Windows 10: The Next Chapter
by Brett Howse on December 11, 2014 6:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Software
- Operating Systems
- Microsoft
- Windows 10
Today Microsoft revealed that they will be hosting an event at Redmond to announce the next chapter of Windows 10 on January 21st, 2015. This event should reveal the Consumer Preview for Windows 10, and build on the changes already shown in the Technical Preview. The Technical Preview was very desktop focused, and did not include the announced features to enable a touch experience. Most likely the consumer preview of Windows 10 will include this, as well as other new features to continue to hone the user experience.
The event will be livestreamed and the Blogging Windows site will offer up information on the announced features. When Microsoft first announced Windows 10, they said that they would be having a consumer event upcoming in the early 2015, and more developer information at Build, so it’s good to see that this is on schedule still. It does appear that the final release for Windows 10 may be Fall 2015 according to Microsoft COO Kevin Turner.
Microsoft also sent out some news to the Windows Insiders letting them know about a few things that may be interesting. First, they have created an Insider Hub app for Windows 10 which is included in the latest build. The app will provide news and announcements regarding the Insider Program and some news may only be shared this way. It will also be a way to help with feedback on new features. People running the Windows 10 Technical Preview can simply pin this hub to their Start Menu to get access to the notifications.
They have also announced that a four hour webcast “Windows 10 Technical Preview Fundamentals for IT Pros” is now available through the Microsoft Virtual Academy, so if you are thinking about possible Windows 10 deployments in the not too distant future, you can check it out here.
Finally, as part of the Internet of Things movement, Windows 10 will support devices with AllJoyn capability. As described by Microsoft Open Tech, “AllJoyn is an open source software framework and set of services to enable interoperability among connected devices to create dynamic proximal networks” and developers who wish to develop apps with AllJoyn capability for Windows 10 can download the SDK from the AllSeen Alliance.
Quite a few changes and additions to Windows came with the Windows 10 Technical Preview, and you can read my initial thoughts here. What the build really is missing though are the consumer focused points. A lot of the initial talk was about deployment, user management, and data security. Quite a bit of the support for WinRT apps and touch was affected, and will likely make their way back in along with the Continuum capability to switch between keyboard/mouse and touch control.
Source: Blogging Windows
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Lolimaster - Thursday, December 11, 2014 - link
Enough with this boring, plain UI. Even 2007 integrated gpu's could handle aero effects like it was nothing. This unicolor makes your windows Windows Boring -_-.xrror - Friday, December 12, 2014 - link
Ugh yes. I hate that the reason that Aero got the axe was because crappy tablets at the time couldn't handle it. And oh noes forbid that desktop users might get a "premium" UI that tablets couldn't at the time.Win 8 transparency is like... you could do that in winXP with a 300kb utility and enough free time.
kyuu - Saturday, December 13, 2014 - link
Except that Aero getting the axe had nothing to do with tablets being able to handle it or not. It was a deliberate design decision. The fact that you don't like it doesn't mean it's bad or that there had to have been some technical reason for it.I never cared for Aero and, before Win8, I'd always regress to the "flatter, more boring" WinXP-like scheme. Transparencies and faux-3D elements are unnecessary clutter for the most part, except for the limited areas where they can enhance usability. They could certainly tweak a few things in the Win8 desktop UI, but all-in-all its a definite improvement over Aero, IMO.
kyuu - Saturday, December 13, 2014 - link
Sorry, should have said Win2K-like scheme. WinXP implies the ugly bubble-style UI they implemented with XP.bigboxes - Monday, December 15, 2014 - link
Then you and I are in two different universes. WinXP was a definite improvement over Win2k in looks. I get it. You grew up in an WinNT environment and never wanted to see it change. Personally, Aero was the best and if you could just turn it off (or on whatever is the default) then all would be happy. I build a power machine that can handle all the eye candy then I want a UI that give me that experience. If I want to experience of my phone that I'd whip out my Note 3.inighthawki - Monday, December 15, 2014 - link
"Except that Aero getting the axe had nothing to do with tablets being able to handle it or not."Actually it was. Low end tablets had performance issues and ti was removed. Only then did the UI team capitalize on the removal to change the theme. There is a reason why there was an entirely other theme in the release candidates.
edzieba - Friday, December 12, 2014 - link
The one update I'd like to see for Windows 10, above all, is a keyboard shortcut to fully minimise a window from fullscreen, so it can then be restored to fullscreen. Currently you have WIN+down-arrow, which will take a fullscreen window and turn it into a window of random size (i.e whatever you accidentally resized it to last time you accidentally make it non-fullscreen) before a second WIN+down-arrow will minimise it, and restoring that window either with alt-tab, WIN+number or WIN+up-arrow will restore it as said randomly sized window rather than fullscreen.Minimising with a macro sequence of ALT+space, 'N' works if you tweak the delays between alt-keydown and space, and between alt keyup and 'N' so that applications accept it as a shortcut rather than an input (Chrome is the major offender here), but that's an awkward hack for something that should be built in.
Win 8 was a big improvement from Win 7 when it came to adding keyboard shortcuts for common tasks (the WIN+X menu is fantastic), so it was sad to see this missed yet again.
robkott - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link
WIN+M will minimize your current (maximized) window. ALT+TAB or WIN+Num will restore the window to its maximized state.This was done in Windows 7. I am assuming it still works in Win 8 and Win 10.
R3MF - Friday, December 12, 2014 - link
I want a product I can buy, not a service which you expect me to subscribe too!deeps6x - Saturday, December 13, 2014 - link
It seems obvious that MS wants to drive you to Apple.First they F'd up Win7 by forcing Touch and Metro onto everything. Then with Intel, forced Glossy touch screens onto almost all new laptops (instead of the much better, matte, non-touch screens).
And now adding subscription services for the OS?
If you F up Win10 like this MS, and don't correct these other screw ups, I'm gone.
Hello Apple.