<s>
Microsoft	O
Windows	O
is	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
several	O
proprietary	B-Application
graphical	B-Application
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
families	O
developed	O
and	O
marketed	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
for	O
consumers	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
for	O
servers	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
IoT	I-Operating_System
for	O
embedded	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Defunct	O
Windows	O
families	O
include	O
Windows	O
9x	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
20	O
,	O
1985	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
graphical	B-Application
operating	B-Operating_System
system	I-Operating_System
shell	I-Operating_System
for	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
in	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
growing	O
interest	O
in	O
graphical	B-Application
user	I-Application
interfaces	I-Application
(	O
GUIs	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
is	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
desktop	B-General_Concept
operating	I-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
in	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
with	O
75%	B-Operating_System
market	I-Operating_System
share	I-Operating_System
,	O
according	O
to	O
StatCounter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Windows	O
is	O
not	O
the	O
most	O
used	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
when	O
including	O
both	O
mobile	O
and	O
desktop	O
OSes	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
Android	B-Application
's	O
massive	O
growth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
the	O
most	O
recent	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
is	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
for	O
consumer	O
PCs	B-Device
and	O
tablets	B-Device
,	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
Enterprise	I-Application
for	O
corporations	O
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2022	I-Device
for	O
servers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
,	O
the	O
developer	O
of	O
Windows	O
,	O
has	O
registered	O
several	O
trademarks	O
,	O
each	O
of	O
which	O
denotes	O
a	O
family	O
of	O
Windows	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
that	O
target	O
a	O
specific	O
sector	O
of	O
the	O
computing	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
:	O
Started	O
as	O
a	O
family	O
of	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
with	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.1	I-Device
,	O
an	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
for	O
server	B-Application
computers	I-Application
and	O
workstations	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
now	O
consists	O
of	O
three	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
subfamilies	O
that	O
are	O
released	O
almost	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
and	O
share	O
the	O
same	O
kernel	B-Operating_System
:	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
:	O
The	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
for	O
mainstream	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
and	O
tablets	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
latest	O
version	O
is	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
competitor	O
of	O
this	O
family	O
is	O
macOS	B-Application
by	O
Apple	O
for	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
and	O
iPadOS	B-Operating_System
and	O
Android	B-Application
for	O
tablets	B-Device
(	O
c.f.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
:	O
The	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
for	O
server	B-Application
computers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
latest	O
version	O
is	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2022	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
competitor	O
of	O
this	O
family	O
is	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
PE	O
:	O
A	O
lightweight	O
version	O
of	O
its	O
Windows	O
sibling	O
,	O
meant	O
to	O
operate	O
as	O
a	O
live	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
used	O
for	O
installing	O
Windows	O
on	O
bare-metal	O
computers	O
(	O
especially	O
on	O
many	O
computers	O
at	O
once	O
)	O
,	O
recovery	O
or	O
troubleshooting	O
purposes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
latest	O
version	O
is	O
Windows	O
PE	O
10	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
IoT	I-Operating_System
(	O
previously	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
)	O
:	O
Initially	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
developed	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
as	O
a	O
general-purpose	B-General_Concept
operating	I-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
for	O
every	O
device	O
that	O
was	O
too	O
resource-limited	O
to	O
be	O
called	O
a	O
full-fledged	O
computer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eventually	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
was	O
renamed	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Compact	I-Operating_System
and	O
was	O
folded	O
under	O
Windows	O
Compact	O
trademark	O
which	O
also	O
consists	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Industry	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Professional	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Standard	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Handheld	O
and	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Automotive	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
9x	O
:	O
An	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
that	O
targeted	O
the	O
consumer	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
PC	O
World	O
called	O
its	O
last	O
version	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Me	I-Device
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
worst	O
products	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
now	O
caters	O
to	O
the	O
consumer	O
market	O
with	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
:	O
The	O
predecessor	O
to	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
,	O
it	O
was	O
a	O
mobile	O
phone	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
version	O
was	O
called	O
Pocket	B-Operating_System
PC	I-Operating_System
2000	I-Operating_System
;	O
the	O
third	O
version	O
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
2003	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
to	O
adopt	O
the	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
trademark	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
last	O
version	O
is	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
6.5	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
:	O
An	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
sold	O
only	O
to	O
manufacturers	O
of	O
smartphones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
version	O
was	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
7	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
8	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
8.1	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
succeeded	O
by	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
is	O
now	O
also	O
discontinued	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
Windows	O
collectively	O
describes	O
any	O
or	O
all	O
of	O
several	O
generations	O
of	O
Microsoft	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
products	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
announced	O
in	O
November	O
1983	O
(	O
after	O
the	O
Apple	B-Device
Lisa	I-Device
,	O
but	O
before	O
the	O
Macintosh	B-Device
)	O
under	O
the	O
name	O
"	O
Windows	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
was	O
not	O
released	O
until	O
November	O
1985	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
was	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
Apple	O
's	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
but	O
achieved	O
little	O
popularity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
is	O
not	O
a	O
complete	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
;	O
rather	O
,	O
it	O
extends	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
shell	B-Application
of	O
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
is	O
a	O
program	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
Executive	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Components	O
included	O
Calculator	B-Application
,	O
Calendar	O
,	O
Cardfile	O
,	O
Clipboard	B-General_Concept
Viewer	I-General_Concept
,	O
Clock	O
,	O
Control	O
Panel	O
,	O
Notepad	B-Application
,	O
Paint	B-Application
,	O
Reversi	O
,	O
Terminal	B-Application
and	O
Write	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
does	O
not	O
allow	O
overlapping	O
windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
sold	O
as	O
included	O
Windows	O
Development	O
libraries	O
with	O
the	O
C	B-Language
development	O
environment	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
numerous	O
windows	O
samples	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2.0	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
December	O
1987	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
more	O
popular	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2.03	I-Application
changed	O
the	O
OS	O
from	O
tiled	O
windows	O
to	O
overlapping	O
windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2.0	I-Application
also	O
introduced	O
more	O
sophisticated	O
keyboard	O
shortcuts	O
and	O
could	O
make	O
use	O
of	O
expanded	B-Device
memory	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2.1	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
two	O
different	O
versions	O
:	O
Windows/286	O
and	O
Windows/386	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows/386	O
uses	O
the	O
virtual	B-Application
8086	I-Application
mode	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Intel	B-General_Concept
80386	I-General_Concept
to	O
multitask	O
several	O
DOS	O
programs	O
and	O
the	O
paged	B-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
model	I-Architecture
to	O
emulate	O
expanded	B-Device
memory	I-Device
using	O
available	O
extended	B-Device
memory	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows/286	O
,	O
in	O
spite	O
of	O
its	O
name	O
,	O
runs	O
on	O
both	O
Intel	B-General_Concept
8086	I-General_Concept
and	O
Intel	B-General_Concept
80286	I-General_Concept
processors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
runs	O
in	O
real	B-Application
mode	I-Application
but	O
can	O
make	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
high	B-Device
memory	I-Device
area	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
full	O
Windows	O
packages	O
,	O
there	O
were	O
runtime-only	O
versions	O
that	O
shipped	O
with	O
early	O
Windows	O
software	O
from	O
third	O
parties	O
and	O
made	O
it	O
possible	O
to	O
run	O
their	O
Windows	O
software	O
on	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
and	O
without	O
the	O
full	O
Windows	O
feature	O
set	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
early	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
are	O
often	O
thought	O
of	O
as	O
graphical	B-Application
shells	O
,	O
mostly	O
because	O
they	O
ran	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
and	O
used	O
it	O
for	O
file	B-Application
system	I-Application
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
even	O
the	O
earliest	O
Windows	O
versions	O
already	O
assumed	O
many	O
typical	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
functions	O
;	O
notably	O
,	O
having	O
their	O
own	O
executable	B-Application
file	I-Application
format	I-Application
and	O
providing	O
their	O
own	O
device	B-Application
drivers	I-Application
(	O
timer	O
,	O
graphics	O
,	O
printer	O
,	O
mouse	O
,	O
keyboard	O
and	O
sound	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
,	O
Windows	O
allowed	O
users	O
to	O
execute	O
multiple	O
graphical	B-Application
applications	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
through	O
cooperative	B-Operating_System
multitasking	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
implemented	O
an	O
elaborate	O
,	O
segment-based	O
,	O
software	O
virtual	B-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
scheme	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
it	O
to	O
run	O
applications	O
larger	O
than	O
available	O
memory	O
:	O
code	O
segments	O
and	O
resources	O
are	O
swapped	O
in	O
and	O
thrown	O
away	O
when	O
memory	O
became	O
scarce	O
;	O
data	O
segments	O
moved	O
in	O
memory	O
when	O
a	O
given	O
application	O
had	O
relinquished	O
processor	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1990	O
,	O
improved	O
the	O
design	O
,	O
mostly	O
because	O
of	O
virtual	B-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
and	O
loadable	O
virtual	O
device	B-Application
drivers	I-Application
(	O
VxDs	B-Application
)	O
that	O
allow	O
Windows	O
to	O
share	O
arbitrary	O
devices	O
between	O
multi-tasked	O
DOS	O
applications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
applications	O
can	O
run	O
in	O
protected	B-Application
mode	I-Application
,	O
which	O
gives	O
them	O
access	O
to	O
several	O
megabytes	O
of	O
memory	O
without	O
the	O
obligation	O
to	O
participate	O
in	O
the	O
software	O
virtual	B-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
scheme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
also	O
featured	O
improvements	O
to	O
the	O
user	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
rewrote	O
critical	O
operations	O
from	O
C	B-Language
into	O
assembly	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
to	O
achieve	O
broad	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
selling	O
2million	O
copies	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
six	O
months	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
,	O
made	O
generally	O
available	O
on	O
March	O
1	O
,	O
1992	O
,	O
featured	O
a	O
facelift	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
1993	O
,	O
Windows	O
for	O
Workgroups	O
,	O
a	O
special	O
version	O
with	O
integrated	O
peer-to-peer	O
networking	O
features	O
and	O
a	O
version	O
number	O
of	O
3.11	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
sold	O
along	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
December	O
31	O
,	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.2	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1994	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
updated	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Chinese	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.2	I-Application
was	O
generally	O
sold	O
by	O
computer	O
manufacturers	O
with	O
a	O
ten-disk	O
version	O
of	O
MS-DOS	B-Application
that	O
also	O
had	O
Simplified	O
Chinese	O
characters	O
in	O
basic	O
output	O
and	O
some	O
translated	O
utilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
major	O
consumer-oriented	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
August	O
24	O
,	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
still	O
remaining	O
MS-DOS-based	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
introduced	O
support	O
for	O
native	O
32-bit	O
applications	O
,	O
plug	B-Device
and	I-Device
play	I-Device
hardware	O
,	O
preemptive	O
multitasking	O
,	O
long	O
file	O
names	O
of	O
up	O
to	O
255	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
provided	O
increased	O
stability	O
over	O
its	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
also	O
introduced	O
a	O
redesigned	O
,	O
object	B-Application
oriented	I-Application
user	O
interface	O
,	O
replacing	O
the	O
previous	O
Program	O
Manager	O
with	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
,	O
taskbar	O
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
shell	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
was	O
a	O
major	O
commercial	O
success	O
for	O
Microsoft	O
;	O
Ina	O
Fried	O
of	O
CNET	O
remarked	O
that	O
"	O
by	O
the	O
time	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
was	O
finally	O
ushered	O
off	O
the	O
market	O
in	O
2001	O
,	O
it	O
had	O
become	O
a	O
fixture	O
on	O
computer	O
desktops	O
around	O
the	O
world.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
published	O
four	O
OEM	O
Service	O
Releases	O
(	O
OSR	O
)	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
each	O
of	O
which	O
was	O
roughly	O
equivalent	O
to	O
a	O
service	O
pack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
OSR	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
was	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
to	O
be	O
bundled	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
,	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mainstream	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
December	O
31	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
and	O
extended	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
December	O
31	O
,	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
was	O
followed	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
on	O
June	O
25	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
which	O
introduced	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Driver	I-Application
Model	I-Application
,	O
support	O
for	O
USB	O
composite	O
devices	O
,	O
support	O
for	O
ACPI	B-Device
,	O
hibernation	O
,	O
and	O
support	O
for	O
multi-monitor	B-General_Concept
configurations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
also	O
included	O
integration	O
with	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
4	I-Protocol
through	O
Active	O
Desktop	O
and	O
other	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	O
Desktop	O
Update	O
(	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
enhancements	O
to	O
the	O
Explorer	O
shell	B-Application
which	O
was	O
also	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
1999	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
Second	O
Edition	O
,	O
an	O
updated	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
SE	O
added	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
5.0	I-Protocol
and	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Player	I-Device
6.2	O
amongst	O
other	O
upgrades	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mainstream	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
ended	O
on	O
June	O
30	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
and	O
extended	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
ended	O
on	O
July	O
11	B-Application
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
14	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Device
Me	I-Device
(	O
Millennium	O
Edition	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
last	O
DOS-based	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
Me	I-Device
incorporated	O
visual	O
interface	O
enhancements	O
from	O
its	O
Windows	O
NT-based	O
counterpart	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
,	O
had	O
faster	O
boot	O
times	O
than	O
previous	O
versions	O
(	O
which	O
however	O
,	O
required	O
the	O
removal	O
of	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
access	O
a	O
real	B-Application
mode	I-Application
DOS	O
environment	O
,	O
removing	O
compatibility	O
with	O
some	O
older	O
programs	O
)	O
,	O
expanded	O
multimedia	O
functionality	O
(	O
including	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Player	I-Device
7	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Movie	I-Application
Maker	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
Image	I-Device
Acquisition	I-Device
framework	O
for	O
retrieving	O
images	O
from	O
scanners	O
and	O
digital	O
cameras	O
)	O
,	O
additional	O
system	O
utilities	O
such	O
as	O
System	O
File	O
Protection	O
and	O
System	O
Restore	O
,	O
and	O
updated	O
home	O
networking	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Me	I-Device
was	O
faced	O
with	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
speed	O
and	O
instability	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
hardware	O
compatibility	O
issues	O
and	O
its	O
removal	O
of	O
real	B-Application
mode	I-Application
DOS	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
World	O
considered	O
Windows	B-Device
Me	I-Device
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
worst	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
Microsoft	O
had	O
ever	O
released	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
fourth	O
worst	O
tech	O
product	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
1988	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
development	O
team	O
within	O
Microsoft	O
(	O
which	O
included	O
former	O
Digital	O
Equipment	O
Corporation	O
developers	O
Dave	O
Cutler	O
and	O
Mark	O
Lucovsky	O
)	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
a	O
revamped	O
version	O
of	O
IBM	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
OS/2	B-Application
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
known	O
as	O
"	O
NT	B-Device
OS/2	I-Device
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NT	B-Device
OS/2	I-Device
was	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
secure	O
,	O
multi-user	B-Operating_System
operating	I-Operating_System
system	I-Operating_System
with	O
POSIX	O
compatibility	O
and	O
a	O
modular	O
,	O
portable	B-Architecture
kernel	B-Operating_System
with	O
preemptive	O
multitasking	O
and	O
support	O
for	O
multiple	O
processor	O
architectures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
successful	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
,	O
the	O
NT	O
development	O
team	O
decided	O
to	O
rework	O
the	O
project	O
to	O
use	O
an	O
extended	O
32-bit	O
port	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Library
API	I-Library
known	O
as	O
Win32	B-Library
instead	O
of	O
those	O
of	O
OS/2	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Win32	B-Library
maintained	O
a	O
similar	O
structure	O
to	O
the	O
Windows	B-Library
APIs	I-Library
(	O
allowing	O
existing	O
Windows	O
applications	O
to	O
easily	O
be	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
platform	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
supported	O
the	O
capabilities	O
of	O
the	O
existing	O
NT	O
kernel	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
approval	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
staff	O
,	O
development	O
continued	O
on	O
what	O
was	O
now	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
,	O
the	O
first	O
32-bit	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
IBM	O
objected	O
to	O
the	O
changes	O
,	O
and	O
ultimately	O
continued	O
OS/2	B-Application
development	O
on	O
its	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
was	O
the	O
first	O
Windows	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
based	O
on	O
a	O
hybrid	B-Operating_System
kernel	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
hybrid	B-Operating_System
kernel	I-Operating_System
was	O
designed	O
as	O
a	O
modified	O
microkernel	B-Operating_System
,	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
Mach	B-Operating_System
microkernel	I-Operating_System
developed	O
by	O
Richard	O
Rashid	O
at	O
Carnegie	O
Mellon	O
University	O
,	O
but	O
without	O
meeting	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
criteria	O
of	O
a	O
pure	O
microkernel	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
resulting	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.1	I-Device
(	O
named	O
to	O
associate	O
it	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
)	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
July	O
1993	O
,	O
with	O
versions	O
for	O
desktop	O
workstations	B-Device
and	O
servers	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.5	I-Device
was	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
1994	O
,	O
focusing	O
on	O
performance	O
improvements	O
and	O
support	O
for	O
Novell	O
's	O
NetWare	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
was	O
followed	O
up	O
by	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.51	I-Device
in	O
May	O
1995	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
additional	O
improvements	O
and	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
PowerPC	B-Architecture
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4.0	I-Device
was	O
released	O
in	O
June	O
1996	O
,	O
introducing	O
the	O
redesigned	O
interface	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
to	O
the	O
NT	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
,	O
a	O
successor	O
to	O
NT	B-Device
4.0	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
name	O
was	O
dropped	O
at	O
this	O
point	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
put	O
a	O
greater	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
Windows	O
brand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
next	O
major	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
,	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
25	O
,	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
introduction	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
aimed	O
to	O
unify	O
the	O
consumer-oriented	O
Windows	O
9x	O
series	O
with	O
the	O
architecture	O
introduced	O
by	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
,	O
a	O
change	O
which	O
Microsoft	O
promised	O
would	O
provide	O
better	O
performance	O
over	O
its	O
DOS-based	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
would	O
also	O
introduce	O
a	O
redesigned	O
user	O
interface	O
(	O
including	O
an	O
updated	O
Start	O
menu	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
task-oriented	O
"	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
)	O
,	O
streamlined	O
multimedia	O
and	O
networking	O
features	O
,	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
6	I-Application
,	O
integration	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
.NET	O
Passport	O
services	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
compatibility	O
mode	O
"	O
to	O
help	O
provide	O
backwards	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
software	O
designed	O
for	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Remote	B-Protocol
Assistance	I-Protocol
functionality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
retail	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
was	O
marketed	O
in	O
two	O
main	O
editions	O
:	O
the	O
"	O
Home	O
"	O
edition	O
was	O
targeted	O
towards	O
consumers	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
"	O
Professional	O
"	O
edition	O
was	O
targeted	O
towards	O
business	O
environments	O
and	O
power	B-General_Concept
users	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
included	O
additional	O
security	O
and	O
networking	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Home	O
and	O
Professional	O
were	O
later	O
accompanied	O
by	O
the	O
"	O
Media	O
Center	O
"	O
edition	O
(	O
designed	O
for	O
home	O
theater	O
PCs	B-Device
,	O
with	O
an	O
emphasis	O
on	O
support	O
for	O
DVD	O
playback	O
,	O
TV	B-Device
tuner	I-Device
cards	I-Device
,	O
DVR	B-Application
functionality	O
,	O
and	O
remote	O
controls	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
Tablet	B-Device
PC	I-Device
"	O
edition	O
(	O
designed	O
for	O
mobile	O
devices	O
meeting	O
its	O
specifications	B-Device
for	O
a	O
tablet	B-Device
computer	I-Device
,	O
with	O
support	O
for	O
stylus	B-Operating_System
pen	O
input	O
and	O
additional	O
pen-enabled	O
applications	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mainstream	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
April	O
14	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Extended	O
support	O
ended	O
on	O
April	O
8	B-Application
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
also	O
changed	O
its	O
release	O
schedules	O
for	O
server	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
;	O
the	O
server	O
counterpart	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
April	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
in	O
December	O
2005	O
,	O
by	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
R2	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
lengthy	O
development	O
process	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
30	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
for	O
volume	O
licensing	O
and	O
January	O
30	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
consumers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
contained	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
from	O
a	O
redesigned	O
shell	B-Application
and	O
user	O
interface	O
to	O
significant	O
technical	O
changes	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
particular	O
focus	O
on	O
security	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vista	B-Application
's	O
server	O
counterpart	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
was	O
released	O
in	O
early	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
July	O
22	O
,	O
2009	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
and	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
R2	I-Device
were	O
released	O
to	O
manufacturing	O
(	O
RTM	O
)	O
and	O
released	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
3	O
months	O
later	O
on	O
October	O
22	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
,	O
which	O
introduced	O
a	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
new	O
features	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
was	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
more	O
focused	O
,	O
incremental	O
upgrade	O
to	O
the	O
Windows	O
line	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
goal	O
of	O
being	O
compatible	O
with	O
applications	O
and	O
hardware	O
with	O
which	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
was	O
already	O
compatible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
has	O
multi-touch	B-Application
support	O
,	O
a	O
redesigned	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
with	O
an	O
updated	O
taskbar	O
with	O
revealable	O
jump	O
lists	O
that	O
contain	O
shortcuts	O
to	O
files	O
frequently	O
used	O
with	O
specific	O
applications	O
and	O
shortcuts	O
to	O
tasks	O
within	O
the	O
application	O
,	O
a	O
home	O
networking	O
system	O
called	O
HomeGroup	O
,	O
and	O
performance	O
improvements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
the	O
successor	O
to	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
was	O
released	O
generally	O
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
significant	O
changes	O
were	O
made	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
including	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
a	O
user	O
interface	O
based	O
around	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Metro	O
design	O
language	O
with	O
optimizations	O
for	O
touch-based	B-Application
devices	O
such	O
as	O
tablets	B-Device
and	O
all-in-one	O
PCs	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
changes	O
include	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	O
,	O
which	O
uses	O
large	O
tiles	O
that	O
are	O
more	O
convenient	O
for	O
touch	O
interactions	O
and	O
allow	O
for	O
the	O
display	O
of	O
continually	O
updated	O
information	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
class	O
of	O
apps	B-Application
which	O
are	O
designed	O
primarily	O
for	O
use	O
on	O
touch-based	B-Application
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Windows	O
version	O
required	O
a	O
minimum	O
resolution	O
of	O
1024×768	O
pixels	O
,	O
effectively	O
making	O
it	O
unfit	O
for	O
netbooks	B-Device
with	O
800×	O
600-pixel	O
screens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
changes	O
include	O
increased	O
integration	O
with	O
cloud	B-Architecture
services	I-Architecture
and	O
other	O
online	O
platforms	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
social	O
networks	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
own	O
OneDrive	B-Application
(	O
formerly	O
SkyDrive	O
)	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
services	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
service	O
for	O
software	O
distribution	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
variant	O
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
for	O
use	O
on	O
devices	O
that	O
utilize	O
the	O
ARM	B-Architecture
architecture	I-Architecture
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
keyboard	O
shortcut	O
for	O
screenshots	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
update	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
called	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
17	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
includes	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
new	O
live	O
tile	O
sizes	O
,	O
deeper	O
OneDrive	B-Application
integration	O
,	O
and	O
many	O
other	O
revisions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
have	O
been	O
subject	O
to	O
some	O
criticism	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
removal	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
as	O
the	O
successor	O
to	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
July	O
29	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
and	O
addresses	O
shortcomings	O
in	O
the	O
user	O
interface	O
first	O
introduced	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Changes	O
on	O
PC	O
include	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
Menu	O
,	O
a	O
virtual	B-Application
desktop	I-Application
system	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
run	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	B-Application
within	O
windows	O
on	O
the	O
desktop	O
rather	O
than	O
in	O
full-screen	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
is	O
said	O
to	O
be	O
available	O
to	O
update	O
from	O
qualified	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
with	O
SP1	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
and	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
8.1	I-Protocol
devices	O
from	O
the	O
Get	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
Application	O
(	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
)	O
or	O
Windows	O
Update	O
(	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2017	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
the	O
migration	O
of	O
its	O
Windows	O
source	O
code	O
repository	O
from	O
Perforce	B-General_Concept
to	O
Git	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
migration	O
involved	O
3.5	O
million	O
separate	O
files	O
in	O
a	O
300-gigabyte	O
repository	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
May	O
2017	O
,	O
90	O
percent	O
of	O
its	O
engineering	O
team	O
was	O
using	O
Git	B-Application
,	O
in	O
about	O
8500	O
commits	O
and	O
1760	O
Windows	O
builds	O
per	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2021	O
,	O
shortly	O
before	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
announcement	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
updated	O
their	O
lifecycle	O
policy	O
pages	O
for	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
revealing	O
that	O
support	O
for	O
their	O
last	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
will	O
end	O
on	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
2025	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
24	O
,	O
2021	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
as	O
the	O
successor	O
to	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
during	O
a	O
livestream	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
user-friendly	O
and	O
understandable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
5	B-Protocol
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
is	O
a	O
free	O
upgrade	O
to	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
users	O
who	O
meet	O
the	O
system	O
requirements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
not	O
a	O
standalone	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
,	O
but	O
a	O
web	O
service	O
that	O
provides	O
access	O
to	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
built	O
on	O
top	O
of	O
Azure	O
Virtual	B-Application
Desktop	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
service	O
will	O
allow	O
for	O
cross-platform	B-Operating_System
usage	I-Operating_System
,	O
aiming	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
available	O
for	O
both	O
Apple	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
subscription	O
service	O
will	O
be	O
accessible	O
through	O
any	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
with	O
a	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
service	O
is	O
an	O
attempt	O
at	O
capitalizing	O
on	O
the	O
growing	O
trend	O
,	O
fostered	O
during	O
the	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
,	O
for	O
businesses	O
to	O
adopt	O
a	O
hybrid	B-Operating_System
remote	O
work	O
environment	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
"	O
employees	O
split	O
their	O
time	O
between	O
the	O
office	O
and	O
home	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
service	O
will	O
be	O
accessible	O
through	O
web	B-Application
browsers	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
will	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
bypass	O
the	O
need	O
to	O
publish	O
the	O
service	O
through	O
Google	B-Application
Play	I-Application
or	O
the	O
Apple	B-Application
App	I-Application
Store	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multilingual	O
support	O
has	O
been	O
built	O
into	O
Windows	O
since	O
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Components	O
for	O
all	O
supported	O
input	O
languages	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Input	B-General_Concept
Method	I-General_Concept
Editors	I-General_Concept
,	O
are	O
automatically	O
installed	O
during	O
Windows	O
installation	O
(	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
and	O
earlier	O
,	O
files	O
for	O
East	O
Asian	O
languages	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Chinese	O
,	O
and	O
right-to-left	O
scripts	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Arabic	O
,	O
may	O
need	O
to	O
be	O
installed	O
separately	O
,	O
also	O
from	O
the	O
said	O
Control	O
Panel	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Interface	O
languages	O
for	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
are	O
free	O
for	O
download	O
,	O
but	O
some	O
languages	O
are	O
limited	O
to	O
certain	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Language	B-Application
Interface	I-Application
Packs	I-Application
(	O
LIPs	O
)	O
are	O
redistributable	O
and	O
may	O
be	O
downloaded	O
from	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Download	O
Center	O
and	O
installed	O
for	O
any	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	O
(	O
XP	B-Application
or	O
later	O
)	O
they	O
translate	O
most	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
all	O
,	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	O
interface	O
,	O
and	O
require	O
a	O
certain	O
base	O
language	O
(	O
the	O
language	O
which	O
Windows	O
originally	O
shipped	O
with	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Full	O
Language	O
Packs	O
,	O
which	O
translate	O
the	O
complete	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
are	O
only	O
available	O
for	O
specific	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	O
(	O
Ultimate	O
and	O
Enterprise	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
7	O
,	O
and	O
all	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
8.1	B-Device
and	O
RT	O
except	O
Single	O
Language	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
languages	O
cannot	O
be	O
downloaded	O
through	O
the	O
Download	O
Center	O
,	O
but	O
are	O
available	O
as	O
optional	O
updates	O
through	O
the	O
Windows	O
Update	O
service	O
(	O
except	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
introduce	O
a	O
new	O
Language	O
Control	O
Panel	O
where	O
both	O
the	O
interface	O
and	O
input	O
languages	O
can	O
be	O
simultaneously	O
changed	O
,	O
and	O
language	O
packs	O
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
type	O
,	O
can	O
be	O
downloaded	O
from	O
a	O
central	O
location	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	O
Settings	O
app	O
in	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
and	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
R2	O
also	O
includes	O
a	O
counterpart	O
settings	O
page	O
for	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Changing	O
the	O
interface	O
language	O
also	O
changes	O
the	O
language	O
of	O
preinstalled	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	B-Application
(	O
such	O
as	O
Mail	O
,	O
Maps	O
and	O
News	O
)	O
and	O
certain	O
other	O
Microsoft-developed	O
apps	B-Application
(	O
such	O
as	O
Remote	O
Desktop	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
included	O
support	O
for	O
several	O
platforms	O
before	O
the	O
x86-based	O
personal	B-Device
computer	I-Device
became	O
dominant	O
in	O
the	O
professional	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4.0	I-Device
and	O
its	O
predecessors	O
supported	O
PowerPC	B-Architecture
,	O
DEC	B-Device
Alpha	I-Device
and	O
MIPS	B-Device
R4000	O
(	O
although	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
platforms	O
implement	O
64-bit	B-Device
computing	I-Device
,	O
the	O
OS	O
treated	O
them	O
as	O
32-bit	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
dropped	O
support	O
for	O
all	O
platforms	O
,	O
except	O
the	O
third	O
generation	O
x86	B-Operating_System
(	O
known	O
as	O
IA-32	B-Device
)	O
or	O
newer	O
in	O
32-bit	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
client	O
line	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
family	I-Device
still	O
runs	O
on	O
IA-32	B-Device
but	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
line	O
ceased	O
supporting	O
this	O
platform	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
R2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	O
Intel	B-General_Concept
Itanium	I-General_Concept
architecture	I-General_Concept
(	O
IA-64	B-General_Concept
)	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
new	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
to	O
support	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Itanium	B-General_Concept
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
were	O
released	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
as	O
their	O
mainstream	O
x86	B-Operating_System
counterparts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
64-Bit	B-Device
Edition	O
,	O
released	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
is	O
the	O
last	O
Windows	O
client	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
to	O
support	O
Itanium	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
line	O
continues	O
to	O
support	O
this	O
platform	O
until	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
;	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
R2	I-Device
is	O
the	O
last	O
Windows	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
to	O
support	O
Itanium	B-General_Concept
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
25	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
XP	I-Operating_System
Professional	I-Operating_System
x64	I-Operating_System
Edition	I-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
x64	B-Device
Editions	I-Device
to	O
support	O
x86-64	B-Device
(	O
or	O
simply	O
x64	B-Device
)	O
,	O
the	O
64-bit	B-Device
version	O
of	O
x86	B-Operating_System
architecture	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
client	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
to	O
be	O
released	O
simultaneously	O
in	O
IA-32	B-Device
and	O
x64	B-Device
editions	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
x64	B-Device
is	O
still	O
supported	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
was	O
specifically	O
created	O
for	O
computers	O
with	O
ARM	B-Architecture
architecture	I-Architecture
,	O
and	O
while	O
ARM	B-Architecture
is	O
still	O
used	O
for	O
Windows	O
smartphones	O
with	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
tablets	B-Device
with	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
will	O
not	O
be	O
updated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
from	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
Fall	O
Creators	O
Update	O
(	O
version	O
1709	O
)	O
and	O
later	O
includes	O
support	O
for	O
ARM-based	O
PCs	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
11	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
to	O
drop	O
support	O
for	O
32-bit	O
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
(	O
officially	O
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Compact	I-Operating_System
)	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	O
that	O
runs	O
on	O
minimalistic	B-Operating_System
computers	I-Operating_System
,	O
like	O
satellite	O
navigation	O
systems	O
and	O
some	O
mobile	O
phones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Compact	I-Operating_System
is	O
based	O
on	O
its	O
own	O
dedicated	O
kernel	B-Operating_System
,	O
dubbed	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
kernel	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
licenses	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
to	O
OEMs	O
and	O
device	O
makers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
OEMs	O
and	O
device	O
makers	O
can	O
modify	O
and	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
user	O
interfaces	O
and	O
experiences	O
,	O
while	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
provides	O
the	O
technical	O
foundation	O
to	O
do	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
was	O
used	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
along	O
with	O
Sega	O
's	O
own	O
proprietary	B-Application
OS	O
for	O
the	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
was	O
the	O
core	O
from	O
which	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
Mobile	I-Operating_System
was	O
derived	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
successor	O
,	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
7	O
,	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
components	O
from	O
both	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
CE	I-Operating_System
6.0	I-Operating_System
R3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Windows	B-Device
CE	I-Device
7.0	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
8	B-Application
however	O
,	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
NT-kernel	O
as	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
Embedded	I-Operating_System
Compact	I-Operating_System
is	O
not	O
to	O
be	O
confused	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
Embedded	O
or	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4.0	I-Device
Embedded	O
,	O
modular	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	O
based	O
on	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
kernel	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Xbox	B-Device
OS	O
is	O
an	O
unofficial	O
name	O
given	O
to	O
the	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	O
that	O
runs	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
onwards	O
it	O
is	O
an	O
implementation	O
with	O
an	O
emphasis	O
on	O
virtualization	O
(	O
using	O
Hyper-V	O
)	O
as	O
it	O
is	O
three	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
running	O
at	O
once	O
,	O
consisting	O
of	O
the	O
core	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
a	O
second	O
implemented	O
for	O
games	O
and	O
a	O
more	O
Windows-like	B-Operating_System
environment	O
for	O
applications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
updates	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
's	O
OS	O
every	O
month	O
,	O
and	O
these	O
updates	O
can	O
be	O
downloaded	O
from	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
service	O
to	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
and	O
subsequently	O
installed	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
using	O
offline	O
recovery	O
images	O
downloaded	O
via	O
a	O
PC	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
originally	O
based	O
on	O
NT	O
6.2	O
(	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
)	O
kernel	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
the	O
latest	O
version	O
runs	O
on	O
an	O
NT	O
10.0	O
base	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
system	O
is	O
sometimes	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
"	O
or	O
"	O
OneCore	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
also	O
allow	O
limited	O
(	O
due	O
to	O
licensing	O
restrictions	O
and	O
testing	O
resources	O
)	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
previous	O
generation	O
hardware	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
360	O
's	O
system	O
is	O
backwards	B-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
with	O
the	O
original	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Up	O
to	O
and	O
including	O
every	O
version	O
before	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
used	O
an	O
in-house	O
version	O
control	O
system	O
named	O
Source	O
Library	O
Manager	O
(	O
SLM	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
was	O
released	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
switched	O
to	O
a	O
fork	O
of	O
Perforce	B-General_Concept
named	O
Source	O
Depot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
had	O
begun	O
to	O
integrate	O
Git	B-Application
into	O
Team	B-Application
Foundation	I-Application
Server	I-Application
in	O
2013	O
,	O
but	O
Windows	O
continued	O
to	O
rely	O
on	O
Source	O
Depot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
start	O
using	O
Git	B-Application
,	O
an	O
open	O
source	O
version	O
control	O
system	O
created	O
by	O
Linus	O
Torvalds	O
and	O
in	O
May	O
2017	O
they	O
reported	O
that	O
has	O
completed	O
migration	O
into	O
the	O
Git	B-Application
repository	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
its	O
large	O
,	O
decades-long	O
history	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	O
codebase	O
is	O
not	O
especially	O
well	O
suited	O
to	O
the	O
decentralized	O
nature	O
of	O
Linux	B-Application
development	O
that	O
Git	B-Application
was	O
originally	O
created	O
to	O
manage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
Git	B-Application
repository	O
contains	O
a	O
complete	O
history	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
files	O
,	O
which	O
proved	O
unworkable	O
for	O
Windows	O
developers	O
because	O
cloning	O
the	O
whole	O
repository	O
takes	O
several	O
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
has	O
been	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
new	O
project	O
called	O
the	O
Virtual	B-Application
File	I-Application
System	I-Application
for	I-Application
Git	I-Application
(	O
VFSForGit	O
)	O
to	O
address	O
these	O
challenges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2021	O
the	O
VFS	O
for	O
Git	B-Application
has	O
been	O
superseded	O
by	O
Scalar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Use	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
has	O
exceeded	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
globally	O
since	O
early	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
desktop	O
and	O
laptop	O
computers	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Net	O
Applications	O
and	O
StatCounter	O
,	O
which	O
track	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
in	O
devices	O
that	O
are	O
active	O
on	O
the	O
Web	O
,	O
Windows	O
was	O
the	O
most	O
used	O
operating-system	O
family	O
in	O
August	O
2021	O
,	O
with	O
around	O
91%	O
usage	O
share	O
according	O
to	O
Net	O
Applications	O
and	O
around	O
76%	O
usage	O
share	O
according	O
to	O
StatCounter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Including	O
personal	B-Device
computers	I-Device
of	O
all	O
kinds	O
(	O
e.g.	O
,	O
desktops	O
,	O
laptops	O
,	O
mobile	O
devices	O
,	O
and	O
game	O
consoles	O
)	O
,	O
Windows	O
OSes	O
accounted	O
for	O
32.67	O
%	O
of	O
usage	O
share	O
in	O
August	O
2021	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
Android	B-Application
(	O
highest	O
,	O
at	O
46.03	O
%	O
)	O
,	O
iOS	B-Application
's	O
13.76	O
%	O
,	O
iPadOS	B-Operating_System
's	O
2.81	O
%	O
,	O
and	O
macOS	B-Application
's	O
2.51	O
%	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
Net	O
Applications	O
and	O
30.73	O
%	O
of	O
usage	O
share	O
in	O
August	O
2021	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
Android	B-Application
(	O
highest	O
,	O
at	O
42.56	O
%	O
)	O
,	O
iOS/iPadOS	O
'	O
s	O
16.53	O
%	O
,	O
and	O
macOS	B-Application
's	O
6.51	O
%	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
StatCounter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Those	O
statistics	O
do	O
not	O
include	O
servers	B-Application
(	O
including	O
so-called	O
cloud	B-Architecture
computing	I-Architecture
,	O
where	O
Microsoft	O
is	O
known	O
not	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
leader	O
,	O
with	O
Linux	B-Application
used	O
more	O
than	O
Windows	O
)	O
,	O
as	O
Net	O
Applications	O
and	O
StatCounter	O
use	O
web	O
browsing	O
as	O
a	O
proxy	O
for	O
all	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
were	O
designed	O
at	O
a	O
time	O
where	O
malware	O
and	O
networking	O
were	O
less	O
common	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
few	O
built-in	O
security	O
features	O
;	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
provide	O
access	O
privileges	O
to	O
allow	O
a	O
user	O
to	O
prevent	O
other	O
users	O
from	O
accessing	O
their	O
files	O
,	O
and	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
provide	O
memory	B-General_Concept
protection	I-General_Concept
to	O
prevent	O
one	O
process	O
from	O
reading	O
or	O
writing	O
another	O
process	O
's	O
address	O
space	O
or	O
to	O
prevent	O
a	O
process	O
from	O
code	O
or	O
data	O
used	O
by	O
privileged-mode	O
code	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
Windows	O
9x	O
series	O
offered	O
the	O
option	O
of	O
having	O
profiles	O
for	O
multiple	B-Operating_System
users	I-Operating_System
,	O
it	O
had	O
no	O
concept	O
of	O
access	O
privileges	O
,	O
allowing	O
any	O
user	O
to	O
edit	O
others	O
 '	O
files	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
included	O
each	O
profile	O
to	O
have	O
their	O
own	O
My	O
folders	O
(	O
My	O
Documents	O
,	O
My	O
Pictures	O
,	O
My	O
Music	O
,	O
etc	O
)	O
separate	O
from	O
other	O
profiles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
area	O
of	O
memory	O
contains	O
code	O
critical	O
to	O
the	O
functioning	O
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
by	O
writing	O
into	O
this	O
area	O
of	O
memory	O
an	O
application	O
can	O
crash	B-General_Concept
or	O
freeze	B-General_Concept
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
a	O
source	O
of	O
instability	O
as	O
faulty	O
applications	O
could	O
accidentally	O
write	B-Application
into	O
this	O
region	O
,	O
potentially	O
corrupting	O
important	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
memory	O
,	O
which	O
usually	O
resulted	O
in	O
some	O
form	O
of	O
system	O
error	O
and	O
halt	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
was	O
far	O
more	O
secure	O
,	O
implementing	O
access	O
privileges	O
and	O
full	O
memory	B-General_Concept
protection	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
,	O
while	O
32-bit	O
programs	O
meeting	O
the	O
DoD	O
's	O
C2	O
security	O
rating	O
,	O
yet	O
these	O
advantages	O
were	O
nullified	O
by	O
the	O
fact	O
that	O
,	O
prior	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
,	O
the	O
default	O
user	O
account	O
created	O
during	O
the	O
setup	O
process	O
was	O
an	O
administrator	O
account	O
;	O
the	O
user	O
,	O
and	O
any	O
program	O
the	O
user	O
launched	O
,	O
had	O
full	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
machine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
did	O
offer	O
an	O
option	O
of	O
turning	O
administrator	O
accounts	O
into	O
limited	O
accounts	O
,	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
home	O
users	O
did	O
not	O
do	O
so	O
,	O
partially	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
programs	O
which	O
required	O
administrator	O
rights	O
to	O
function	O
properly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Furthermore	O
,	O
although	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
and	O
its	O
successors	O
are	O
designed	O
for	O
security	O
(	O
including	O
on	O
a	O
network	O
)	O
and	O
multi-user	B-Operating_System
PCs	B-Device
,	O
they	O
were	O
not	O
initially	O
designed	O
with	O
Internet	O
security	O
in	O
mind	O
as	O
much	O
,	O
since	O
,	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
first	O
developed	O
in	O
the	O
early	O
1990s	O
,	O
Internet	O
use	O
was	O
less	O
prevalent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
introduced	O
a	O
privilege	O
elevation	O
system	O
called	O
User	O
Account	O
Control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
User	O
applications	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
,	O
are	O
then	O
started	O
with	O
the	O
restricted	O
token	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
a	O
reduced	O
privilege	O
environment	O
even	O
under	O
an	O
Administrator	O
account	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Leaked	O
documents	O
published	O
by	O
WikiLeaks	O
,	O
codenamed	O
Vault	O
7	O
and	O
dated	O
from	O
2013	O
to	O
2016	O
,	O
detail	O
the	O
capabilities	O
of	O
the	O
CIA	O
to	O
perform	O
electronic	O
surveillance	O
and	O
cyber	O
warfare	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
compromise	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
such	O
as	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2019	O
,	O
computer	O
experts	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
BlueKeep	O
security	O
vulnerability	O
,	O
,	O
that	O
potentially	O
affects	O
older	O
unpatched	O
Windows	O
versions	O
via	O
the	O
program	O
's	O
Remote	B-Protocol
Desktop	I-Protocol
Protocol	I-Protocol
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
remote	O
code	O
execution	O
,	O
may	O
now	O
include	O
related	O
flaws	O
,	O
collectively	O
named	O
DejaBlue	O
,	O
affecting	O
newer	O
Windows	O
versions	O
(	O
i.e.	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
and	O
all	O
recent	O
versions	O
)	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
experts	O
reported	O
a	O
Microsoft	O
security	O
vulnerability	O
,	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
legacy	B-Device
code	I-Device
involving	O
Microsoft	O
CTF	O
and	O
ctfmon	O
(	O
ctfmon.exe	O
)	O
,	O
that	O
affects	O
all	O
Windows	O
versions	O
from	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
to	O
the	O
then	O
most	O
recent	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
versions	O
;	O
a	O
patch	O
to	O
correct	O
the	O
flaw	O
is	O
currently	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Versions	O
subsequent	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
SP3	O
and	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
implemented	O
automatic	O
download	O
and	O
installation	O
of	O
updates	O
,	O
substantially	O
increasing	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
users	O
installing	O
security	O
updates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
Windows	O
versions	O
from	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3	O
have	O
been	O
based	O
on	O
a	O
file	B-Application
system	I-Application
permission	O
system	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
AGDLP	O
(	O
Accounts	O
,	O
Global	O
,	O
Domain	O
Local	O
,	O
Permissions	O
)	O
in	O
which	O
file	O
permissions	O
are	O
applied	O
to	O
the	O
file/folder	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
'	O
local	O
group	O
 '	O
which	O
then	O
has	O
other	O
'	O
global	O
groups	O
 '	O
as	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
system	O
varies	O
from	O
other	O
vendor	O
products	O
such	O
as	O
Linux	B-Application
and	O
NetWare	B-Operating_System
due	O
to	O
the	O
'	O
static	O
 '	O
allocation	O
of	O
permission	O
being	O
applied	O
directly	O
to	O
the	O
file	O
or	O
folder	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Owing	O
to	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
's	O
popularity	O
,	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
applications	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
that	O
aim	O
to	O
provide	O
compatibility	O
with	O
Windows	O
applications	O
,	O
either	O
as	O
a	O
compatibility	B-General_Concept
layer	I-General_Concept
for	O
another	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
or	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
system	O
that	O
can	O
run	O
software	O
written	O
for	O
Windows	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
box	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wine	B-Application
–	O
a	O
free	B-License
and	I-License
open-source	I-License
implementation	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Library
API	I-Library
,	O
allowing	O
one	O
to	O
run	O
many	O
Windows	O
applications	O
on	O
x86-based	O
platforms	O
,	O
including	O
UNIX	B-Application
,	O
Linux	B-Application
and	O
macOS	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wine	B-Application
developers	O
refer	O
to	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
compatibility	B-General_Concept
layer	I-General_Concept
"	O
and	O
use	O
Windows-style	O
APIs	B-General_Concept
to	O
emulate	O
Windows	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CrossOver	B-Operating_System
–	O
a	O
Wine	B-Application
package	I-Application
with	O
licensed	O
fonts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
developers	O
are	O
regular	O
contributors	O
to	O
Wine	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Proton	B-Application
–	O
A	O
fork	O
of	O
Wine	B-Application
by	O
Steam	O
to	O
run	O
Windows	O
games	O
on	O
Linux	B-Application
and	O
other	O
Unix-like	O
OS	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
ReactOS	B-Application
–	O
an	O
open-source	O
OS	O
intended	O
to	O
run	O
the	O
same	O
software	O
as	O
Windows	O
,	O
originally	O
designed	O
to	O
simulate	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4.0	I-Device
,	O
now	O
aiming	O
at	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
compatibility	O
.	O
</s>
