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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

10 things which excite us about Windows 10 !!



It is now July. For most of the world, that means several things i.e summer holidays. For those who follow Microsoft however, July 2015 means one thing alone: the launch of Windows 10.
With Windows 10, Microsoft promises to right all of the 'wrongs' of Windows 8, and revolutionize its software platform, so that it might be able to face the future with open arms. And given the stakes, it has certainly pulled out all of the stops in order to see its baby succeed. With the likes of the Windows Insider program, Microsoft has proven that it is willing to listen to user feedback, and, as a result, excitement around Windows 10 has reached something approaching fever pitch.
 10 things which excite us about Windows 10 are :
1) Start again
The first of these is a simple, but revolutionary addition to the new OS, the 'Start' bar. For many who chose not to go with Windows 8, it was the lack of a recognizable start bar, previously the linchpin of the whole Windows experience, that was evidence enough of the alien nature of Windows 8 to simply ignore it. Well, now the bar is back and more functional than ever, mixing the utility of before with the tiles of Windows 8 to make for a refreshing yet familiar experience that will no doubt delight many.
2) The Action Center
If there is one area in which Windows has consistently lagged behind its competitors, it is in the delivery of notifications. In the years since the debut of 7 and 8, though Microsoft has launched a mobile operating system of its own, both still lack a centralized notifications suite. With Windows 10 and its 'Action Center' this is no longer an issue. Working with Windows 10 powered smartphones (when they become available), it will be possible to receive and reply to messages, all from the comfort of the desktop, all without chasing down separate apps and messaging suites.
3) Cortana
There is of course another way in which Windows 10 will take more inspiration from mobile, and that is through the delivery of Cortana, Microsoft's popular digital assistant. Cortana will be baked-in throughout the OS, helping to make sense of things and improving the power of the search function considerably. Indeed, the feature is considered to be so important that some OEMs (like Toshiba) are even placing a dedicated 'Cortana key' on their new Windows 10 machines. And, as time goes by and Windows 10 is installed on hundreds of millions of machines, Cortana is only set to improve, likely becoming an even more valuable feature in the future.
4) Continuum

 Challenging the very notion of a dedicated desktop PC, Continuum allows compatible Windows Phones to run in a 'desktop' mode when connected to a monitor, pairing with a wireless keyboard and mouse to become a full-fledged PC capable of performing a surprisingly large number of tasks. This of course works with the interoperability of Windows 10 between different devices, and tied with Microsoft's new focus on cloud computing, it could make for a world in which a mobile could be one's only computing device; this feature is one of the most boldly futuristic from Microsoft yet.
5) Switching between different tasks

Not every feature in Windows 10 is designed to be a show-stopper, others are simple evolution's from what came before, in this case the lowly 'alt + tab' shortcut. Previously, this was intended as a quick means by which to switch between different programs, now it is something more. Displaying a number of Windows, switching between different tasks makes it easier to multi-task than every before on a Windows machine, with larger thumbnails and an improved layout.
6) Snap!

Windows RT, though a much maligned foray by Microsoft into ARM territory, limited in both its functionality and execution, did one thing right: 'Snap'. That is to say, it allowed two separate open windows to run together intelligently, finding different sides and 'clipping together' as it were. On a large screen, and when performing typical productivity tasks such as completing an invoice, such a feature is nearly invaluable, and is another example of how Windows 10 represents a series of intelligent improvements as much as a cobbled together assortment of 'moonshots'.
7) On the Edge

In 1996, when Microsoft acquired Netscape, it effectively ended its efforts to provide a modern browser. Though Internet Explorer exploded in popularity and has shuffled through a number of (mostly improved) versions, since that point, it still lags behind its competitors in functionality. Microsoft's new browser, first code-named "Project Spartan" and now given the slightly more confusing nomenclature of "Edge" is a browser worthy of the modern internet. Boasting compatibility with a number of different plugins and some sexy new features (like the ability to 'draw' using a stylus) Edge is Redmond's statement that it no longer intends to rest on its laurels in the browser wars.
8) Universal (Windows) Apps

It is no secret that Windows 10 will end the long-standing fragmentation of Windows. Xbox, Windows Phone and Windows 8 machines will all run a single version of the same OS. This in of itself is interesting, however Microsoft has chosen to take things a step further with a feature that is intended to appeal to developers, 'Universal' apps. These will work the same regardless of the hardware on which they are running, with the only real changes being in UI, which will change intelligently. In addition to hopefully dealing with the Windows Store app gap, this creates a more modern vision for the future of the OS.
9) Windows Hello

 Windows Hello is Microsoft's attempt to enter the game, and looks particularly promising. The idea is this: unlock your computer with either your face or iris, negating the need for anything so outdated as a password. How reliable the feature will prove to be is something that only time will tell, but it looks to be promising nonetheless.
10) DirectX 12

 With DirectX 12 things are destined to change, with multiple cores being able to communicate with one another simultaneously, thus increasing the efficiency of power use. With this, developers will be able to improve the likes of lighting effects among other things, though the results are potentially even further reaching.
As can be seen, there is a great deal to look forward to when Windows 10 launches on July 29. 

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