An initial version of Polaris, a canceled SKU for Windows Core OS, was leaked online. The construction is from the beginning of 2018 and includes nothing but the basic operating system, which means that there is no compositor (shell) or applications present. Windows Core OS is a modern version of Windows that powers HoloLens 2 and the future Windows 10X, and has been in development for many years.
We’ve covered Windows Core OS extensively in the past, but for those on the outside, the Windows Core OS project aims to create a modular and universal Windows operating system that eliminates legacy features and components in favor of contemporary user experiences. As a result, the operating system is more secure and performs on low-cost hardware, with better battery life and faster operating system updates.
As Windows Core OS has been in development for a long time, the project has gone through many different phases internally. Originally, Windows Core OS would equip the Surface Duo with the Andromeda SKU, as well as laptops and tablets with the Polaris SKU. Polaris was essentially Windows Core OS built specifically for PCs.
Polaris was canceled at the same time that Andromeda was canceled, as the two SKUs were replaced by Windows 10X (code-named Santorini). Polaris would replace Windows 10 S when it was ready as a truly modern and lightweight version of Windows 10, featuring containerized Win32 programs, but with the familiar Windows 10 UX desktop.
The leaked build is the RS3 RTM build, but, as mentioned above, the actual leak includes very little for the fixers to handle. It has no composer, which means that there is no GUI and there also doesn’t seem to be any built-in applications. This leak serves two purposes: it confirms the existence of Polaris for those who doubt it, and it allows enthusiasts to tinker with an old version of Windows Core OS.
Interestingly, the leak is also in the ARM32 architecture, which means that it can only boot on older ARM32-based PCs, such as the Surface RT. Again, Polaris is a canceled edition of Windows Core OS and will never be released, so don’t expect to see that on PCs in the future. Windows 10X is the future of Windows Core OS on PCs and should start shipping on devices later this spring.
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