So Windows 10 it will be. Microsoft has confirmed that the next version of Windows will be called Windows 10 and be be built in a “open development effort” with inputs from technology enthusiasts. That is in a way accepting that Windows 8 was not exactly what these guys wanted or loved to use.
“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.”
While there is a clear emphasis on business, Windows 10 will run across the broadest range of devices ever from the Internet of Things to enterprise datacenters worldwide. Microsoft is also making life simpler for develpoers by offering a converged application platform for developers on all devices with a unified app store. “Developers will be able to write an application once and deploy it easily across multiple device types, making discovery, purchase and updating easier than ever for customers,” a release said.
It is also rethinking the way Windows is managed and deployed with “in-place upgrades” that make device wipe-and-reload scenarios obsolete. Businesses will have the flexibility to choose how quickly they adopt innovations, while having the ability to customize an app store specific to their needs.
xpanded Start menu: Microsoft is bringing back the Start menu with quick one-click access to the functions and files that people use most. It will also include 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, minimise and close with a click.
Snap enhancements: Working in multiple apps at once is easier as the 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: This feature enables one view for all open apps and files, allowing for quick switching and one-touch access to any desktop created.
Multiple desktops: You can now sort apps and files into distinct desktops for different purposes and projects.
The company has also announced the Windows Insider Program, kicking off its “largest-ever open collaborative development effort” to change the way Windows is built and delivered to best meet the needs of customers. A release said programme participants will receive the technical preview of Windows 10 and a steady stream of builds through the development cycle to use and give feedback on.
