Microsoft unveils Windows 10 system

[Scrumptious]

Microsoft unveils Windows 10 operating system


Microsoft announced details of the new operating system at an event in San Francisco

Microsoft has disclosed the first details of Windows 10 - its next operating system (OS).

The name is a surprise bearing in mind it represents a jump from the last version - Windows 8. The software will run on a wide range of devices from smartphones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store. It also marks the return of the Start Menu, which had been removed from Windows 8.

In addition to offering a list of the user's favourite applications, the menu also brings up resizable tiles - similar to those featured in Windows 8's touch-centric interface - on PCs and tablets.

These provide a quick view of notifications from relevant applications, such as details of new emails, Facebook messages and weather forecast updates.

The company said the facility was intended to make the software seem familiar to both users of Windows 8 and Windows 7.

The behaviour of the OS will depend on the type of device it is being used on. Unlike its predecessor, users will not need to switch between Desktop Mode and the touch-focused alternative.

However, they can still spread a number of "live tiles" across the screens of two-in-one laptop-tablet hybrids to make them easier to use with both a mouse and finger presses.

'Critical' choice

Windows 8 had been criticised for being too different to the previous version, which deterred some organisations from introducing it.

It initially lacked a Start button altogether, and when one was introduced it only switched to the touch-centric tiled interface or - if a long mouse press was used - provided access to the system's control panel and other functions.

Businesses typically wait about a year after a new operating system's release before offering it to workers to give IT staff a chance to get to grips with the new technologies involved. But it has been nearly two years since Windows 8 first went on sale and adoption is still low.

"It's extremely important for Microsoft to get Windows 10 right," said David Johnson, who covers Microsoft for the consultancy Forrester. "Windows 8 is only being offered to employees by about one in five organisations right now. Windows 7 is still the de facto standard for enterprise in the desktop environment. "For Microsoft to continue to be able to get the best and latest technology in the hands of the enterprise workforce all over the world, it has to have a vehicle to do that - and Windows 9 is its best shot."

Across desktop PCs as a whole, only 13.4% currently run Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, according to research firm NetMarketshare. By contrast, it says 51.2% are powered by Windows 7 and 23.9% by Windows XP, a version that is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Mr Johnson said the reintroduction of the Start Menu should help Windows 10 fare better.

"It is critically important," he said. "The Start Menu is perhaps the most important thing that will make the desktop experience familiar to business users, and will help it reduce resistance to its installation."

Microsoft will offer a "technical preview" of Windows 10 to early adopters later this week, which will run on laptops and desktops.

The company said it would provide details about the introduction of "universal apps" - individual programs that tailor their functionality to different types of devices - at its Build conference in April, and would aim to release the completed OS before the end of 2015.

There was no mention of offering the firm's voice-controlled digital assistant Cortana to PCs, or when Windows 10 would supersede the Windows Phone OS.

The firm's smartphone code is designed for ARM-based processors, unlike the main Windows 8 and Xbox operating systems that are built for x86 chips - including those made by Intel and AMD.

While Microsoft confirmed that versions of Windows 10 would be released for both types of chip architecture, it did not disclose whether there would be a staggered release.

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[Picklock]

it's hilarious in how a missing "start" button can makes some customer choose to stick to the old versions

[BlackTar]

The crybabies will get their start menu back, I preferred the charms bar. I've always hated the start menu. But I'm looking forward to Windows 10.

[RobertX]

http://thepiratebay.se/search/Windows/0/99/0

The preview versions are already online!

---

it's hilarious in how a missing "start" button can makes some customer choose to stick to the old versions

Yeah, and so is the "Program Manager" in Windows 3.11 and lower.

A drop of familiarity doesn't hurt, however.

[ViperScale]

I have only played around with it a little at work but it does seem better than 8. We will see though they are due maybe due for the next good version but than they skipped 9 so =/ maybe this one will be bad as well until 11 comes out.

Most of us rarely use the start menu anymore, we normally just type what we are looking for but once in a while we do need to look for that odd program we rarely use.

[ASmith]

Abandon all hope of privacys and security ye who choses to willingly add any MicroSoft OS to their desktop,laptop and smart devices.

After Snowden and others exposed MicroSoft's own engineers helped the Mossad and NSA exploit Windows flaws to build Stuxnet,Duqu and Flame Virus Worm modules, I and many others forever saw Microsoft as one of the most corrupt, unethical software corportions on Earth. The same folks that paid bountys to trackdown and arrest folks unleashing Virus's,Worms against Windows OS were uncovered as having created the largest ones and of course Obama granted them immunity from a USA national class-action lawsuit from thousands of USA business owners much less mere citizens and mere microsoft customers from suing them. What Microsoft did to their own customers and clients who bought and used Windows OS is far beyond hypocrasy, even beyond the unethical Business practices sometimes found in large USA Corporations, its utterly disgusting and unforgiveable.

Any fluffy ad's for Windows offerings should be accompanied by a severe warning along with a image of a Hazmat Suit and a Biological Contagion Symbol in my opinion.

[RobertX]

Do you have any proof of this, ASmith?

[-nelly-]

Abandon all hope of privacys and security ye who choses to willingly add any MicroSoft OS to their desktop,laptop and smart devices.

After Snowden and others exposed MicroSoft's own engineers helped the Mossad and NSA exploit Windows flaws to build Stuxnet,Duqu and Flame Virus Worm modules, I and many others forever saw Microsoft as one of the most corrupt, unethical software corportions on Earth. The same folks that paid bountys to trackdown and arrest folks unleashing Virus's,Worms against Windows OS were uncovered as having created the largest ones and of course Obama granted them immunity from a USA national class-action lawsuit from thousands of USA business owners much less mere citizens and mere microsoft customers from suing them. What Microsoft did to their own customers and clients who bought and used Windows OS is far beyond hypocrasy, even beyond the unethical Business practices sometimes found in large USA Corporations, its utterly disgusting and unforgiveable.

Any fluffy ad's for Windows offerings should be accompanied by a severe warning along with a image of a Hazmat Suit and a Biological Contagion Symbol in my opinion.

Hehehe. +1

[RobertX]

But nelly, I thought you like Windows.

[-nelly-]

I love Windows RX but hate their practices. Hence i'm moving more towards LINUX recently. Check this out r.e. Win 10

BE Careful with Windows 10 - It is spying on everything you do.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/microso...27816.html

portions of Microsoft's privacy policy, which indicates that the company is using a keylogger, among other methods, to obtain information about the software's performance. This is likely one of the reasons why Microsoft insists that Windows Technical Preview not be installed on computers that are used every day.

"When you acquire, install and use the Program, Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks," the privacy policy stated. "Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage."

Microsoft provided four examples, one of which clearly states that when entering text into any application, Microsoft may collect those typed characters. Why? So that the company can fine-tune the spell check and auto-complete features. Again, the Technical Preview is not ideal on machines used for everyday purposes unless users don't care about this "character collection."

Microsoft also revealed that when users open a file, the company collects information about the file, the program that opens the file and how long it takes to open said file. Microsoft claims that it uses this information to improve performance and more. Microsoft also collects information about programs that are installed -- including the device they are installed on -- and uses that information to determine and improve Windows 10's compatibility with those programs.

The company acknowledges that it may collect voice information if the customer uses voice input features, such as speech-to-text. This information will be used to improve speech processing, Microsoft revealed.

"Microsoft uses data we collect from the Program to operate, improve and personalize the Program and other Microsoft products and services," the privacy policy stated. "Some data is stored on your device and some data is transmitted to Microsoft. Microsoft shares some data with our partners to improve how their products and services work with Microsoft's products and services."

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