Microsoft Announces Windows 10
This morning at an event in San Francisco, Microsoft announced the next version of its Windows operating system: Windows 10.
The name is definitely not in line with expectations, but also comes on the heels of rumor talk that it could pick up another title. Happily, the last 943 people to cover the operating system got the name wrong. I am among them.
Described as Microsoft's "most comprehensive platform ever," Windows 10 will offer a tailored experience for all hardware across a single platform family. And developers can build universal apps that will work everywhere. Here's how Microsoft describes its ambitious goal.
The Start Menu Is Back
The cat has been out the bag for some time, but Microsoft has finally confirmed the start menu will return.
The leaks were spot on and it will combine both aspects of the classic
Windows 7 start menu with apps from the Metro/Modern UI. Searching
within the Start Menu will now perform a web search as well.
Crucially its layout can be customised so apps can be
removed or resized and the flexibility and personalisation potential of
the Start Menu should win back fans disillusioned about its removal in
Windows 8.
Virtual Desktops
Another leaked feature Microsoft confirmed today was
virtual desktops. Microsoft didn’t give the feature an official name at
this stage, but it works much like the long used multiple desktops on
Linux and Exposé on Mac OS X.
The view can be triggered with a new ‘task view’ button
which both allows users to launch a new virtual desktop and jump between
them. Interestingly the taskbar can be customised to look
different/relevant to each desktop allowing a simple leap from work to
home modes, for example.
Microsoft said all open programs in the virtual desktops
will continue to run in the background, which makes for some interesting
memory management challenges but also greatly increases the potential
productivity of Windows as well as de-cluttering the desktop space.
