Features That Make Windows 10 the Best Windows OS Ever!
Microsoft’s attempt to merge the mobile and PC worlds into one operating system all started in Windows 8 and its supposed improved version called Windows 8.1. Users from around the world eagerly waited for its release and most have even decided to upgrade to it right away by installing it on an old computer or purchasing a new machine that has it installed only to find out that it’s almost a world apart from the Windows operating system that they used to know.
Since it was released in 2012, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 has been a subject of debate among Windows users who like it and those who don’t. The operating system really has some flaws in it especially when all the missing features are factored in but when you get used to it, you’ll find that it’s really not bad at all. All those modern apps from the Windows Store and the Charms which serves as the gateway to the Metro environment really made a big difference making most to even speculate that the operating system is meant to condition our minds into smoothly accepting the direction that Microsoft is trying to take all of us into.
It sounds like a conspiracy though but now that Windows 10 is on the making with its first build already available to testers, it is becoming clearer that everything was really under Microsoft’s control. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 seemed to have been the beta versions and after a couple of years being tested in the field, Microsoft now has the answer! The brand new operating system dubbed as the real “game-changer” in computer operating systems has now come close to completion.
In this tutorial, we will be showing you some of the brand new features that can be found in Windows 10’s first technical release and as well as those that have been taken back. It’s been quite a long wait and Microsoft knows that most have even lost patience but it won’t be long until we all get our hands on the all powerful Windows 10 operating system which is rumored to be released by the second half of this year but while keeping a close eye on the news about its formal release, it would be exciting to get a glimpse on what this brand new operating system has to offer.
The Start Menu is Back For Real!
Windows 10 puts an end to the divisive Start Screen and has brought back the traditional Start Menu which users clamored so much to be returned back in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 but this time, it has an awesome twist! The Start Menu has now become a unified place for accessing both desktop programs and modern apps. All the folders and shortcuts that we’ve all got used to in the old Start Menu are located on the left portion while the tiles representing the modern apps are on the right. It is really a clever way of making users a lot more comfortable when working with the programs and apps on the new Windows operating system.
The new Start Screen can also be resized to accommodate more tiles in it. For instance, you can make it tall and narrow or short and wide depending on your preference. The programs and folders that you often use or access automatically move to the top of the list located on its left column while the apps on the right can be resized and arrange according to your liking.
Modern Apps Now Open in a Window
In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, all of the modern apps that are installed in it open in full screen. This makes switching to the Desktop and back to the opened modern apps a lot harder. Some users even comment that it limits the ability for multitasking and was viewed as a big flaw compared to Windows 7. In Windows 10, all of these flaws are solved by changing how modern apps open. Instead of occupying the whole screen, modern apps in this new Windows edition open the same as desktop programs do. Yes! They are now Windowed and can even be snapped side-by-side with desktop programs so you can switch between them in a more streamlined manner!
Modern app Windows can also be dragged anywhere on the screen and with the help of the buttons on its top-right portion, you can minimize, maximize or close any of the quickly just like how you do things when dealing with desktop programs.
Virtual Desktop Feature Now Available!
Mac and Linux computers have virtual desktop features and it has been included in these operating systems for many years while Windows didn’t. You might have tried it using third-party programs but a built-in Windows feature was nowhere to be found. In Windows 10, Microsoft has finally included a feature that will create a virtual desktop so you can have a sort of a private environment which keeps everything private. It is like an independent workspace where you can play your favorite games or open the programs that you use at work.
Once these virtual desktops are open, you can simply press the CTRL + Windows keys so you can switch between all open desktop in a sliding manner. This feature was added in an update to Windows 10 that was released October of last year.
Other Features Added
While working with different programs and apps in Windows 10, you can simply click on the Task View button and once the programs and apps are displayed on the Task View bar, right-clicking on any one of them will give you the freedom to choose the virtual desktop where you want to move them into. This is a very useful feature for boosting productivity but there’s a rumor circulating that support for dragging and dropping apps and programs into different virtual desktops instead of right-clicking on them is going to be added soon.
Cortana is Now on Windows PCs
Virtual assistants that you can simply talk to in order to accomplish tasks is a very comfortable tool. This has been available in mobile devices such as Siri in iPhones or Google Now in Android devices but Microsoft now has Cortana introduced in its mobile devices but is now making a jump towards PCs. By doing this, Microsoft has high hopes of making its presence a lot more known in mobile devices.
Cortana isn’t just your ordinary virtual assistant. As you talk to it and use it in your mobile devices and PC, it automatically adds some important facts about you into a “Notebook”. This list is fully customizable to make Cortana work as you want it to while leaving all your private stuff in secret. As more and more users use Cortana in their Windows 10 devices, the virtual assistant will become even smarter to the point of handling more complicated queries without experiencing errors.
Multiple Device Modes Available
If you own a convertible device like Surface 3, you can switch between PC and Tablet Modes whenever you pop the screen out of its keyboard. This is made possible by a feature called “Continuum” which allows interface changes from PCs to Tablet modes. For instance, after you remove Surface 3’s screen from its keyboard base, a small prompt will appear asking you if you want switch to “Tablet Mode”. Just press it and all the apps and programs on your desktop will morph into their tablet equivalents.
Recently on the October update for the Windows 10 Technical Preview, a Windows 10 Action Center was added which contains a toggle button for changing between PC and Tablet Modes.
More to Watch Out For in Windows 10!
At present, Windows 10 is still being improved and developed to make it even more perfect for all types of users. The current technical release is meant for testers who can give feedback to Microsoft about some flaws that needs to be corrected but the public release is drawing near and the tentative schedule is by the second half of this year. Just stay tuned with use here on WindowsTechies.com to learn more about this brand new Windows operating system that’s now peeking on the horizon!