WINDOWS 10 NEWS

Windows 10 release date, updates, latest news, features and price: new build pictures leaked

  

Windows 10 is coming later this year, and Microsoft been steadily been revealing details of the new features the latest OS will contain. Here you can find out about all the latest confimed features, how to download the Technical Preview, and the latest news and leaks about Windows 10's price and release date.

Windows 10: at a glance

• - Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9926 is available to download free right now

• - Windows 10 Technical Preview 2 for phones is available now

• - A  Consumer Preview is expected in later this year and the full version of Windows 10 should be available in the autumn

• - Windows 10 will be a free upgrade available to download for all Window 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 users for a year after launch
  
  - Confirmed Windows 10 features include Cortana, new Spartan browser, Continuum, Xbox integration, DirectX 12 and Windows Holographic

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Windows 10: latest news

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   A fistful of screenshots allegedly from Windows 10 Technical Preview build 10022 have leaked online. As with the previous information about build 10022 (see 23 February), the leaks come from Russian site Wzor and, once again, don't really show anything massively new, other than the build number.
  What does this mean then? Well there are three options really: build 10022 is mainly about bug fixes and enhancements rather than new features, these are pictures of an early version of the build, or the images are fake.
  PC Pro is unable to confirm which, if any, of these possibilities is true. But with the next version of Windows 10 Technical Preview expected within the next four weeks we should find out soon enough.
  
  

Spartan coming with next Technical Preview

•  Spartan, the new browser which is one of the nicest-looking features of Windows 10, will be making its public debut in the next Technical Preview for Windows Insiders. This is apparently coming this month. 

Is Windows 10 Consumer Preview already with OEMs?

Pictures of two new Windows 10 preview builds have leaked online, one for enterprise and one for consumers.

The images were posted by Russian leakers WZor on Twitter, although they don't really show very much apart from the build numbers - 10022 and 10014 - with the former coming from the consumer build stream and the latter from the enterprise build stream.

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Windows 10 Technical Preview 10 for phones now available to download

•  Good news if you're a Windows phone user - you can now download the Windows 10 Technical Preview to your phone. If you haven't already, you will need to sign up to the Windows Insider program, which is free and also gives you access to the Technical Previews of Windows 10 on your desktop or laptop computer.
  Despite officially being called Windows 10 Technical Preview 2 for phones, this is the first version of Windows 10 that's been made available for phones running the Windows Phone OS.
   the progam manager for the Windows Fundamentals team, phones running Windows 10 Technical Preview will receive updates at roughly the same time as PCs and tablets, although it "may not always be the same day or the same build number, singe sometimes a bug will affect one [platform] but not the other and may take another build to fix it".
  He added that, as this is the earliest Windows preview Microsoft's ever made available for phones, users will "see some rough edges".

Is Windows 365 the future of Windows 10?

• Rumours that Windows could turn into a subscription-based service have hotted up thanks to a trademark filing from Microsoft. The submission was made to the US Patent and Trademark Office by Microsoft on 29 January this year and covers a whole range of features, including streaming and video on demand services, email and IM, and educational services.
  
  However, the most intriguing features listed are "operating software as a service (OSAAS) ... desktop-as-a-service (DAAS), cloud services ... [and] providing temporary use of non-downloadable software".
  
  
  
  A similar application has also been made in South Africa, but not in the UK, according to the Intellectual Property Office's online database.
  It has long been rumoured that Windows 10 would include some kind of cloud-based service, but Microsoft's announcement that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade (at least, for the first year) makes it somewhat unlikely Windows will be turning into a subscription-based service in the immediate term. 
  In our opinion, the remaining possibilities are a future evolution of Windows, an optional, business-focused service bundled with Azure (Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service are also mentioned in the filing), or Microsoft covering its back to make sure no one else jumps on the name first.

Windows 10 RTM set for June, general release shortly after

•  Windows 10 could find its way to manufacturers as early as June in a move to help capture important back to school/university sales in September.
  
  While it's still possible the June timeline will slip, Neowin has been informed that an RTM (release to manufacturing) build of Windows 10 should be rolling out in June, with a free update arriving for Technical Preview users too.
  While this means that those enrolled in the current 9926 build of Windows 10 will have the final version ahead of the general public, it's a sure sign that a general release can't be too far behind.
  Looking at the release of Microsoft's flagship device, the Surface Pro 3, June was the month of choice. Seeing as it's due for an update, it's not too hard to imagine it being the first Windows 10 device to hit market in June or July this year.
  
  

Leaked Windows Phone 10 screenshots

•  Chinese website, ITHome, has published scores of leaked screenshots from what appears to be a device running Windows Phone 10.
  
  
  
  Some of the more conclusive new features are the joystick embedded in the keyboard, the ability to align the keyboard left/right for one handed use, an enhanced notifications menu, and a stylish new quick settings menu.

18 patches issued for Windows 10

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  Microsoft has issued 18 patches for the Windows 10 Technical preview, 14 of which fix bugs that prevented apps from installing or loading properly, the system failing to load or going to sleep inappropriately, problems using virtual machines (VMs), and problems with display orientation
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  These in themselves will surely cheer Windows 10 Technical Preview users, but the update also includes four other goodies, including extended battery life, thanks to increased power efficiency, and rather more nebulous "reliability improvements" for VM live migrations, system crash prevention and preventing data corruption.
  A detailled list of the updates is available here.

January 21 special event

•  Microsoft revealed new details on what to expect from Windows 10 once it's released, and into the future. Catch up with the full presentation in the video below, although a note of caution - it is over two hours long. If you don't fancy sitting through the whole thing, use the "jump to" links above skip to our summaries and analysis of the juciest bits
  
  

Windows 10 release date

• Windows 10 will release this year and, while a fixed date hasn't yet been given, we believe that, based on previous Windows releases, 22 October is most likely. This is somewhat bolstered by rumours the release to manufacturing (RTM) date will be June or July this summer.
  Previous Windows release dates:

  	Released to manufacturing	General release
  Windows 8.1	27 August 2013	17 October 2013
  Windows 8	1 August 2012	26 October 2012
  Window 7	22 July 2009	22 October 2009
  Windows Vista	8 November 2006	20 January 2007
  Windows XP	24 August 2001	25 October 2001

  However, if you can't wait to get your hands on the new OS, you can join the "Insider Program", through which you can download a Technical Preview of Windows 10 and Windows 10 for phones before the official release. 

Windows 10 price

• Good news for everyone running Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1: Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade upon launch, providing you make the shift within 12 months.
  Windows Phone 8.1 users will also be able to upgrade to Windows 10 free for a year after launch, and yes, that is the full version of Windows 10.
  
  
  
  Microsoft is bringing a unified approach to its operating systems from now on, meaning the same OS will work across desktops, laptops, tablets, hybrids, phones, phablets and, eventually, Xbox, adjusting automatically for each device's screen size and automatically detecting if a keyboard and mouse are present.
  What's uncertain, however, is how Windows pricing will work in the future and Microsoft has been very vague on this matter.
  While clearly those moving either from older versions of Windows or from totally different operating systems will have to pay for a license, it's unclear if all further Windows updates will be free to existing customers, or if they will have to pay a subscription fee. All should be revealed at the official launch.
  
  
  

Windows 10's most important features (so far)

Windows 10: Windows Holographic and HoloLens

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  The biggest surprise from Microsoft's 21 January event was Windows Holographic. The software, which is built into Windows 10, allows developers to create virtual 3D environments which can be displayed to the user via an augmented reality headset, dubbed HoloLens.
  Microsoft gave potential use cases of space scientists exploring a virtual Martian landscape, totally immersive gaming, or architects and interior designers planning and visualising construction and décor.
  
  In an additional twist, a related piece of software, HoloStudio, will let users create a 3D, holographic model and then use a 3D printer to create it in real life.
  The whole system will be available within the Windows 10 timeframe as well, the company claimed. We look forward to seeing how this slightly surreal technology translates into real life.

Windows 10: Cortana

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  Microsoft's virtual personal assistant, Cortana, has been fully integrated into Windows 10 and has far more functionality than she's ever had in Windows Phone.
  According to Joe Belfiore, corporate VP of the Operating Systems Group in Microsoft, Cortana is able to learn about users over time, bringing together everything she knows about them to deliver reminders and suggestions in the Calendar, taskbar and new Spartan browser.
  As she's constantly connected to, and trawling the internet, she can deliver additional information on web pages when the user's browsing with the new Spartan browser. Belfiore gave the example of a restaurant, where Cortana automatically delivered information on the venue's menu, opening hours, and directions from his location.
  How useful (or annoying) this will be remains to be seen - we weren't the only ones to feel shades of Clippy in the sassy AI's attitude and functionality.
  
  

Windows 10: Spartan Browser

• After 20 years of service, Microsoft is killing off Internet Explorer in favour of a re-imagined browser, codenamed Spartan.
  
  Spartan’s Reading Mode is very similar to the Chrome Extension, Pocket, and allows users to save a page at the click of a button, from which it will be stored for reading later (even offline) on any device.
  A second feature that Spartan boasts is the ability for a user to annotate over web pages, sync the scribbles to OneDrive, and then share the pages or make them collaborative. If you can’t picture how this will work, think of what Samsung’s Galaxy Note phablets have done for the past few years.
  All in all, Spartan is a step in the right direction for Windows 10. Whether it will topple Chrome is yet to be seen.
  Recent benchmarking of the Spartan browser's rendering engine in build 9926 of Windows 10 shows that Spartan is no slouch, and runs on a fundamentally different engine than Internet Explorer ever did.
  However, Spartan can load the IE 11 engine when compatibility issues arise with older sites. In a sense this means that IE is still around, but really only as a part of Spartan to keep user experience in check when visiting outdated webpages.
  If you want to know more of the nitty-gritty details in regards to Spartan browser benchmarking
  Although Spartan doesn't feature in the current Technical Preview, it's rendering engine is available for use and a more complete version of Spartan will ship with the next version, likely to emerge before the end of March.
  
  

Windows 10: Xbox App and DirectX 12

Xbox is coming to Windows 10 in a big way, demonstrating Microsoft isn’t going to be giving up on the PC games market anytime soon.

The Xbox App, which comes pre-installed on Windows 10 PCs and tablets, is the place to go to see everything your friends are doing on Xbox Live.

It’s also where all of your games are stored and where you can boot up your Xbox One and stream games across your home network to any Windows 10 PC or tablet.

Thanks to feedback from development and the reception of the Xbox One, Windows 10 allows players to share their gameplay at the touch of a button, capturing the last few moments of play and saving it away to your Xbox Activity Feed, or your OneDrive if you prefer.

During Spencer’s segment at the 21 January event, we also got to see cross-play functionality between Xbox One and Windows 10 players. This means that, for the first time, games released on Xbox One and Windows 10 are completely native and don’t require special access to get them to interact with one another.

Windows 10 also seems to fully support Steam, which is a big draw for many PC gamers thanks to its immense library of games and simplicity. And games on Steam all work with the new features that Windows 10 offers.

DirectX 12 is also coming with Windows 10, allowing for even smoother gameplay and richer game worlds. Spencer also revealed that Unity, the most popular open-source game development engine around, will also be getting DirectX 12 support, so anyone can learn how to create games for Windows 10 platforms.

Windows 10: Surface Hub

Microsoft really wanted to remind us that Windows 10 isn’t all about improving usability for consumers, it’s also a very serious productivity tool - and what better way to demonstrate this than with a 4K, 84in tablet to hang on a boardroom wall.

The Surface Hub, as it's been called, is also available in a 55in version and is being pitched at the ultimate computer and screen for the boardroom.

The giant device comes with custom versions of Skype for Business and OneNote and is embedded with cameras, sensors and microphones, which Windows 10 uses to support both high-quality video and audio, as well as recognising gesture controls.

You can also use a smart pen, which comes with Smart Hub, to draw on the screen like a whiteboard, and you can share screens and interact with others viewing on computers and Surface Hubs too.

It’s an impressive piece of business kit, and despite being incredibly corporate and functional, something about it screams boardroom of the future.

Windows 10: Continuum

At TechEd Europe, Belfiore admitted the "different environment" for Modern apps in Windows 8 was a problem for desktop and PC users, saying those on a mouse and keyboard should have their "familiar UI".

To address that, Windows 10 will automatically adjust itself depending on the type of device it's running on, using a new system dubbed Continuum.

This will allow the new OS to offer a touch environment similar to the Start screen in Windows 8 for tablets, and the standard desktop when a keyboard and mouse are present.

Showing off an early build, Belfiore said the aim was for Windows 7 users to have a "familiar experience", while still bringing in Windows 8 features and apps.

Windows 10: Start menu

One of the biggest complaints about Windows 8 when it was first launched was the lack of a Start menu. Microsoft has apparently paid attention to these complaints and, in September last year, confirmed the Start menu would be making a comeback in Windows 10, but with a new "app pinning" feature. This incorporates the Start screen UI of Windows 8 into the beloved Start menu.

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  Apps that can be pinned include standard programs, as well as "universal" apps downloaded from the Windows Store, and can be used across any Windows device.
  Apps from the Windows Store will run on the desktop in their own window, and can be resized and adjusted as though they were classic apps.

Windows 10: New multitasking features

• Belfiore also demoed multitasking tools, including Snap Assist, which makes it easier to choose apps to snap together and suggests apps you may want to have open. You'll be able to snap up to four apps in a single window.
  
  A new task-view button will make it easier to switch between open files and desktops.
  
  
  Windows 10 will also let you create multiple desktops - for example, if you want a "work" desktop and a "personal" one, or desktops for different projects - which you can flip through to see what apps and files are open.
  Windows 10 also has a change for Command Prompt: you can now copy and paste into it, and select words and lines using the Shift key.
  For touch devices, the Charm bar will be staying, though Belfiore admitted it may "evolve" before Windows 10 is finished.

Windows 10: OneDrive

• Microsoft released Windows 8.1 with a OneDrive client application pre-installed on the operating system. However, in Windows 10, the company has reimagined how OneDrive and Windows can work together.
  First of all, yes, OneDrive still acts as a file share and sync service, and you can choose whichever documents, folders, pictures and files you want to save from your computer to Microsoft's cloud.
  Whatever you choose to upload to OneDrive will be accessible on any other Windows 10 (or, indeed, Windows 8.1) device, providing it's connected to the internet, as well as through the browser and through apps.
  Well, we say that - if, for some reason, there are certain files or folders you want to sync with some devices but not with others, you can easily set up selective OneDrive syncing for the new OS.
  OneDrive on Windows 10 also has some more powerful features than we've seen before.
  For example, you can use it to remotely access the files on your PC, to back-up your app settings and even save your start layout, favourites and passwords to the cloud (what could possibly go wrong).
  A new setting in Auto Play means you can also choose to automatically save photos and videos to OneDrive when external storage media, such as a USB stick or SD card, are plugged into the computer.
  Finally, there's integration with Windows 10's ubiquitous Cortana, which allows you to search for files and folder in OneDrive even if they're not synced with that particular device.
  Microsoft has promised further integration between OneDrive and other elements of Windows 10 in the future, but hasn't expanded yet on what these will be.