Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday unveiled their next generation OS, Windows 10. What made bigger news is that it will be offered as a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, who upgrade in the first year.
“Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world. “Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Window 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home.” Satya Nadella CEO of Microsoft.
Windows 10: Making computing more personal
On Wednesday, Microsoft showcased a variety of experiences coming to Windows 10, including the following:
Cortana comes to PC and tablet. The Cortana personal digital assistant, which debuted on Windows Phone last year, will now also be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets as a voice assisted search engine powered by bing as well as a personal digital assistant who learns an individual’s preferences to provide relevant recommendations.
New browser “Project Spartan”. Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, code-named “Project Spartan,” promises to enable greater reliability and better discoverability. Some of the advanced features include the ability to annotate whether by keyboard or pen directly on the web page and share with friends; a reading view that is distraction-free and supposedly, ad free displaying the article in a simplified layout for a great reading experience for Web articles online and offline; and the integration of Cortana for finding and doing things online faster.
Xbox Live and the new Xbox app bring new gaming experiences to Windows 10. Xbox on Windows 10 lets gamers and developers access the Xbox Live gaming network on both Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One. Players can capture, edit and share their gaming streams with Game DVR, and play new games with friends across devices. Games developed for the new DirectX 12 application programming interface in Windows 10 will see improvements in speed, efficiency and graphics capability. Players will also be able to play games on their PC, streamed directly from their Xbox One consoles to their Windows 10 tablets or PCs, within their home which means it will run on a Local Area Network, not online just yet.
Office for Windows 10. Office universal apps on Windows 10 deliver a touch experience across devices. New versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook are designed from the ground up to run on Windows, built for touch, The next version of the Office desktop suite is also currently in development and Microsoft will have more to share in the coming months.
Additional Windows 10 features and innovations shared today include the following:
- Continuum mode. On 2-in-1 devices, Windows 10 will move easily between keyboard and mouse and touch and tablet as it detects the transition and conveniently switches to the new mode.
- New universal apps. Windows 10 will offer applications, consistent across the device continuum, for Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar. These built-in apps have an updated design that looks and feels the same from app to app and device to device. Content is stored and synced through OneDrive, enabling people to start something on one device and continue it on another.
“Everything about Windows 10 — the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade — means that Windows 10 isn’t just another product, it’s an ongoing relationship — one that will give ongoing value to all our customers. The new generation of Windows is a commitment — a commitment to liberate people from complex technology and enable them to do great things.” Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft.
Microsoft also unveiled two devices that will allow customers to experience Windows in new ways.
Windows 10 unlocks holographic future with Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft unveiled the most advanced holographic computer in the world. Microsoft HoloLens is the first untethered holographic wireless and standalone computer. Microsoft HoloLens features see-through holographic high-definition lenses and spatial sound so you can view and hear holograms in the world around you. Complete with advanced sensors, a next-generation system on a chip and the addition of a completely new Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) that understands what you are doing and the world around you.
Microsoft HoloLens is able to run without any wires while processing terabytes of data from the sensors in real time. Windows 10 includes a set of APIs that enable developers to create holographic experiences in the real world. With Windows 10, holograms are universal apps, and all Windows universal apps can also work as holograms — making it possible to place three-dimensional holograms in the physical world.
New Microsoft Surface Hub optimizes Windows 10 experience for groups
Windows 10 is powering a new large-screen device to help teams in the workplace share, ideate and create together. Hardware innovations in multi-touch and digital inking, along with built-in cameras, sensors and microphones allow the Surface Hub to take advantage of Windows 10, Skype for Business and Office 365 to deliver a new experience designed to make every person — whether remote or onsite — feel as if they’re in the same collaborative space. Specifically, the Surface Hub features digital white boarding; instant remote conferencing; the ability for multiple people to share and edit content on the screen from a laptop, tablet or phone; and a trusted platform for large-screen apps. Available in two sizes — 55-inch and 84-inch — the Surface Hub removes the current limitations of traditional conference room scenarios to empower teams to create their best work together.
The next Technical Preview for Windows 10 on the PC will be available for free to Windows Insiders in the next week and for the first time on phones later in February. More information on the Windows Insider Program and the Technical Previews can be found at http://preview.windows.com.
