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What You Missed at Microsoft Build 2015

There were holograms, a new browser, clouds, and migrating mobile apps. Here are some of the visuals from the 2015 edition of Microsoft's big developer confab.

By Michael Muchmore
May 2, 2015
Microsoft Build 2015

Microsoft Build 2015, Redmond's huge developer conference, started off a bit on the dry side, with C++ code making an appearance early on in a demo of Azure cloud services programming. But it picked up steam with news of free Mac OS and Ubuntu versions of the company's Visual Studio, techniques for easily migrating Android and iOS apps to Windows phones, and finally, the truly staggering HoloLens device.

Facing stiffer competition than ever from Apple, Amazon, and Google, Microsoft is stepping up its tech game under CEO Satya Nadella by being more open to having its systems work across platforms. We've already seen some of that with full-featured Office apps for Android and iOS and the open-sourcing of several developer and platform technologies such as .NET, and even with its browser incrementally supporting open technologies. At Build 2015, that openness took another leap forward.

Another large theme of the conference was the Universal App. This is related to the apps previously known as Metro and later renamed "Modern" apps. In fact, that last sobriquet is what appears in the interface, like when you search with Cortana for an app. But for developers, the Universal App consists of code that's largely the same whether it's running on a Raspberry Pi, a Surface Pro 3, a Lumia Phone, an Xbox, or even a HoloLens.

And of course the cloud, as embodied in Azure and its new machine learning capabilities was another major theme at the conference. How that relates to the estrus cycles of cows...well, click through the slideshow to find out.

1. Moscone Convention Center

Moscone Convention Center
Microsoft took over San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center for Build 2015.

2. Huge Crowd

Huge Crowd
Attendees waiting to ride the escalators up to the day one keynote.

3. Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaking at the Build 2015 first-day keynote on April 29.

4. Composing with Surface Stylus

Composing with Surface Stylus
Composer/entrepreneur David William Hearn composes using stylus input in the StaffPad app running on a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 to write chamber music during the Build 2015 conference. (There was a live performance of the piece at the end of the keynote, as a nice bookend.)

5. Lotsa Code

Lotsa Code
There was plenty of code on display at the conference right from the start; unusual for a Day One keynote, but after all, it is a developer conference.

6. Android Apps Become Windows Apps

Android Apps Become Windows Apps
Developers were shown how they could easily port Android apps to Windows Phone apps. (For more on that, see Microsoft's Dangerous, But Necessary Android App Route.)

7. Azure cloud services

Azure cloud services
Azure cloud services like the SQL DB Elastic Database Pool were announced at Build 2015. If the pool's not big enough, there's also an Azure Data Lake service.

8. Universal Windows Apps

Universal Windows Apps
Universal Windows Apps run on all these devices, with HoloLens the newest member of the family.

9. USA Today Universal App on Xbox One

USA Today Universal App on Xbox One
Here's USA Today's Universal Windows App running on an Xbox One.

10. Bridge to a Billion Devices

Bridge to a Billion Devices
Using "bridges" such as the easy ports of Android and iOS apps as well as allowing older Win32 and .NET applications in the Microsoft Store, Microsoft hopes to get Windows running on a billion devices within the next few years.

11. New Lock Screen

New Lock Screen
The Windows 10 lock screen will include hotspots to surface features relevant to the user, including apps and features.

12. Microsoft Edge Browser

Microsoft Edge Browser
At the conference, Microsoft unveiled the name of its new Web browser for Windows 10—Microsoft Edge. The browser will have built-in Cortana assistance for things like directions if you happen to be on a restaurant webpage. (For more, see 6 Reasons to Try Microsoft's Edge Browser and Microsoft Edge Can't Fix the Awful Web.)

13. HoloLens

HoloLens
Build attendees could sign up for a hands-on experience with HoloLens, Microsoft's 3D enhanced-reality headset.

14. HoloLens

HoloLens
Microsoft showed more HoloLens developments at Build 2015. The device projects 3D objects into your real-world view.

15. HoloLens Apps

HoloLens Apps
With HoloLens, you can have an app like Skype follow you around the house. HoloLens apps are Windows Universal apps.

16. HoloLens Surgery

HoloLens Surgery
With a HoloLens app, a student surgeon could practice performing heart surgery without needing a cadaver.

17. Minecraft Modder Aidan Brady

Minecraft Modder Aidan Brady
A 17-year-old Minecraft-modding star, Aidan Brady, introduces a new Visual Studio tool for just that activity.

18. Developer Challenge

Developer Challenge
At Build 2015, developers could put their skills to the test in the QuickStart Challenge zone.

19. 3D Printing

3D Printing
Windows 10's native support for 3D printing was in evidence at Build 2015's demo areas.

20. Internet of Things

Internet of Things
Windows 10's support for AllJoyn gives it a toehold in the hot area of the Internet of Things (IoT).

21. Raspberry Pi 2

Raspberry Pi 2
Build 2015 attendees could play with a robot Powered by a Raspberry Pi 2 and Windows 10.

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About Michael Muchmore

Lead Software Analyst

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

Prior to my current role, I covered software and apps for ExtremeTech, and before that I headed up PCMag’s enterprise software team, but I’m happy to be back in the more accessible realm of consumer software. I’ve attended trade shows of Microsoft, Google, and Apple and written about all of them and their products.

I’m an avid bird photographer and traveler—I’ve been to 40 countries, many with great birds! Because I’m also a classical fan and former performer, I’ve reviewed streaming services that emphasize classical music.

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