Windows 10 The
question remains, should i upgrade or
not ?
Microsoft had a lot to say during its January briefing and gave a look at what Windows 10 will look like in terms of end user features and the final version is now here.
1-It's free
One of the biggest new developments
in the Windows 10 story is that it will be completely free to upgrade.
Microsoft made this announcement at its January event in Redmond. The firm has
said it will be available at no charge for the first year (although it may end
up extending that) for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users. It will also be
free if you're still running Windows 7.
However, it's not quite as simple as
it might appear.
2-Start Menu
As we knew prior to the January
briefing, Windows 10 will mark the return of the much loved Start Menu. In the
latest build shown, it has some updated graphics and can optionally go
full-screen. Half of the menu looks pretty much like it did in Windows 7 but
there's the obvious addition of Live Tiles.
3-Cortana
As we expected, Cortana is one of
the headline features of Windows 10 – at least as far as Microsoft is
concerned. The digital assistant, which rivals Siri and Google Now, has been
available on Windows Phone for a while will come to PCs and tablets.
Cortana will sit next to with the
Start button on the desktop, but you can invoke it by saying "Hey
Cortana". You'll also be able to edit the things that Cortana knows about
you to improve the service it provides. Typing to interact is also an option
and you can request "show me photos from December" or "Show me
PowerPoint slides about the charity presentation".
4-Xbox app and streaming
There's good news for gamers as not
only with the Xbox One get Windows 10
(including Universal apps – see below), Microsoft has introduced some sweet new
features. Windows 10 will come with the Xbox app (although there was no mention
of Windows 10 for phones getting it) which has features like the ability to
control the Xbox One and a DVR capture for any Windows games.
Furthermore, you'll be able to play
multiplayer games cross-platform between Xbox One and PC. As if that wasn't
enough, Windows 10 will support the ability to stream games from the Xbox Box –
although we don't have details on the technical requirements for this yet. Oh
and there's support for DirectX 12.
5-Universal apps
The news of Universal apps is good
news for anyone using more than one Windows device. A bundle of apps including
Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar
(and presumably more in the future) will look and feel the same across
different devices and screen sizes. The data will also be saved and sync
automatically via OneDrive.
6-Edge browser
Microsoft's new web browser is
called Edge, formally 'Project Spartan' and will replace Internet Explorer in
Windows 10. It's been built with 'interoperability' in mind, according to
Microsoft. Features include a reading mode and the ability to annotate, either
with a keyboard, pen or a finger. There's also integration with Cortana to
provide additional information – for example, when you're on a web page for a
restaurant Cortana will make a booking and display information such as opening
times.
7-Enhancements
Thanks to the Windows Insider
program, Microsoft is making changes suggested by Windows users around the
globe. Since Windows 10 runs across all devices, the OS will have unified
settings. That means the end of separate control panel and PC settings. There's
also the Action Center now provides notifications and is synchronised across
devices.
8-Windows Phone
It looks like the death of Windows
Phone is near as Windows 10 will arrive on Windows Phone devices when it
launches. Microsoft has given no other name for it running on smartphone and small tablets.
In general it looks much the same as
Windows Phone 8 but with tweaks. As mentioned above, Action Center is synced
with your other devices and the app menu will show recently installed apps at
the top. Two cool new additions are the ability to float the keyboard around
the screen and reply to message notifications in-line.
9-HoloLens
This one might be somewhat far off
and futuristic, but Windows 10 is the first holographic computing platform. A
set of APIs will mean developers can create holographic experiences in the real
world.
It's more like augmented reality to
us but it's certainly interesting. It will work with the HoloLens which
Microsoft calls the world’s first untethered holographic computer (it doesn't
need to connect to a PC to work).
www.musesudio.dz
