* Windows app

[trevorrix]

Has anyone investigated running Family Historian on the new "Windows App" from Microsoft?

"The Windows App is essentially a new remote desktop hub that enables users to stream Windows Cloud PC and remote desktop services on a range of devices. This includes not only other Windows machines but also iPhones, iPads, Macs, and any device equipped with a desktop browser, i.e. Chromebooks. Android devices are currently not supported."

See https://chromeunboxed.com/microsoft-lau ... ook-threat

[tatewise]

As stated in several reports: "Microsoft is currently only allowing business and school accounts to use the app."
So unless you have such an account the answer will be 'no'.

I have a suspicion that it would only support Microsoft Store Apps and not Windows programs like FH.

I also suspect it would infringe the FH licence terms if not the licence verification process.

[ColeValleyGirl]

I have a suspicion that it would only support Microsoft Store Apps and not Windows programs like FH.

I don't see why that should be a limitation if (as reported) it will stream the full Windows operating system. But it sounds as if you'd need to sign up for a 'PC-in-the-cloud' service, and those are inevitably subscription services.

[mjashby]

It's already possible to set up a Microsoft RDP Client, or one of many other RDP Clients, on a macOS or iOS devices (and there are also plenty of existing RDP options on Linux etc.) to gain 'remote' access to a desktop Windows installation, or an Azure Virtual Desktop installation, so it's a little difficult to see any particular gains for Home users in "yet another option".

What I do see is the future possibility of an additional Microsoft annual annual leasing possibility to extend the Microsoft 365 Service. i.e. Just Another Streaming Service. As to whether it would be a legitimate/permitted use of desktop software, such as Family Historian, that functions under a site/user limited commercial license.....

Mervyn

[NickWalker]

The costs are high currently, depending on the spec of the virtual PC, it would be at least around £500 a year I think.

[ColeValleyGirl]

It was significantly more than that when I priced it up a few years ago, Nick.

[NickWalker]

It was significantly more than that when I priced it up a few years ago, Nick.

These are excluding VAT and are all business pricing:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-365/all-pricing

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[ColeValleyGirl]

Yeah. I needed a shedload of RAM and some heavy duty processing power for some heavy duty data mining which I wanted to offload from my PC.

I came to the conclusion I didn't want the data mined that much.

[Mark1834]

Those costs are competitive in the corporate world compared with maintaining a conventional workstation, so that’s clearly the intended market at the moment, not the home user.