In this month’s blog I’ll be covering off the latest enhancements in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop, two cloud-based services that allow users to access Windows 11 or Windows 10 from any device. So, let’s get into it!
Windows 365: What’s New?
Windows 365 has introduced several new features, including Windows integrations, boot and switch, single sign-on, Cloud PC resize, reporting, and partner integrations. They’re also planning to launch a Windows App (more on that later), higher compute SKUs, and GPU SKUs soon.
One of the spotlight features is the Windows 365 boot for Windows 11 and Windows 365 switch for seamless transitions. There’s also Windows 365 Frontline for up to three users per license and enhanced Android experiences with Motorola ThinkPhone.
For those with higher compute requirements, Windows 365 is introducing 16 vCPU SKUs. And for graphics-intensive workloads, keep an eye out for the upcoming GPU SKUs.
Azure Virtual Desktop: What’s New?
Azure Virtual Desktop is also bringing some impressive improvements to the table. They’ve enhanced the RDP, added further support for OneDrive, introduced watermarking, and enabled SSO. There is also autoscale for personal desktops, custom image templates, and session host updates which are currently in preview and will be going to GA soon.
The custom image templates will allow you to create custom gold images with built-in or custom scripts. The session host update will enable updating host pools with a new image. And the personal desktop autoscale will optimize cost and performance.
Windows App
The Windows App was a significant announcement at Ignite. It serves as a gateway to your personal Windows experience in the cloud, allowing quick and secure access to Windows 11 or Windows 10 from any device. This includes users of Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, or Dev Box.
The Windows App aims to simplify the Windows experience you know and love. It’s a single client app across multiple services, enabling fast and smart operation. The focus is on leading through innovation and bringing feature parity across all platforms. This includes device redirections, multiple retraction, Teams optimizations, and more.
The end-user experience goals for the Windows App are simplicity, consistency, and purpose-built design. The experience will be uniquely Windows but experienced natively, built with the highest quality and performance.
The Windows App is consistent across Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Services, and Microsoft Dev Box. It offers the same experience across Windows, Apple products, Android, and web. The app features a Home tab where users can pin their most frequently used devices and applications, a Devices tab to view all assigned devices, and Apps for remote apps from Azure Virtual Desktop or Remote Desktop Services. The app maintains a consistent look and feel across different platforms, including Windows endpoints, web browsers, macOS, and iOS.
IT Management Experiences
Both Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop are introducing AI-enabled capabilities to simplify admin tasks and improve user experience. These include Cloud PC recommendations for identifying the ideal Cloud PC size and reclaiming licenses, connectivity insights for alerting and resolving connectivity issues, and utilisation insights for optimizing costs and licenses.
Wrapping Up
These enhancements in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop are set to make remote access to Windows more efficient and user-friendly. These updates are sure to bring a smoother, more seamless experience.
