Vole offers Windows hub to rivals

Even Apple

Software king of the world Microsoft is launching a Windows app for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, web browsers, Android devices, and even Windows PCs which allows Windows to be streamed from different sources, including Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and Remote Desktop.

This new unified app has been in testing for nearly a year and includes a customisable home screen, multi-monitor support, and USB redirection so you can use local devices like webcams, storage devices, and printers as if they were plugged directly into a cloud PC.

The app is limited to Microsoft work and school accounts, as it’s primarily designed for existing users of remote desktop clients to migrate to Windows and other operating systems.

It is nothing new, as Vole has had similar apps for connecting to PCs remotely in Windows for decades, including the Remote Desktop Connection app that still ships with Windows 11.

However, there are no signs that Microsoft plans to support consumer accounts with its new Windows app. Last year, it was revealed that Microsoft has a long-term goal of moving Windows entirely to the cloud to “enable improved AI-powered services and full roaming of people’s digital experience.”  This has not happened so far, and the new App is not close to doing that.

The Windows app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, as well as from Apple’s App Store for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. An Android version is entering public preview mode today.