Microsoft brings iPhone photos to Windows 11 via iCloud integration … will iMessage be next? - GeekWire

Windows 11 Photos users volition beryllium capable to link to iCloud to entree their iPhone photos. (Microsoft Image)

PC users volition beryllium capable to entree pictures from their iPhones via the Windows 11 Photos app through a caller integration announced by Microsoft this morning.

It’s a important determination to span Apple’s fashionable smartphone and Microsoft’s wide utilized operating system. It besides highlights what continues to beryllium a missing link: the inability to entree Apple’s proprietary iMessage protocol oregon Messages app natively from Windows machines.

This spread tin marque it hard to modulation smoothly betwixt Apple Macs and Windows PCs for iPhone users who similar the enactment to nonstop and person substance messages from their desktop oregon laptop computers.

Messages is disposable connected Mac but not connected Windows. Some Windows PC users opt for Android devices truthful that they tin substance via their computers utilizing Microsoft’s Phone Link app oregon Google Messages connected the web.

In a akin way, Google Photos connected the web has served arsenic a fashionable method of connecting Windows machines to photos taken connected the iPhone, but the caller Windows 11 Photos diagnostic provides a nonstop link.

The photos integration volition beryllium “seamless,” promised Panos Panay, Microsoft main merchandise officer, announcing the quality this morning on with a bid of updated Surface devices and accessories. Windows 11 users volition request to instal the iCloud app for Windows from the Microsoft store and sync their iCloud Photos.

Microsoft says the integration volition rotation retired starting contiguous to participants successful the Windows Insider preview programme and to each Windows 11 users adjacent month.

In addition, Microsoft said Apple Music volition articulation Apple TV connected Xbox consoles, and some apps volition officially motorboat connected Windows adjacent year, with preview versions disposable successful the Microsoft Store for Windows PCs aboriginal this year.