Breaking down the Microsoft and Samsung partnership

Last week, Microsoft announced big news alongside Samsung; a partnership that volition see the two companies work closely together on future products, starting with the Galaxy Note 10. This is a huge deal for Microsoft and a big step back into the mobile game. Only this partnership isn't just about mobile; it's nigh Windows as well.

Samsung has been happily bundling some of Microsoft's Android apps on its phones for a couple of years at present. Information technology started with the Samsung Galaxy S8, just in that location was never whatsoever formal partnership behind it. Now that there's an official public-facing partnership to fence with, both Microsoft and Samsung accept taken this bundling of apps to a new level by introducing more Microsoft services that are preinstalled and going a step further by integrating some of those services with Samsung's version of Android.

Microsoft apps preinstalled

The post-obit are all the Microsoft apps you can expect to see bundled with the Galaxy Note x, and likely future Galaxy Southward and Note devices going frontwards.

Word
PowerPoint
Excel
Outlook
OneDrive
LinkedIn
Your Telephone Companion

Just like with previous Samsung smartphones (in some regions,) Microsoft Office will continue to be arranged with the Galaxy Note x. This bundling includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. What's different this time is that a fourth Office app is now included in the bundling with the device: Outlook for Android. This inclusion is a big deal, as it ways users will have the option of using Outlook equally their default email client right out of the box.

There's also the OneDrive app, which lets users back up their photos, videos, and documents to their Microsoft Business relationship for viewing beyond other devices that support OneDrive. In addition to this, at that place'south also the LinkedIn app, Microsoft's social network for professionals looking to share work-related achievements, news, and job openings.

The last Microsoft app to exist bundled with the Galaxy Note 10 is Your Phone Companion, the app that lets users sync their telephone's notifications, photos, and SMS with their Windows 10 PC. Just like with iMessage on a Mac and iPhone, users volition be able to chat with contacts via SMS direct on their PC without needing to pick upwards their phone.

There's also the screen sharing feature, which displays your phone's screen right on your PC for when you desire to interact with your device without picking it up. Microsoft says this keeps you more productive past not breaking your workflow whenever a notification comes in. Microsoft has as well announced that users will be able to brand and receive cellular phone calls via the Your Phone app on Windows ten after this year.

Tighter Microsoft integration

In addition to bundling Microsoft apps, this partnership takes things a stride farther by integrating some of Microsoft'due south services into the actual OS feel. This starts with Your Phone, which on the Milky way Note 10, is integrated with the quick actions area in the notification center. Information technology provides quick and easy admission to the Your Phone service, and borer on it will initiate the connectedness between your phone and PC.

This integration should put Your Telephone in front of more people, especially those who usually uninstall extra apps they don't think they demand. Having it tied into the quick actions expanse may convince more people to prepare it up and requite it a go, particularly if they have a Windows PC lying around. Helping that happen: in the quick actions surface area, it's labeled as "Link to Windows" and not Your Phone Companion.

In that location'due south also OneDrive integration inside the Samsung Gallery app. This feature allows users to automatically backup and view their OneDrive photos from within Samsung'southward own Gallery experience instead of beingness required to practice it all through the defended OneDrive app. This should brand the overall photos backup feel much more than streamlined. Being able to view photos stored in OneDrive direct in the gallery app is an excellent add-on that may be able to rival Google Photos.

Microsoft is too adding additional experiences and capabilities to the Outlook app. For example, Microsoft is edifice out support for the Galaxy Notation pen, enabling additional functionality such equally being able to peek at emails in your inbox by hovering over them with the pen and replying to emails past inking instead of typing.

New Windows devices and experiences

The Microsoft and Samsung partnership isn't just nigh Android. Microsoft is now working closely with Samsung on other products, including new Windows PC hardware, starting with the Milky way Book S. This is the first Snapdragon 8cx powered Windows 10 device to keep sale and should hopefully pave the fashion forward for Windows 10 on ARM in the time to come.

Samsung'due south Galaxy Book S is a premium laptop, which starts at a relatively acceptable price of $999. The Snapdragon 8cx is worthy of this price tag, as its performance is purported to be around the same every bit an Intel Core i5. Considering how slim and premium the laptop itself is, $999 for this device isn't bad at all. Plus, it has USB-C ports which means you tin can plug in your new Galaxy Note 10 without a dongle.

Samsung has also built out a new dedicated DeX awarding for Windows ten that allows Galaxy users to utilise their DeX surround without needing a dedicated DeX dock. Now, every Windows ten PC is a DeX dock, and the just requirement is a USB-C cable to plug into both your telephone and Windows 10 PC.

A meliorate retail experience in Microsoft Stores

Microsoft's and Samsung'southward partnership extends to Microsoft'southward physical and online stores every bit well. You'll exist able to buy Samsung devices direct from Microsoft. And in stores, you will find Milky way devices advertised alongside Surface products equally splendid citizens for the Microsoft ecosystem. If y'all're in a Microsoft Shop and want a new phone to go forth with your Surface, Microsoft will recommend you a Samsung Milky way. That's the phone that Microsoft thinks volition best serve the customer for Microsoft software and services on the go.

Information technology's fair to say that for now, Microsoft considers the Samsung Galaxy Due south and Note line as the new Windows phones. If y'all're part of the Microsoft ecosystem, equally Samsung Galaxy S or Annotation device is what Microsoft thinks you should exist getting.

The future

Then that'due south all the announcements from the partnership so far, but what about the hereafter? I wouldn't be surprised if this partnership has only but begun, and to expect more products from Samsung and Microsoft in the futurity to be tied at the hip. One surface area that I'm particularly interested in is what this all means for Microsoft's own Windows Lite effort, and foldable PCs in the future. Tin nosotros expect a larger, PC orientated Galaxy Fold that runs Windows Lite adjacent yr? Volition Microsoft and Samsung be working together on whatsoever Windows Lite hardware? We'll have to wait and see.

The Milky way Book Due south would accept been a perfect contender for Windows Lite. But since it'due south non ready yet it makes sense for information technology to be aircraft with Windows x. I can't imagine this partnership doesn't include hardware with Windows Lite in the time to come. We could also see a newer Windows Mixed Reality headset, or maybe Cortana and Bixby integration similar how we've witnessed Cortana and Alexa integrate.

Over to y'all

What are your thoughts on the Microsoft and Samsung partnership? Do you expect Samsung to come out with a Windows Lite device at some point? Let u.s. know in the comments.

Noteworthy

Milky way Note 10/10+

Samsung's latest Milky way Note phone

These powerful smartphones feature an impressive amount of internal storage and come with a pair of USB-C headphones. The Southward Pen gives you more command with handwritten notes, air gestures, and photo editing.

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