Windows 10

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"Windows 9" redirects here. For the series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced from 1995 to 2000, see Windows 9x.
Windows 10
A release of the Microsoft Windows operating system
Windows 10 Logo.svg
Windows 10.png
Screenshot of Windows 10 Technical Preview, showing its desktop, taskbar, and Start menu
Developer Microsoft
Latest preview Technical Preview (v6.4.9879) / November 12, 2014; 58 days ago (2014-11-12)
Update method Windows Update, Windows Store, Windows Server Update Services
Kernel type Hybrid
Preceded by Windows 8.1 (2013)
Official website preview.windows.com

Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. Unveiled on September 30, 2014 as a successor to Windows 8.1, it is scheduled to be released in 2015, and is currently in public beta testing.

First presented in April 2014 at the Build Conference, Windows 10 aims to address shortcomings in the user interface introduced by Windows 8 by improving the user experience for non-touchscreen devices (such as desktop computers and laptops), including a revival of the desktop Start menu seen in Windows 7, a virtual desktop system, and the ability to run Windows Store apps within windows on the desktop as well as in full-screen mode. Windows 10 will also mark the culmination of a plan by Microsoft to unify the Windows, Windows Phone, and Windows Embedded product families around a common internal core.

Development[edit]

In December 2013, Mary Jo Foley reported that Microsoft was working on an update to Windows 8, codenamed Threshold after a planet in Microsoft's Halo franchise.[1] Similarly to "Blue" (which became Windows 8.1),[2] Foley called Threshold a "wave of operating systems" across multiple Microsoft platforms and services, scheduled for the second quarter of 2015. Foley reported that among the goals for Threshold was to create a unified application platform and development toolkit for Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox One (which all use a similar Windows NT kernel).[1][3] It was speculated that Threshold would be branded as "Windows 9" upon its public release.[4]

In April 2014, at the Build Conference, Microsoft's Terry Myerson unveiled an updated version of Windows that added the ability to run Windows Store apps inside desktop windows, and a more traditional Start menu in place of the Start screen seen in Windows 8. The new Start menu takes after Windows 7's design by using only a portion of the screen and including a Windows 7-style application listing in the first column. The second column displays Windows 8-style app tiles. Myerson stated that these changes would occur in a future update, but did not elaborate.[5][6] Microsoft also unveiled the concept of a "universal Windows app," allowing Windows Runtime apps to be ported to Windows Phone 8.1 and Xbox One while sharing a common codebase, and allowing user data and licenses for an app to be shared between multiple platforms.[5][7]

In July 2014, Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella explained that the company was planning to "streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes," unifying Windows, Windows Phone, and Windows Embedded around a common architecture and a unified application ecosystem. However, Nadella stated that these internal changes would not have any effect on how the operating systems are marketed and sold.[8][9] Screenshots of a Windows build which purported to be Threshold were leaked in July 2014, showing the previously presented Start menu and windowed apps[3] followed by further screenshot in September 2014 of a build identifying itself as "Windows Technical Preview", numbered 9834, showing a new virtual desktop system, a notification center, and a new File Explorer icon inspired by the Metro design language.[10]

Threshold was officially unveiled during a media event on September 30, 2014, under the name Windows 10; Myerson said that Windows 10 would be Microsoft's "most comprehensive platform ever," providing a single, unified platform for desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and all-in-one devices.[4][11][12] He emphasized that Windows 10 would take steps towards restoring user interface mechanics from Windows 7 to improve the experience for users on non-touch devices, noting criticism of Windows 8's touch-oriented interface by keyboard and mouse users.[13][14] Despite these concessions, Myerson noted that the touch-oriented interface would "evolve" as well on 10.[15] In describing the changes, Joe Belfiore likened the two operating systems to electric cars, comparing Windows 7 to a first-generation Toyota Prius hybrid, and Windows 10 to an all-electric Tesla—considering the latter to be an extension of the technology first introduced in the former.[16]

Regarding the operating system's name, Myerson refused to elaborate on why Microsoft skipped directly from Windows 8 to 10, stating only that "based on the product that’s coming, and just how different our approach will be overall, it wouldn’t be right". He also joked that they couldn't call it "Windows One" (alluding to several recent Microsoft products with a similar brand, such as OneNote, Xbox One and OneDrive) because they had already made a Windows 1.[4]

Preview releases[edit]

A public beta of Windows 10 branded as "Windows Technical Preview" was released on October 1, 2014. Testers who opt into the "Windows Insider" program receive occasional automatic updates to the Windows Technical Preview, allowing Microsoft to collect feedback on changes throughout development of Windows 10. Previously, only specific milestone builds were released to the public, and the remaining builds were private, internal builds.[17][18][19]

The Windows Technical Preview builds are aimed towards enthusiasts and enterprise users; Microsoft plans to announce consumer-oriented features and other details surrounding Windows 10 during future events, such as an event on January 21, 2015, and at Build 2015,[13][15][20]

Version number Release date Highlights
6.4.9841 October 1, 2014 Start menu, virtual desktops, and the ability to run Windows Store apps in desktop mode[21] (c.f. Windows 10 § User interface and desktop)
6.4.9860 October 21, 2014
  • Notification center: A window that can be invoked from notification area and shows the history of pop-up notifications[22]
  • The ability to choose between being in the Fast release cycle or the Slow cycle. Those in the Fast cycle gain access to a new build of Windows sooner but those in the Slow cycle receive builds that are subjected to more validation tests.[23]
  • "Nearly 7,000 improvements and fixes"[22]
6.4.9879 November 12, 2014
10.0.9888 Not publicly released
  • Windows version changed from 6.4 to 10.0
  • New animation added for maximizing and restoring window sizes
  • New options added to PC Settings[further explanation needed]
  • A new search bar[where?]
  • Visual changes to Taskbar's context menu[26]
10.0.9901 Not publicly released
  • UI changes to the Taskbar and app windows
  • New apps added: Cortana, Xbox App, Windows Store Beta, Camera Beta, Contact Support, and Get Started
  • App improved: Photos, Calculator, Sound Recorder, Windows Feedback, PC Settings (now called "Settings")
  • Deprecation of the classic Control Panel has begun
  • New Lock screen first introduced [27]
  • "Settings" charm is removed from the charms[28]

Release[edit]

Windows 10 is expected to be released some time in 2015.[17] It is not yet known how Windows 10 will be distributed—including whether it will be treated as a free update to Windows 8, or as an upgrade that must be purchased. In regards to the possibility for a new business model for Windows that would de-emphasize the sales of licenses in favor of using Windows to drive sales of subscription services like Office 365 and OneDrive, COO Kevin Turner denied plans for the operating system to become a "loss leader".[29][30][31]

Features[edit]

User interface and desktop[edit]

The "Task View" display allows the use of multiple workspaces.

Windows 10's user interface changes its behavior depending on the type of device and available inputs, and provides transitions between interface modes on convertible laptops and tablets with docking keyboards. When a keyboard is attached, users are asked if they want to switch to a user interface mode that is optimized for mouse and keyboard, or stay within the touch-optimized mode.[14]

For non-touch devices, a new iteration of the Start menu is used as part of the desktop interface, with an application list and search box on the left side, and live tiles on the right. This menu features a responsive design that allows the user to set a custom menu size, by dragging the top of the menu up or down with the mouse.[32] The Start screen is still used in touch environments: current Windows 10 builds use the same Start screen layout as Windows 8.1, but Microsoft has demonstrated a newer Start screen design that includes a column at its left to display shortcuts and the "All apps" button, similarly to the Start menu.[13][33]

A new virtual desktop system known as Task View was added. Like OS X's Mission Control function, clicking the Task View button on the taskbar (or alternately swiping from the left side of the screen) displays all open windows and allows users to switch between them, or switch between multiple workspaces. Windows Store apps, which previously could only be used full-screen, can now be used in desktop windows. An "App Commands" menu on the app's titlebar is used to activate functions previously seen on the charms bar, or to switch between windowed and full-screen modes.[13][33] Program windows can now be snapped to quadrants of the screen by dragging them to the corner. When a window is snapped to one side of the screen, the user is prompted to choose a second window to fill the unused side of the screen.[33]

Online services[edit]

Windows 10 is expected to incorporate Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant Cortana, as introduced on Windows Phone,[34] Reports also indicated that Microsoft was developing a new web browser for Windows 10 codenamed "Spartan", which will serve as a replacement for Internet Explorer (Internet Explorer would still be bundled with the operating system for backwards compatibility reasons).[35]

Multimedia and gaming[edit]

Windows 10 will ship with DirectX 12.[36] Unveiled March 2014 at GDC, the new version aims to provide "console-level efficiency" with "closer to the metal" access to hardware resources, and reduced CPU and graphics driver overhead.[37][38]

Windows 10 adds platform-level support for the FLAC, HEVC, and Matroska media formats, allowing them to be opened in Windows Media Player and other applications natively.[39][40][41]

System components[edit]

Console windows such as Command Prompt now provide a new set of "experimental options" which modernize their functionality, including word wrapping of console output and the ability to use standard Control key keyboard shortcuts in consoles, such as pasting text using Ctrl+V.[13][15][42]

Update system[edit]

Windows 10 will be serviced in a significantly different manner to previous releases of Windows. While Microsoft began to distribute a larger number of updates for Windows 8 that added features (such as interface improvements) beyond security patches and bug fixes, Windows 10 will adopt a tiered rapid-release approach. By default, users receive critical updates, security patches and non-critical updates to the operating system and its functionality as they are released, but can optionally opt out of or delay the installation of non-critical updates.[43][44] Stella Chernyak explained that "we have businesses [that] may have mission-critical environments where we respect the fact they want to test and stabilize the environment for a long time."[30]

See also[edit]

Portal icon Microsoft portal
Portal icon Software portal

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Microsoft codename 'Threshold': The next major Windows wave takes shape". ZDNet. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Is 'Windows Blue' a set of coordinated updates for all Microsoft products?". PC World. IDG. February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013. 
  3. ^ a b "Leaked ‘Windows 9’ screenshots offer a closer look at the new Start Menu". The Verge. Vox Media. July 21, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  4. ^ a b c Oremus, Will (September 30, 2014). "Windows 8 Was So Bad That Microsoft Is Skipping Windows 9". Slate. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  5. ^ a b "Rejoice! The Start menu is coming back to Windows". PC World. IDG. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014. 
  6. ^ "Future Windows 8.1 update will finally bring back the Start menu". Ars Technica. April 2, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014. 
  7. ^ "Microsoft's universal Windows apps run on tablets, phones, Xbox, and PCs". PC World. IDG. Retrieved April 5, 2014. 
  8. ^ "Nadella Raises Eyebrows With Plans to 'Streamline' Windows". PC Magazine. Retrieved October 1, 2014. 
  9. ^ "Why did Microsoft choose Windows 10 instead of Windows 9?". Techradar. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  10. ^ "Leaked Windows 9 screenshots reveal the future of the desktop". The Verge. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  11. ^ "Microsoft reveals Windows 10". Seattle Times. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  12. ^ "Why is it called Windows 10 not Windows 9?". ExtremeTech. Retrieved October 1, 2014. 
  13. ^ a b c d e "Windows 10 is the official name for Microsoft's next version of Windows". The Verge. Vox Media. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  14. ^ a b "Watch how Windows 10 works with touch interfaces". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  15. ^ a b c "Microsoft’s Windows 10 event in San Francisco: Updated live blog". ExtremeTech. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  16. ^ "If Windows 10 is the Tesla to the Windows 7 Prius, what was Windows 8?". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  17. ^ a b "Windows 10: Microsoft hits a turbo button to get back to business". The Verge. Retrieved October 1, 2014. 
  18. ^ "Windows 10 Technical Preview now available to download". The Verge. Retrieved October 1, 2014. 
  19. ^ "Microsoft launches Windows Insider Program to get Windows betas". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 1, 2014. 
  20. ^ "Microsoft to detail 'next chapter' of Windows 10 on January 21". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 14 December 2014. 
  21. ^ Aul, Gabe. "Announcing Windows 10". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 22 November 2014. 
  22. ^ a b Aul, Gabe. "We're rolling out our first preview build to the Windows Insider Program". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 22 November 2014. 
  23. ^ Shultz, Greg (31 October 2014). "How to get Build 9860 of the Windows 10 Technical Preview". TechRepublic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 1 January 2015. 
  24. ^ a b c Aul, Gabe (November 12, 2014). "New build available to the Windows Insider Program". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 2014-11-23. 
  25. ^ Rossi, Jacob (November 11, 2014). "Living on the Edge – our next step in helping the web just work". IEBlog. Microsoft. Retrieved 2014-11-23. 
  26. ^ Bowden, Zac. "Windows 10 news recap: New ISOs, build 9888, new fixes, Consumer Preview in January and more". WinBeta. Retrieved 2014-12-02. 
  27. ^ http://www.neowin.net/news/enable-the-new-login-screen-for-windows-10-builds-9888-and-9901
  28. ^ Warren, Tom. "Leaked Windows 10 build reveals new Xbox app and Cortana integration". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 2014-12-14. 
  29. ^ "Microsoft making Windows free on devices with screens under 9 inches". The Verge. Retrieved April 2, 2014. 
  30. ^ a b Endler, Michael. "Windows 10: 5 Unanswered Questions". InformationWeek. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  31. ^ "Windows 10 no 'loss leader' for Microsoft, but making money may rely on services". PC World. Retrieved 14 December 2014. 
  32. ^ "Start Menu resizing in Windows 10 results in some interesting behavior". Neowin.net. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  33. ^ a b c "Microsoft Unveils Windows 10 with New Start Menu". Tom's Guide. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  34. ^ "Cortana for Windows 10 demonstrated on video". The Verge. Retrieved 8 January 2015. 
  35. ^ "Windows 10’s new browser will have the most advanced features ever". The Verge. Retrieved 8 January 2015. 
  36. ^ Langley, Bryan. "DirectX 12 and Windows 10". DirectX Developer Blog. Retrieved October 3, 2014. 
  37. ^ "Windows 10 will woo gamers with supercharged DirectX 12 graphics API". PCWorld. Retrieved October 3, 2014. 
  38. ^ "Microsoft details DirectX 12 for better Xbox One, PC performance". Techradar. Retrieved October 3, 2014. 
  39. ^ Gabe Aul (November 12, 2014). "New build available to the Windows Insider Program". Microsoft. Retrieved November 15, 2014. 
  40. ^ "Audio snobs rejoice: Windows 10 will have system-wide FLAC support". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 14 December 2014. 
  41. ^ "Windows 10 will play your .MKV and .FLAC files all on its own". Engadget. Retrieved 14 December 2014. 
  42. ^ "Windows 10 command prompt finally gets dragged into the 21st century". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 30, 2014. 
  43. ^ "Microsoft reveals biggest-ever change in Windows updates". Computerworld. Retrieved 4 October 2014. 
  44. ^ "Introducing Windows 10 for Business". Windows Blog. Retrieved 4 October 2014. 
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