Microsoft has revealed the first details of the Windows 10 - the first step of a whole new generation of Windows.
As no-one expected it will be called ‘Windows 10’ — not Windows 9 like many had expected.. Why? Because Microsoft claims it represents such a significant leap over Windows 8 that calling it Windows 9 would not do it justice.
Windows 10 will be designed to work on all form factors: desktops, laptops, tablets, phablets, smartphones and Xbox games consoles. It’s being billed as one platform for all mediums, and it will come with one universal app store for all devices.
Microsoft has now confirmed ‘Windows 10′ will also be the next major version of Windows Phone.
Enterprises will be getting an early look at Windows 10 before the public, so that large companies can get used to the new software before it launches. IT managers will be able to easily manage all types of Windows 10 devices, and can even customize internal app stores so that employees will be able to use apps approved by the company.
Anyway, here’s the big news: In Windows 10, Microsoft has done just that.
The Start Menu
If you use Windows 10 with a mouse and keyboard, the Start menu is back. Not just the Start button, not just the secret Windows key+X utility menu of Windows 8.1 — the real Start menu.
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.
And TileWorld is gone. No more screen of big flat tiles taking over your monitor. Tiles aren’t gone completely; they still pop out of the regular Start menu, a little weirdly.
And what about all those TileWorld apps that could run only in TileWorld? Since TileWorld is gone, these apps now open up on the desktop, in regular windows with regular title bars and window controls. You can still see your desktop, and you can see TileWorld apps and regular Windows programs side by side.
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.
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.
Some Useful New Features
There are also some useful new features. It's include:
- Search results now include listings from the Web as well as from your computer.
- There’s a new "task view," modeled on Mac OS X’s Mission Control, which shows you miniatures of all open windows when you click a button on the taskbar.
- The task-view button offers one-click access to all running apps and files
- Task view - a new button on the task bar will let the user see all open apps and files, helping them switch from one to another
- Snap enhancements - a new "quadrant layout" will allow four apps to be easily arranged on the same screen
- Multiple desktops - users can switch between distinct desktop screens, allowing them to group related work together rather than having to deal with a single screen overloaded with documents and apps. This is similar to a feature already available on Apple's Mac OS.
Microsoft will offer a "technical preview" of Windows 10 to early adopters later this week , which will run on laptops and desktops and that an official release would not follow until ‘later in 2015’.
