Technology Continuum. Continuum: New milestone in post-PC history. Intel Core M processors will reveal their potential in smart

Surely each owner of Windows 10 Mobile-devices wanted to at least once try Continuum in action. Finally it became possible on smartphones that do not support the main feature of a new tile operating system. This instruction will tell you how to run Continuum on any Windows 10 Mobile-Smartphone.

A warning: This procedure is very difficult and requires good nerves, patience and confidence. Remember that the responsibility for the modification of the operating system files of your smartphone is only you and no one else. The author of the article is not responsible for the damage caused by the smartphone in the event of malfunctions.

Warning 2: You can return everything in your place only by flashing the smartphone with Windows Device. Recovery Tool. Normal reset of settings will only reset the registry value to standard.

We checked the work of this instruction and were able to successfully launch Continuum on Lumia 735 according to the Miracast standard. This means that on smartphones 640, 730, 830, 930, 1520, Xiaomi Mi4 and so on, Continuum will work without problems (as far as it can be said about unsupported devices). Note that on all ultimately unsupported devices, Continuum will only work on Miracast - USB ports of old devices do not support the ability to connect to the docking station.

1. Download. Unpack it and start the installation package.
2. Download.
3. Connect the phone to the computer.
4. Press WIN + X and run command line with administrator rights. Depending on the discharge of your OS, enter one of the following commands:
   

   64-bit: CD C: \\ Program Files (x86) \\ Windows Kits \\ 10 \\ Tools \\ Bin \\ i386

   32-bit: CD C: \\ Program Files \\ Windows Kits \\ 10 \\ Tools \\ Bin \\ i386

5. Do not close the command line.
6. Copy the address of the folder with the CAB file you downloaded before. Important: The file must be in a separate folder, without any other files. The folder name should not contain spaces and Cyrillic letters.
7. Return to the command prompt and enter the following, only without square brackets:
   

   iUTool -V -p [folder address with the CAB file that you copied from the previous item]

8. If everything is correct, the smartphone will turn off and install updates. Do not disconnect the phone from the computer until the process is completed.
9. After switching on, you will find in the Continuum application list.
10. Now make Interop Unlock according to the instructions ".
11. Open Interop Tools.. Go to This Device - Registry Editor. Enter the following parameters:
    Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM)
    REGISTRY TYPE: Integer (REG_DWORD)
    Registry Key Path: Software \\ Microsoft \\ Shell \\ Docking
    Registry Value Name: EnabledFortest
    Registry Value Data: 1
12. Click Write Data..

Now Continuum works on your smartphone. When updating the system, nothing will break. After resetting the settings, you will only need to re-enter the key value in the registry, you do not need to install the CAB file.

It's no secret that the world of personal computers is experiencing recent years best times. Sales of desktop PCs fall and trends towards their growth, unfortunately, no. It should be recognized that Steve Jobs turned out to be right and we, without noticing himself, joined the ERU post-PC. Smartphones and tablets every day more and more displace desktops from our life.

I have long wanted to have one device in your pocket or portfolio, with which you can make calls to make, communicate in social networks, visit your favorite sites, read news, take photos and video, but also work with documents and files, to make presentations, write articles. The phone or tablet does not give all this. The appearance in Windows 10 the function Continuum immediately caused my great interest. I wanted to study it, try to work in it, find out whether it is worth my attention. Soon I was fortunate enough to find out everything when testing Microsoft Lumia 950xl. I will share with you my observations and experience.

What is Continuum?

Continuum from Microsoft works using Plug and Play technology. Continuum function is when the phone works like personal Computer... to work convenient, now it is not necessary to carry a laptop with you or a large tablet. Enough to have a smartphone under windows control 10 Mobile. This operating system has a function of the Continuum with which you can connect the monitor and keyboard to the phone, therefore, to obtain an analogue of the desktop PC. The idea of \u200b\u200bContinuum appeared three years ago after it became apparent that we depend on our phones and take them everywhere, but these gadgets are unsuitable for work performed on computers. Without a laptop or desktop computer, it is difficult to demonstrate in PowerPoint, work in Office, enjoy the new features of the Microsoft Edge browser.

The hardware part of the phones already allows them to handle popular tasks. When engineers created Continuum, they met with many technical and design problems. For example, there were two popular methods for connecting additional displays. It could be duplicating phone screen on big Monitor, or was used a scheme, as when the PC is attached to several displays. However, for Continuum, these solutions were not suitable, since it was necessary that the phone worked without changes, and the desktop of the computer was displayed on the large monitor.

Microsoft Display Docks.

And soon the decision was found. In the depths of Microsoft, the idea was born to create a special Microsoft Display Docks docking station. It allows you to connect a smartphone on Windows 10 Mobile to an external monitor or even TV and turn it into a real desktop version of Windows 10 with all its attributes: "Start" button, work desk and universal applications.

When buying Microsoft Lumia 950 / 950XL flagships, this wonderful docking station comes complete in a separate box, very similar to the one in which the smartphone itself. So when testing Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, she also was provided to me.

What does she represent themselves? When you first open, I saw a compact device that has a heavy monolithic metal case.

True, the top cover is plastic with the company's logo in the center, and the lower-rubberized, which undoubtedly pleased me: it will not slide along the smooth surface of the table.

On the front panel is located uSB port Type C To connect the smartphone and naturally the connection indicator, which when connected is lit by a green light.

Three USB 2.0 ports are tightly located (one of them can put 3.0), the USB Type C port for the power supply, two video outputs - DisplayPort and HDMI. Everything is extremely simple, I would say ascetic, in metal colors.

There in the kit go charger For docking station and USB Type C cable on USB Type C to connect the smartphone to it. It is worth noting that the charger is similar, what is included in the smartphone itself. So one of them simply can not get out of the box.

As an alternative to the docking station, you can use the Miracast adapter. For obvious reasons, this option has some drawbacks - first of all, this is a difference in performance that usually exists between wired and wireless connection. On the other hand, it avoids the need to overpay for Display Dock and can be useful in situations in which the cables are uncomfortable or problematic or problematic. In this case, you can interact with the smartphone using wireless keyboard And mice thanks uSB support OTG.

How to get started with Continuum?

Connect is very simple. Through the HDMI or Diisplay Port connector (I used the HDMI connector) connect the monitor or even the TV, turn on the Microsoft Display Docks outlet, with the help of the MICROSOFT DISPLAY DOCKS ON uSB cable Type C Connect a smartphone with a docking station. The smartphone will automatically be detected and translated into CONTINUUM mode. The smartphone screen can be used as touchpad To control the cursor, like a touchpad.

For convenience, of course, it is better to connect a keyboard and a mouse to the USB 2.0 port.

Thanks to the Continuum function, the phone actually represents two devices with which you can interact in parallel. For example, when the Word application works on the monitor, Excel can be running on the smartphone at the same time. The most interesting thing is that when working in the Continuum mode, your smartphone continues to function in the usual mode. From the screen mobile device At this point you can call, respond to messages, watch videos and so on.

How does it really work?

If all the correctly connected, after a couple of seconds, the desktop window will start on the screen, similar to the desktop version of Windows 10. Strive, but not quite. In the upper left corner you will see mobile elements, such as signal level mobile communicationsAnd in the upper right corner there will be a battery charge level sensor and date.

Also see the difference in the menu Start.Instead of the usual set for desktop devices will appear Desktopyour smartphone with all tiles and settings. By the way, only through the Start menu you can run programs in Continuum, alternative options Their launch of the developers, unfortunately, did not provide.

We now turn to the pleasant chips of the program. We can see the list of running applications in the taskbar (implemented exactly as on fixed computers). It is worth noting that universal applications will be highlighted, and those that you cannot run in Continuum mode, as if in the shade. Click on them, you will not be able to open this application.

To switch between programs, we just click on their icons. You can also click the "View Tasks" button to view all running applications And go to any of them.

Continuum mode on Windows 10 Mobile supports the same key combinations as on the desktop version of Windows 10. You can easily switch between applications, simply pressing Ctrl + Tab. Working with the document, you can select the desired text, then press Ctrl + C or Ctrl + x to copy or cut it, and then insert it into the desired location using the Ctrl + V combination. All this creates a feeling of work at a full-fledged computer.

Launched programs on big Screen Work is identical to how we see them on PC. Such effect microsoft. achieved thanks to the development of universal applications that themselves understand, on which screen they are now running - on 5 "or 22" and automatically adjust the design of the application for a new monitor or TV.

I was very pleased with the opportunity to connect to Microsoft Display Dock external storage, Simply put, flash drive or external disk. At the same time, you get full access to content on the outer medium, you can open it, edit, copy and even print if there is such a need. Now you do not need a PC for this. Just connect an external disk, and it without loading any drivers, and without requiring installations additional programsOpens on your monitor or TV using the Continuum mode. For business segments, this is just a find.

At first, it really creates the impression that you are sitting at the usual computer. You can easily go to your mail, open a letter from a colleague with an invested presentation and, by clicking on its right mouse button, calmly run in the program you need.

Working in Continuum mode on Lumia 950 XL, you will not work with an extension or display of the phone screen on an external screen, you cannot simply drag the icons from one screen to another. That is, if you need this or that application, you will need to run it through the "Start" menu. For example, if you want to open mail on the big screen, just go to the "Start" menu on the same big screen, and open it. If you want to run mail on the phone, go to the "Start" menu from the phone screen and click on the mail icon.

I am not a big fan of games on the smartphone. Nevertheless decided to check whether many are started in CONTINUUM mode. Disappointing game lovers immediately. In the store I managed to find no more than a dozen of such. Many of them are the simplest, but there are also worthy attention. Particular lovers of World of Tanks Blitz. Your favorite toy is easily started in CONTINUUM mode, and at the highest settings. With that, there is no braking, freezing. Everything works great. True, driving a tank still from the surface of the phone.

Application Remote Desktop Preview

At first glance, a familiar to everyone app for remote access to PC. But not everything is so simple. Now it has received support to Continuum. Remote Desktop Preview allows you to remotely connect to computers connected to the Internet through the RDP protocol.

This application forever turned my ideas about the capabilities of the Continuum mode for Windows 10. Now you can easily access your laptop or tablet on Windows 10, being far from it. To do this, you will need a couple of minutes, and ask your households or work colleagues simply turn on the laptop, not even driven password or pin code.

How is all this happening? Enough in the store from your phone to download it (do not confuse only old version Applications).

You need to be prepared for the fact that the interface and settings in English, but even school knowledge of English is enough to disassemble everything.

The settings procedure is extremely simple. Run the application in the window that opens, click on the plus game adding your device.

Enter the name of your PC, add it to remote access. It must be remembered that your laptop must have permission to remote access.

Also you will need accountwith which you go to your laptop. I think this is not a problem for anyone.

Literally one second and on the screen of your monitor in CONTINUUM mode, your device desk will appear. Exactly, the same as you are used to. True, B. upper corners You will notice the level of mobile communication signal, the charge level sensor and date, and in the center three points on a black or white background.

Thus, you get full access to your files, programs and applications, you can open browsers, use all windows properties 10. There are no restrictions. In the screenshots, it can be seen how I freely open files, I move them from the folder to the folder, I use the browser, I do everything that usually do, sitting on a laptop.

True, you will not be able to use your Skype. But you can successfully use your smartphone and chat in Skype, but so far only from the smartphone itself, since there is still no universal application of this program. According to the last rumors, developers are working on this problem. In the last assembly of Insider Fast, the universal Skype application (beta) was added. Although it is strange why only now, and not to the release. This is a question for the company Microsoft.

For three weeks, I just refused a laptop, as he was not needed to me. All and so it was at my hand and did not need to wear it with me to work or sit at him at home. All this I could easily do, for example, lying on the sofa even on the TV screen. It is very impressive.

What is impossible to do in Windows Continuum mode?

The first and probably the main problem of continuum disabling universal applications. You can open only those programs in this mode that have universal apps indexing, that is, universal applications. There are still very few such, but the work goes, and applications appear increasingly and more often. In the store they are easy to distinguish, because they are signed as Created forWindows 10.In the Continuum mode, the application data is immediately visible when the monitor is connected. I think Microsoft needs to find a way out of this situation.

Yes, and not all applications will have the usual look for you. Even office applications Have a mobile look, and not as in the desktop PC. Users who are used to using everything excel functions, Continuum is hardly like.

Another unpleasant moment is the inability to start programs in multiple windows at the same time. In other words, Snap View can not be used with Continuum. You can only work in two applications at the same time - one on the phone and one on the big monitor screen.

Windows Continuum users are deprived of the ability to drag images and programs from a smartphone display to the monitor. This feature is not available, since Continuum is not a pure projection on the connected screen. Of course, this is a controversial drawback, but such a function could be useful.

Let's summarize

Even if the CONTINUUM mode itself remains Nishev, I really hope that his ideas and the thought itself will generally become a turning point in the history post-PC. Manufacturers can chase ultra-thin and powerful devices, but users want to keep the universal device in their hands. That device that simultaneously replaces us and a smartphone, and player, and a laptop, and even a game console.

I am configured to Continuum more optimistic than before. He still has a long way to go, and in itself he will not be a "chopping-cutting" for the platform. But for a number of users, he can become a great investment.

For some reason, I am sure that the Continuum regime has a good future, especially in a business segment. After all, the business person who is in the office or on a business trip holds an online meeting or training, I want to have such a device. It will allow him to be mobile, modern and interactive. For a simple user, he can also use it very much and replace the uym necessary devices. Having a docking station and smartphone, you can communicate with friends on social networks on the big screen of your TV, use it instead of the game console, to run your work programs to work interactively and learn. I am sure that such a future is not far off and the Continuum regime is only the first step on this long path.

The feature developed by Microsoft for Windows 10 and called Continuum was first presented in September last year. Now this opportunity has become much more attractive for smartphone users. Initially, Continuum was intended for adaptation by users of the personal computer interface under the situation of the usual physical keyboard or on screen keyboard from touch input. Now, Joe Belfiore demonstrated the possibility of using this function on the smartphone: using Continuum, users will be able to turn the phone into a full-fledged computer by connecting it to an external display, mouse and keyboard.

At the past Build 2015 conference, the Microsoft team returned to the conversation about the Continuum function, which is developed as part of Windows 10 and will be available for smartphones and computers together with the final version of the OS. Continuum allows you to connect a smartphone to an external display and periphery, turning it into a real computer. Applications and work desk automatically adapt under new screen for comfortable work, which requires sufficient computing power phone

Simply put, the function allows you to start the phone system on the larger screen, thereby increasing the level of productivity of the device and its entertainment capabilities. Showing the work of Continuum, Belfiore has connected the smartphone to the external monitor, which appears home screen Phone, after which the corporate Vice President Microsoft launched MS Office. It is worth noting that the program running from the smartphone appeared very similar to the standard version of Office for PCs. Such a conversion user interface It is capable of doing users in the program more convenient.

In order to continue Continuum to work accordingly, many developers still have to optimize their applications under new opportunity. During his speech, the vice-president of the company also noted that existing today hardware incompatible with CONTINUUM for smartphones, since the ability to provide the telephone simultaneous operation of two screens at the same time.

Source: Phonearena.com.

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At the past Build 2015 conference, the Microsoft team returned to the conversation about the Continuum function, which is developed as part of Windows 10 and will be available for smartphones and computers together with the final version of the OS. Continuum allows you to connect a smartphone to an external display and periphery, turning it into a real computer. Applications and desktops are automatically adapted to a new screen for comfortable work, which requires sufficient phone computing power.

Microsoft Display Dock for Smartphones on Windows 10 will cost $ 99

One of the main features of the Windows 10 Mobile operating system was the function of the Continuum, which allows you to turn smartphones based on this OS into a full-fledged desktop computer using a special docking station demonstrated during the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL presentation. Today it became known from unofficial sources that the DISPLAY Dock dock will cost $ 99. Experts believe that such a cost looks highly acceptable for the current USB docking station, USB Type-C, HDMI and DisplayPort.

Microsoft Display Dock Adapter allows you to turn your smartphone on Windows 10 Mobile in a desktop PC

Presenting yesterday new flagship smartphones Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, Microsoft Mimolet announced another interesting device - Microsoft Display Dock adapter allowing you to connect mobile phone To the monitor, keyboard and mouse. In essence, Microsoft Display Dock is a hardware implementation of the Continuum technology, which we have already told before. For those who missed, recall, its essence comes down to turning the smartphone on Windows 10 Mobile in a kind of replacement of an ordinary desktop PC.

Microsoft demonstrates the function of the Continuum function in Windows 10 Mobile

At the annual conference of the Dreamforce dedicated to cloud technologies, Microsoft has held its own press conference. During this event, the CEO of Satya's CEO has demonstrated the work of the Continuum function in the upcoming Windows 10 Mobile. Recall that this feature Allows you to turn your smartphone running Windows 10 Mobile in a full-fledged personal computer, simply by connecting the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Microsoft plans to release Windows 10 before the beginning of the fall of next year

Many users look forward to the release of Windows 10 in 2015. The IT Specialist of the ZDNet Resource Mary Joe Foli reported that most likely the new version of the popular platform will appear not earlier than the end of the summer of next year. At the same time, Microsoft has not yet fully decided on the release date, and more or less accurate time is set only for the next build of Developer PREVIEW. Meanwhile, on this fall, Microsoft representatives told about this fall large quantities innovations of the coming OS.

Intel Core M processors will reveal their potential in smart

Intel Vice President Kirk Skogen during the presentation of the new generation of processors of the company noted that the Core M's chips will be able to work in smarts. Despite the fact that the mobile line will first show itself in new MacBook and tablets Microsoft Surface.The company is not going to dwell on the achieved, especially taking into account the widespread distribution of the Continuum function from Microsoft. The function allows you to turn a smartphone or smart pad into a full-fledged system unit, for which productive mobile x86 processors will become almost indispensable.

Windows 10 for smartphones will be released no earlier than October

At the BUILD 2015 Conference, Microsoft told many new details about the Windows 10 operating system. Thus, it became known that on Windows 10 it will be possible to run recycled applications for Android and iOS, and the porting process itself will be quite simple. The official name of the new EDGE browser was also announced and the operation of the Continuum feature is demonstrated, which allows you to start working on one device and continue on the other.

Together with the announcement of the new operating system for smartphones called Windows 10 Mobile company Microsoft talked about the new revolutionary function of Continuum, which, according to the application, should give users to use their mobile gadget as full-fledged computer. Judging by the reviews of specialized Internet publications, it turned out in fact, albeit with some reservations. For example, to organize a full-fledged workplace it is necessary to purchase a special dock, which combines the smartphone itself and peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor, drives, etc.). But in this case, playing serious games are hardly done, but to work with text or photographs, to climb on sites in the browser very much.

Recently, an article appeared on the Microsoft website in which the developers shared the history of CONTINUUM and its main features. It says that planning to create this feature began three years ago. Initially, it was only observation and thought that smartphones entered our daily life very tightly, they are always at hand and fulfill the role of the main source of information and communication in social networks. While for full-fledged work There was still a laptop and desktop computers.

It is also mentioned in the article that such an idea would be as in demand in emerging markets, where a mobile gadget is often often the only device for accessing the Internet. So far, it is hard to believe in this, given the cost of the top smartphone Lumia line complete with Microsoft Display Dock, but perhaps in the future will appear in the future. Representatives of the company around the world conducted surveys and many studies to thoroughly examine the needs of users in this direction.

In the process of developing Continuum, Microsoft engineers have encountered many problems.

First, it was necessary to choose the most appropriate connection option. external monitorAnd so that the screen of the smartphone himself worked too. They had to invent essentially a new method that was not used before. For many months, they considered different prototypes until they came to the final version.

Secondly, when introducing full support for the keyboard with the mouse, there were also problems that require changes to the system architecture. Currently, the Continuum function is running Windows 10 Mobile, but Microsoft does not leave this and plans to implement and other products such as Xbox One. or Hololens.

Since B. lately Mini-computers made in flash drive form factor are becoming increasingly becoming ignored. In particular, if there is something to compare with.

The main competitor for such devices is the Continuum function. It is available on smartphones with Windows 10 Mobile and turns a mobile gadget to a full-fledged PC. What of these two devices to choose the user if he likes mobility and often travels?

A few words about competitors

The Continuum function has begun to advance Microsoft with the output of the top devices running Windows 10 Mobile. These are the flagships of the Lumia: 950 and 950 XL ruler, and smartphones of other manufacturers with a powerful technical "stuffing".

When using this option, the smartphone becomes system blockAnd the periphery and monitor connection is performed via the docking station (synchronization with the screen can be performed using Miracast).

Flash drive computers are connected mainly through the HDMI connector. To them via USB ports or using Bluetooth communication, the necessary devices are connected.

Both devices allow the user to remain mobile, not attached to the workplace, and at the same time wearing with you the minimum cargo. But it takes a compact peripherals to work at least the keyboard and the mouse (in the case of the CONTINUUUM, the smartphone screen is used as a full trackpad). In addition, unlike laptop, you need a free display with a suitable digital input.

Applications - our all!

The Continuum feature works with UWP applications. They are designed to install on mobile and stationary Windows 10. But you can download them only through Windows Store, which is also developing only and gradually the list of available applications is expanding. But it happens not as fast as I would like to users.

Another deficiency of Continuum is the lack of multitasking, so the user will not be able to work simultaneously with email And read the text in Office. This one of the main problems of the function, but developers will fix it in the near future, otherwise it will not be possible to develop Continuum in the future.

As for computers flash drives, they work under the control of full-fledged Windows 10, so with similar problems Users do not face. Such gadgets have more modest specificationsbut they are not limited to anything and work with classic windows programs and UWP applications. Moreover, the conversation about multitasking here is not even worth it.

Thus, each user must independently determine what is in priority: a huge set of Win-32 programs or the use of a browser / office in turn, but with greater performance. Depending on this, he chooses a smartphone with a continuum or a flash drive.

Choosing a flash drive computer

Just like fixed PCs or laptops, flash drive computers differ in price categories and performance. Depending on the requirements, it is sold inexpensive models built on Intel Atom processors, or heavy duty gadgets collected on Intel Core M3 or M5. But the value of the second is very high (model price Intel Compute. Stick CS325 starts from 400 dollars).

For example, the user can pay attention to the MELE PCG02 FANLESS or PIPO X1S model, the cost of which is 120 and 85 dollars, respectively.

	Mele PCG02 Fanless	Pipo x1s.
CPU	Quadride Intel Atom Z3735F, 1.33 GHz	Quadride Intel Atom Z8300, 1.84 GHz
RAM	2 GB	2 GB
Inner memory	32 GB	32 GB
Graphics	Built-in	Built-in
Operating system	Windows 10 32-bit	Windows 10 32-bit
Memory card	up to 128 GB	up to 64 GB
Wi-Fi	802.11 b / g / n	802.11 b / g / n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0.	Bluetooth 4.0.
Cooling	Passive	Active
Price	120$	85$

We define with smartphone

Everything is not so unequivocal here. First of all, Continuum depends on the technical "filling" of the smartphone. But not all top devices support this technology.

Need Continuum to work snapdragon processor 617 or newer and more productive. But this should not be models of past generations, such as (Snapdragon 800 or 801).

To save the budget and get a smartphone that supports Continuum, you can purchase the VAIO Phone Biz or Nuans Neo model, which relate to the budget segment.

If the user prefers high performance and does not save on gadgets, he will acquire Microsoft flagship - Lumia 950, 950 XL or third-party models - Acer Liquid Jade Primo, HP Elite X3 (it is still preparing for exit). Moreover, in the case of the Acer smartphone, the user will receive a docking station. And when buying Lumia devices, it will have to buy it separately.

Output

Computer flash drive	Continuum function
mobility;	mobility;
great amount programs;	no peripherals need;
Large selection of models;	performance;
multitasking;	price;
price;	oddness;
performance;	Small application selection;
no periphery (mouse, keyboard);	Limited selection of models.
No monitor.	no monitor;

If the user chooses between the computer-flash drive or smartphone with Continuum, it must weigh everything in and against. But an objectively more acceptable option is a full-fledged Windows 10 on a mini-PC.

The main problem of Continuum lies in "damp" - the technology still has to be finalized. Therefore, while it is inferior to almost all the parameters with a computer in the flash drive form factor.

And what would you choose?