloud gaming can certainly be cheaper overall. If you're looking to buy a gaming PC but don't have the cash available at the moment, cloud gaming is a smart way to hold out until you've saved enough to build your battlestation.

Perhaps you have a gaming PC and just want to know if the hype surrounding PlayStation exclusives like Uncharted, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last of Us and Untro Dawn are worth it. PlayStation now makes it possible to play these games without investing in your own PS3 and PS4.

Another benefit is that cloud gaming can travel with you. A good gaming laptop that is comparable in weight to a desktop computer. If you travel frequently and prefer to take your laptop with you, cloud gaming services offer a gaming experience that's as lightweight as your Ultrabook.

Several platforms even offer co-op gaming as part of a subscription. A big plus will be the choice of games from an extensive library without purchasing them.

Services for playing games remotely have prospects for the future. As video streaming quality improves and latency decreases due to more people connecting to fiber optic internet, people will look to alternatives to gaming PCs.

The Best Cloud Gaming Services Available Now

This technology is only gaining momentum, new services are appearing that can run top games on weak PCs. Here is a list of the most famous ones.

Playstation Now is an excellent choice for those who do not have their own gaming console, but would like to play games that were released only for this platform.

With a monthly subscription of $19.99 per month, or $44.99 for three months, you can play Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 on your PC. The package includes over 600 games, so the only thing not included in the price is the Playstation 4 controller you'll need to use.

PS offers a less impressive video stream, but it's still usable. As is usually the case with consoles, the game's performance is inferior to that of a good gaming PC.

There is noticeable lag in the first-person shooter, and small details, especially foliage, look compressed and ugly. Third-person games are generally good and can be played comfortably. You usually play on PC but want to try games with Playstation exclusive versions, PS Now gives you this opportunity at a reasonable price.

To test the service in action, PS Now offers a seven-day free trial so you can see if it's worth it.

If you don't want access to Playstation exclusive games and are just looking for a gaming PC with remote games, Liquid Sky offers a reliable solution. Liquid Sky has two types of subscriptions with hourly limits. The first, a 25-hour option with seven-day storage for $10, seems ideal for the user who just wants to game while traveling with a laptop. The second, monthly subscription starts at $19.99 per month and comes with 80 hours of game time.

Liquid Sky doesn't come with a game library, but will run any PC game you have. When you start the client, you can choose between two power levels. The more powerful option will use up your allotted time in half the time, but with the lower tier only offering 2GB of VRAM, it's almost essential for any game worth running in the cloud rather than locally.

Liquid Sky takes an open gaming approach to cloud PC. You can install programs as you wish, and the interface has the option to set an administrator password so that only you can access administrator settings.

Liquid Sky streaming provides an enjoyable gaming experience. Latency is fairly low, and video compression is not distracting except in very busy scenes. System performance is also good. AAA titles will run at medium and high settings at 60 frames per second. For players who prefer a gamepad instead of a keyboard and mouse, Liquid Sky offers a settings menu for controller configuration.

Overall, if you're looking for a cloud gaming service that gives you maximum control over your PC as if you owned your own, Liquid Sky offers a reasonably priced service with plenty of performance.

Vortex offers a service for PC gaming that falls somewhere between Playstation Now and Liquid Sky. Instead of giving you direct control of your PC, the Vortex client gives you a list of compatible games that you can play.

The game library is also located in the middle. Rather than providing a full library or requiring you to add your own games, Vortex's library of over 100 co-op games are partly paid for and become yours over time.

For those just looking to give it a try for the first time, or for those who just want to see what the cloud platform has to offer, Vortex is a flexible service that doesn't require you to be intimately familiar with running PC games to get on board .

Streaming isn't very impressive, but it's convenient. The PCs offered by Vortex use a 3GB GTX 1060. They're not powerful, but they're still a huge step up from most laptops. Since Vortex's subscription costs $9.99 per month, it's still a good deal compared to building your own computer with equivalent specs.

Compression and latency are noticeable, but most games will still be playable. While Vortex is compatible with some fast-paced games like Battlefields Doom and PlayerUnknown, it's better suited for games like Civilization VI or Euro Truck Simulator 2, which are less dependent on split-second timing.

One of the best things about Vortex is the ability to simply sign up and start playing. The games are ready for you in the client.

Of all the cloud gaming services out there right now, GeForce Now is without a doubt the most impressive. It provides an all-around gaming PC with ample graphics power, low latency, and high video quality.

Unfortunately, GeForce is currently in closed beta at the time of writing. You can sign up and get in line, but there is no guarantee. Nvidia also hasn't announced a price.

There's still a lot of anticipation as GeForce Now exits beta. No other service gives me so much hope for the future of cloud gaming. While it doesn't come with a gaming library like some other services, it does provide almost everything in a different way.

From your Mac or PC, you can use GeForce Now to access one of Nvidia's Tesla P40-equipped servers. While it's hard to get any sense from the GPU spec alone since there's not a lot of information about how it's used, the configuration works quite well. I ran Rise of the Tomb Raider with very high settings and managed to get 79.35 frames per second. For those unfamiliar with the game, this is quite impressive.

If you have a monitor capable of refresh rates greater than 60Hz, you can even take advantage of the extra frames. While the number of users who own such a monitor but not their own gaming PC is likely very small, the inclusion of this feature shows that Nvidia is serious about streaming.

It's not just the frame rate that impresses with the streaming quality. You can stream in standard quality or in Ultra Streaming mode. Ultra will require a better internet connection, but will provide a higher refresh rate and lower latency.

With Ultra enabled, the video quality is noteworthy. It's certainly not as good as using a native PC, as streaming uncompressed video is simply not feasible these days, but the picture was still sharp with minimal compression artifacts.

Latency was also quite low. Still noticeably slower than a real gaming PC, but it was responsive even for first-person shooters like Overwatch, assuming you're not playing a multiplayer game.

Where Playstation is a closed unique system and Liquid Sky comes with full cloud PC access, GeForce Now falls somewhere in the middle. It works like a PC, but doesn't give you full access to the system. Instead, GeForce Now has a launch menu that lists all compatible games. Overall it's a decent compromise.

However, unless a game is specifically supported by GeForce Now, it isn't. Unlike Vortex, if you bought it through Steam it's fairly easy to bypass. You'll be able to simply launch a game you don't own, then navigate to the game you want to play through the Steam interface and launch it there.

Finally, Shadow really needs to be mentioned. It's not available yet, so we haven't had first-hand experience. But the project makes some bold promises that will keep it on the radar.

With GTX 1080 equivalent GPUs and the promise of 4k streaming, as well as a gigabit connection for the remote PC, the Shadow may just deliver the highest quality streaming experience.

With prices ranging from $34.95 to $49.95 per month depending on terms, it's definitely a premium option. Even at a high price, it's worth a try, it may be the most interesting option.

Final thoughts

After testing several cloud gaming services, I think it's clear that they have potential. Even if they are not as enjoyable to use as a gaming platform, as faster internet access becomes more accessible and these platforms improve. Using services could end up rivaling a home gaming machine, but with much more flexibility.