So Microsoft just held an event a few hours ago in San
Francisco to announce the newest iteration of its operating system – Windows.
But in a surprise move, the Redmond company skipped a number and adopted the
name Windows 10.
According to Microsoft, this version of Windows is their
most comprehensive platform ever, trying to merge not only the PC and tablet/smartphone
environments but also blurring the divide between the traditional desktop
interface with the Windows 8 (Metro) UI. Basically, the logic behind the design
of the new OS is to persuade existing users of Windows 7 to migrate to the
newer OS and make this transition as smoothly as possible.
For this reason, several changes have to be made. For
starters, the start menu is making its official comeback in this version of
Windows. But unlike its predecessors, the start menu will offer a combination of
classic and traditional apps. The snap feature has also been improved in order
to keep a fluid and cohesive feel regardless of what kind of app (classic or universal)
you are using.
There are also several new features that Microsoft aims to
help people be more productive on Windows 10. On one hand, there’s this Snap
Assist UI that shows users which apps are currently open and running (much like
Apple’s Expose feature).
As of the moment, Windows 10 is in the early stages of
development and there are still a lot of kinks to work out. According to
Microsoft, they will soon roll out preview builds in the coming weeks and are
inviting people join the Windows Insider Program to evaluate upcoming builds of
the OS.
Microsoft is planning a late 2015 release most likely at the
company’s BUILD conference in April.
