A new video published recently on Xiaomi's MIUI forums shows the Mi4 running Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview, indicating that Microsoft is close to releasing the promised operating system for select Xiaomi Mi4 users.

In a surprise announcement by Microsoft at its Windows Hardware Engineering Community (WinHEC) summit held last month in Shenzhen, China, the company had said that it was allowing a select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 power users to help test Windows 10 and contribute to its future release later this year.

Xiaomi had allowed Microsoft to use its forums to provide Xiaomi Mi4 fans with the opportunity to test the Windows Phone operating system on their devices and offer their feedback. Xiaomi had also confirmed that the 'Windows 10 ROM Pack' for the Mi4 would eventually be released via the MIUI forums.

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi's hugely successful Mi 4 runs on Google's Android operating system and the move by Microsoft is believed to be a part of its plan to infiltrate Android's user base by exposing the upcoming OS to a sizeable audience.

The recent video published on Xiaomi's MIUI forums shows the Xiaomi Mi4 running Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview. The video shows the Windows 10 build installed on the Mi4 responding to inputs from the handset's Android hardware buttons, indicating that they have been remapped to interact with the Windows OS. The Xiaomi Mi4 appears to be running very well on Microsoft's mobile platform without any visible lag.

Meanwhile, a new demo video has surfaced online showing what appears to be Chinese manufacturer's Windows 10 ROM actually working on the Xiaomi E4. The demo video shows the Xiaomi E4 running the Windows 10 ROM smoothly and further optimization could result in a snappier UI.

Currently, Xiaomi seems to be the only manufacturer toying with the idea of creating a Windows 10 custom ROM for some of its Android smartphones, but it could be joined by other smartphone makers interested in offering a Windows 10 software alternative for their Android customers.

In other news, Xiaomi has teamed up with the Android Open Kang Project (popularly known as AOKP) for its MIUI 7 custom user interface based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. AOKP develops custom Android ROMs for smartphones and tablets, and Xiaomi is working closely with the ROM maker on MIUI 7, internally codenamed MiKangy, which will debut on its next flagship smartphone, the Mi5.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 is expected to feature a 5.2-inch display with QHD resolution (1440 x 2560 pixels) and powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor. The MIUI 7 custom user interface being developed in partnership by AOKP and Xiaomi will allow each Mi 5 owner to have a unique experience with their phone, which is likely to be rolled out in the fourth quarter of this year.