Windows What???

Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10...wait, what? Microsoft skips a beat with new platform announcement

At its Windows 10 event Microsoft unveiled a ton of stuff--some of it we already knew about--but a couple of things were downright surprising. Nobody expected a VR mode for Windows. Ditto for Windows 10 costing nothing, a first for Microsoft that sees it taking a very different approach to the distribution of its software. 

• Expanded Start menu. The familiar Start menu is back, providing quick one-click access to the functions and files that people use most, and it includes a new space to personalize with favorite apps, programs, people and websites.
• Apps that run in a window. Apps from the Windows Store now open in the same format that desktop programs do. They can be resized and moved around, and have title bars at the top allowing users to maximize, minimize and close with a click.
• Snap enhancements. Working in multiple apps at once is easier and more intuitive with snap improvements. A new quadrant layout allows up to four apps to be snapped on the same screen. Windows will also show other apps and programs running for additional snapping, and it will even make smart suggestions on filling available screen space with other open apps.
• New Task view button. The new Task view button on the task bar enables one view for all open apps and files, allowing for quick switching and one-touch access to any desktop created.
• Multiple desktops. Instead of too many apps and files overlapping on a single desktop, it’s easy to create and switch between distinct desktops for different purposes and projects — whether for work or personal use.

There was some BIG Windows Phone news too, as well as a lot of new features that make Windows 10 a lot useful when used in a mobile environment. Spartan –– Microsoft’s brand new browser –– was also unveiled and presents yet more changes to the way Microsoft does business. 

“Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows, unlocking new experiences to give customers new ways to work, play and connect,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. “This will be our most comprehensive operating system and the best release Microsoft has ever done for our business customers, and we look forward to working together with our broader Windows community to bring Windows 10 to life in the months ahead.”

All in all, this was the kind of keynote Microsoft needed. It showed the world and, importantly, the press that Microsoft isn’t done with innovation, that it too can still shake things up in the PC, desktop and mobile space. Impressive stuff, indeed. Here’s everything the company from Redmond revealed.

Windows 10 will be free.

This is one of the most shocking bits of information to come out of today’s event. For the first time in history Microsoft will be giving a Windows operating system away for free. That’s right, free (well, for most). When Windows 10 ships anyone who is currently running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows Phone 8.1 will be able to download Windows 10 for free and use it for free for the first year. 

“Windows 10 must negotiate a formidable wave of negative sentiment following the launch of Windows 8. However, Windows 10 is infinitely more refined, it’s a free upgrade, there’s no license fee on sub 9-inch devices and Microsoft, Intel and partners are delivering unprecedented levels of hardware innovation at a wide range of price points. The tide could be slowly turning for Windows," said Geoff Blaber, VP Research, Americas, CCS Insight.

After the first year it’s subscription-based, as is the trend for most software nowadays. In some ways this can be seen as Microsoft ripping off another page from Apple’s playbook (who’s offeredOS X for free for several years in a row now). But regardless their inspiration, it’s a wise move considering many that felt burned with Window 8 would probably be reluctant to splash out on Windows 10.

Windows Phone is dead. Windows 10 runs on all devices.

Notice above how I said even Windows Phone 8.1 users will get Windows 10 for free? That’s because Microsoft is killing “Windows Phone”. No longer will it be a separate operating system. Windows 10 is built upon a single common core known internally as OneCore. This responsive core will allow Windows 10 to run on devices of multiple form factors including desktop, laptop, tablet, hybrid, and smartphone. 

So future Microsoft smartphones aren’t “Windows Phones” any longer. They’re Windows 10 phones and the software they run is no different--at its core--than the software on Windows 10 tablets, hybrids, and desktops.

"Windows 10 is the first step to an era of more personal computing. This vision framed our work on Windows 10, where we are moving Windows from its heritage of enabling a single device – the PC – to a world that is more mobile, natural and grounded in trust. We believe your experiences should be mobile – not just your devices. Technology should be out of the way and your apps, services and content should move with you across devices, seamlessly and easily," said Microsoft.

"In our connected and transparent world, we know that people care deeply about privacy – and so do we. That’s why everything we do puts you in control – because you are our customer, not our product. We also believe that interacting with technology should be as natural as interacting with people – using voice, pen, gestures and even gaze for the right interaction, in the right way, at the right time. These concepts led our development and you saw them come to life today."

Skype –– It’s About To Get VERY Useful 

Microsoft bought Skype eons ago now and, for the most part, left the communications tool very much alone. KYM has often wondered my Microsoft didn’t develop Skype into a cross platformcommunication too akin to WhatsApp, Hangouts and Apple’s FaceTime and Message services. Up to now we just figured it couldn’t be bothered. But now, in the wake of the Windows 10 announcement, we know different. 

Skype will feature prominently inside Windows 10 on phones, tablets, PC, hybrids and laptops. Microsoft’s next-generation Skype will sync all contacts and conversations across all devices, much like iMessage. Microsoft has already begun linking phone numbers to Skype accounts to facilitate the new features. 

Skype on Windows 10 phones will receive text messages too, like Hangouts on Android. Having the ability to access, read and reply to texts on your PC or tablet seems like an obvious extension of this capabilities. You can already do this on OS X inside the Messages application but, like most things Apple, it’s not without its limitations. 

Skype has also had a pretty significant face-lift too and now, like everything else on market, is flatter and more “modern-looking” just like iOS 8, OS X and Google’s Material Design. The workflow of the app has also been improved and reports suggest users will be able to compose a message in the taskbar and then send it in Skype right away. 

Skype will be hardwired into all Windows 10 devices, be they phones, tablets, PCs or laptops and hybrids. This is Microsoft’s Hangouts and iMessage and FaceTime rolled into one, and while it might have taken a while to surface, the service is starting to sound very compelling indeed. It looks pretty swish too, as you can see below: 

Windows 10 has some pretty cool new features.

Windows 10 has some great new features, but none that we didn’t already know about. A nice new feature is called Continuum and it allow Windows 10 to adapt automatically based on the device you are using it on. This really comes into play when using a hybrid device like a Surface. Windows 10 will be able to know when you are using a physical keyboard (and thus the Surface as a desktop) and when you’ve removed the keyboard and are using the Surface as a tablet--and it will adapt automatically.

Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana--previously only available on Windows Phone is now coming to Windows 10 on a system-wide level. A new Cortana button will be next to the Start menu and users will be able to ask her voice queries and perform tasks just like on Windows Phone. However, Cortana on the desktop goes further by being able to find files on your computer using natural language input such as “Find PowerPoint slides about the charity auction” and “Show me photos from December.”

Windows 10, given it runs on every device, unsurprisingly will also feature universal apps. One such app Microsoft showcased was Outlook, which has been redesigned to look and work alike on PCs, tablets and smartphones. In addition to the above features, Windows 10 will feature a dedicated photos app across devices and also a unified Xbox app that will allow you to chat with your Xbox pals, view your stats, and even offer local streaming between your Xbox and Windows 10 devices.

Microsoft has BIG Plans for Xbox, Too

Windows 10 will also bring with it a lot of new functionality to Microsoft’s Xbox One console. A new Xbox app will attempt to unify the gaming experience between console and PC/laptop/tablet/phone, meaning titles played on the console will show up on network-connected computers, tablets and smartphones. 

“A new Windows 10 Xbox app is also set for deployment in tablet and mobile device formats,”reports The First Post, “offering a unified view of the games you care about, your friends, and your gaming activities. Games, Friends, Messages, Activity Feed, and Achievements have been given the nod to appear within the app’s confines, though there’s no mention of a digital marketplace.”

The Spartan browser aims to take on Chrome.

Microsoft also revealed a little more about its new lightweight Spartan browser, which is clearly aimed at taking on Chrome. Besides a brand new, much faster rendering engine, the new browser, which isn’t replacing IE, offers a number of cool sharing features. One such feature allows you to annotate a web page and then send your markings to other users. For example, you could circle the text that makes this paragraph and then send the page with the markup to your friends. 

Besides annotation features, Spartan will also offer a new Reading mode and Reading List. Reading mode allows you to just view the text of an article, removing ads and needless background imagery. The Reading List will allow you to save and sync articles between devices for offline reading later.

"Spartan should have good performance when it is eventually previewed, and hopefully the standards support will increase as well. Since it will be updated through the Windows Store, the old way of updating Internet Explorer with new Operating System releases should also disappear, allowing Microsoft to ramp up the updates to the new browser. It has taken a long time, but it seems that Redmond is finally focusing on performance and standards for a new web," reportsAnanTech.

Microsoft Surface Hub is the biggest Surface ever.

Way back in the day the Surface was originally a touch screen coffee table, then Microsoft shrunk it and made it into a tablet. Now they are blowing it up again to make the Surface Hub: an 84-inch 4K touch screen Surface that hangs on the wall and acts as a digital hub for your office. The gist of it is that colleagues can display their work on the Surface Hub where the person leading a meeting can markup and annotate said work in front of the group, and then the info can be shared with everyone. Think of the Surface Hub as a very smart, interactive, touchscreen, network-connected whiteboard running Windows 10.

Microsoft HoloLens is Minority Report.

This is perhaps the biggest shock from today’s Windows 10 event. The Microsoft HoloLens is the company’s entry into the augmented and virtual reality markets. It’s a headset that you wear, which enables you to enter the virtual world. HoloLens isn’t a direct competitor with Oculus Rift, however, because it doesn’t aim to immerse you in complete virtual reality. The HoloLens’ display is semi-transparent, which allows you to still see the real world when you put it on.

“HoloLens is an entirely new platform for immersive, holographic virtual reality experiences. This will spark yet more excitement for the category but the true innovation it delivers will be determined by developer commitment in the months and years to come," added Blaber. 

When you wear it you’ll see 3D holograms overlaid on top of your vision. This is augmented reality on steroids. Users can not only see 3D holograms in their line of sight but completely interact with them, using their hands to move a 3D object across the room, for example. Think Tom Cruise in Minority Report. Best of all the HoloLens is completely untethered from any device, like a PC. Everything it needs is built into the headset, including the groundbreaking Holographic Processing Unit (HPU). And yes, every Windows 10 app will be able to take advantage of the HoloLens.

Just how excited is Microsoft about the HoloLens? They're calling it "the next PC.” However, we’ll have to wait until it ships alongside Windows 10 later this year to see if those claims live up to the hype.

Still –– looks like the analysts are impressed: "Today’s official unveiling of Windows 10 is a defining moment for Nadella early in his tenure as CEO. The collaboration required to deliver HoloLens to market is an encouraging sign that he’s breaking down the silos that slowed innovation and stalled execution in recent years." 

“Microsoft has re-evaluated its approach to software releases by adopting a web mentality that dovetails with the Cloud first, mobile first vision under Satya Nadella. This open, collaborative approach is critical if Microsoft is to overcome the negative sentiment that has plagued Windows 8 since launch."