Windows 10 is Coming

Published on 6 Oct 2014 at 8:19 pm.
Filed under Informative,Mobile.

Windows 10 is coming and it looks to fix some of the grievances with Windows 8 (especially the desktop).

Windows 10 is coming.

Oddly enough, this event was kept very small. There was no live stream. The Verge was the only reporter covering the event. If you ask me that doesn’t sound to good for the next stage of Windows.

The event started with the usual bragging rights on the success of the brand. This one talked about the one and a half billion people using Windows today. We’ve hit the point where devices outnumber people. And people expect devices to just work. Windows is at a threshold and now it’s time for a new Windows. They don’t feel it’s right to call it Windows 9. They considered Windows One after the Xbox One, but Windows 1 already exists. So they are calling it Windows 10. I guess Windows 8.1 is considered Windows 9?

Windows 10 is one application platform. Microsoft’s most comprehensive platform ever. Windows 10 will cover tablets, desktops, smartphones, and other media players. There is a single Windows Store for all of them.

Windows 10 has a strong focus on enterprises. They urge all enterprises to begin a dialog today. That being said, Windows 10 will be compatible with all traditional management systems.

The following video is an introduction to the Windows 10. The intro explains that developers are the only ones that should use it now. For the average user I would suggest skipping to 1:33.

Windows 10?

The Q&A started off with a question on the name. It seems odd to go from 8 to 10. They replied:

This product, when you see the product in your fullness I think you’ll agree with us that it’s a more appropriate name.

Personally, I need to see more of the new system before I can judge. But frankly, I can’t see any reason that would justify a simple version number jump. UPDATE: The development rumor is that Microsoft is skipping “Windows 9” because there are many third-party applications that search for “Windows 9” to detect Windows 95 and Windows 98.

But Microsoft won’t name future versions after cats.

Windows 10 on Desktops

Windows 10 will contain a Start Menu. The Start Menu is like the traditional Windows Start menu, but with pinned apps. You can resize tiles on the Start Menu. This allows you to change the size of the entire menu.

Microsoft considers Windows 7 a first-generation Prius, while Windows 10 is a Tesla.

Windows 10 has Window 7’s familiarity with some design elements from Windows 8.

The new Universal search feature allows you to search your computer or web results from the Start Menu.

The traditional Windows 7 Snap View is back — for classic and universal apps. The Windows 8 style of environment is gone for keyboard and mouse users.

Task View is a new feature to Windows 10. Task View is like Expose in OS X and packages from Linux. It gives Windows users a multiple desktop environment. You can switch between desktops with different apps running on each. There is a Snap Assist feature that lets you grab apps from multiple desktops.

You can finally paste at a command line using Ctrl+V instead of triggering a context menu. This is very helpful for geeks like myself, though very surprising to see in a demo like this. This does emphasize that Windows 10 is very admin-friendly.

Windows 10 on Tablets

The Windows 8 Charm bar is still present, though they expect it to change over time.

In Windows 10 swiping in from the left will bring up the Task View. In Windows 8 it brought up the last app you used. The Task View in this mode is larger with buttons that are touch friendly.

The Windows 8 Start Screen is still alive. It only activates when the user touches the screen.

Windows 10 on Smartphones

The separate OS for Windows Phone is dead. Windows 10 runs on smartphones. Smartphone users will not have a desktop. This explains the new Universal App design Microsoft unveiled recently.

Windows Insider Program

Windows Insider Program is the name of the program for developers to get Windows previews starting tomorrow. They will have technical previews for laptops and desktops, followed by builds for servers. They want developers in there early because they want very early feedback. They expect to ship Windows 10 in late 2015.

Will your enterprise be one of the many to test Windows 10 early? Do you think you’ll switch from Windows 7 or 8 to 10? Please share your thoughts.

Thank you and keep building your brand.

This post was originally published as Windows 10 is Coming from Brand Builder Websites.

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