Microsoft made the jump to an ARM software ecosystem years before Apple, but the Windows-maker still lags far behind. Take for example machines such as Surface Pro X that run Windows on ARM, but have been severely limited by the app gap, while the Rosetta 2 emulation layer allowed Apple to sort that issue with its very first generation of M1 MacBooks. That is because the Surface Pro X can only run native 32-bit and 64-bit apps compiled natively for ARM, while emulation is limited only to 32-bit apps based on the x86 instructions used by Intel-powered computers. That left a huge chunk of 64-bit x86 apps non-functional for machines that offer the Windows on ARM experience. Microsoft is finally solving that piece of the puzzle.
The update also gives all users the latest emoji, smoother window transitions and other tweaks.
It’s a rough-around-the-edges release, to put it mildly. Microsoft warns that some x64 apps might not run at this stage, and you’re encouraged to install both updated graphics drivers as well as a preview redistributable that lets 64-bit ARM and x64 C++ apps run at the same time. You won’t want to use this Windows 10 preview on a mission-critical machine.
Microsoft is adding x64 emulation at a critical moment. Apple recently released the first Macs based on its in-house ARM silicon, and they already run non-native 64-bit apps with relative ease. That’s a significant advantage for anyone who wants the efficiency benefits of ARM without giving up 64-bit apps they might need. It will be a while before x64 emulation is polished enough to be widely available on Windows 10, but it could make the case for sticking with Microsoft’s platform if you’re comfortable with less-than-ideal performance for some programs.
