10 reasons you’ll love Windows 10
Unless you’ve been living under a dusty ‘ol copy of Windows XP, you’ve no doubt heard the news: Windows 10 is coming this summer.
“Wait a sec,” you’re thinking. “Did I miss Windows 9?”
Nope. Perhaps because this ambitious new operating system is so far ahead of what’s available now, Microsoft chose to skip a number.
“Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “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.”
Whether it’s for work or play, and regardless of the device(s) you’ll be running it on, Windows 10 looks to be a promising new and “people-centric” platform when it launches in 190 countries this summer, and in 111 languages.
And hey, it’ll be a free upgrade for consumers running Windows 7 and newer, and Windows Phone 8.1 on mobile phones. OK, so Microsoft backtracked on its offer to even upgrade pirated versions of Windows for free, but not sure what they were thinking there to begin with.
Here’s a quick look at why we’re excited about this “new era of personal computing.”
1. It’s not just for ‘computers’
Windows 10 was designed to adapt to multiple devices – and not just laptops and desktops. From smartwatches, phones and tablets to personal computers to servers in datacenters, you’ll have a consistent, familiar experience across multiple devices. Windows 10 can also power tiny sensors (as part of the “Internet of Things” revolution), TVs (via Xbox One), 80-inch interactive whiteboards (Surface Hub) and even hologram-generating augmented reality goggles (check out the HoloLens video and interactive demo). Windows 10 will offer a new app experience, consistent across devices, all tied together through the cloud (OneDrive). Hey, we said it was ambitious. In fact, Microsoft says your iOS and Android apps will also be compatible with Windows 10 -- developers are encouraged to send their apps to the Windows Store.
2. Speak to me
Mice, keyboards, and touchscreens are all well and good, but the next-generation of devices might also be used via pens, gestures, voice, or with no input by people at all (M2M, or “machine to machine” communication). Along with the aforementioned HoloLens technology, arguably the most exciting Windows 10 input innovation is Cortana, your own voice-activated personal digital assistant. Available on phones, tablets, and PCs, Cortana – which is named after your virtual assistant in the Halo video game series – is at your beck and call, whether you ask “her” to pull up a recent sales report or photos from a recent birthday bash.
3. The web, reimagined
Personally and professionally, many of us rely on the web multiple times throughout the day, and the new integrated web browser called Microsoft Edge -- previously code-named Project Spartan, another Halo reference – looks to be light years ahead of Internet Explorer. Not only is Microsoft Edge lean, fast, and secure, but includes advanced features like annotating on websites (via keyboard or pen); simplified sharing of content with colleagues or friends; a distraction-free reading mode (online and offline support); support for extensions (unlike Internet Explorer); and integration of Cortana for finding and doing things faster and more intuitively.
4. A smarter Office
Along with “classic” mouse and keyboard integration, Office for Windows 10 will also be built for touch, to support the next-generation of touchscreen devices like tablets, 2-in-1 PCs (including detachables) and big-screen all-in-ones. Even with these changes, Microsoft says new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook will “offer the unmistakable Office experience customers know and love.” PowerPoint will offer new inking features that lets users annotate slides in real time, while “touch-first” controls in Excel will make it easy to create and update spreadsheets -- without a keyboard or mouse.
5. Tying it all together with Continuum
Speaking of 2-in-1 devices – which, as the name suggests, are both a laptop and tablet in one product -- Windows 10 will include a Continuum mode that makes it easy to move between keyboard and mouse and touch and tablet as it automatically detects the transition and conveniently switches to the new mode for you. Specifically, in devices like Microsoft’s own Surface tablets, Windows 10 can switch from a classic desktop when the magnetic keyboard is attached to the full touchscreen tablet experience, with Live Tiles on the Start screen, when the keyboard is removed. You can also turn your phone into a computer, as Continuum for Windows Phones allows you to use your phone as a desktop; the phone’s interface adapts depending on how you’re using it (connect your phone to a monitor via HDMI cord). Start reading or playing something on your PC and pick up where you left off on your phone or tablet.
6. Passwords a thing of the past?
We all know how important it is to have good passwords for all of our online activity, but we also know what a drag it is to manage it all. Am I right? Windows 10 introduces Windows Hello, a biometrics-based password solution – meaning it uses a unique part of your body to identify you – so you’ll never have to remember login information again, says Microsoft. Windows Hello will remember you based on your facial, iris, and fingerprint, so not only will it be easier and faster to log into your devices and web accounts, but your interactions with technology will be more human (a major focus to Windows 10). Hopefully it’ll be as easy and secure as it sounds on paper.
7. User-interface enhancements
Windows 10 offers a number of user-interface (UI) tweaks to help you get more done in less time. For example, the familiar Start menu is back in Windows 10, plus it brings with it a new customizable space for your favourite apps and Live Tiles. Everything runs in a window, be it native apps or Windows Store downloads, but you can always maximize, minimize and close with a click or tap. A New task-view button on the taskbar lets you quickly switch between open files and access to any desktops you create (see below). File Explorer now displays your recent files and folders, making it easier to find your work.
8. Bring on the custom desktops, multi windows
Now that many of us are using larger monitors for work – I’m currently typing this article on a 27-inch all-in-one desktop – Windows 10 will let you better take advantage of that extra real estate. You can now have four apps “snapped” on the same screen, thanks to a new quadrant layout, plus Windows 10 will also show other apps running for additional snapping (and even make suggestions on filling available screen space with other open apps). Also new is support for multiple desktops: create unique desktops for different projects (or segregate your 9 to 5 life from your 5 to 9 world) and easily toggle between these desktops to pick up where you left off on each.
9. It’s a free upgrade
Another reason why you’ll love Windows 10? It’ll be a free upgrade to those running Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. This is great news for all the cost-conscious people who want to give this new operating system a spin but won’t shell out the cash for it – especially if they just bought a new tablet, laptop or desktop with an existing OS already preinstalled. The announcement of a free upgrade is certainly a welcome one among students and families, too. According to NetMarketShare.com, more than 58 percent of computers run Windows 7, while 11 percent run Windows 8.1 and just 3.5 percent run Windows 8.
10. And a little fun, too
Windows 10 will let you stream games directly from your Xbox One to your Windows 10 devices over Wi-Fi, therefore you can play games on multiple devices (including online games against friends via Xbox Live); capture, edit and share your greatest gaming moments with those who matter; and on select games, enjoy console-grade graphics and speed thanks to Windows 10’s new DirectX 12 application programming interface (API). In other words, you can play your Xbox One games on a desktop, laptop, or tablet in your home on your local Wi-Fi. Microsoft HoloLens also offers cutting-edge interactive entertainment experiences as we’ve seen in this video, which includes a hologram version of Minecraft, which Microsoft now owns.
Yahoo readers, are you looking forward to the operating system or will you stick with what you already have? If you’re a Mac user, could anything ever bring you over to Windows? Be sure to bookmark Yahoo Shopping and Yahoo Tech for more on the upcoming Windows 10.
