Windows10PrimerWhattoExpectfromMicrosoftsNewOperating

System

MikeHalsey,MVP

Windows10Primer:WhattoExpectfromMicrosoftsNewOperatingSystem

Copyright2015byMikeHalsey

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ManagingDirector:WelmoedSpahr

LeadEditor:GwenanSpearing

TechnicalReviewer:KathleenAnderson

EditorialBoard:SteveAnglin,GaryCornell,LouiseCorrigan,JamesT.DeWolf,JonathanGennick,RobertHutchinson,MichelleLowman,JamesMarkham,MatthewMoodie,SusanMcDermott,JeffreyPepper,DouglasPundick,DominicShakeshaft,GwenanSpearing,MattWade,SteveWeiss

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CopyEditor:AprilRondeau

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Indexer:SPIGlobal

Artist:SPIGlobal

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ForLawrenceHall(19422014)Friend,Confidant,andalwaysanITPro

ContentsataGlanceAbouttheAuthor

AbouttheTechnicalReviewer

Introduction

Chapter1:IntroducingWindows10

Chapter2:NewandImprovedFeaturesinWindows10

Chapter3:Windows10forPhoneandOtherDevices

Chapter4:WhatsNewforEndUsers?

Chapter5:WhatsNewforBusinesses?

Chapter6:MaximizingSecurityandProductivity

Index

ContentsAbouttheAuthor

AbouttheTechnicalReviewer

Introduction

Chapter1:IntroducingWindows10

MicrosoftsThreeAreasofFocusMobilityofExperience

Trust

NaturalInteraction

TheBigQuestionsPricingandAvailability

UpgradingfromWindows7orWindows8.1

UpgradingfromWindowsRT

UpgradingfromXPorVista

Windows10onNewPCs

SoftwareAssurance

UpgradingfromWindowsPhone8.1andXbox

WhatElseDoYouNeedtoKnow?UpgradingandtheStorageSpaceProblem

RollingBackWindows10

TheImprovedInstallationandUpdatingExperience

Windows10,DifferentbyDevice

NoDesktoponSmallerPCs

Summary

Chapter2:NewandImprovedFeaturesinWindows10

CortanaManagingCortanasSettingsandPrivacy

ThatSyncingFeeling

ManagingDifferentFormFactorswithContinuum

TheNotificationCenter

IntegratingYourPC(s)andPhone

MicrosoftOfficeforWindows10

Spartan!

DawnoftheUniversalApp

RevampedWindowsAppStore

Summary

Chapter3:Windows10forPhoneandOtherDevices

Windows10forPhoneTheNotificationCenter

EnhancedKeyboard

Customization

BetterOrganizedSettings

AdditionalImprovementsinWindows10forPhone

SoWhatsinItforBusinesses?

XboxOne

TheInternetofThingsRaspberryPi2

Summary

Chapter4:WhatsNewforEndUsers?

MultipleDesktops

TheReturnoftheStartMenu

ImprovedAppSwitchingwithTaskView

Four-WaySnap!

SearchfromtheTaskbar

ImprovedFileExplorer

TouchandTrackpadGestures

SingleSign-On

OneDriveandOneDriveforBusiness

GamingandXboxStreaming

NewAppsComingtoWindows10

MicrosoftHoloLens

Summary

Chapter5:WhatsNewforBusinesses?

BusinessFeaturesinWindows8

UniversalAppsandEnterpriseAppStores

ManagingUpdatesandUpgradesintheWorkplace

SimplifyingDeployment

AzureandActiveDirectorySingleSign-on

TheInternetExplorerQuestion

IdentityProtection,AccessControl,andVPNUpdatesThreatResistance

BYODImprovementsinWindows10

TheSurfaceHubDigitalWhiteboard

CollaborationTools

Specially-DesignedApps

EasytoUseandDeploy

Summary

Chapter6:MaximizingSecurityandProductivity

SecurityFeaturesinWindows8ApplicationSandboxing

IEEnhancedProtectedMode

AdvancedExploitProtection

SmartScreen

SecureBoot

Two-FactorAuthenticationintheOSUserAccessTokenProtection

End-to-EndEncryption

AppProtection

ThreatResistance

Summary

Index

AbouttheAuthor

MikeHalseyisaMicrosoftMVP(MostValuableProfessional)awardeeandtheauthorofmanyWindowsbooks,includingtheforthcomingBeginningWindows10andWindows10TroubleshootingfromApress.TheyregreatbooksthathebelieveswouldmakeexcellentChristmaspresents!

MikegivesmanytalksaboutWindowssubjectsrangingfromproductivitytosecurityandhasbeenbetatestingWindowsversionssinceVista.Hemakeshelp,how-to,andtroubleshootingvideosunderthebannerPCSupport.tv.YoucanfollowhimonFacebookandTwitter@PCSupportTV,andyoullbeabletowatchhisnewWindows10productivityvideoslaterthisyearatWindows.do.

AbouttheTechnicalReviewer

KathleenAndersonwasfirsthonoredwiththeMicrosoftMVPawardinOctober2001.ShehasworkedwithFrontPagesince1997,withExpressionWebsinceVersion1,andintheITfieldforoverthirtyyears.KathleenrecentlyretiredfromtheStateofConnecticutafter25yearsofservice,andhasrelocatedtothebeachinOakIsland,NorthCarolina.SheservedastheCore-CTWebmaster(http://www.core-ct.state.ct.us)andchairedtheStateofConnecticutsCommitteeonWebSiteAccessibility.Sheownsawebdesigncompany,SpiderWebWomanDesigns(http://www.spiderwebwoman.com).ShewasaTechnicalEditoronMicrosoftExpressionWeb4InDepth;SamsTeachYourselfMicrosoftExpressionWeb4,SecondEdition;ExpressionBlend4StepbyStep;andMyKindleFire.SheisknowninsomecirclesastheFrontPageDatabaseWizardQueenandinothersastheAccessibilityDiva.

IntroductionWindows10isthemosthotlyanticipatedversionofMicrosoftsdesktopOSinsometime,andthefirstinjustaslongthathasreceivedalmostuniversalacclaimfromusers,enthusiasts,bloggers,andthemedia,sothepressuresontodeliversomethingthatsbothsuper-coolandfeature-packed.

FortunatelyforMicrosoft,theyredeliveringbothqualitiesinspades,whichseemsoddtothisauthor,asIvebeen,severaltimes,tothesurprisinglyordinarybuildinginwhichitisbeingwritten,andsharedcoffeewithsomeofthepeoplewhoarebringingthemagictolife.YoumightbesurprisedtohearthattheWindowsdevelopmentteamisnotavastarmyofprogrammers,butratherasmallerandselectteamofquiteexceptionalpeoplewhorarelygetanyofthepraisetheydeserve.

TheressimplysomuchthatsnewandimprovedstuffedintoWindows10thatitsawondertheseprogrammersevergetanysleep,oranytimewiththeirfriendsandfamily.Yet,timeofftheydoindeedget,anddespitetheselfishneedsoffriends,family,spouses,andchildrenoutsideofMicrosoft,afantasticoperatingsystemisbeingwritten.

Itsnotfinishedyet,though.AsIwritethisintroduction,pressureispilingonMicrosofttoreleasemorefrequentbetabuildsoftheOS,anditsclearfromleaksandnewsstoriesthattheresanawfullongwaytogoyet.

Soonerorlater,though,thisoperatingsystemwillbefinished,anditwillbespectacularandpackedsofulloffeaturesthatyoumayneverfindthemall(notunlessyoubuymyBeginningWindows10andWindows10Troubleshootingbookslaterthisyear,anyway).Inthisbook,though,Ihopetogetyoustarted,excited,andenthusedaboutwhatWindows10willbeabletodoforyou,yourfamily,andyourbusiness.

CHAPTER1

IntroducingWindows10FirstunveiledtotheworldinApril2014atMicrosoftsBUILDconference,Windows10istheseventeenthversionofMicrosoftsdesktopoperatingsystem,andtheninthversionofthebusiness-focusedNTkernel.There,wegotthenamingquestionoutofthewayearlyon.

Windows10followsWindows8.1,whichsufferedfrompoortake-upfrommanyconsumersbecauseofcriticismofitsmoderntouch-friendlyuserinterfaceandwhatwasaperceivedfocusawayfromthedesktoptowardsmaller,tablet-andhybrid-styledevices.

Inthebusinessspace,Windows8and8.1werealwayslikelytobeskipped,aslargebusinessesonlyliketoupgradetheirdesktopoperatingsystemseverytwoWindowsversionsand,asWindows8wasbeinglaunched,manywereonlybeginningdeploymentsofWindows7.

ItsoftenbeensaidthatWindowsreleasesareratherlikeStarTrekmovies,inthatonlyeveryotheroneisgreat.BothWindowsXPandWindows7launchedtoenormousraptureandfanfare,gainingplauditsaroundtheworldandbuildingarmiesofloyalfans.Thereleasesbetweenthese,howeverVistaandWindows8despitebothbeingmajorupdatestotheOS,werelesswellreceived.Vistawasseentobeslowandresource-hungry,andWindows8wasseentobenotverygoodonthedesktop.

WithWindows10,Microsofthassoughttoaddressalloftheconcernspeoplehavehad,notjustaboutWindows8,butaboutWindowsingeneral.Morethanthis,however,thecompanyhaslookedindetailatwhatpeoplelikedmostaboutWindowsXPandWindows7andworkedtoensurethatpeoplegetanexperiencewithWindows10thattheyllbothfeelcomfortablewithandenjoy.Indeed,inNovember2014IspoketosomeseniormembersoftheWindowsproductteamandtoldthemthatWindows10wouldbesuccessfulsimplybecause,likeXPandWindows7,theydmadeitblue.

Soletsreturntothename,asmanypeoplehavewonderedwhyMicrosoftmadethejumpfromWindows8.1toWindows10.ThisnewoperatingsystemisintendedtobethelastmajorversionoftheWindowsOS.Thisdoesntmeanitwillbegoingaway,butrather,likeAppledidwiththeirOSXdesktopoperatingsystem,itwontagainbereceivingthekindofmajorupdateswesawinWindows8.

NoteTheminimumhardwarespecificationMicrosofthavedetailedforaPCcapableofrunningWindows10isaprocessorrunningat1GHzorfaster,aminimum1GBRAM(2GBforthe64-bitversionofWindows10),atleast16GBfreestoragefortheOS,andgraphicsthatsupportDirectX9orlater.Notall1GHz+processorswillbecompatiblehowever,youshouldcheckyourprocessorspecificationstoseeifitsupportsthePAE,NXandSSE2standards(allofwhicharerequiredbyWindows10).

Windows10willalsobeMicrosoftsfirsttrulycross-platformoperatingsystem,runningoneverythingfromdesktops,laptops,andtabletsdowntophones,theXboxOne,andInternetofThings(IoT)devices,andupwardstotheirnewSurfaceHubandHolographicheadset,HoloLens(seeFigure1-1).

Figure1-1.OneWindowsforallyourdevices

Forsuchamajorrelease,andforthefinalmajorreleaseofWindows,thenumber9justdidntsoundmajorenough,and,frankly,itwouldhavebeenanoddnumbertofinishon.Theotheralternative,justcallingtheOSWindows,mighthaveopenedMicrosofttolitigationandcopyrightclaimsinsomemarketsinthewaythathappenedwiththeirSkyDrivecloudbackupservicein2014.SkyDrivewaseventuallyrenamedOneDrive,butitwouldbehardertodothiswithWindowsshouldlitigationarise.AndsoWindows10ithadtobe.

ThefinalreleaseofWindows10willbeoutlaterin2015,butfornowwevegotabetaTechnicalPreviewrelease,andalotofquestions.Thatswhatthisbookisfortoguideyouthrougheverythingthatsnew,updated,orremovedinWindows10,answeringthequestionsyouhaveofhowitwillaffectyou,howitcanaidproductivity,howitwillbemoresecureandrobust,andsoon.

BythetimeofthesecondmajorTechnicalPreviewreleaseinJanuary2015,thereweremorethan1.7millionpeoplesignedupwiththeWindowsInsidersbetaprogram,andtherewasagreatdealofexcitementandgoodwilltowardMicrosoftsnewOS.

Thisisstillabetaproduct,however,designedbyateamofextremelytalentedengineersinabuildinginRedmond,Washington(seeFigure1-2).Thismeansthatasyoureadthisbook,thingswillstillbechanging,andthefinalreleasewilldifferslightlyfromthescreenshotsandinformationyoureadhere.

Figure1-2.WindowsisdesignedandcodedatMicrosoftsRedmondCampus

Thisisnttosaythatwedontalreadyknowagreatdealaboutwhatthefinalreleasewillbring,anditsthesedetailsthatIllbesharingwithyouinthisbook.

NoteYoucandownloadtheWindows10TechnicalPreviewathttps://insider.windows.com.Pleaserememberthatthisoperatingsystemisnotfinishedandwillbemissingfeaturesandwillbeunstableonsomehardware.

MicrosoftsThreeAreasofFocusIvementionedalreadythatMicrosoftwantedtoachieveseveralthingswithWindows10.InadditiontopushingtheWindowsparadigmforward,theywantedtoensurethatanybodymovingtotheOSfromXPorWindows7wouldhaveafamiliarandcomfortableexperience.Toachievethesegoals,theysetthemselvesthreeareasoffocus.

MobilityofExperienceWindows8setthegoalofgettingtheuserinterfaceoutoftheway.ThedesignbriefforthatOSwasthatyourPCexperienceshouldbeallaboutthecontentinyourappsandnotwhatscalledthewindowfurniture.ThisledtosomeissuesofdiscoverabilityforUIfeatures,suchasthecharmsandtheappmenubar.

Windows10isreversingthis,butnotcompletely.OptionsandmenusaremuchmoreeasilydiscoveredinthenewOSindeed,theyreexactlywhereyoumightexpecttofindthembutextrafocushasbeenplacedongettingthetechnologyoutoftheway.

ThereisagreatdealofcleverandinnovativetechnologyinWindows10,includingfeatureslikeOneDrive,Cortana,andContinuum,allofwhichwillbedetailedinthecomingchapters.MicrosoftdoesntwantuserstohavetowadethroughmyriadcontrolsandsettingsjusttobeabletoconfiguretheOSandtheirappstooperatethewaytheywant.

Thisisagoodareatofocusonwhenyouthinkaboutit,asthenumberoftools,utilities,andfeaturesintheOSnumberinthehundreds,andtheconfigurationoptionsinthethousandsorperhapseventhehundredsofthousands.Allowingpeopletofocusonthecontentoftheirdocumentsorwebpagesisanexcellentplacetobegin.

Inaddition,MicrosoftwantspeoplesexperienceofWindows10tobethesameacrosswhicheverdevicetheyuse.ThiscouldbeadesktopPC,atablet,phone,ortheXbox.Eachofthesedeviceswillsynchronizewitheachotherinnewandcleverways,andMicrosoftdoesntwantpeopletohavetolearnhowtousemultipleinterfacesandcontrols.

TrustOneofthebiggestissuespeoplehavewithtechnologyinthetwenty-firstcenturyistrust.Howdoweknowthatourdevicesaresecureandthatourfilesanddataaresafe?HowdoweknowthattheOSandourappsarentcollectingvaluablemarketingorpersonaldataaboutus,andthenbroadcastingthattocompaniesorevenmakingitavailabletogovernmentsandsecurityagencies?

MicrosoftisemphasizingwithWindows10thattheuserisfirmlyincontroloftheirownprivacy,andthisbeginsattheinstallationstage,whereyoureaskedwhatyouwanttosharewithMicrosoft(seeFigure1-3)bybringingtotheforetheprivacysettingsthatpeoplemayotherwisefailtofindafterWindowsisinstalled.

Figure1-3.PrivacychoicesbeginwhenyouinstallWindows10

TheCortanapersonalassistantcancollectdetailsaboutyou,includingyourlikes,location,friends,andmore,inordertoassistyoudaytoday.Allofthiscanbedisabledifyoudontwishthedatatobestored,however.ThisfocusonputtingtheuserclearlyandtransparentlyincontroloftheirdatacanbeseenthroughouttheWindows10TechnicalPreview,anditwillbewelcomedbymanyaroundtheworld.

Additionally,newsecurityfeatureswillhelpprotectyourfiles,data,andpersonalinformationfromtheftbyunscrupulousindividualswishingtoexploityou,andend-to-endencryptionovercompanynetworksandtheInternetcanminimizetheavailablesurfaceformalwareandhackingattacks.

NaturalInteractionBecauseWindows10willbethelastmajorversionoftheOS,itneedstobeforward-looking.WeveusedkeyboardsandmicetointeractwithourPCssincetheadventofthecomputer,andtheyrestillthemostcommonwaytointeracttoday.

Windowshassupportedhandwritingrecognitionformanyyears,however,andanybodywhoregularlyusesOneNoteonaMicrosoftSurfacePro3willlikelyattesttohowaccurateandhelpfulitcanbe.

Speechrecognitionisalsoimprovingsignificantly,andanybodywhosusedCortanaontheirWindowsPhonewillknowhowusefulitcanbetobeabletodictateemails,textmessages,reminders,andmore.Thentheresgesturecontrol,bothfortabletandhybriddevices,andalsousedinawaybyMicrosoftsKinectgamingsensor.

HoweveryouwanttointeractwithWindows10,andwhateverdeviceitisdoneon,bethisadesktopPC,tablet,orHoloLensheadset,theOSincludescontrolsthatarenaturalandintuitivetouse,andthathavebeenrefinedbyMicrosoftovermanyyears.

Lastly,theresvision.ItsverycommonforPCs,especiallylaptopsandtablets,tocomewithforward-facingcameras,andsoitseemsrightthatMicrosoftalsoallowsyoutocontrolyourPCwithasmileandawave.

Aboveandbeyondallelse,thesemanyinputandcontrolmethodsmakeWindowsmoreaccessibleforabroaderrangeofpeople.ItsnotjustthosewithphysicaldisabilitieswhocanhavetroubleinteractingwithaPC.Thosewithevenminormotororvisionproblems,suchasnearsightedness,andtheveryyoungcanexperiencedifficulty.Expandingtherangeofinteractionmethodshelpsfuture-prooftheOSasweallgetolderandhungrierfortechnologyandaconnectiontotheInternet.

TheBigQuestionsNaturally,peopleareaskingalotofquestionsaboutWindows10,whichalsomeanstherearealotofinaccurateanswersbeingprovided,evenonsomeofthemostpopulartechnologyblogs.Letsdealwiththesequestionsonebyoneandweedoutthefactsfromthefiction.WhatfollowsarethemostcommonquestionsbeingaskedbybothindividualconsumersandbusinessesaboutWindows10.

PricingandAvailabilityTheresnoformalreleasedateforWindows10otherthanthesecondhalfof2015,andnopricinghasbeenannouncedeither.WhathasbeensaidisthatforPCusersrunningup-to-datecopiesofWindows7andWindows8.1,theupgradetoWindows10willbefreeforthefirsttwelvemonthsofthelifeofthenewOS.

Therehasbeensomeconfusionaboutthis,withafewbloggersspeculatingthatafterthisintroductoryperioduserswillhavetopayachargeorevenaregularsubscriptiontousetheirownPCs.Soletsgetthefirstpieceofmisinformationoutoftheway.Freemeansfree!IfyouupgradeyourcopyofWindows7orWindows8.1duringthefirsttwelvemonthsafterWindows10isreleased,youwillneveragainhavetopayafeetouseWindows10onthatPC.ThisincludesallmajorupdatestoWindows10,allofwhichwillalsobefree.

IfyoupurchaseanewPC,youwillalsobepurchasinganewcopyofWindows10withit,andshouldyouupgradeaPCfromWindowsXPorWindowsVista,youwillneedtopurchaseadownloadorretailcopyoftheOS.

Again,wedontknowwhatpricingwillbe.AttheirJanuary2015event,Microsoftstatedthattheyjusthaventdecidedonpricingyet.WhenWindows8launched,however,therewerediscountedoffersavailableforthosepurchasingacopyoftheOSearly,anditisMicrosoftsintentiontohaveasmanyPCusersaspossibleswitchtoWindows10asquicklyaspossible.

ItsentirelylikelythenthatdiscountswillbeavailableforXPandVistausers,butonlyforalimitedtimeofperhapsamonthorso.Thesearequestionswesimplydonthaveanyanswerstoyet,butMicrosoftisveryunlikelytoplacebarriersinthewaytoupgrading.

UpgradingfromWindows7orWindows8.1IfyouarecurrentlyusingWindows7orWindows8.1youwillbeabletoupgradeforfreewhenWindows10isreleased.Indeed,ifyouhavealreadyupgradedtotheWindows10TechnicalPreviewfromoneoftheseoperatingsystemsyouwillalsobeabletoupgradetothefinalversionoftheOSforfree.

Theupgradewillbeavailableseveraldifferentwaystoensurethatthemaximumnumberofpeoplewillbeabletotakeadvantageofit.IfyousubscribetoaservicesuchasMicrosoftsDeveloperNetwork(MSDN),youwillbeabletodownloadafullISOimagefileforthefinalversion,whichcanbemountedinsideWindowsorburnedtoaDVD.RunningSetupfromwithinthisISOfilewillallowyoutoupgradetoWindows10.

NoteWindows8.1allowsyoutonativelymountanISOfilesothatitcanbeaccessedasifitwereaharddisk.Right-clickonthefileandselectMountfromtheoptionsthatappear.

Perhapsmoreusefulaswellaseasiertouse,theWindows10upgradewillalsobethefirsttimeMicrosofthasreleasedanoperatingsystemthroughWindowsUpdate.Normallyamechanismfordownloadingandinstallingsecurityandstabilitypatchesandservicepacks,WindowsUpdatehasanamethatnaturallyimpliesthatitoughttobepossibletouseittoupdateWindows.Indeed,thiswillbethecase,asWindows10willappearasanoptionalupdateforusersofWindows7andWindows8.1uponitsrelease.

ThefinalwaytoupgradetoWindows10isbeingusedbyInsiderstoinstalltheTechnicalPreview,andthisisasmallinstallfilethatcanbedownloadedmanuallyfromtheMicrosoftwebsite.Itsnotyetknownifthefreeupdatewillbeavailableinthisform,thoughitisverylikelythatonlinepurchasesoftheOSwillcomewithboththeISOfileandthesmalldownloader.

UpgradingyourPCfromWindows7andWindows8.1willallowyoutokeepeverythinginplace:yourfiles,settings,andallyourappsanddesktopprograms.Microsofthasworkedhardtoensurethisisthecase.

Theupgradeprocessalsoincludesadowngradeoptionforthefirsttime,enablingyoutorollbacktoyourpreviouscopyofWindowsasthoughWindows10wereneverthere,shouldyouwanttodothis.

UpgradingfromWindowsRTIfyouareusingaWindowsRTdevicesuchasMicrosoftsSurfaceRTorSurface2tablets,youwillalsobeabletoupgradetoWindows10onitsrelease,thoughtheoverallexperiencemightbeslightlydifferentforyou.

MicrosofthasyettoexplainhowtheWindows10experienceforWindowsRTdevices,aswellassomelower-endWindowsPhonehandsets,willbedifferent.Wedoknow,however,thatsmallWindows10devices,thosewithscreensofeightinchesorless,willcomewithtouch-enabledversionsofMicrosoftOutlook,Word,Excel,and

PowerPoint.TheseappswillbeavailabletopurchaseintheWindowsStoreforotherdevicesandwilllikelybefreewithsomeOffice365subscriptions.

Thisisspeculationatthispoint,butitisentirelylikelythatthesetouchversionsofOfficewillreplacethedesktopeditionsinWindowsRT,asMicrosofthassaidthatWindowsdeviceswithscreensofeightinchesorlesswonthaveadesktop.ThisisalsolikelytoextendtoRT-baseddevices.

UpgradingfromXPorVistaThereisnodirectupgradepathfromWindowsXPorWindowsVista,andMicrosofthasnotyetcommentedonwhetheryouwillbeabletoperformanin-placeupgradeoracleaninstallationofWindows10.

WhenWindows8wasreleaseditwaspossibletoupgradeinplacefromVista,butnottokeepyourapps,justyoursettingsandfiles.ItslikelythatrunningtheinstallerfromwithinWindowsVistawillreplicatethatbehavior,soyouwillneedtoreinstallyourprogramsandconfigureyoursettingsafterWindows10isinstalled.

WindowsXPisanunknownatthisstage,buttheupgradeprocesstoWindows8wouldonlyallowyoutokeepyourpersonalfiles.Shouldanin-placeupgradeforWindowsXPbesupported,thiswillstillbethecase.ThisisbecausethecorearchitectureofXPisfundamentallydifferentfromthatofMicrosoftsmodernoperatingsystems,andthesettingsfortheOSarealsoextremelydifferent.

Windows10onNewPCsIfyoupurchaseanewPCfromthereleasedateoftheOSonwards,youwillgetafullcopyofWindows10installedonit.Thiswontbeafreecopy,butinsteadwillbeincludedinthecostofthePChardware.

ThiscouldbeeitheracleancopyoftheOSoraversionmodifiedbytheOEM(OriginalEquipmentManufacturer)thatbuiltthePC.OEMcopiesofWindowsaretiedtoparticularhardwareandcannotbemovedtodifferentPCs,unlikecleancopiesdownloadedfromMicrosoftorpurchasedinretailstores,whichMicrosoftallowsyoutomovetoadifferentPCshouldyoursdie.

SoftwareAssuranceEnterprisecustomerswhosubscribetoMicrosoftsSoftwareAssuranceprogramwillbeunaffected.ISOimagefilesforWindows10willbeavailabletodownloadandinstallfromthedaytheoperatingsystemhitsRTM(ReleasetoManufacturing),whichisroughly30daysbeforetheretailrelease.

MicrosofthassaidthatSoftwareAssurancecustomerswillnotqualifyforthefreeupgradetoWindows10eveniftheircomputersarerunningWindows7orWindows8.1,astheEnterpriseeditionwillnotbeincludedintheoffer.

UpgradingfromWindowsPhone8.1andXboxMicrosofthassaidthatallusersofWindowsPhone8.1willbeabletogetafreeupgradetoWindows10forPhones,butthereisacaveat.Somecellularnetworkshavedecidednottofurthersupportsomephonemodels,andthiscanincludeonesthatcangetWindows10.

Forcellularnetworksthataresupportingtheupgrade,youcanexpecttherollouttobeginatthetimeofWindows10sretailrelease,andthenrunforaperiodofmonthsafterwards,sonotallphoneswillgettheupgradeimmediately.ThishappensbecausethenetworksandhandsetmanufacturersneedtobecertainthatanyOSupdatewillbefullycompatiblewiththeirhandsetsandtheirownapps,andtheyneedtimetotesttheOSandupdateanyappsasnecessary.

IfyouarenotalreadyusingWindowsPhone8.1,andupdatesarenotavailable,youwillnotbeabletoupgradeyourhandsettoWindows10.Thatis,unlessyoudownloadthePreviewforDevelopersapp,fromhttp://pcs.tv/1a3AiV9,anduseittocreateafreeappdeveloperaccountwithMicrosoft.

ThisallowsyoutogetfreeOSupdatesdirectlyfromMicrosoft,bypassingthecellularnetworksaltogether.Bydoingthis,anyhandsetthatscapableofrunningWindowsPhone8.1willbeabletoupgradetoWindows10.

AnybodywithanXboxOneconsolewillgettheupgradeautomaticallyonitsrelease.TheXbox360consolewillnotbeupgradedtoWindows10.

WhatElseDoYouNeedtoKnow?Despitetheanswerstothemostcommonquestionsbeingrelativelystraightforward,noteverythingaboutupgradingormigratingtoWindows10isassimple,andthereareafewissuesandfeaturesofwhichyoullprobablywanttobeawarebeforeyoutaketheplunge.

UpgradingandtheStorageSpaceProblemThistalkofWindowsPhonesdoesraiseapricklysubject,thatofavailablestoragespace.Anybodywithalower-costWindowsPhonemightalreadyhaveexperiencedproblemstryingtoinstallOSupdateswherenotenoughfreespaceisavailableonthehandset.

IfyourphonehasaMicroSDcardslotandacardinserted,youcanopenSettingsandthenStorageSensetochangethedefaultstoragelocationforfiles,music,photos,andvideosandthedefaultinstalllocationforapps.

Aminimumamountofstoragespace,asyetundetermined,willberequiredfortheupgrade,andyoumayhavetouninstallsomeappstofreeupenoughspace.

TheproblemwillsimilarlyaffectsmallWindows8.1tablets,whichhaveverylimitedamountsofstorage,suchasjust16GBor32GB.Onceyouhavesomeappsinstalledtheamountofavailablespacecandropsharply.

TheWindows10upgradeprocessrequires5GBoffreespaceifyouinstallfrom

Windowsupdate,or8GBifyoudownloadtheISOfileandinstallfromthat.Youmayneedtouninstallappsorperformadiskcleanuptofreeupthenecessaryspace.Diskcleanup,however,doesntdeleteallthesettingsandconfigurationfilesforappsthatcanbuildupoveraperiodoftime.

Shouldthisbethecase,inPCSettings,intheUpdateandRecoverysection,youcanRefreshorResetyourtablet,whichwillfreeupthenecessaryspacetoallowyoutoinstallWindows10.

Additionally,Windows10includesaroll-backfeature,whichyoucanusetoreverttotheoperatingsystemversionyouhadonyourPCbeforeWindows10wasinstalled.ThiswilluseadditionalspaceinPCswithgood-sizedharddisks,butcanberemovedintheDiskCleanuptoolbyclickingtheCleanupsystemfilesbuttonandcheckingthePreviousWindowsInstallation(s)option.

RollingBackWindows10LetslooknowinmoredetailatthenewfeaturethatallowsyoutorollbacktheOStotheversionofWindowsyouwereusingbefore,bethisWindows7orWindows8.

NoteBecauseofthefundamentalarchitecturaldifferencesbetweenWindows10,Vista,andWindowsXP,itisunlikelythatthisoptionwillbeavailableforpeoplewhohaveupgradedinplacefromthoseearlierversionsofWindows.

ThisfeaturecanbefoundinthenewSettingspanel,whichwillamalgamatetheControlPanelandWindows8.1sPCSettingsintoasinglelocation.YoucanlaunchSettingsfromtheStartmenu,whereitislistedinthePlacessection(moreontheStartmenuinChapter4).

InSettings,clickUpdateandRecoveryandthenRecoveryfortheoptiontoGobacktoapreviousversionofWindows(seeFigure1-4).

Figure1-4.YoucanrollbacktoWindows7orWindows8.1shouldyouwish

Whywouldyouwanttodothis?YoumayfindthatsomepieceofsoftwareorhardwarethatiscriticaltoyourworkisfundamentallyincompatiblewithWindows10.OryoumayjustdecidethatyoudontliketheOS.

NoteItsworthnotingherethatWindows7willbecompletelyoutofsupportin2020,justfiveshortyearsfromnow.IfyouarestillusingWindows7atthattime,therewillbenomoresecurityandstabilitypatchesfortheOS,anditwillbecomeatargetformalwarewritersandhackers.

TheImprovedInstallationandUpdatingExperienceIfyouareupgradingtoWindows10,however,youllbedelightedtohearthattheupgradeexperiencehasbeendramaticallyimproved.

OnmyownPC,onwhichImwritingthisbook,IhavehugevolumesofMicrosoftandthird-partysoftwareinstalled,includingMicrosoftOffice,AdobeCreativeCloud,SonyVegasProSuite,acoupleofbiggamesincludingEliteDangerous,andmorebesides;myprogramsfoldersstandatawhopping95GB.

WithpreviousWindowsinstalls,themoresoftwareyouhadthelongertheupgrade

processwouldtake,aseverythingwasmigratedacross.ThisstillmightbethecasewhenupgradingfromsomeWindows7systems,andthisisaquestionthatMicrosofthasnotyetaddressed,butinWindows8thein-placeupgradetakesaroundtwentyminuteswhetheryouhavealotofsoftwarealreadyinstalledornot.

Additionally,majorupdatestoWindows10inthefuturewontrequirelongwaitsorevenhugedownloads.MicrosoftisbuildinganewupdatingsystemintoWindows10sothatonlythecomponentsthatrequireupdatingaredownloadedandinstalled,andeverythingthatdoesntneedtobetouchedisleftalone.

Theupshotofthisisthatthefullupdateforasystemmightbe3GBinsize,butlessthan1GBofthatupdateisactuallydownloadedandinstalled,astheother2GBoffileswouldremainthesameanyway.

Windows10,DifferentbyDeviceOfthequestionsthatareasyetunansweredaboutWindows10,oneofthemostsignificantisMicrosoftsstatementthatthefullWindows10experiencewillnotbeavailableoneverydevicethatrunstheOS.

InthistheyhavepointedtotabletsthatarecurrentlyrunningWindowsRTandsomelow-costWindowsPhones.Whathasbeensaidisthatupgradedhardwarewouldberequiredforsomefeaturesandasitsnotpossibletoupgradethehardwareintabletsandsmartphones,thesefeatureswillsimplynotbeavailableonalldevices.

Itsreasonabletospeculatethatthiswillincludesomeofthemoregraphics-intensivefeaturessuchasDirectX12.ThecoreWindows10experienceisunlikelytochange,noristhesynchronizationwithOneDrive.Cortanacouldbeoneofthefeatureslisted,however,dependingontheamountofprocessingpowerrequired,andsomeadditionalfeaturesthathaveyettobeannouncedmayrequirespecifichardwaretofunction.

NoDesktoponSmallerPCsOneofthecontentiousissuesfacingPCusersisthematterofthedesktop.OnWindowsRT-baseddevicesthedesktopserveslittlepurpose,asthesemachinesARMprocessorswontrunwin32desktopapplicationsanyway.Youcanaccessspecially-writtendesktopversionsofOutlook,Word,Excel,andPowerpointandaccesstheControlPanel,butthatsaboutit.

OthersmalltabletsrunningWindows8orWindows8ProthathaveanHDMIorothervideooutputcanbepluggedintoanexternalmonitorsoastousethedesktopwithafullBluetoothkeyboardandmouse.

Microsofthassaidthatondeviceswithaneight-inchscreenorsmallertherewillbenodesktopinWindows10atall,soyoullonlybeabletorunUniversalappsfromtheWindowsStore,andonlyfullscreenorsidebyside.ThismayaffectyourbuyingdecisionsforfutureWindowshardwareforexample,youmightpurchaseaten-inchtabletinsteadanditsanimportantconsiderationforWindows10users.

SummaryTherearealotofquestionsaboutWindows10,especiallywhenitcomestopricing,availability,andcompatibility,andhopefullyIveansweredsomeofyourmostpressingoneshere.

Thataside,therealexcitementaroundWindows10isinitsnewfeaturesforhomeusers,businesses,andgamers,andinthenextchapterIlltalkindepthabouteachoneandexplainwhattheywillmeantoyouandhowtheycanimproveyourPCexperienceandproductivity.

CHAPTER2

NewandImprovedFeaturesinWindows10EveryversionofWindowscomeswithnewfeatures:Windows95introducedtheStartMenu;WindowsXPsawtheOSmovetothemuchmorestableNTkernelaswellasbroughtinmajorrefinementstotheuserinterface;Vistacamewithsomemajorchanges,includingawholesalekernelupgrade,anewhardwaredrivermodel,anduseraccountcontrol;Windows7introducedaeroglass,snap,thenewTaskbar,andtheActionCenter;andWindows8introducedtheStartScreen,Modernapps,andtheadditionofARMprocessorsupport.

Windows10isnodifferent,andthelistofnewandimprovedfeaturesisbothlongandsignificant.Indeed,itcansafelybesaidthatthelistofnewfeaturesisthegreatestthatsbeenseeninanyWindowsreleasethusfar,andalmosttheentirefocusisbeingplacedfirmlyonproductivity.

Imnotgoingtodetaileveryimprovedfeatureandnewadditioninthischapter,asmanyofthemfallintocategoriesthataremuchbetterdetailedelsewhereinthisbookundermorespecificcategories,suchasend-userdesktopfeaturesorbusiness-specificfeatures.Therearesomemajorchangesandadditions,however,thatneedtobedetailedontheirown,andinthischapterIlllookattheminnoparticularorder.

CortanaOkay,Ilied!ImhugelyexcitedabouttheinclusionofCortanainWindows10,andthusithastobedetailedfirst.CortanaisMicrosoftsanswertoApplesSiriandGoogleNow,inthatitsapersonaldigitalassistant(originallytobecalledJudy,soImtold,thoughitsbetaname,takenfromtheAIcomputerintheHaloseriesofXboxgames,wassopopularwithWindowsPhonetestersthatMicrosoftkeptit).

CortanafirstappearedinWindowsPhone8.1in2014andhasbeenslowlyrollingouttocountriesworldwide.Cortanadoesmuchmorethananswerbasicsearchqueriesandprovidethelatestnewsandweatherupdates.AlreadyaheadofApplesSiriandGoogleNow,Cortanacanproviderecipesanddietaryinformation,automaticallyfollowparceltrackinginformationyouvebeenemailed,andmonitorflightsandothertravelmethods.She(IhatecallingCortanaIt)cansetandmodifyremindersandcalendarappointments,aswellassetremindersbasedonlocation,suchaswhenyougethomeorwhenyourenextinthecitycenter.Shecanprovideidlechitchat,singyousongs,tellyoujokes,andevenspeakKlingon.

ThisisthestateofCortanatoday,andherfunctionalityisbeingexpandedallthetime

withnewfeatures,someofwhich(suchasbeingabletobarkKlingonatyou)arentactivelypromotedbutweresimplyfoundaccidentallybyusers.

Sohowdoesallofthishelpmebecomemoreproductiveonthedesktop?youask.Youmight,forexample,workinabusyofficewheretalkingtoyourPCisnevergoingtobeeffective,oryourPCmightnotevenhaveamicrophone,oryoumayjustbeuncomfortablewiththeprospectofstrikingupaconversationwiththething.

TypingrequestsandcommandsintoCortanabringsthesamefunctionalityasspeakingtoher,andbeingabletoquicklyaskwhatappointmentsyouhaveinthecomingweek,ortohaveherrescheduleyour3oclockappointmentfor5,ortodictatetoheranemailforSueinAccountscansavevaluabletime.

CortanacanbefoundnexttotheWindowsiconontheWindows10desktopTaskbar(seeFigure2-1),andwillalsolikelybeaStartScreeniconontabletsinthefinalrelease.

Figure2-1.CortanasiconisacircleandislocatednexttotheWindowsbuttonontheTaskbar

NoteItslikelythatCortanawillnotbeavailableineverycountryonWindows10slaunch,andthisiscertainlythecasewiththetechnicalpreview.IfCortanaisnotavailabletoyouyet,youwillinsteadseeasearch(magnifyingglass)iconnexttotheWindowsicon.

WhenyouopenCortanayouwillbepresentedwithinformationthatsrelevanttoyou(seeFigure2-2).AnAskmeanythingboxatthebottomofherwindowiswhereyoucantypecommands,searchrequests,andmore,andnexttothisisamicrophoneiconthatyoucanclicktoenableyoutospeaktoher.

Figure2-2.Bydefault,Cortanawillshowyouinformationthatsrelevanttoyou

YouwillalsobeabletoactivateCortanabysimplysayingHey,Cortanawhileatyourcomputer,thoughwiththisfeaturealsoreportedtobecomingtoWindows10forPhonesitremainstobeseenhowitllworkshouldyoualsohaveyourphoneonyourdeskwhenyousaythis.

IwanttodealwithsearchfirstinCortana,asthesearchfeaturethatCortanabringstoWindowsisasignificantimprovementoverpreviousWindowsversions.WhentypingintotheAskmeanythingbox,searchresultsareimmediatelydisplayedandwillincludeinstalledappsandwin32desktopprograms,photos,music,video,documents,emails,settings,andwebsites(seeFigure2-3).

Figure2-3.SearchrespondsimmediatelywhentypingintoCortana

Youcanclickanyiteminthesesearchresultstoopenit,or,alternatively,clickingSearchmystuff(orjustpressingtheEnterkey)willdisplayamoredetailedcontextualsearchbox(seeFigure2-4).

Figure2-4.Searchmystuffprovidesamoredetailed,contextualsearch

ItswiththiscontextualsearchboxthatthetruepowerofsearchinWindows10isrevealed.Theboxcontainsatabbedinterface,allowingyoutoeasilyandquicklyswitchyoursearchbetweendocuments,apps,settings,photos,videos,music,email,andtheInternet.

ThissearchfacilitycombinesthosefoundinFileExplorerandtheStartMenuandimprovesonbothwhilegreatlysimplifyingtheoverallprocess.

ManagingCortanasSettingsandPrivacyYoucanmanageCortanassettingsandoptionsveryeasilybyclickingthehamburgericon(socalledbecauseitconsistsofthreehorizontallines)inthetopleftofCortanaswindow.Hereyoucanmanageanyremindersyouhaveset(seeFigure2-5)andanyplacesyouwantCortanatoknowabout(shouldyoubeusingalaptoportablet),aswellaschangeoverallsettings,suchasallowingCortanatocallyoubyyournameandeventurningthefeatureoffaltogether.

Figure2-5.Cortanasoptionsareeasytofindandaccess

Inthisageofpersonalprivacy,dataprotection,andgovernmentspying,someofyoumightbeuncomfortablewithCortanahavingaccesstoallofyouremailsandotherpersonalinformation.Cortanaisdesignedtosoakupallthisinformationandlearnmoreaboutyouovertimetomakehermoreeffective.

OneofMicrosoftsthreepillarsforWindows10wasputtingtheuserfirmlyincontroloftheirowndataandtheirownprivacy,andCortanaisnoexception.TheinformationyouchoosetoshareaboutyourselfismanagedinCortanasNotebook(seeFigure2-6).

Figure2-6.TheNotebookiswhereyoumanagewhichinformationyoushare

Here,youcanmanageallthedatathatCortanastoresaboutyou,includingyournewspreferences,calendaraccess,whetherCortanaisallowedtoreadyouremailsforparceltrackingandflightdetails,andmuchmorebesides.

TheNotebookisntjustaboutyourprivacy,however;addingandrefiningtheinformationthatsherecanhelpCortanaprovideyouwithmorerelevantnewsandinformation,thusreducingtheneedtousenewsandweatherappsorwebsites.

ThatSyncingFeelingThoseofyouwhohavebeenusingWindows8.1withaMicrosoftaccountwilllikelybeusedtotheOSsyncingyoursettingsandpreferencesbetweenPCs.Forexample,ifyoupurchaseanewtabletandloginusingthesameMicrosoftAccountIDthatyouuseonyourdesktop,youllseeyourStartScreenandappsarejustastheyareonthatfirstmachine.

SyncingisbeingextendedevenfurtherinWindows10,allowingCortanaonyourdifferentPCs,tablets,andphonesoastoshareinformationwithoneanother.Thisincludesyourreminders,soyoullnevermissonejustbecauseyouhappentobeawayfromthePCyousetiton,andmorebesides.

SyncingbetweendifferentdevicescanbemanagedbothfromwithinCortanaherselfandfromthenewAllSettingspanel,whichreplacestheControlPanelandPCSettings.

ManagingDifferentFormFactorswithContinuumOneofthebiggestcriticismsofWindows8wasthatpeoplefoundthetransitionfromtheStartScreentotheDesktopjarring.Windows8.1madesomeefforttoreducethisbyallowingyourdesktopwallpapertobeusedfortheStartScreen,butWindows10handlesthingsmuchmoreeffectivelythroughtheuseofanewfeaturecalledContinuum.

Continuumworksintwoseparateways:first,itallowsyoutoresizetheStartMenubetweenitsdesktopandfull-screenoptions(seetheiconinthetoprightoftheStartMenuinFigure2-7),and,second,itallowsyoutoautomaticallyswitchbetweendesktopandfull-screenmodesonconvertibledevices.

Figure2-7.OneclickcanresizetheStartMenu

Ifyouareusingaconvertiblelaptop,suchastheLenovoYoga,andyouswitchthePCintoitstabletform-factor,thenasystemtraynotificationwillbedisplayedaskingifyouwishtoswitchtofull-screenmode(alongwithadontaskmethisagaincheckbox).

AllowingthischangewillautomaticallyswitchallyourappsandtheStartMenutofull-screenmode,alongwithmakingsomeadditionalchanges,suchasspacingoutsomeUIelementstomakethemeasiertohitwithafinger.

ContinuumalsoworkswithtabletsthathaveBluetoothkeyboardsattached,andyoucanswitchmanuallybetweendesktopandtabletmodesintheAllSettingspanel(itisexpectedthatanotificationareabuttonwillalsobeinthefinalrelease).

TheNotificationCenterSpeakingofthenewNotificationCenter,youmayalreadybefamiliarwiththeseinWindowsPhone8.1aswellasonothersmartphoneplatforms,suchasAndroidandiOS,andevenontheAppleOSXdesktop.Well,nowtheNotificationCenterhascometo

Windows.NotificationsinWindowshavelongsufferedfromtwoproblems.First,withWindows

XPpeoplecomplainedthatnotificationsappearedfartoooftenandweregenerallyannoying.Thesecondproblemwasthateachnotificationwouldonlyappearforafewsecondsbeforedisappearingforever.

WithWindows7,MicrosoftsoughttopartiallyrectifythisproblembyincludingsomenotificationsinthenewActionCenter.Thisincludedsecurityandtroubleshootingalerts,butdidntgosofarastoaddnotificationsforappointments,email,andthelike.

Well,theActionCenterhasbeenremovedfromtheTaskbarwithWindows10andhasbeenreplacedbythenewNotificationCenter(seeFigure2-8).

Figure2-8.TheWindows10NotificationCenter

Itisherethatalistofallyournotificationswillappear,andstay,untilclearedmanuallybyyourselforuntilpushedasideshouldthelistbecomefull.EachnotificationinthefinalreleaseofWindows10willrespondindifferentwaystovariousactions,includingbeingdismissedbyaswipetotheright.

Atthebottomofthenotificationcenterarequick-linkbuttonsthatperformspecific

tasks.InFigure2-8theseincludeabuttontoactivatetheContinuumfeaturethatswitchesbetweendesktopandtabletmodes,aWi-Fion/offbutton,anetworkconnectionbutton,andaquicklinktothenewAllSettingspanel.

JustaswithWindowsPhone8.1,thesebuttonswillbeconfigurableinthefinalreleaseofWindows10andareexpectedtoincludethefeaturesalreadyfoundinthephoneOS,suchasQuietHourstohidenotificationsandsilencealarms,alongsidePC-specificoptionssuchastogglingGPSandlocationservicesorturningCortanaonandoff.

Windows10willstillpermitToastnotificationstoappearonyourscreen,socalledbecausetheypopup,andthesewillappearinthebottomrightofyourscreen.Shouldyouchoosetoturntoastsoffforspecificapps,however,suchasthoseforyouremailclient,youwillstillbeabletogetnotificationsinthenewNotificationCenter.

YoucanopentheNotificationCenterbyclickingitsiconontheTaskbarorbyswipinginwardsfromtherightofyourscreen,theactionthatusedtodisplaythenowremovedCharms.

IntegratingYourPC(s)andPhoneDoyourememberthedayswhenaPCwasstand-alonemachine,andifyouwantedtomovefilestoanotherPCyouhadtocopythemtoremovablestoragesuchasaCDorfloppydiskfirst?

Backthen,ifyougotanewPCyouhadtochangeallyoursettingsmanuallyonthenewmachine,orreprogramallyourphonenumbersintoanewphone.Infact,itsonlyinthelastfewyearsthatthishaschanged,anditallstartedwithWindows8.

Somesmartphoneoperatingsystems,suchasiOS,wouldalreadyallowyoutobackupyourphonessettingssothatifyougotanewphone,perhapsbecauseyoursbroke,youcouldreinstatethosesettingsquicklyandeasily.

TherewerealsowebbrowserssuchasGoogleChromethatwouldallowyoutosynchronizeyourfavoritesbetweendifferentPCs.

Windows8tookthingsastepfurther,however,byallowingyoutosynchronizeyourStartScreencolorandlayout,includinginstalledapps,desktopcolor-scheme,easeofaccesssettings,InternetFavorites,andmorebetweenmultiplePCs.

Windows8.1andWindowsPhone8.1tookthisyetastepfurther,helpingyoutosynchronizewebsiteusernamesandpasswordsbetweenPCsandphone.

ThentherewastheintegrationofMicrosoftscloudbackupservice,OneDrive,sothatyoucouldnotonlysynchronizeyourfilesanddocumentsbetweendevices,butchoosewhichoneswerestoredlocallyoneachindividualmachine(usefulforUltrabooksandtabletswithonlysmallamountsoflocalstorage).

Windows10takesthistothelogicalconclusionbyallowingsyncingofremindersandnotificationcenteritems(includingwhichoneshavebeendismissed).

AswithCortana,andindeedeveryaspectofWindows10,youcancontrolallaspects

oftheinformationthatssyncedintheAllSettingspanel(seeFigure2-9).

Figure2-9.YoucanchoosewhattosyncinWIndows10

MicrosoftOfficeforWindows10WhenWindows8launchedwithitsmodernappframework,manywonderedwhentouch-enabledversionsofMicrosoftsOfficesuitewouldbecomeavailablefortheplatform.Indeed,inthethreeyearsthatfollowed,bothiOSandAndroidversionsofWord,Excel,PowerPoint,andOutlookappeared,firstforasubscriptionchargeandthenforfree.Throughoutallthistime,however,theonlyMicrosoftOfficeprogramtogetitsownModernappwasOneNote.

Asyoumightexpect,thisisbeingrectifiedwiththelaunchofWindows10withModernapps(nowcalledUniversalapps)availableforthefirsttimeforWord(seeFigure2-10),Excel,PowerPoint,Outlook,and,onceagain,OneNote.

Figure2-10.TheMicrosoftWorduniversalappforWIndows10andWindows10forPhone

Therearestillsomeunansweredquestionsaboutoverallavailabilityandpricing,however.OfficeisoneofMicrosoftsbiggestearners,andtheirOffice365subscriptionserviceprovedconclusivelythatsubscription-modelsoftwarewouldworkasaneffectivedeliveryandmanagementmethod.

MicrosofthassaidthatallWindows10deviceswithscreenslessthaneightinches,whichwillincludeallphonesandphablets,willgettheseOfficeappspreinstalledforfree.

ItsveryunlikelythatusersofWindows10tablets,laptops,anddesktopswithscreenslargerthaneightincheswillbeunabletogettheapps.Thoughpricinghasntyetbeendiscussed,itsentirelypossibletheywillbefreetoinstallanduse.

IfyoualreadyhaveanOffice365subscription,thenchancesaregoodthatyouwillgettheappsforfreeonallthedevicesonwhichyoucanuseyourOffice365account,evenifthereisachargeintheWindowsStorefortheapps.

Figure2-11.TheMicrosoftExceluniversalapp

EachOfficeappusesatrimmedversionoftheOfficeRibboninterface,whichwasfirstseeninOffice2007,andeachribbonincludesasubsetofthefunctionalityfoundinthefulldesktopversionsoftheapps.

InWindows10forPhones,theribboniscondensedintoamenudisplayedbyhittingthemenu(threedots)iconinthebottomrightofthescreen.

TheOfficeappsfunctionalityissimilartothatseeninthefreeweb-basedversionsoftheseproducts,andtheappsoperateinasimilarway.WhatImeanbythisisthattheweb-basedversionsofWord,Excel,andPowerPointdisplayallaspectsofthedocumentsthatareopenedinthemcorrectly,eveniftheydontnativelysupportallofthefeaturesthatcontrolthoseaspects(suchascommenting,forexample).

Spartan!Spartanisthenewwebbrowserwiththecoolname,oratleastacoolbetanamefornow.ItsbeenreportedthatMicrosofthasbeenconsideringseveraloptionsforafinalname,includingEntourage,Elixa,Evo,Evex,Endeavor,andEdge,butthatmanyWindows10InsidersfavorthenameSpartan(asdoI,frankly).Itcouldbethecasethat,aswithCortana,thebetanamesticks.

SowhywouldMicrosoftbundleabrandnewbrowserwithWindows10,andwhatdoesthismeanforInternetExplorer,especiallyforbusinessesthatrelyonitscompatibilitywitholderplug-insandintranetsites?

TherehasbeenmuchmisinformationwrittenontechblogsaboutwhatSpartanmeansforIEusers,soweshouldprobablydealwiththisfirst.

WhileitssofarunclearwhetherIEwillbeincludedintheHomeeditionofWindows

10,itwilldefinitelybeincludedintheProandEnterpriseeditions,asmanybusinessessimplycantlivewithoutit.

IEwillnotbeavailableonWindows10deviceswithscreensofeightinchesorless.ThisisbecauseSpartanwillbereplacingtheModernIEversionfromWindows8.1,anddeviceswithscreensofeightinchesorlesswontsupportthedesktopenvironment.

SowhatisSpartan?Simplyput,Spartanisamodern,up-to-dateInternetbrowserthatsupportsallthelatestwebstandardsandthatisbuilttobefast.InternetExplorerhaslostsignificantgroundtoMozillaFirefoxandGoogleChromeinrecentyearsbecauseitsneedtomaintaincompatibilitywitholderwebsites,intranets,andplug-inshasmadeitslowandbaggy.

Figure2-12.ThenewSpartanwebbrowser

Spartanwontbecomplexlystrippedback,however.Microsofthasconfirmedthatitwillsupportplug-ins,whichisgreatnewsforpeoplewhouseadvertblockersorotherutilities.Itsnotyetbeenstatedwhethertheseplug-inswillneedtobecreatedspecificallyforSpartan,assomehavespeculatedthatMicrosoftmaysupportplug-inscreatedforGooglesChromebrowser.

MicrosoftisaimingtomakeSpartanmorethanjustawebbrowser,however.AttheirJanuary2015Windows10eventtheyshowedoffsomeofthefeaturestheyllbebringingtothebrowser.Theseincludetheabilitytowriteortypenotesonawebpageandannotateitwithhighlightsanddrawnlines.Theseannotatedpagescanthenbelockedsothattheircontentwontupdateasthewebsitechanges,andcanbesharedeasilywithotherpeople.

FulldetailsofSpartanarethinonthegroundasIwritethis,andapublicbuildcurrentlyisntavailable.Wecanbereasonablycertainthatthenote-takingandannotationfacilitiesinthebrowserwontbethelastofthenewfeatures.

WhatwedoknowisthatthenewrenderingengineforthebrowserisbuiltintothecurrentversionofIEintheWindows10TechnicalPreview,andthatyoucanturnitonbytypingabout:flagsintotheaddressbarandactivatingEnableExperimentalWebPlatformFeatures.Browserspeedtestshavealreadybeenperformedonthisnew,unfinishedrenderingengineanditsshowninsometeststobethefastestbrowser-renderingengine

currentlyavailable.

DawnoftheUniversalAppOneofthebiggestcomplaintsabouttheappstoreinWindows8.1isthatyouhadtopurchaseandinstalldifferentappsforWindows8.1andforWindowsPhone.ThiswasntaproblemwithiOSandAndroidphonesandtablets,whichallsharedthesameOS,butitgreatlyannoyedmanyWindowsusersanddeveloperswhoresentedhavingtobuyorcreatetwoappsinsteadofone.

ThatwasbackwhenWindowsandWindowsPhonewereseparateoperatingsystems,butnowWindows10willbethesameOSacrossalldevices,includingInternetofThings(IoT)devicesandtheXboxOne.

ThismeansthatdevelopersarealreadywritingwhatMicrosoftarecallingUniversalAppsforWindows8.1andWindowsPhone8.1,andthesewillalsoworkonWindows10.

ThereareafewchangescomingtothewayweinteractwithappsinWindows10,however.ImentionedearlierinthischapterthattheCharmsmenufromWindows8wasgone,butyoustillneedtobeabletoaccessfunctionslikeSearch,Share,andSettingsforindividualapps.Togetaroundthisproblem,theCharmshavenowmovedwithineachapptoahamburgermenuinthetopleftoftheapp(eitherwindowedonthedesktoporfull-screen).HereyoucanaccesstheCharmsandalsothe()appcommandsmenu(sometimesknownastheappbar)(seeFigure2-13).

Figure2-13.TheCharmshavemovedforUniversalAppsinWindows10

Inthetoprightoftheapp,nestledinwiththeminimize,maximize,andclosebuttons,isanewbuttonthatwilltoggletheappbetweenfull-screenandwindowedmodes.ThisisforthosewhowishtouseUniversalAppsonthedesktopwithakeyboardandmouse.

NoteItsbeenconfirmedthatsomeUniversalAppswillcomewithaBackbuttonintheirtopleftcorner.Thiswillappearwhereitisappropriatewithinappsandwillaidinmovingtopreviouspageswithintheapp.

RevampedWindowsAppStoreMicrosofthasalsorevampedtheWindowsStore(seeFigure2-14)andhasstatedthatforWindows10itwillalsoincludedesktopprogramsandotherdigitalcontent,whichmightincludemusic,video,andXboxgames.

Figure2-14.TheWindowsStoreinWindows10

WhatdesktopsoftwarewillappearintheWindowsStoreremainstobeseen,asMicrosoftchargesaroyaltyforeveryappsold,andassuchthelargesoftwarehouseslikeAdobeandSonyareunlikelytowantpartoftheirrevenuetakenbyMicrosoft.

NoteDesktopsoftwarealreadyfeaturesintheWindowsStoreinWindows8.1,butonlylinkstothedeveloperswebsitearesupported.Windows10willallowyoutodownloadandinstalldesktopsoftwaredirectlyfromthestore.

Forsmallersoftwarehouses,however,beingabletoincludetheirdesktopappsintheWindowsStorewillgreatlyaiddiscoverability,anditwillhelpreassureWindowsusersthatthesoftwaretheyaredownloadingisgenuineandnotloadedwithmalware.

MicrosofthasalsosaidthatWindowsStorefunctionalitywillbeavailableforbusinessesthroughMicrosoftAzure.CompanieswillbeabletosetuptheirowncompanystoresthatcontainbothbespokeappsandtheirchoicesofappsfromthemainWindowsStore.

Summary

InthischapterIvedetailedsomeofthemajornewfeaturesandchangescomingtoWindows10,andIthinkyoullagreetheyreallprettysignificant.InlaterchaptersIlllookatmanymorefeaturesthatarespecifictodesktopusers,productivity,andbusinessesinmoredetail.

Beforethat,however,welllookatwhatishappeningtoWindows10awayfromthePConsmartphones,theXboxOnegameconsole,IoTdevicessuchassmartTVs,andmorebesides.

CHAPTER3

Windows10forPhoneandOtherDevicesIfyourememberthedayswhenyouhadadifferentoperatingsystemoneverydevice,andwhenonedidnttalktoanyother,thenyoullprobablyalsorememberhowfrustratingitcouldbe.Whetheryouhadtoprintoutallyourcontactsandmanuallyenterthemintoanewphone,oryoudidnothaveaccesstorecentemailsonalaptopbecausetheydalreadybeendownloadedusingPOPtoyourmainPC,thegoldenageofcomputingcouldbeapain.

Fortunately,thingsarenowverydifferent,butperhapsnotforthebetter.Technologyhasmovedinadirectionthatsomepeoplefeelhasleftuswithfewerfreedoms.OftenIhearpeopletalkofthetechcompanylock-in.WhetherthisiswithApple,Google,orMicrosoft,theyallhaveoperatingsystemsandecosystemsofonlineservicesintendedtogettoyoustayexclusivelywiththem.

Formanypeoplethelock-incanbeannoying,especiallyifyougetboredofonesmartphonesystemandfancymoving,forexample,fromAndroidtothenewiPhone.Suddenlyyouhavetobuyallyourappsagain,andperhapsevenabandontheonlineservicesyouvebeenusing.

Idontmindthelockin,forseveralreasons.ChiefamongtheseisthattheintegrationbetweenMicrosoftsserviceshasalwaysbeenexcellent,andthequalityofthoseservicesisstillhigheronaveragethanthatofservicesofferedbyGoogleandApple.

TakeOneDriveandOffice365,forexample.TheyreembeddeddeeplyinallMicrosoftproducts,andinadditiontobeingusefulservicesintheirownright,theyactasbridgesbetweendifferentMicrosoftdevicesandplatforms,suchasPCs,tablets,andphones.

WithWindows10,Microsoftistakingthisintegrationtothenextlevel.Theycandothisbecausethesamecoreoperatingsystemwillberunningonnotjustalloftheirowndevices,suchasPCs,tablets,phones,andtheXbox,butalsoextendingoutwardstoInternetofThings(IoT)devicessuchastheRaspberryPi.

Inthischapterthen,welllookattheecosystemoutsideofthePCtoseewhereyouwillfindWindows10andwhatitsinclusionondifferentdeviceswillmeanforusability,accessibility,andproductivity.

Windows10forPhoneImentionedearlierthattherewereseveralreasonswhyIdidntmindtheMicrosoftlock-in,andWindowsPhoneisdefinitelyupthereasatopreason.ImnotanappguyandhavealwaysviewedAppleandGooglesapproachoffillingthefrontscreenoftheirdevices

withiconsasjustawaytopushyouintobuyingappsyoudontneed.Googleswidgetsareavaluablestepforward,buttheLiveTileswesawfirstwith

WindowsPhonearejustfantastic.Manyofyouwillagree,Imsure,thatbeingabletocheckwhatthatlatestemailorFacebookpostis,orlookatthecurrentweatherornewswithjustaglanceisagreattime(andbattery)saver.

YoullbepleasedtohearthatMicrosofthasntfiddledwithanyofthisfunctionalityinWindows10forPhone,andindeedtheymaystillbeexpandingit.

Youmighthaveseena(quicklywithdrawn)videofromMicrosoftResearchintheFarEastin2014thatshowedLiveTilesthatcouldbeexpandedintoafullapp,rightontheWindowsStartScreen.Thisenabledpeopletobeabletoopen,forinstance,acalculatorquicklyandwithouthavingtowaittoloadtheapp.IsincerelyhopethatMicrosoftbuildsthisfunctionalityintoWindows10andWindows10forPhone.

WhatMicrosofthasdone,however,istakeallofthestrengthsofWindowsPhoneandexpandedonthem.YoumayalreadybefamiliarwithsomeofthisfunctionalityifyouvebeenusingthelatestWindowsPhone8.1builds,whichincludeCortana.CortanainWindows10forPhoneworksexactlyasitdoesonthedesktop,asIdetailedinChapter2.

TheNotificationCenterWindowsPhone8.1introducedustoanotificationcenteronaWindowsdeviceforthefirsttime.ItwasacentralstoreforallmessagesandinformationfromtheOS,youremail,messagingfeatures,andinstalledapps.Inaddition,theNotificationCenterallowedyoutopinanumberofquick-actionbuttonstothetopofyourscreen,suchasWi-Fion/offandtheQuietHoursfeature,whichsilencesnotificationsandaudioandcanoptionallysendatextmessagetoanyonewhocalledortextedyoutotellthemyouwerebusy.

Windows10forPhoneexpandsnotificationsandtheNotificationCenterinseveralways.Thefirstandperhapsthemostprominentwayisthatyoucannowpinmanymorequick-actionbuttonstothetopofthecenter(seeFigure3-1).

Figure3-1.Youcanpinmorequick-actionbuttonstotheNotificationCenterinWindows10forPhones

DependingonthesizeofthescreenonyourexistingWindowsPhone,thenumberofpinableiconscanbelimited.OnmyownLumia1020Icanonlyhavefour,andwouldlikeextras.

Youwillonlyseethetoprowofbuttons,perhapsyourmostcommonlyusedones,whenopeningtheNotificationCenter,butanexpand/collapselinktothebottomrightoftheiconswillallowyoutodisplayallthepinnedquick-actionbuttons.

Thisexpand/collapsefunctionalityhasbeenincludedinotheraspectsofnotificationstoo.Allofthenotificationsthatappearcanbeinteractedwithinseveralnewways,asfollows.

Youcanexpandnotificationstoreadmoredetailsaboutthem,whichisusefulforaweatheralertoremailthatistruncatedbybeinglimitedtoonelineonyourphonesscreen.

Somenotificationswillhaveinteractionbuttonsthatallowyoutoperformactionswithouthavingtofirstentertheapptodoso,suchasdismissinganalarmorreplyingtoatextmessage.Thisfunctionality

willrequirein-appsupportsoitwontbeuniversallyavailable.JustasyoucouldswipeatoastnotificationawayinWindows8and8.1,Windows10forPhoneallowsyoutoquicklyswiperighttoclearanotification.Itsalsoexpectedthatatwo-fingerswipewillletyouclearallyournotificationsinoneaction.

Figure3-2.Youcaninteractwithtoastswithouthavingtoopentheapp

Whentoastnotificationsappearonyourscreen,perhapstoalertyoutoanewincomingmessage,email,orFacebookpost,youcaninteractwiththesemessagesdirectlyfromwithinthetoast.Agoodexampleofthisisbeingabletoreadatextmessageinthetoastandreply,thereandthen,withoutfirsthavingtoenterthemessagingapp.Othertoastswillincludebuttonsandothercontrolsthatallowyoutointeractwiththetoastordismissit,suchaswithanalarm.

NoteAnotherusefulfeaturewithnotificationsisthat,shouldyouturnyourphoneoff,itllgiveyouanincaseyouforgotmessagewithanyupcomingappointmentsorremindersyouhaveset.

EnhancedKeyboardTheon-screenkeyboardinWindows8.1andWindowsPhonehasalwayshadsomeextremelyusefulandoftenhiddenfunctionality,suchbeingabletotapandholdonalettertodisplayitsforeignequivalents,includingaccentedcharacters.However,theon-screenkeyboardinWindows10hasbeengreatlyenhancedandexpanded.Forexample,ondesktop,laptop,andtabletPCsitnowfeaturespredictivetext,allowingyoutocreatemessagesmorequickly,asitintelligentlypredictswhatwordyourelikelytotypenext.

Theon-screenkeyboardinWindows10forPhoneshasbeenenhancedintwosignificantways.First,youcangrabthekeyboardanddragittotheleftorrightsideofthescreen.Thiswillbeusefulforpeopleusinglarger-screenedphonesorphablets.

Additionally,anewmicrophoneiconisnowdisplayedabovethekeyboard,allowingyoutodictatewhatyouwanttowriteinsteadoftypingit.MicrosofthasmadegreatstrideswiththeirvoicerecognitiontechnologyinrecentyearsandhasfurtherrefineditsabilitiesinWindows10forPhone.Forexample,thisnewtext-to-speechfeatureallowsyoutodictateintovirtuallyanytextfieldintheOSorapp.

Enhancementstogrammarandspellingalgorithmsnowmeanthatyoursmartphonecanfillinthecorrectgrammarforyourparticularusageautomaticallyandtellwhenyoumeantouseaparticularhomophone,suchassayingtooinsteadoftwo.

Finally,andthiswillbegreatnewstoallfansofLenovoslaptops,theWindows10forPhonekeyboardincludesacursornipple(seeFigure3-3).

Figure3-3.ThephonekeyboardnowincludesaLenovo-stylecursornipple

OneofthebiggestcriticismswiththeWindowsPhonekeyboardhasbeentheproblemsyoufacetryingtochangeaspecificcharacterinthemiddleofaword,withthewholewordoftenhavingtoberetyped.Thisnewnipple,whichcanbeseeninthebottomleftcornerofthekeyboard,nowactsasadraggablecursor,enablingyoutomoveinfourdirectionstowhereveryouneedtobeinyourtext.

CustomizationOneofthebiggeststrengthsoftheWindowsoperatingsystem,andaprimaryreasonfor

itssuccessoverthelastthirtyyears,isthatitsalwaysbeenthemostconfigurableandcustomizableoperatingsystemavailable.NomatterwhatitisyouwanttochangeinWindows,fromskinningtheOStotweakingRegistrykeys,ithasbeenpossibletoachieve,andentirethird-partyindustrieshavegrownuptosupportthis.

CustomizationwasverylatetocometoWindowsPhone,however,andthereweregoodreasonsforit.AsmartphoneOSisntthesameasoneonthedesktop,whereyoucansaveRestorePointsorafactorybackupimage,orjustbootfromaDVDandreinstalleverythingfromscratch.

Smartphoneshaveverylimitedstorageandconnectionpotential,butperhapsmorecritically,theytapdirectlyintoourbankaccountsandotherpaymentsystemsinawayourPCslikelyneverwill.Onyoursmartphoneyoucanquicklyrunupenormousbillsifyoucreateanecosysteminwhichmalwarecansurreptitiouslysendtextmessagesortrickyouintomakinginternationalphonecalls.Consequently,permittingappstochangelow-levelOSsettingsandfeaturesonasmartphonecancreateasecurityriskfarmoreeasily,andpossiblymuchmoreseriously,thanonadesktopPC.

Inevitablyhowever,customizationoptionsbegantoappear,andbythetimeofWindows8.1wehadLiveTilebackgroundsandnewcolorschemes.

Windows10forPhonesnaturallyexpandsthisfunctionality,primarilyprovidingtheabilitytoatlastsetafullwallpaperforyourStartscreen.Thissitsinthebackgroundinsteadofinsidethetiles(seeFigure3-4).

Figure3-4.Youcansetfull-backgroundwallpapersinWindows10forPhone

Additionally,Tilescannowbetransparentsothatthewallpaperwillpartiallyshowthrough.Shouldyouprefer,on-LiveTilewallpaperoptionsalsoexistthatwillplacethewallpaperimageontheTilesthemselves,ratherthanonthebackground.

Noneofthismeanswecanchangethetypefacesorotheradvancedcustomizationfeaturesofourhandsets,buttheyreaverywelcomestepintherightdirection.

BetterOrganizedSettingsIfyouveusedaWindowsPhoneuptothispointthenyoullknowthatthephoneSettingswereajumbledmess.Thiswasnthelpedbythird-partycompaniessuchasNokiabeingabletoinjecttheirownadditionaloptionsinthemainSettingsmenu.WithWindows10forPhonethishasbeenrationalizedandbroughtinsyncwiththenewSettingspanelonPCsandtablets(seeFigure3-5).

Figure3-5.SettingsinWindows10forPhonearemuchimproved

Themorecomplicatedsmartphoneoperatingsystemsget,themoredifficultitcanbetofindwhatyouneed.Anewcategory-basedapproachhelpsyouquicklyfindthesettingsonthephonethatyourelookingfor.ThisnewviewhelpsrationalizetheOSandgenerallyimprovesthewholeconfigurationexperience.

AdditionalImprovementsinWindows10forPhoneWhilenotallofthefinalfeaturesandenhancementsinWindows10forPhonehavebeenrevealed,therearealreadysomecompellingimprovementsandadditions.Illdetailthemhereinnoparticularorder,exceptfortheoneIfeelismostwelcome.

Likemanysmartphoneusers,IusetheAlarmsappalot,almosteveryday,infact,whichmustmakeitmymost-usedappafteremail,messaging,andFacebook.IwasdelightedtoseethatitsbeenenhancedinWindows10forPhonewiththeadditionofatimer,stopwatch,andworldclock(seeFigure3-6).

Figure3-6.TheAlarmsappnowfeaturestimersandaworldclock

Thisworldclockisntlikeanybasicworldclockappeither,asgenuinethoughthasgoneintoitsimplementation.AswellasbeingabletoseewhatthetimeisinSeattleandNewYork(whereMicrosoftandmypublisherscanbefound),youcannowcomparedifferenttimesfordifferentcitiesaroundtheworld.Thismightsoundlikeonlyamoderatelyusefulfeature,butitsamazinghowdifficulttheinformationcanbetogetwhenyoudoneedit.

WhenWindowsPhonefirstlaunched,wecouldstorefilesonourphonesandopenthemusingthebuilt-inOfficeandPDFapps.However,ittooksometimeforanactualFileExplorerapptobereleasedbyMicrosoft,andthenitwasadownloadableextra.

Now,afullFileExplorerhasbeenincludedinWindows10forPhones,allowingustobetterorganizeourcollectionsoffiles,documents,music,videos,andphotos(seeFigure3-7).

Figure3-7.TheFileExplorerappisnowpartoftheOS

TheCalculatorapphasbeenenhancedwiththetoolsweneedwhilewereonthemove,suchasfullscientificandprogrammermodes,andeveryformofconversioncalculationyoucanthinkof,exceptforcurrencies(seeFigure3-8).

Figure3-8.TheenhancedCalculatorapp

TheresalsoanewSoundRecorderapp,whichmanywillfindusefulfornote-takingorinmeetingsandlectures.

Microsoftsheadlineappsofar,however,isPhotos.Justlikeitsdesktopcousin,itsbeenenhancedtoautomaticallyaggregateallthephotosyouhavestoredonyourvariousWindows10devicesandcloudservices,suchasOneDrive.

AlsoliketheWindows10desktopapp,photoscanbegroupedanddisplayedindifferentways,suchasbydate,location,orthepeopleincluded(seeFigure3-9).

Figure3-9.ThenewPhotosapp

Thesefeaturesareintelligentand,againlikethedesktopapp,canhelpyoufindallyourphotostakeninaspecificlocation,say,Austria,byusingmetadatasuchasdatetakenandgeotagging.ItcanalsousefacerecognitiontofindallthephotosofyourfriendPhil.

SoWhatsinItforBusinesses?AllofthenewandenhancedfeaturesinWindows10forPhonethatIvedetailedsofarareaimedatmakingiteasiertouseandconfiguretheOSforconsumers,butbusinessesarecertainlynotleftout.ThisisWindows10,andthatmeans,forthefirsttime,everysecurityandmanageabilityfeaturethatsavailableinthedesktopversionoftheOSisalsoavailablehere.TheremightnotbeaGroupPolicyapp,butfullmanagementofWindows10phonesisavailableinWindowsServer.

Crucially,allofthenewandenhancedsecurityfeaturesinWindows10willbeavailableonphones,andBringYourOwnDevice(BYOD)manageabilityisincludedtoo.YoucanfindoutaboutallthenewandenhancedbusinessandsecurityfeaturesavailableforbusinessesinWindows10whenyoureadchapters5and6.

XboxOneWhenMicrosoftsaidthatWindows10wouldbeoneOSforeverydeviceinyourlife,theywerentkidding.IlltalklaterinthischapterabouttheInternetofThings,butoneofthedevicesrunningWindows10thatyourelikelytohaveisanXboxOnegamesconsole.

ItmakessenseforMicrosofttoportWindows10totheXboxOneconsole(itwontbeportedtotheXbox360),ifonlyforreasonsofsecurityandmanageability.ItsmuchcheaperforanycompanytofixsecurityandstabilityflawsonasingleOSplatformthanacrossmany,especiallywhentheyhavesomuchincommontobeginwith.

WevenotyetseenthenewXboxenvironmentforWindows10inanydetail,buteverythingyouvereadhereaboutanintegratedSettingsenvironmentanduniversalappswillapply.Universalappsareagoodcaseinpoint,astheyllbeabletorunonyourXboxinthesamewaytheyrunonyourphone,PC,andtablet.ThisoffersnewopportunitiesforgaminginWindows10.Youmight,forexample,haveareallygreatgameonyourWindowsPhonethathasyouutterlyhooked.Ifyoureluckyitllalsobeavailableforyourdesktop.WithUniversalApps,itsalmostcertainthatyoullbeabletoplaythesamegameonyourXboxwhenyougethome.

Integrationdoesntstopthere,however.ThenewXboxLiveappsforyourdesktop,tablet,andphonewillallowyoutomanageyourplayerprofile,achievements,andmorefromthosedevices(seeFigure3-10).

Figure3-10.XboxOnewillrunWindows10

PerhapsthecoolestfeaturewillbethatyoucanstreamXboxOnegamesfromtheconsoletoanyWindows10PCortablet,meaningyoucancontinuetoplayyourgameswhentheTVisinuseforBetterCallSaulorGameofThrones.

AnothermajorbenefitofhavingWindows10runningontheXboxOneisthatyouwillbeabletoplaygamesonlinewithpeoplewhoareusingaWindows10PC,laptop,ortablet.NotallplayerswillneedanXboxOneconsoletoparticipate.Allyouwillneedisthegameavailableforthedifferentdevices.

TheinclusionofMicrosoftsnewgraphicsrenderingengine,DirectX12,willresultinever-morerealisticandsmoothgameplay,andWindows10willallowyoutocaptureimageandvideoclipsofyourgaminginrealtimeasyouplayandsharethemwithonlinecommunities.

ItsprobablyingamingthatWindows10seessomeofitsgreatestpotential,especiallywithInternetofThingsdevices,whichIlltalkaboutshortly.GaminghasalwaysbeenincrediblypopularonWindowsPCs,andWindows10lookscertaintotakethispopularitytothenextlevel.

TheInternetofThingsFirst,IshouldexplainwhattheInternetofThings(IoT)is,asyoumayhaveheardofitbutnotbecompletelyfamiliarwiththeconcept.Basically,theInternetofThingsisanideawherebyallofourhomeandworkdevicesandappliancesareconnectedtotheInternetandhaveimprovedfunctionalityasaresult.

Someofthishasalreadyappeared,withsolarpowersystemsabletocommunicatewithyouremotelyviaanapp,arefrigeratorabletodowhateveritisanInternetfridgemightneedtodo(evenIgetconfusedbythatone),amicrowaveoroventhatcandownloadrecipesandcookingtimes,orabathroommirrorthatcandisplayyourdaysappointments.

IoTdevicesevenextendoutsideofthehome;carscanbeInternet-connectedtoreadusemailsastheyarrive,displayappointmentdetails,provideliveroute-planning,andtoallowustomakeaquickvideocalloverSkype.

SomeIoTdeviceshaveexistedintheworkplaceforawhile,suchasphotocopiersandprintersthatcansendemailsandsavedocumentstocloudbackupservices.TheMicrosoftSurfaceHub,whichIdetailinChapter5,isanIoTPC.

Lastly,ifyoureusinganInternet-connectedsmartTV,youareusinganIoTdevice.Theyarequiteliterallyeverywhere!

MicrosoftisdeterminedthatmanymoreIoTdeviceswillrunWindows10inyearstocome,buthowwillthisbenefitus,ifatall?

Formyself,Iratherliketheideaofthebathroommirrororrefrigeratorinformingmeofupcomingappointmentsornewly-arrivedemailswhileImhalf-asleepearlyinthemorning.Ithinkthatatouch-screendeskthatinstantlyhasaccesstomyOneDrivewouldbeextremelyuseful,especiallywhenIneedtoquicklypullupanimportantfile,andIbelievetheeducationalpossibilitiesofIoTdevicesrunningWindows10arenottobeunderestimated.

RaspberryPi2ThisbringsmeratherneatlytothesubjectoftheRaspberryPi(seeFigure3-11).Forthoseofyouwhoareunfamiliarwithit,thisisaninexpensive,bare-bonesPCthatwasdesignedtohelpstudentslearnhowtowritecomputercode.

Figure3-11.TheRaspberryPi2runsWindows10

ThefirstRaspberryPiwasreleasedtogreatfanfarein2012.Itfeaturedalow-costARMprocessor,256MBofmemory,andstorageonlyavailablethroughtheadditionofanSDmemorycard.

Asaneducationaltool,theRaspberryPiishighlyeffective,asitisabletorunawiderangeofoperatingsystemsandsupportmanyprogramminglanguages.ItcouldconnecttoUSBdevices,akeyboard,mouse,andmonitor,andeventotheInternet.

ThisyeartheimprovedRaspberryPi2waslaunched,andtheenormousdevelopercommunityfortheplatformsimplydemandedsupportforWindows.Microsoftwasalltoohappytooblige,andtheyannouncedatthebeginningofFebruary2015notonlythatWindows10wouldrunontheRaspberryPi2,butalsothattheOSwouldbecompletelyfreetothedevelopmentcommunitythroughtheWindowsDeveloperProgramforIoT.TheversionofWindowsavailablefortheRaspberryPi2willlikelybeverysimilartothe8-inchorsmallerdevicesedition.Thismeanstherewillbenodesktopversion,forreasonsoflicensing.

BeingabletopurchaseasmallPCforjust$35andwriteandrunWindows10appsonitwillbeahugelyexcitingprospectforthedeveloperandeducationalcommunitiesalike,anditsdefinitelysomethingtolookforwardto.

SummaryOneoperatingsystem,foreverydeviceinyourlife,waswhatMicrosoftsaidwhentheyfirstannouncedWindows10totheworld,and2015is,quitefrankly,onlythestartofit.PCs,laptops,Ultrabooks,tablets,theXboxOne,phones,andtheRaspberryPi2arewherethingswillbegin,butletsnotforgetwhatsalreadybeenannounced,suchastheHoloLens,whichIwilltalkaboutinChapter4,andtheSurfaceHub.

ThepotentialofWindows10tobeaglobalOSplatformdoesntstopthere,however.

YourhomeautomationorheatingsystemcouldsoonbepoweredbyWindows10,asmightyourcaroreventhekettle.Thepossibilitiesonlyendatthelimitsoftheimaginationofsoftwareanddevicedevelopers.

SofarinthisbookIvedetailedthenewandcoolfeaturesintheWindows10OS,butthatsonlyhalfthestory.Inthenextchapterwellbegintolookathowthisallfitstogetherintoacohesiveandmoreproductiveexperienceforusersandbusinessesalike.Now,wheresmyphone?IneedtotellthekettletobeboiledforwhenIgethome.

CHAPTER4

WhatsNewforEndUsers?SofarinthisbookIveshownyouthenewheadlinefeaturesinWindows10,includingtheCortanapersonalassistantandvariousfeaturescomingtoWindows10smartphones.Thequestionremains,however:WhatwillWindows10actuallybeliketouseonyourPC?

Microsofthasmadequiteabitofnoiseabouttheirproductivityfocusforthisnewoperatingsystem,andIvementioneditinthesepagesonmorethanoneoccasion.

WhetheryoureusingyourPCathomeoratwork,youdontwanttobehamstrungbyaninterfacethatsdifficulttouseorOSfeaturesthatarentdiscoverableorintuitive.Inthischapter,IllguideyouthroughwhatsnewandimprovedontheWindowsdesktopandshowyouhowitllmakeapositiveimpactonyourPCuse.

MultipleDesktopsUnlessyoureusingasmallWindowstabletoryoujustuseWindowsonaphone,youllspendmuch,ifnotall,ofyourtimeonthedesktop.WhenyoustartWindows10,allappearsmuchasbefore,withtheTaskbaralongthebottomofyourscreen,aWindowskeyinthebottomleft,andthesystemtrayandclockinthebottomright.

Dontbefooledthough,asmajorandsignificantchangeshavebeenmadetothedesktopinWindows10.Eachchangeiseitherarefinementofanexistingfeatureorsomethingnewentirely.

TheabilitytohavemultipledesktopsonaPChasbeenafeatureofGNU/Linuxforyears,andmanyplug-inshaveexistedforWindowstoallowyoutoaddthefeature.Windows10,however,isthefirsttimeMicrosofthasnativelyincludedthismuch-requestedfeatureintheOS.ItsrunfromaniconontheTaskbar,andyoucanidentifyitbytworectangularblocks,oneinfrontoftheother(seeFigure4-1).

Figure4-1.YoucanlaunchmultipledesktopsfromtheTaskbar

ClickingthisiconwilldisplayallyouropenwindowsasthumbnailswhilealsodisplayingadarkbaracrossthebottomofyourscreenwithanAddadesktopbuttoninitscenter(seeFigure4-2).

Figure4-2.TheAddadesktopbuttonisbottomcenteronthescreen

Whenyouhavemultipledesktopsopen,theywillappearassmall,livethumbnailsonthisdarkbar(seeFigure4-3).

Figure4-3.ItssimpletomanagemultipledesktopsinWindows10

ThemethodsformovingappsbetweendesktopshadntbeenfinalizedinWindows10bythetimeIwrotethis,butright-clicking(touchingandholding)anappthumbnailwilldisplayanoptionsmenu,inwhichamoveoptionisavailable.ItwillbepossibleinthefinalreleaseofWindows10touseakeyboardcombinationshortcuttomoveappstodifferentdesktops,anditsalsoexpectedthatyoullbeabletodraganddropappstodifferentdesktops.

YoucancloseanentiredesktopbyclickingtheCloseicononitsthumbnail,whichappearswhenyoumouseovertheicon.Thetouchmethodforclosingadesktophasnotyetbeenfinalized.Closingadesktopdoesntmeananyappsopenonthatdesktopwillalsobeclosed.Whenyoucloseadesktop,anyopenappsareautomaticallymovedtothenearestopendesktop.

Multipledesktopscanbeextremelyuseful,especiallyinthebusinessspace.Forexample,whenworkinginmyhomeofficeIwillhaveInternetExplorerandOutlookopenononedesktop,MicrosoftWordforwritingonasecond,andperhapsacoupleofvirtualmachinesfortestingaswellasscreenshotsopenonathird.

Alternatively,youcouldhaveyourworkappsopenononedesktop,andAmazonandMinesweeperopenonanother(thoughwhenthetimecomesforameetingwithyouremployeraboutthis,youdidntgettheideafromme).

TheReturnoftheStartMenuOneofthelargestcriticismsofWindows8wastheremovaloftheStartMenufromthedesktop,anditsreplacementwiththefull-screenStartScreenandtheAllAppsView.

WhentheStartMenuwasfirstintroducedinWindows95(yesitreallyisthatold),itreceivedinstantpraise,andwhenitwasrefinedfurtherinWindowsVistaandWindows7sothathugefly-outmenusdidntappearfromtheAllProgramslink,itbecameuniversallypopular.Well,youllbedelightedtohearthattheStartMenuismakingatriumphantreturninWindows10andhasbeenrefinedyetagain(seeFigure4-4).

Figure4-4.TheStartMenuinWindows10

IvegottobehonestIneverpersonallylikedtheStartMenuafterWindows7wasreleased,asinmanywayspinningappiconstotheTaskbarandlaunchingfilesfromtheirjumplistsisasignificantlyfasterwaytolaunchanyappinWindows.

IvealsoharanguedWindowsprogrammanagersovertheyearstoincludetheabilitytocreateTaskbarprogramgroups,whereyoucandragoneappiconontoanothertocreateapop-upappsgroup.Theytoldmetheydconsideredit,buttheyhaventimplementedityet.

SowhatsnewwiththischangedStartMenu,andarethechangesanimprovement?ThefirstthingyoullnoticeisthattilesforUniversalAppsarenowpinnabletoitsrightside.Thesearecompletelyoptional,andifyouwanttousetheStartMenuwithjustyourdesktopprogramsandnopinnedLiveTiles,youcandojustthat.

ShouldyouwantsomeLiveTiles,howeverandIlldetailinaminuteagoodreasonwhyyoumighttheycanberesizedinthesamewayasontheWindows8.1StartScreenanddraggedaroundtorearrangethem,evenintodifferenttilegroups.

LiveTilescanbegenerallyusefulbecauseoftheinformationtheyprovide.In

addition,beingabletopresstheWindowskeyand,ataglance,seetheheadersforyourlatestreceivedemailsaswellasthenewsheadlinesandweathercannotonlyhelpkeepyoumoreinformed,butcanalsoboostyourproductivitysinceyoumightneedtoopenthoseappsornewswebsitesoften.

OntheWindows7StartMenu,optionsforvariousPClocations,suchasyourdocumentsandcomputerFileExplorerviews,theControlPanel,andDevicesandPrinters,werefoundintherightpanel.ThesehavenowbeenmovedtothetopleftoftheStartMenuinaPlacessection.

BeneaththisisthelistofyourMostUsedappsandthenfinallyanyRecentlyInstalledappswillappear.TheAllAppsbuttonsitsinthebottomleftoftheStartMenuandpresentsalistofalltheappsinstalledonyourPCinawaythatwillbeinstantlyfamiliartousersofWindows7.

InthefinalreleaseofWindows10theseviewswillbehighlyconfigurable,justastheywereinWindows7,withappsviewableinavarietyofdifferentways.YoucanalsodragUniversalAppsdirectlyoutoftheAllAppslistintothetiledareaontherightofStartMenu.

NoteItsexpected,buthasnotbeenconfirmed,thatinthefinalreleaseofWindows10youwillbeabletodragUniversalApptilesontothedesktop,wheretheycanbepinnedandusedasliveinformationwidgets.

TherearethreemorebuttonsatthetopoftheStartMenu.Inthetopleftisyouruserpicture,whichyoucanclickforoptionstochangeyouruseraccountsettings,logout,orlockthePC.AtthetoprightoftheStartMenuareapowerbuttonwithSleep,Shutdown,andRestartoptionsandamaximizebutton,whichwilltoggletheStartMenubetweenafull-screenmodeandawindowsmode.

InanearlybuildofWindows10theedgesoftheStartMenucouldbegrabbedwithamouseanddraggedaroundtoresizeit.ThisisusefulifyouhavealotoftilespinnedtotheStartMenu,butthefeaturewasremovedforthebuildsusedtowritethisbook.HopefullythisfeaturewillseeareturnforthefinalreleaseoftheOS.

ImprovedAppSwitchingwithTaskViewItmightseemobvioustousnow,butswitchingbetweenrunningappsinWindowsversionsbeforeWindows10wasoftenhinderedbythesmallthumbnailsizesoftheapps.TheFlip3DviewofVistaprovidedlargethumbnails,butwasntverypopularwithusers,andsoWindows7revertedtojustthestandardAlt-Tabwayofswitchingbetweenopenapps.

Windows10doesmakethisappswitchingeasier,however,simplybymakingthethumbnailslarger(seeFigure4-5).Theyrealsolive,soyoucanseeexactlywhatsgoingonintheappsatthattime.

Figure4-5.ImprovedappswitchinginWindows10

Youllalsoseeinthefigurethattheappsareappropriatelyandfullylabeled,makingiteasiertoidentifywhatswhat.Idontknowaboutyou,butifyouvehadmultipleFileExplorerwindowsopen,switchingbetweenthemandfindingtherightoneinthepasthasbeenahitandmissaffair.

TaskViewcanalsobecontrolledwithgesturesfromyourlaptopstrackpad,andIlldetailhowtodosolaterinthischapter.

Four-WaySnap!Idontknowaboutyou,butIlovedthedesktopSnapfeaturewhenitwasintroducedinWindows7.BeingabletoquicklysnaptwowindowstotheleftandrightsideofthescreensoIcouldtransferfilesorcomparetwowebpagesordocuments,andthensnapthemawayandhavethemreverttotheiroriginalsize,washugelyuseful.

Ialwaysfeltitlimiting,however,thatthisonlyworkedwithtwowindows.IoftenhavetosimultaneouslyshufflevideoandotherfilesbetweendifferentdrivesonmyPCaswellasnetworkstoragelocations.Well,thegoodnewsisthatSnaphasbeenimprovedinWindows10sothatitnowsupportsfour-waysnap(seeFigure4-6).

Figure4-6.Windows10supportsfour-waysnap

Youcanstilldragappstothefarleftandrightofyourscreentousesnapinthetwo-waysplit-screenviewasbefore.Inaddition,youcandragappstothefourcornersofyourscreentosnapthemtopleft,topright,bottomleft,andbottomright.

WhenyousnapawindowinWindows10,theremainingspacewillshowthumbnailimagesforyourremainingopenapps.Ifyouclickoneoftheseitwillautomaticallyfilltheremainingspaceinatwo-,three-,orfour-waysplitview.Alternatively,youcanclickoneoftheappsthatsalreadysnapped,orthedesktop,toreturnthere.

SearchfromtheTaskbarInChapter2IspokeaboutCortanasinclusioninWindows10andoftheproductivitybenefitsitcanbring.NotallcountrieswillbenefitfromCortanawhenWindows10launches,however,andsomeuserswillseeasearchiconinstead.

RegardlessofwhetherornotyouuseCortanainWindows10,youcanchangetheTaskbaricontoasearchboxbyright-clickingitandchoosingtheappropriateoption,enablingyoutosearchbothyourPCandtheInternetdirectlyfromtheTaskbar(seeFigure4-7).

Figure4-7.YoucansearchdirectlyfromtheTaskbar

SearchingfromthisboxworksinexactlythesamewayasIdetailedinChapter2,anditcansavevaluabletimesinceyoudonthavetoopenawebbrowsertonavigatetoBing,Google,oranothersearchengine.

NoteForpeopleusingWindows10onatouchdevice,suchasatablet,thedesktopon-screenkeyboardnowsupportsfullautocorrectandpredictivetext.ThesehavebeenfeaturesinWindowsPhoneforawhile,anditsgreattoseethemusedthroughoutWindows10.

ImprovedFileExplorerItshouldbenotedthatFileExplorerinWindows10isgoingthroughsomethingofanupheaval,andsotheversionseenintheTechnicalPreviewisfarfromthefinishedproduct.

Oneinterestingaddition,however,isthatbydefault(thoughyoucanchangethis)themainviewwhenyouopenaFileExplorerwindowisthenewQuickAccesspane(seeFigure4-8).

Figure4-8.FileExplorernowopensintoaQuickAccesssection

Thisnewviewwillshowyouthemostrecentlyutilizedfolders,disklocations,andfiles,enablingyoutoquicklygainaccesstothedocuments,files,andlocationsyouarecurrentlyworkingwith.

AnythingcanbepinnedtotheQuickAccessview,whichreplacestheFavoritespanefromWindows7andWindows8.1.Thisincludesfolders,localandnetworkdrives,andfiles.PinninganitemtotheQuickAccesssectiondoesntjustdisplayitinthetreeviewontheleftsideofFileExplorerwindows,butalsointhemainview.

Otherwise,FileExploreriscurrentlyunchanged,thoughwecanexpectrefinementstoincludebettertouchsupport,likelywithRibbonUIenhancementsthatspaceoutbuttonsandoptionsforwhenTabletmodeisactivatedonthePC.

TouchandTrackpadGesturesWhetheryouwilluseWindows10withatouchscreenoronalaptop,youllbeusingtouch,andinthisnewOSthewaysinwhichyoucaninteractwiththeOSarebenefittingfromwelcomeimprovements.NotallthegesturesforWindows10havebeenfinalized,butMicrosoftisexpectedtofurtherrefinethetouchgesturesandcontrolsfortheOS.

Additionallynewtrackpadgestureswillbeavailabletolaptopusers.Theseincludebutarenotlimitedtothefollowing:

YoucanShow[the]Desktopwithathree-fingerswipedownwardsonthetrackpad.Thisgesturewillautomaticallyminimizeallthewindowsonyourscreen(useful,perhaps,ifthebosswalkspastwhileyoureshoppingonAmazon).

Youcanalsoreversethis(afterthebossisoutofview)byswipingupwardswiththreefingersonyourtrackpadtoRestore[all]Windowsonthedesktoptotheirpreviouslocations.

ToopenTaskViewinWindows10andseelargethumbnailwindowsofallyourrunningapps,swipeupwardswiththreefingersonthetrackpad,thesamegestureusedtorestoreallyourminimizedwindows.

OnceintheTaskViewyoucanswipeleftandrightonthetrackpadtomovethroughtheavailableapps,keepingyourfingersonthetrackpadwhileyoudothis.Toselectanapp,liftyourfingeroffthetrackpad.

Overall,gesturessuchasmulti-touchpinch-zoomcontrolsarebeingimproveduponforbothtouchandtrackpaduse,andwecanexpecttoseeadditionalgesturesannouncedbyMicrosoftnearerthefinalreleaseofWindows10.

SingleSign-OnOneoftheimprovementsMicrosoftmadetoWindows8.1andWindowsPhone8.1wastheabilitytoautomaticallysyncyourwebsiteusernamesandpasswordsbetweenvariousPCsusingaMicrosoftAccount.

WithWindows10theywanttoextendthisfunctionalityfurtherbyprovidingnewsingle-sign-on(SSO)extensions.Fulldetailsofthisaresketchy,buttheaimistomakeitsimplertologintomultipleservicesthatrequirethesameusernameandpassword.

ThiswillcertainlyworkwithaMicrosoftAccountandWindowsDomainservices,

suchasAzureandActiveDirectory.Itremainstobeseenifthefunctionalitywillalsoincludeothercompaniesthatprovidemultipleservices,suchasGoogleandApple.

ThefinalaimofSSOisthatyouwillonlybepromptedforyourusernameand/orpasswordwhensecurityiscrucial,forexamplewhenchangingyouraccountandbillingsettingswithMicrosoft.

OneDriveandOneDriveforBusinessMicrosoftisfullybehinditscloudservicesstrategy,andproductsincludingOneDriveandOffice365arecrucialtothecompanysprosperitygoingforward.

InrecentyearsthecompanyhasmadegreatimprovementstoitsOneDrivecloudsyncandbackupservice.Thesehaveincludedexpandingthestorageavailabletoconsumersandbusinesses,improvingmaximumfilesizelimits,andsoon.

Oneofthebest,andmostenvied,OneDrivefeaturesinWindows8.1wasitsuseoffileplaceholders.YoucouldhavetensorevenhundredsofgigabytesoffilesstoredinyourOneDriveaccount.OnadesktopPCwithalargeharddiskitwouldntbeaproblemtoalsokeepalocalcopyofthesefiles,butonatabletorUltrabook,whichtypicallycomewithverysmallamountsofstorage,youcouldalsokeepallyourfilesandaccessthemwheneveryouneeded.Windows8.1didthisbyusingplaceholdersinsteadoftheactualfile.Theseplaceholderswouldlooklikethefile,reportthecorrectsizeofthefile,andsoon,butinsteadtheydjustbeshortcutlinkstotheactualfilethatwasstoredinyourOneDriveaccount.

Whenyouopenedaplaceholder,assumingyouhadaliveInternetconnection,theactualfilewouldbedownloadedandthenstoredandsyncedlocallyfromthePCuntilsuchtimeasyouright-clickedonitandtoldWindowstoonlymakeitavailableofflineagain.Thiswasatremendouslycleveridea,anditsbeingfurtherrefinedinWindows10withtheadditionofsupportforMicrosoftsOneDriveforBusinessservice.

Previously,touseOneDriveforBusinessyouneededtodownloadaseparatesyncengine,whichhasremainedseparateuntilnow.Windows10willunifythemintoasinglesyncenginesobothcanbemanagedquicklyandsimplyfromwithinWindows10itself.

Thefullramificationsofthisarentyetclear,thoughitsunlikelyyoullbeabletocombinethetwoservicesintoonelargestoragepool.OneDriveforBusinessisnotwithoutitsflaws,however,amajorflawbeingthatafterareinstallorreimageofthePCyouhavetoresynctheentirefilelibrarytoyourPCagain,whichisnotsomethingthattheconsumerversionofOneDrivesuffersfrom.

HopefullyOneDrivewilltakeonnewfunctionality,andthecurrentlimitsoftheOneDriveforBusinesssyncenginewillbeeradicatedinthefinalreleaseofWindows10.

GamingandXboxStreamingGaminghasalwaysbeenextremelyimportanttothePC,andrecentresearchhasshowed

thatgame-developmentcompaniesstillplacethePCatthetopoftheirprioritylist,aheadofconsolessuchastheXboxOneandPlaystation4.Thisisdespitetheapparentfocusplacedonsmartphonegaming.

WithWindows8,MicrosoftintroducednewXboxfeatures,thoughthesewerelimitedtoacoupleofappsandsomegamesthatcouldsynchronizeachievementswithyourXboxLiveaccount.

Windows10willtakegamingtothenextlevelwithanewgraphicsrenderingengine,DirectX12,partneringwithatrulycross-deviceoperation(seeFigure4-9).

Figure4-9.Cross-devicegamingisimprovedinWindows10

Newfeaturesincludetheabilitytoplaythesamegamewithafriendsimultaneouslyondesktop,tablet,and/ortheXboxOneconsole.ByfarthestandoutfeatureforgaminginWindows10,however,istheabilitytolivestreamgameplayfromyourXboxconsoletoatabletorPCrunningWindows10.ThiswillallowyoutoplayyourXboxOnegamesonalmostanyWindows10device,andbecausethegraphicsarestreamed,thedeviceyoureplayingthegameondoesntneedalotofgraphicspowerofitsown.ThisstreamingisachievedoveryourhomeWi-FinetworkandwillenableyoutouseanewgenerationofXboxOnecontrollerswithmultiplePCdevices.

NewAppsComingtoWindows10Asyoumightexpect,thelaunchofanewoperatingsystemwillalsoincludearefreshfortheUniversalAppsbundledwithandavailableforyourPC.Generally,updateswillbeavailableforallthemainapps,includingMail(whichwillbecomeOutlook),People,Calendar,Photos,Videos,Music,andmore.

MicrosofthasntsaidmuchaboutwhatnewfunctionalitythesenewappswillbringorhowtheymaytieintothenewstorethatMicrosofthassaidwillincludeothertypesofdigitalcontentalongsideappsandgames.

Oneapptheyhavespokenabout,however,isthenewPhotosapp,whichincludestwoveryinterestingnewfeatures.Thefirstoftheseisauto-enhancemode,whichwillapplysimpleandnon-destructiveenhancementstoyourphotostoimproveskintone,colorbalance,contrast,orbrightness.

AnewalbumsfeaturewillautomaticallyaggregatethephotosyouhavestoredonyourPC(s),phone,andOneDriveaccountintoasinglehubwheretheywillbeautomaticallysortedandcategorizeddependingonthepeopleinthem,thelocationtheyweretakenat,andsoon.

ThisisafeaturehaveIusedextensivelymyselfovertheyearsbymanuallytaggingphotosinacustompictureslibraryinFileExplorer.Windows10doingthisonitsownandlettingmesearchautomaticallyforphotostakeninGermanyorfeaturingmyfriendLarrywillmakeorganizingandsearchingourever-expandingphotolibrariesmuchsimpler.

MicrosoftHoloLensMicrosoftsmajorWindows10announcementsinJanuary2015werecompletelyovershadowedbytheunveilingoftheHoloLensheadsetattheendoftheevent.

TheHoloLens,aprototypeofwhichcanbeseeninFigure4-10,isanaturalandlogicalextensiontotheKinectsensorandseveralotherMicrosoftprototypetechnologiesthatwouldhaveallowedustointeractwiththeworldaroundusindifferentways.

Figure4-10.TheHoloLensheadset

TheaimofHoloLensistwo-fold.First,asseeninFigure4-11,theheadsetwillenabletheoverlayingofvirtualobjectsintherealworld,suchasplayingalargevideoonthewallofyourlivingroom,orplacingasocialmediareadoutonyourrefrigeratordoor.

Figure4-11.InteractingwiththeworldaroundyouwithHoloLens

Second,theheadsetwillallowyoutointeractwithyourphysicalenvironmentandotherpeopleinnewways,suchaschasingmonstersaroundyourownlivingroom,creatingavirtualMinecraftcastleonatable,orbuildinga3Dmodelforprintinginthinair.

Additionally,thedemosforHoloLensshowedpeopleworkingonWindows10tabletswhilebeingabletoseewhattheweareroftheheadsetwasseeing,andthenannotatingobjectsinthatviewwithinstructions,suchaswhichpipetounscreworwhereintheenginetheycouldfindthemanifold.

Asyoumoveyourheadinthisvirtualworldtheoverlaidobjectsremainstatic,givingthemasenseofrealsubstance,andeachcanbeinteractedwithusinghandandfingergestures(thoughnotactuallytouchedorgrabbedyet!).

ReviewerswhovehadachancetouseHoloLenshavedescribeditasextremelyrealisticandevenmagical,withthevirtualobjectsnotappearingasthoughtheyreonascreen,lessthanoneinchfromyoureyes,butinsteadprojecteddirectlyontoarealobjectacrosstheroom.

HoloLenswillbeoutintheWindows10timeframe,accordingtoMicrosoft,whichputsitsometimeinthenextcoupleofyears.Pricinghasnotbeenannounced,andthesuccessoftheproductwillsitentirelywiththequalityandavailableofapps.

Asamediaoreducationaldevice,however,theHoloLensshowsgreatpotential,andIpersonallycantwaittotryoneformyself.

SummaryItsclearthat