Windows 10: Everything You Need To Know About The New Windows
As expected Microsoft MSFT -1% has formally announced the new version of Windows. As no-one
expected it will be called ‘Windows 10’ not Windows 9. Why? Because Microsoft
claims it represents such a significant leap over Windows 8 that calling it
Windows 9 would not do it justice.
I can hear your groans now, but in Microsoft’s defence Windows 10
has some major (and long awaited) improvements. Here are the highlights:
One
OS To Rule Them All
Architecturally the biggest news is that Windows 10 is being
designed to run across all device form factors. That means desktops, laptops,
tablets, phablets and smartphones.
“Windows 10 will run on the broadest amount of devices. A tailored
experience for each device,” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft Executive VP of
Operating Systems. “There will be one way to write a universal application, one
store, one way for apps to be discovered purchased and updated across all of
these devices.”
Microsoft didn’t break
down when we might see a Windows 10 smartphone and how that would impact/absorb
Windows Phone (or even elaborate on the future for Windows Phone) but it does
offer clear insight into Microsoft’s long term road map.
Update:
Microsoft has now confirmed ‘Windows 10′ will also be the next major version of
Windows Phone. What devices get the upgrade and how Microsoft will handle it
remains to be seen.
Windows 10 Start Menu
The
Start Menu Is Back
The cat has been out the bag for some time, but Microsoft has
finally confirmed the Start
Menu will return. The leaks were spot on and it will combine both
aspects of the classic Windows 7 start menu with apps from the Metro/Modern UI.
Searching within the Start Menu will now perform a web search as well.
Crucially its layout
can be customised so apps can be removed or resized and the flexibility and
personalisation potential of the Start Menu should win back fans disillusioned
about its removal in Windows 8.
Windows 10 use on a tablet
Better
Touch/Keyboard And Mouse Integration
Microsoft has taken criticism seriously about the jarring nature
of moving between touch and the keyboard and mouse elements of Windows 8.
Microsoft is calling the new approach ‘Continuum’ and it is an
umbrella term for a better merger between to different input methods. Continuum
will be able to automatically switch between modes by detecting on how users
interact with their device. It also carries over to design aspects like the new
Start Menu, windowed apps within the desktop and so forth.
“We’re trying to be thoughtful about a UI that goes across all
devices,” explained Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President of the Operating
Systems Group at Microsoft.
He admits Continuum
remains a work in progress with refinements to things like the Charms Bar (yes
it is still there) set to be an ongoing process through the life of the public
beta and right up to release (more on that later).
Windows 10 Virtual Desktops
Virtual
Desktops
Another leaked feature Microsoft confirmed today was virtual
desktops. Microsoft didn’t give the feature an official name at this stage, but
it works much like the long used multiple desktops on Linux and Exposé on
Mac OS X.
The view can be triggered with a new ‘task view’ button which both
allows users to launch a new virtual desktop and jump between them.
Interestingly the taskbar can be customised to look different/relevant to each
desktop allowing a simple leap from work to home modes, for example.
Microsoft said all open programs in the virtual desktops will
continue to run in the background, which makes for some interesting memory
management challenges but also greatly increases the potential productivity of
Windows as well as de-cluttering the desktop space.
Pricing
/ Availability
has been much
speculated that Windows 10 may be given away free to upgraders or involve a
nominal fee, but Microsoft revealed no information about this in either the
presentation or Q&A afterwards.
What we did learn is a technical preview of Windows 10 will be
made available to users later this week (Microsoft is stressing it is only for
advanced users and developers at this stage) and that an official release would
not follow until ‘later in 2015’. This suggests the OS is not as far along as
many expected and Microsoft is keen to develop it in conjunction with user
feedback.
Windows 10 Start Menu search
In addition to no news
on pricing, Microsoft also didn’t touch on performance (install size and
minimum hardware requirements), Cortana integration (the voice
assistant in Windows Phone 8.1), give a solid release time frame or
go into any detail on how Windows 10 will handle scaling on high resolution
screens – crucial given 4k monitors and super high resolution laptops are
quickly gaining momentum.
On the flip side what we did see is a more open Microsoft. A
company, perhaps shaken by the decidedly mixed reaction to Windows 8 (however
fair or unfair), that is now keen to try and mix the best aspects of Windows 7
and Windows 8 into a more user friendly experience. This means releasing early
builds, issuing rapid fire updates and developing in conjunction with ongoing
user feedback.
Windows 10 Product Family
Is choosing the ‘Windows 10’ moniker a step too far though? “It’s
a name that resonated best with what we’ll deliver,” explained Myerson.
Many would argue
the struggles of Windows Phone and Windows 8 have put Microsoft into a terminal
decline, but tonight’s announcement – while thin on details – suggests there is
still life in the old dog yet.
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