It's free (for now) – Unlike previous versions of Windows, for which you had to pay to upgrade, Windows 10 is being offered for free, with a catch. Users qualify for the free upgrade if they have a valid Windows 7 or Windows 8 licence. The new Windows 10 licence is tied to the machine on which the upgrade is performed. The opportunity to secure the free upgrade is open for 12 months, after which Windows 10 will cost between £80 to £120, depending on which version you are interested in.
For more information on the Free Windows 10 upgrade, see this article: Windows 10 free upgrade: When can I update on desktop and mobile?
Continuous updates – Microsoft intends for Windows 10 to be the last numbered base version of Windows, meaning that from now on updates will roll-out continually over time, much like the system implemented by rival Apple and its OS X. This positions Windows as a service platform, rather than a stand-alone piece of software, through which it can push its other products and services.
Unified across devices – If you already own an Xbox One, have a PC, use Windows Phone and have a Windows 8.1 laptop/tablet, Microsoft says you will be able to work seamlessly across your devices with Windows 10. This means accessing your work and personal files from any Windows device, whether its a tablet of phone while out and about, or your home PC when away from the office.
Xbox One is also getting an update so it can play nicely with Windows desktop PCs. Users will be able to stream Xbox One games to their Windows PC, and cross-platform multiplayer is being introduced (although titles are limited at this time). Finally, streaming content media to and from the Xbox One should be a lot easier once the update dust has settled.
To learn more about how the Xbox One fits into the grand Windows 10 vision, read this article: Windows 10 and Xbox One: All you need to know about Microsoft console's new dashboard
Less Storage Used and Better System Restore –Microsoft has revealed that they will be compressing the Windows 10 system files in a variety of clever ways to ensure performance is maintained, but storage space is not wasted. Microsoft claims to have saved 1.5GB of for Windows 10 32-bit, and 2.6GB for Windows 10 64-bit.
This couples with a better system restore function. Forget about having to create recovery images that take up space on your hard drive, have to be painstakingly copied to external storage media, and take ages to restore. Microsoft says it will be much easier to perform a clean install of Windows 10 while keeping already downloaded updates in place and your files intact using the Refresh and Reset functions.
Cortana voice assistant – Windows 10 will be getting the beta preview of Microsoft's voice-activated assistant, Cortana. Already being trialled on Windows Phone, the personal digital assistant allows you to voice command your PC or device to perform various tasks, such as visiting websites, opening apps, taking notes, setting reminders, and a variety of others. The Xbox One already has such features, which will also be overhauled to match the Cortana branding.
For more information on the Free Windows 10 upgrade, see this article: Windows 10 free upgrade: When can I update on desktop and mobile?
Continuous updates – Microsoft intends for Windows 10 to be the last numbered base version of Windows, meaning that from now on updates will roll-out continually over time, much like the system implemented by rival Apple and its OS X. This positions Windows as a service platform, rather than a stand-alone piece of software, through which it can push its other products and services.
Unified across devices – If you already own an Xbox One, have a PC, use Windows Phone and have a Windows 8.1 laptop/tablet, Microsoft says you will be able to work seamlessly across your devices with Windows 10. This means accessing your work and personal files from any Windows device, whether its a tablet of phone while out and about, or your home PC when away from the office.
Xbox One is also getting an update so it can play nicely with Windows desktop PCs. Users will be able to stream Xbox One games to their Windows PC, and cross-platform multiplayer is being introduced (although titles are limited at this time). Finally, streaming content media to and from the Xbox One should be a lot easier once the update dust has settled.
To learn more about how the Xbox One fits into the grand Windows 10 vision, read this article: Windows 10 and Xbox One: All you need to know about Microsoft console's new dashboard
Less Storage Used and Better System Restore –Microsoft has revealed that they will be compressing the Windows 10 system files in a variety of clever ways to ensure performance is maintained, but storage space is not wasted. Microsoft claims to have saved 1.5GB of for Windows 10 32-bit, and 2.6GB for Windows 10 64-bit.
This couples with a better system restore function. Forget about having to create recovery images that take up space on your hard drive, have to be painstakingly copied to external storage media, and take ages to restore. Microsoft says it will be much easier to perform a clean install of Windows 10 while keeping already downloaded updates in place and your files intact using the Refresh and Reset functions.
Cortana voice assistant – Windows 10 will be getting the beta preview of Microsoft's voice-activated assistant, Cortana. Already being trialled on Windows Phone, the personal digital assistant allows you to voice command your PC or device to perform various tasks, such as visiting websites, opening apps, taking notes, setting reminders, and a variety of others. The Xbox One already has such features, which will also be overhauled to match the Cortana branding.
No comments:
Post a Comment