Microsoft backtracks on "nasty trick" of getting users to upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 10 at-a-glanceWindows 10 launched globally on 29 July 2015, with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users, as well as Windows Insiders, all starting to receive their free upgrade to the new OS. Here's our round-up of everything you need to know about Windows 10.
- Windows 10 started rolling out on 29 July 2015 as a phased release
- Read our full review of Windows 10 here
- Enterprise users can manage company-wide rollouts for Windows 10 updates
- Microsoft Edge replaces Internet Explorer as Windows 10's default browser
- Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 consumer edition users during the first year after launch
- If they don't upgrade within the year, consumers will be charged from £100
- Android and iOS apps will run on the new OS
- Windows 10: latest news
- Windows 10: release date
- Windows 10: different versions
- Windows 10: specs and features
- Windows 10: security
- Windows 10: price
- Windows: 10 updates
- Windows 10: will it be a success?
- Windows 10: how to download and install
Windows 10 latest news
25/05/2016: Microsoft has performed a U-turn on its controversial Windows 10 upgrade notifications that were tricking people into downloading the operating system.The tech giant has now decided to change its policy following customer feedback, with one critic describing the ploy to garner more Windows 10 users as a “nasty trick”.
Redmond had revamped its Windows 10 upgrade notifications so that, when users clicked on the ‘x’ in the corner of the pop-up to dismiss it, it also sent a message to the company that the user had requested a software download, and would schedule one in.
PC World called out Microsoft for employing the tactic, saying it was a cynical attempt to add to the 300 million devices now running Windows 10.
A Microsoft spokesperson told the BBC: “We've added another notification that confirms the time of the scheduled upgrade and provides the customer an additional opportunity for cancelling or rescheduling the upgrade.
"If the customer wishes to continue with their upgrade at the designated time, they can click 'OK' or close the notifications with no further action needed."
24/05/2016: Microsoft is tricking people into upgrading to Windows 10 with its pop-up notifications, it is claimed.
For months, Redmond has been pushing users into downloading its new operating system via a barrage of notifications, which users could dismiss by clicking the ‘x’ in the corner of the box.
It has seen success with this strategy, recently boasting that Windows 10 is running on 300 million devices.
However, Microsoft now wants to employ dirtier tactics to increase its userbase even further, according to PC World.
When people click ‘x’ to dismiss the new Windows 10 upgrade notifications, it actually sends a message to Microsoft that they want to install the operating system – and the users are not even notified about it.
23/05/2016: Windows 10 users will be able to switch between Internet Explorer 11 and Edge and back without interruption with the platform's Anniversary update, Microsoft has revealed.
Microsoft explained the feature has been introduced to appease business users - the only group of people it expects would use the older browser.
"We recognise that some enterprise customers have line-of-business applications built specifically for older web technologies, which require Internet Explorer 11," the company said.
The changes will replace Enterprise Mode in Windows 10, which allowed IT staff to limit IE 11's usage to certain applications that only worked on the browser.
At the moment, anyone switching from Edge to IE 11 when opening a page not supported in the newer web browser is presented with a message explaining Edge will switch to the legacy browser before loading up. The change means IE 11 will now open without pausing or displaying a message, making the transition smoother.
Microsoft also revealed its plans to launch a new group policy for IE 11, which will block users from accessing web pages via IE 11, unless they appear on the whitelist.
19/05/2016: Android users will now be able to see notifications from their phones and tablets on a Windows 10 desktop.
The latest version the Cortana for Android app brings the app notification synchronisation feature that users have been asking for a long time.
The feature was noticed by a Reddit user and could be part of the Windows 10 Anniversary update due this summer.
According to the Reddit thread, version 1.7.0.1021-enus-release of Cortana for Android adds Android notifications on Windows.
With Cortana for Android, users can see calls they have missed and will be able to respond to messages without having to change devices.
17/05/2016: Web notifications for the Microsoft Edge browser are to be included as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
A preview has been rolled out to the newest Insider Build of Windows 10, and Microsoft has detailed the feature on its developer blog.
Web notifications alert users to updates and activity from contacts and websites they use. These can take the form of message previews, news alerts and download completion alerts.
To keep the notifications consistent with other Windows 10 desktop furniture, the Edge notifications will utilise the Notification Platform. When a user clicks or taps a notification, they will be then be redirected to the source of the notification within the Edge browser.
These features are due to be included in Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, due this summer.
Further tweaks will be made to the system later. At present, notifications are displayed in the Action Center under the sole 'Microsoft Edge' category. In future the company intends to arrange them based on their originating website domains to offer better context for each notification. Microsoft is also looking into offline notifications.
More info about Windows Insider Preview, build 14.14342, and the web notifications for Edge can be found here.
12/05/2016: Microsoft is killing off Windows 10’s ability to share Wi-Fi passwords.
Its Anniversary Update will do away with Wi-Fi Sense this summer after Redmond pulled the feature from Insider previews, claiming not enough people use it.
Gabe Aul, corporate VP of the engineering systems team at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post that it was a simple cost vs demand decision.
“We have removed the Wi-Fi Sense feature that allows you to share Wi-Fi networks with your contacts and to be automatically connected to networks shared by your contacts,” he said.
“The cost of updating the code to keep this feature working combined with low usage and low demand made this not worth further investment. Wi-Fi Sense, if enabled, will continue to get you connected to open Wi-Fi hotspots that it knows about through crowdsourcing.”
06/05/2016: Microsoft has revealed 300 million devices are now running Windows 10, less than a year after the operating system's official launch in July 2015.
Yusuf Mehdi corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group highlighted some of the platform's key milestones in a blog post, including six billion queries made through Cortana and more than 144 million people using the Photos app since launch, and 63 billion minutes spent on Microsoft Edge in March alone.
"We’re pleased to see Windows 10 become one of the largest online services in less than a year," Mehdi wrote.
"Core to delivering our more personal computing vision, Windows 10 offers experiences that are familiar, safer and more secure, and more personal and productive – enabling innovative new experiences."
He said although the free upgrade offer will end on 29 July 2016, anyone who still wants to get their hands on the upgrade can do so by paying $119 for the Home edition or $199 for the Pro edition.
29/04/2016: In a blog post Microsoft has announced that Cortana will be rid of the option to use Google Chrome and Google search engine capabilities to complete its tasks.
The only search engine that will be used by Cortana will be Bing and the only browser that will be used is Edge, both of which are Microsoft products, which are integrated into Windows 10.
“Cortana was designed to work with Microsoft Edge and is powered by Bing,” Microsoft’s blog states.
Microsoft has claimed that this change of policy is to improve the experience for its users. As other search engines and browsers are not optimised to use Cortana properly.
“This includes scenarios like searching ‘get tickets to Rihanna show’ in the Cortana box, where Microsoft Edge opens to Bing, and Cortana finds the best tickets for your preferences and offers to purchase them on your behalf.”
Although it is still possible to change the settings of the default search engine and browser on Windows 10, Microsoft claims this update will create a better overall experience for the user.
“Our promise to you is that Windows 10 will provide you with great search results and a personalised, reliable search experience through Cortana and Microsoft Edge.”
28/04/2016: A weather report on a TV station in Des Moines, Iowa was interrupted by a pop-up box urging an upgrade to Windows 10.
Meteorologist Metinka Slater from CBS affiliate KCCI 8 News was live on air when the notification appeared.
The weather forecaster handled the situation calmly. “Ah, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 10. What should I do,” joked Slater. “Don’t you love when that pops up?”
You can see the video blooper here.
26/04/2016: Microsoft is experimenting with an app Handoff feature, teased at last month's developers conference, which will allow Windows 10 apps to connect to another device via Bluetooth and the cloud.
The company is currently testing apps, reports The Verge, based on its Xbox SmartGlass technology. It's thought that Cortana could also be used for specific apps, and Microsoft may not limit it to Windows 10 apps. iOS and Android apps may also be able to share data with Windows PCs.
Some Windows 10 testers on Reddit have reported settings for handoff in the latest builds of the Anniversary Update, indicating that more users will soon have access to the feature.
22/04/2016: The ability to send text messages from your Windows 10 devices is the top line feature of Microsoft’s latest OS mobile build.
Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 14327 has begun rolling out to Windows Insiders, and contains the ‘Message everywhere’ feature, which allows users to send and receive text messages to their Windows 10 PCs and handsets.
Microsoft also noted that it has removed Skype integration in its Messaging app, so it can “streamline your experience, replacing the integration with the Skype UWP Preview app for mobile in an upcoming build”.
More languages, including Spanish (Mexico), Portuguese (Brazil) and French (Canada), have been added to virtual assistant Cortana, specifically in this Windows 10 Mobile version.
Other additions in this preview build include fixes for launching isses with Facebook Messenger and apps like WeChat, Bluetooth tethering problems, and an issue where some users’ phones refused to turn on, becoming unresponsive.
You read more about the Windows 10 Mobile’s latest build on the Windows blog.
20/04/2016: New Mail and Calendar features roll out to Insiders
Windows 10 Insiders should now have a new set of Mail and Calendar features this week.
The preview update will allow Insiders to do things like open emails in new windows, and view .eml attachments and save messages in the .eml format.
Microsoft said the upgrade will roll out to all users in the next few weeks.
14/04/2016: Microsoft has revealed a collection of new educational features coming to Windows 10 in its Anniversary Update at its annual Build conference.
For IT administrators and teachers, these include faster and simpler set-up for Windows 10 Education, the ability to schedule updates for specific times when computers will not be in use, secure assessment tools and an "education ready" Windows Store.
Students, on the other hand, will experience faster login times, a more tailored Cortana experience and Windows Ink, which allows students to draw on their devices or digital whiteboards, and create sticky notes.
Explaining the integration of Ink, in particular, Microsoft said in a blog post: "Windows Ink enables students to ... merge their analog thoughts with their digital device."
"Many studies indicate students learn better by writing - for example, diagramming before solving a science problem can lead to 36 per cent higher scores. With Windows Ink, students can do mathematical equations, compose music, and keep their notes organised - all in Windows," the company said.
Additionally, the company will be launching an early access program for Minecraft: Education Edition in June. More information on the programme can be found here.
14/04/2016: Microsoft has launched a virtual version of Windows to show off the operating system’s features to users in an interactive environment.
This virtual version of the OS, which Microsoft is calling a Windows 10 ‘emulator’, exists as a new web portal containing information about its features, apps, and video presentations.
There are 11 topics on the site, which include an introduction to Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana, how to personalise your Windows 10 desktop and how the new OS can help keep you organised.
The site also offers details about the Windows 10 experience on tablets and mobiles.
Microsoft is currently directing visitors to the demo via the main Windows homepage.
12/04/16: Microsoft plans to add a whole bunch of new features to Windows 10 that will enhance its usability in the workplace.
Microsoft Passport - Will allow users to unlock their computers via Android phone, Windows Phone or Windows Band. This will be available to use in place of Windows Hello’s facial and fingerprint scanning qualities.
Continuum - Creates a feature that will give the Windows Phone the ability to act as a substitute computer. Keyboards, monitors, and projectors will be able to be used with the phone.
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection- Is an update that will be used as an upgrade to Microsoft’s currently available security system.
PC to PC casting - Which will create the ability to share from one Windows 10 device to another seamlessly, which is aimed at being used for meetings.
Additionally a new website titled “Windows Roadmap” has been created by Microsoft to display beta versions of several of Microsoft’s new Windows 10 features.
In upcoming versions of Windows 10, such as the Anniversary edition which is to be released this summer, Windows Hello and Windows Ink will be free features that will be packaged along with the operating system.
Windows Hello - Will enable users to use facial recognition or fingerprint recognition as a replacement for passwords.
Windows Ink - Will allow users to write notes on touch-screen devices with the use of a special electronic pen, Windows 10 will be able to recognize and react to certain elements of the writing.
It is also rumored that Microsoft is adding more features to Cortana with the goal of making her more interactive.
11/04/2016: Windows 9, Microsoft’s operating system that never was, has cropped up in a recently published documentation.
Microsoft has never explained why it chosen to skip from Windows 8.1 straight to Windows 10, but a new patent filing, first spotted by Twitter user @h0x0d, suggests a reason behind the move.
Windows 9 – once known as ‘Threshold’, according to the filing – was originally set to be the version that launched last year, while this year’s coming Redstone update – due to be rolled out in July – was pipped to be Windows 10.
An excerpt from the patent, mentioning Windows 9, reads: “Some discussion herein is derived from some Windows 9 ‘Threshold’ documentation. Windows 9 is software implemented by Microsoft Corporation, and along ‘Threshold’ refers generally in marketing or other materials (from third parties as well as Microsoft) to a version of the Microsoft Windows software (marks of Microsoft Corporation).”
There are still no clues to why Microsoft chose to drop its plans for Windows 9 – or, at the very least, marketing last year’s version of Windows as such.
05/04/2016: Microsoft's forthcoming Anniversary Update for Windows 10 will introduce a so-called 'dark theme' for the operating system.
This will paint everything in a darker colour scheme, apart from any apps or features your personalised settings have assigned other colours too, reports Thurrott.com.
It is not yet clear when this feature will reach Windows 10 Insiders, but the publication said it will apply system-wide when it is introduced.
04/04/2016: Microsoft has unveiled some proposed changes to the Start menu in Windows 10 that would bring the All Apps list to more prominence. It also turns items such as Power and Settings into burger menus to make better use of space.
The changes were revealed by Jen Gentleman, Microsoft software engineer on her Twitter page.
Microsoft is welcoming comments on the redesign in its Feedback hub. It is not known if and when the changes will see the light of day in a future build of the OS.
31/03/2016: Microsoft will bring biometric security to apps and the Edge browser in its Windows 10 Anniversary Update this summer.
Terry Myerson, VP of the Windows and Devices Group, outlined four new features the update will introduce when it arrives, which is expected to be in July.
The first feature is an expansion of Microsoft’s biometric security tool, Windows Hello, to Windows apps and Edge, replacing passwords.
Windows Ink will let users write on their devices as they do on paper, according to Microsoft, and emerges as a challenger to Apple’s Pencil. It is integrated into Maps, Edge, and Office, and developers can build it into their apps with just two lines of code. Writing words such as tomorrow triggers Windows 10 to create a calendar reminder.
The Anniversary Update will make Cortana available from the lock screen, and developers will get full access to the voice assistant’s features within their own apps.
Lastly, Xbox One devices can become developer kits with Xbox Dev Mode, letting anyone with one of the consoles become a developer.
30/03/2016: Windows 10 now has 270 million users, Microsoft has confirmed at its annual Build conference in San Francisco.
Terry Myerson, VP of the Windows and Devices Group, told the audience at Build 2016 that Windows 10 represents the fastest ever adoption for any of Microsoft's operating systems.
He said: "Windows 10 has been out for eight months and is being actively used by 270 million people. Customers are spending over 75 billion hours on Windows 10", adding that Microsoft is "on track to reach our ambitious goal of one billion Windows 10 devices in the next few years".
However, he did not reveal enterprise adoption rates specifically.
30/03/2016: Microsoft released another update for the preview version of Windows 10’s impending Redstone update over the Easter weekend.
Preview Build 14295 fixes flaws present in the Redstone previews for Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile, the first of which is expected to land in June this year.
Gabe Aul, corporate VP of engineering at Microsoft, outlined some of the bugs the build fixes for PC in a blog post, including a flaw preventing the Xbox app and Xbox Live apps and games from signing in.
It also fixed a bug stopping Kaspersky tools like Anti-Virus and Internet Security from working in previous builds.
On Mobile, Aul said the new build solves a problem where phone restores failed to install apps from your backup’s apps list, leaving grey tiles in their places.
Windows Insiders on the Fast ring can now test out the fixes and explore the new build.
23/03/2016: Window 10 Mobile’s inability to natively display some HTML emails has been corrected in a new software build that’s started rolling out to selected handsets, Windows Central has reported.
Mail & Calendar build 17.6769.40522 – reportedly seen on the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, so far – fixes the issue of botched HTML emails formatting in the Outlook app.
Currently, when HTML emails are viewed on the handsets, images protrude from the screen and text disappears beyond its edges. This means users must pinch to shrink the email down to a smaller size and scroll sideways so its content can be viewed.
The new update renders HTML emails as they should be viewed, with the images and text adjusted to fit the headset’s screen.
The update so far appears to target only the models above, but new builds will likely include this feature for other Windows 10 Mobile devices, too.
22/03/2016: OneDrive backup on Windows 10 could be getting a host of improved features in the near future.
According to a leaked build seen by Windows expert Paul Thurrott, an upcoming version of Windows 10 could feature the ability to toggle backups of data like account settings, passwords, apps and start menu layouts on and off.
This would give users much more granular control over the data that OneDrive stores, and allow them to fine-tune their personal storage.
Alongside that, Thurrott also suggests that full device backup functionality could be on the way. Although currently not a feature Microsoft offers, Thurrott suggests that it could be part of the company's move towards platform universality.
The introduction of the ability to duplicate entire local drives would also explain OneDrive's recent removal of unlimited cloud storage for Office 365 subscribers, he says, as it would entail vast spikes in customer data consumption.
21/03/2016: Many PCs running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 have begun automatically upgrading to Windows 10 without the user's consent, according to reports from individual consumers and businesses alike.
Many affected users have taken to Twitter or Reddit to voice their complaints, with one user (bnned) writing: "Yep, afk and saw this and saw this message box that said something like 'Your update is ready! Restarting and installing in 13 minutes.' If I made myself a meal or watched tv, I would have had Windows 10.
"Oh, and the best part is how they hid the 'Decline' button in the more info button."
After an initial notification some days in advance, users are given another alert 60 minutes before the scheduled upgrade time and, if they do not manually reschedule or cancel, the upgrade will begin.
A company blog post published last year stated: "Customers continue to be fully in control of their devices, and can choose to not install the Windows 10 upgrade or remove the upgrade from Windows Update (WU) by changing the WU settings."
Back in February, Microsoft decided to switch the Windows 10 update from optional to recommended for security reasons, after which users were informed that updates would be applied automatically. They were, however, also assured that they would be asked for permission.
17/03/2016: Windows 10 Mobile could be rolling out for selected devices today, according to reports.
Prolific leakster Evan Blass, writing for VentureBeat, claimed that 17 March has been pegged as the date for the first wave of updates for legacy Lumia devices.
Sources associated with the rollout apparently said that the initial batch of updates would be delivered on a 'pull' rather that 'push' basis.
This means that users will need to manually update their devices, rather than Microsoft pushing the updates out through notifications.
Microsoft is widely expected to update its device portfolio in stages, presumably starting with its most popular phones first.
These reports have apparently been confirmed by T-Mobile Croatia, according to NokiaMob (translated), which has also published a list of the Lumia models that will be first in line to make the jump to Windows 10 Mobile.
This chimes closely with a list that Microsoft itself published - the only outliers are that T-Mobile claims the Lumia 1520 flagship will receive the update while Microsoft has made no mention of this device.
Aside from this, both lists include the Lumia 435, 535, 635 (1GB RAM model), 640, 640XL, 735, 830 and 930. Microsoft also states that the Lumia 430, 532 and 540 will be included in the initial upgrade run.
15/03/2016: Microsoft has been forced to deny that Windows 10 is installing on users' computers without permission.
Users have taken to social media to complain that the OS upgrade has been forced on them. One Reddit thread has had over 3,000 comments about the update.
In a statement, Microsoft said: “as we shared in late October on the Windows Blog, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10. As stated in that post, we have updated the upgrade experience to make it easier for customers to schedule a time for their upgrade to take place.
"Customers continue to be fully in control of their devices, and can choose to not install the Windows 10 upgrade or remove the upgrade from Windows Update by changing the Windows Update settings.”
It added that reports that Windows 10 was being forced on users were "not accurate".
10/03/2016: While the main release of Windows 10 Redstone may not be coming until June, Windows Insiders may be about to get a look at one of its key features - extension support for Edge.
Windows 10 build 14284 will be the first Redstone release for Insiders and will include support for Edge extension support, according to WinBeta. The website claims the release is just days or weeks away, according to its sources, and will land ahead of the company's Build conference, which starts on 30 March.
08/03/2016: Microsoft has pushed back a planned Windows 10 upgrade that was due later this year, apparently to ensure a new swathe of devices run it out-of-the-box.
The Redstone 2 update was set for release in November, but now will not come out until spring 2017, Winbeta revealed last week.
While Windows 10 is the last operating system Microsoft says it will produce, it does bundle new features together in regular updates throughout the year.
Redstone 1 is due to land in June and succeeds the last major update, 'Threshold 2', which rolled out in November last year.
ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley followed up this week to say that anonymous sources told her the delay is to ensure a new wave of Windows 10 devices run the latest version of the operating system.
01/03/2016: Windows 10 adoption continued to grow in February, running on 14.86 per cent of desktop PCs by the end of the month.
However, that is only 1.21 per cent higher than its usage in January, after growing by just 1.78 per cent between December and January, according to figures recorded by StatCounter.
Windows 7 remains the dominant desktop operating system, the research site revealed, with its adoption declining by less than one per cent from January to stand at 46 per cent last month.
Other declining Microsoft OSes include Windows 8.1, whose share of desktops fell to just 11.43 per cent in February, while XP, support for which expired in April 2014, dropped to 7.61 per cent of the market.
Microsoft claims Windows 10 now runs on more than 200 million devices though HP Inc CEO Dion Weisler blamed the OS for the vendor's falling PC sales in the three months to December 2015.
26/02/2016: Windows Universal Apps will soon be coming to the Xbox One, Microsoft has revealed.
CEO Satya Nadella confirmed the news in front of an audience of developers at Madrid's dotNet conference, according to Spanish site Microsoft Insider.
While Nadella refused to specify when the new apps would be arriving, many have speculated that they will come as part of Xbox's major update, due out in the Summer.
The focus is likely to be on social and entertainment apps like Twitter and Netflix, rather than Microsoft's Office apps.
However, the announcement that the company is bringing mouse support to the console could mean that traditional productivity apps are still on the way.
22/02/2016: Online piracy could be helping raise Windows' market share, it has been reported.
Without the presence of high-quality copies of Microsoft's latest OS available for download online, the number of people using Linux would rise 50-65 per cent, a paper by Norwegian economics researcher Arne Rogde Gramstad proposes. This would mean Linux would have an average 1.5-1.65 per cent usage share, as opposed to the 1 per cent it has now.
In contrast, if piracy were to increase by one per cent in an average country, Linux would lose around 0.5 per cent of its market share, the report said.
It is currently free to upgrade a machine running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, and will be for until summer 2016. After this, UK users will need to pay a license fee of £100.
Windows 10 Mobile also made a surprise appearance at MWC 2016 with the HP Elite X3, which is aimed specifically at business users and can become a laptop when paired with a Mobile Extender dock.
18/02/2016: Microsoft has rolled out its latest system update for Windows 10 Mobile devices, which includes Bluetooth connectivity improvements and tweaks to Microsoft Edge.
Besides its standard stability improvements, update 10.0.10586.107 features Bluetooth connectivity improvements for cars and other accessories, improvements to PDF rendering and navigation in the Microsoft Edge browser, and more accurate battery usage with Iris Recognition for Windows Hello.
The latest rollout also changes the update process, requiring phones to be plugged in when downloading and preparing software updates.
Microsoft has used the opportunity to issue fixes for errors identified in Outlook and BitLocker Recovery, too, as well as patching a bug causing some phones to suffer from extended download periods.
To manually check for updates on your Windows 10 Mobile, tap Settings > Update & security > Phone update > Check for updates.
15/02/2016: Hulu has launched its first universal app for Windows 10, allowing users to view the video streaming service on smartphones, tablets and PCs.
The new universal Hulu app also features built-in voice support via Cortana, giving users the ability to navigate by voice commands, such as “Hulu watch the latest episode of Empire” or “Hulu add Family Guy to queue”.
Hulu was previously available on Windows 10 for PCs, 8.1 for tablets as well as for Windows Phone 8 handsets. But today’s update adheres to the standards of Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform and means that the same app works across devices, adapting as necessary.
Microsoft’s UWP includes the firm’s games console, Xbox One, but Hulu has not included support for it in this initial release.
The Hulu streaming service is currently only available only available in the US and Japan. The company had planned to launch in the UK and Ireland in September 2009, but a lack of contracts led it to postpone the roll out. Since then, rival service Netflix has dwarfed Hulu’s modest subscribers base, which is just under nine million.
IT Pro has contacted Hulu for an update on the service’s UK availability.
02/02/2016: Windows 10 will now be downloaded to all Windows 7 and 8 computers where the user has specified for updates to be applied automatically. However, the user will still be asked whether they want the update to be installed before Microsoft takes charge of their machine and overwrites older versions of the operating system.
The change has occurred following Microsoft's decision to switch the update from optional to recommended, meaning it's a better bet if you want to keep your computer safeguarded against current and future security risks.
However, if you've accepted Microsoft's recommendation and aren't happy with the update, you do have 31 days to roll back to your older version of the operating system.
Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and devices group, said: “If you are on a metered connection on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, then you have the option of turning off automatic updates. We strongly discourage this in today’s connected world because of the constant risk of internet threats.”
02/01/2016: Windows 10 now runs on more desktop PCs than Windows 8.1 and Windows XP, the latest figures show.
Microsoft’s final operating system is running on 11.85 per cent of the world’s desktops, according to research group NetMarketShare.
Its figure is an improvement on the 9.96 per cent it recorded in December 2015, despite PC sales plunging at the end of last year.
Both 8.1 and XP were beating Windows 10 in December, holding 10.3 per cent and 10.9 per cent of the market respectively, but fell below Windows 10 last month, with 8.1 growing by just 0.1 per cent.
XP, meanwhile, increased its hold by half a per cent to reach 11.42 per cent of the market, despite Microsoft killing support for the aged operating system in April 2014.
Microsoft claims Windows 10 is running on more than 200 million devices.
28/01/2016: Microsoft has updated its Xbox beta app for Windows 10 with new social features that bring its functionality closer to the experience offered by its games console, Xbox One.
There are six key features on the way to the app this month, which include: access to the new Avatar Store, the Xbox News tab, improvements to the Trending tab, a Suggested Friends tab, tweaks to the activity feed, and additional functions in the compact mode for the app.
The return of Avatars, which made their debut on the Xbox 360 in 2008, will be cause enough for some to celebrate. These virtual caricatures, designed by Microsoft’s UK studio, Rare, offered users a way to express themselves through facial expressions, hair styles and clothing on the 360, but disappeared completely with the launch of the Xbox One in 2013.
Elsewhere, users will be able to see a shortlist of friend suggestions, in any scenario, in relation to the games they’ve played. The main Activity Feed will also display content from the Trending page and friend suggestions.
The Xbox Beta app launched last September as means for Microsoft to preview updates and collect feedback on new features before they are released to the general public on the full Xbox app for Windows 10.
Microsoft’s tentative embrace of gaming on its latest operating system has gradually been getting more serious. In July 2015, the company released the ability to home stream between Xbox One and PC.
26/01/2016: A new Windows 10 Mobile Insider build, 10586.71, has started to roll out to those enrolled in the Fast Ring of the programme, according to reports.
Italian website Aggiornamenti Lumia first spotted the coming update on Sunday, which was allegedly leaked to the site from Microsoft's internal servers by an unnamed source, claiming it would roll out on Tuesday.
Windows Central also said it has seen some evidence confirming the cumulative update has started to roll out, although it seems to be limited to the Lumia 950XL at this time.
Unusually, however, there is currently no word from Microsoft as to what this update contains.
25/01/2016: Microsoft is giving its personal assistant, Cortana, access to more email and calendar data to make it better at everyday scheduling.
Microsoft Research has helped Cortana improve to the point that it can remind users of meetings and commitments made based on email conversations.
It can also let them know about any meeting requests that are outside of their usual schedule, according to Microsoft's group programme manager for Cortana, Marcus Ash.
“As we look forward, we will continue to invest in areas that truly reflect the capabilities of a real-life assistant, like proactively reminding you about the things you have to do without you even asking, getting you to a meeting on time or helping to track and manage your calendar,” he added.
“We’re incredibly excited about the possibilities with Cortana. As we look at what a real-life personal assistant can do, we know we’re just scratching the surface of how Cortana can help you be more productive.”
20/01/2016: A recent report by Adaptiva has revealed that 63 per cent of enterprises are planning to move their systems to Windows 10 by the end of this year and 40 per cent of IT decision makers have already moved at least half their services to the operating system.
This rush to the latest version of Windows has caused heightened demand for the Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager 2016 (ConfigMgr 2016), Adaptiva explained and almost two-thirds of those asked said deployment, updating, and management of Windows 10 was their biggest reason for choosing to upgrade from ConfigMgr 2012 to ConfigMgr 2016.
With news that Windows 10 service branch updates will not be supported in the older version of ConfigMgr, 86 per cent of companies said they were motivated to upgrade their systems in advance of the switch off.
“The survey results underscore the surge in Windows 10 interest we are seeing from enterprises as well as the concerns they have about keeping pace with the frequent updates,” said Jim Souders, chief operating officer at Adaptiva.
“The new Microsoft ConfigMgr and Windows 10 releases are ushering in a need for a more automated, intelligent approach to systems management that reduces the time and complexity necessary to keep software and systems secure and up to date.”
18/01/2016: An amendment to Microsoft’s Windows support policy removes support for older versions of Windows on the latest PC hardware.
This will prevent users from downgrading to Windows 7 or 8.1 on the latest Intel Core processors, such as Skylake. It will also cause trouble for enterprises that rely on hardware, old or new, to run previous versions of Windows for business purposes.
In an announcement about its new support policy, Microsoft argued that redesigning Windows 7 subsystems for new generations of silicon processors would “introduce churn into the Windows 7 code base”.
New silicon generation chips are on the way, and Microsoft said Windows 10 will be “the only supported Windows platform” on the upcoming Intel Kaby Lake, Qualcomm 8996 and AMD Bristol Ridge silicon processors.
Microsoft has promised to continue to support Windows 7 for security, reliability and compatibility through to 14 January 2020 on previous generation silicon chips. Windows 8.1 will receive the same support until 10 January 2023.
Users upgrading to selected Skylake devices this year will be able to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8.1 during a limited 18-month support period.
But Microsoft’s decision to remove the compatibility of its legacy operating systems will cause concern for many of its enterprise customers.
13/01/2016: Microsoft released its first batch of security and stability updates for Windows 10 yesterday.
Among the updates is a patch for a significant flaw in Remote Desktop Server for Windows 10 that could allow a malicious user to remotely log into password-less accounts.
This round of patches also included the final set of security updates for Internet Explorer, which Microsoft ceased development on this week.
In addition, Microsoft’s Windows 10-based IoT and mobile OS have also been updated.
Meanwhile, HTC has confirmed that HTC 8X users will not receive the Windows 10 Mobile update for their devices. The update is due to roll out for other Windows Phone 8 handsets, however.
11/01/2016: A Microsoft enthusiast has tweaked the appearance of the company’s Windows 10 Mobile user interface, improving it with a number of changes he made in a proposed redesign.
The designer, Robson Jobs, started by making the tiles larger, and transparent, but the biggest change to Redmond’s own design might be his interactive tiles. Users would be able to slide the tile to read more news in a news app, stop playing a song, or skip to another song.
He also overhauled the Action Center, getting rid of the opaque background and including widgets for media playback, before changing the multitasking view to get rid of a 4x4 display of open apps, to an iOS-like display of one app at a time, with the user dragging left or right to see what else is open.
All his proposals can be seen here.
08/01/2016: Microsoft is currently developing a SIM that lets Windows 10 users hook into a national data network.
The card, news of which was first unveiled by TheNextWeb, would connect via an app already available in the Microsoft store to a data network, the publication reported.
While the Cellular Data app is free, users will have to pay for the network connection using their Microsoft account information, the app description reads.
But this means they would not be tied into a fixed contract with a mobile carrier, simply buying and using data as they need it.
It is not clear which markets this service will be available in, but domestic plans will be available first before international roaming is introduced.
05/01/2016: Windows 10 is now running on more than 200 million devices, according to Microsoft.
Redmond claimed the new figure is evidence of an accelerating adoption rate, saying 40 per cent of these devices moved to its latest operating system after Black Friday, in November 2015.
Yusuf Mehdi, corporate VP of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group, said Windows 10 boasts the fastest growth trajectory of any release of the operating system, 140 per cent faster than Windows 7 and nearly 400 per cent quicker than 8.
He added: “We are also seeing accelerating and unprecedented demand for Windows 10 among enterprise and education customers.
“As of today, more than 76 per cent of our enterprise customers are in active pilots of Windows 10, and we now have over 22 million devices running Windows 10 across enterprise and education customers.”
In terms of time, people spent 11 billion hours on Windows 10 in December, Mehdi claimed.
Breaking that down into Windows 10’s specific programmes, people used the Edge browser for a cumulative 44.5 billion minutes, according to Redmond, and viewed 82 billion photos in the Photo app.
Voice assistant Cortana, meanwhile, has answered 2.5 billion questions from Windows 10 users.
04/01/2016: Microsoft could roll out Windows 10 Mobile as early as 12 January, it is claimed.
The rumour comes from NokiaPowerUser, later reported by Neowin, citing an anonymous source who claims Microsoft will make some announcements around Windows 10 Mobile on that date.
The story appeared on the same day as a telling tweet from Microsoft’s Lumia Help Twitter account, which said: “Win 10 Mobile will become available soon. Lumia 950 & 950 XL ship with Win 10, w/ additional devices to follow shortly.”
Redmond is allegedly preparing to roll out Windows 10 Mobile to older devices running 8.1, according to Neowin, which said it is not sure whether carriers must approve this upgrade or not.
Windows 10 growth is slowing, according to software statistics tracker Net Applications (reported by International Business Times), which found that the number of devices running the operating system grew just 1.1 per cent between November and December 2015, a decrease of 0.2 per cent on October to November's stats.
18/12/2015: Microsoft is to produce a version of Windows 10 especially for the Chinese government. The customised version will include "government approved" anti-virus and use Baidu instead of Bing as a search engine and Chinese-selected antivirus software.
In a blog post, Microsoft said that it had set up a new joint venture to "license, deploy, manage and optimize Windows 10 for China’s government agencies and certain state-owned enterprises and provide ongoing support and services for these customers."
"The new joint venture which is subject to regulatory approval in China and is provisionally called C&M Information Technologies, will be based in Beijing and will serve government agencies, as well as state-owned enterprises in key infrastructure fields such as energy, telecommunications, and transportation."
It now looks like Windows 10 will not be pushed to existing Windows Phone 8.1 devices in December. The date for the upgrade has now been pushed back until January.
"This November we introduced Windows 10 to phones including brand new features such as Continuum and Universal Windows Apps with the introduction of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL. The Windows 10 Mobile upgrade will begin rolling out early next year to select existing Windows 8 and 8.1 phones," said a Microsoft spokesman in a statement to Thurrott.
Microsoft still plans to bring Windows 10 Mobile to the following devices - Lumia 430, 435, 532, 535, 540, 635 (1GB), 640, 640 XL, 735, 830, 930. At present, only Microsoft’s Lumia 950 and the 950 XL sport the updated mobile OS.
14/12/2015: Rumours have begun to emerge that the release of Windows 10 Redstone - the major 2016 update to Microsoft's latest operating system - will be coming to Windows Phone 10 Insiders imminently.
The build was discovered by BuildFeed and is apparently still in internal testing. Neowin was told by a source that the build could be coming to Windows Phones soon, but, as the website points out, there are still a lot of bugs to iron out with the current release, which raises some skepticism over an imminent release.
Additionally, it would, in IT Pro's option, be very surprising if Redstone came to Windows Phone 10 before Windows 10 proper.
11/12/2015: Windows 10 users can now use Windows Hello with Kinect v2, allowing them to securely sign into their devices with just their face.
This is done by scanning with infrared light that can detect minute details in the individual user's face, but previously only owners of Windows 10 devices with specific IR cameras installed were able to use the feature.
Now, those with a Kinect v2 can set it up to log in to Windows 10 by simply downloading the preview version of the Kinect for Windows driver and changing a registry setting, reports Neowin. Full instructions can be found on Channel 9.
Other apps are also updating to include support for Windows Hello, with iHeartRadio finally releasing a Windows 10 Mobile version of its music app. For Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL users, however, support for Windows Hello authentification has also been added.
Others rumours, reported by Neowin, suggest that Microsoft wants to extend Cortana's reach across Windows 10 applications like Office 365 with its Redstone update.
8/12/2015: Microsoft is becoming ever more heavy-handed in its attempts to get Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10, it would appear.
Josh Mayfield is a software engineer who created the GWX Control Panel app, which prevents the Get Windows 10 applet (seen in the image at the top of this Latest News section) from appearing and also blocks the system from automatically upgrading to Windows 10. He told Computerworld: "Over Thanksgiving weekend I started getting reports that the Windows Update 'AllowOSUpgrade' setting was getting flipped back on on a number of peoples' PCs, and it keeps re-setting itself at least once a day if they switch it back off."
"This is new behavior, and it does leave your PC vulnerable to unwanted Windows 10 upgrade behavior," he added.
Mayfield believes all this is a precursor to a much stronger Windows 10 push from Microsoft, as the applet is getting harder and harder to block. Indeed, it's already known that at the beginning of 2016 Windows 10 will become a recommended update, meaning anyone who has their system set to automatically accept recommended updates - the safest option for most people, as these updates are normally bug fixes and security patches - could find themselves being asked to complete the installation process, rather than choosing to start it themselves.
3/12/2015: Windows 10 Mobile for Business will reach its end of life on 9 January 2018, it has been revealed. Both the enterprise mobile OS and Windows 10 Mobile for Consumer were released on 16 November this year and will, according to Microsoft, continue to receive updates automatically for two years.
Of course, end of life dates can be flexible, and "end of mainstream support" doesn't mean the end of support altogether - indeed a review note accompanying the lifecycle information states support will last for "a minimum of 24 months" and there is no extended support end date listed.
Additionally, whenever support finally ends, it almost certainly will not mark the end of Windows 10 Mobile. Rather, it's likely this is when a large update, such as Redstone.
Windows 10 Mobile has also come in for criticism from former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
According to Bloomberg, Ballmer criticised his successor, Satya Nadella, when he told an audience member the company was trying to address the problem of a "lack of key apps" by encouraging Windows developers to create Universal apps.
Ballmer reportedly interrupted Nadella, saying "that won't work", adding the company should allow Windows Phone "to run Android apps" - a plan that was rumoured to have been in the works, but which was recently shelved.
Microsoft backtracks on "nasty trick" of getting users to upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 10 release date
Windows 10 started to roll out to consumers on 29 July 2015, as Microsoft announced at the beginning of June.The news of a July release came as little surprise to Microsoft watchers. The company had stated the release would come this summer, and AMD's CEO Lisa Su tipped the world off to a July launch thanks to a slip of the tongue during an earnings call in April.
The first end users to get the finished version of the product were the five million Windows 10 Insiders using the operating system in a preview. Following that, Redmond began offering the upgrade to Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users.
Volume licensing customers are able to download Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education from the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC).
System requirements for Windows 10 can be found here.
Fast and slow track releases
Windows Insider Program subscribers can sign up to either the Fast Ring or Slow Ring of releases. As the names indicate, the Fast Ring receives builds as soon as they become available. This has the benefit of allowing users to get their hands on the latest build straight away, but the disadvantage of having more bugs.Those on the Slow Ring will not receive builds for a while after they become available to the Fast Ring, but they will be more polished with fewer performance issues or potential vulnerabilities. It is also possible to move between the two if you find Fast Ring too buggy or Slow Ring too slow.
Windows 10 different versions
As with its predecessors, Windows 10 is available in various different versions: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise.
Windows 10 Mobile, which had until now been known as Windows 10 for Phones, "is designed to deliver the best user experience on ... smartphones and small tablets", according to Microsoft. It will have many of the same features as Windows 10 Home although Continuum will only be available on large mobile devices.
Windows 10 Pro is aimed at small businesses and includes all the features of Windows 10 Home plus device and app management, data protection services, and support for remote and mobile working.
Windows 10 Home, Mobile and Pro are eligible for a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1, and Windows Phone 10 will be made available to Windows Phone 8 users with the appropriate hardware within the first year after launch.
Windows 10 Enterprise
Microsoft is doing everything it can to ensure that Windows 10 retains its core market of enterprise users.One of the major shake-ups that Windows 10 will bring to the standard Windows formula is the system of regular, incremental updates, rather than large periodic overhauls.
However, a constant series of rolling upgrades can be a huge headache for IT departments. In order to combat this, Microsoft has introduced Update for Business, which allows IT managers to fine-tune which devices and systems in their company receive Windows updates at which time.
The tool, which was announced at Microsoft's Ignite conference in early May, allows the specification of maintenance windows in business environments, which can be used to designate when and when not to apply updates. This ensures that systems will be available at critical times and that machines can be unobtrusively kept up to date.
Microsoft has also addressed potential compatibility queries, stating that the new tools will fully integrate with existing management software like System Center and Enterprise Mobility Suite. This will include support for Azure Rights Management in Office Mobile "with the Windows 10 Enterprise release in the fourth quarter of 2015".
Additionally, Windows 10 will let users apply software updates and app downloads by utilising a network of other Windows 10 users, essentially peer-to-peer updates.
However, the P2P model could raise security issues, with users potentially downloading updates from PCs whose safety hasn't been verified by Microsoft, so there will also be the usual model of having Windows Update servers spit out upgrades straight to your device.
Project A2 (pronounced A-squared), a mobile-centric product that aims to speed up business adoption of Windows 10, has been announced by VMWare.
The product deploys VMWare's application delivery software to aid IT departments in moving physical Windows applications into the cloud, and EMM software AirWatch to manage applications and devices.
Windows 10 Enterprise was available for bulk order as of 1 August.
In early September, Dell agreed to sell the Surface Pro range alongside its own tablet offerings, as Microsoft pushes the Windows 10-running device at the enterprise.
The hardware giant will start selling the tablet in its US and Canada stores from October, before selling it through Dell.com/Work later in the year. The partnership will be rolled out to 28 other geographies starting in early 2016.
Other Microsoft agreements with Avanade, HP and Accenture under a Surface Enterprise Initiative will push more Windows 10 devices to business users.
Windows Redstone and Anniversary Update
Redstone is thought to be the codename for the next significant update to Windows 10.Uncovered by Brad Sams of Neowin in April 2015, Redstone is apparently named after the precious stone that features in Minecraft - the block-based game acquired by Microsoft in 2014 - and is the successor to the Fall Update, codenamed Threshold 2, which came out in November 2015.
Redstone is expected to launch in two waves, with an initial release, Windows 10 Anniversary Update, coming in June this year. The second wave had been expected to launch in October or November, however WinBeta reported in March that the release has been delayed until spring 2017.
Rumours suggest that, with the Redstone updates, Microsoft wants to extend Cortana's reach across Windows 10 applications like Office 365, reports Neowin. Android Marshmallow users could also see Cortana gain a contextual information feature in the search function.
Apart from that, little is known about Redstone, although Windows Watcher Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet has speculated it "will provide new functionality and support for new classes of devices that aren't already part of Windows 10" such as HoloLens, Xbox Surface Hub and Windows Phone.
Microsoft backtracks on "nasty trick" of getting users to upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 10 features, specs and price
Jump to:- Windows 10 Start Menu
- Windows 10 Cortana
- Windows 10 Edge browser
- Windows 10 Continuum and multiple desktops
- Windows 10 Store and Universal Apps
- Windows 10 Hello and security
- Windows 10 Hardware and compatibility
- Windows 10 HoloLens and HoloGraphic
- Windows 10 price
Windows 10 Start menu
The Live Tiles appear alongside the traditional menu when a user clicks on the Start button. They are set to feature Skype, Weather, Mail and Store by default, but can be added to, swapped or even removed completely as desired.
The background can also be customised, as can which system applications appear in the traditional section of the menu.
For those who actually preferred the Windows 8 Start screen interface, that is also available to launch from the Start menu.
Windows 10 Cortana
She can also be used to set reminders, alarms and open apps via voice command.
Windows 10 comes with Cortana already installed and ready to go in the UK, China, USA, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Native translation support for Cortana in Windows 10 is also available in the US and China.
Microsoft says that more versions of Windows 10 will be supported "in the near future". Specifically, the company is planning to bring the digital assistant to Mexico, Brazil and with French support in Canada by the end of 2015.
A full review of Cortana can be found at our sister site, Alphr.
Windows 10 browser: Microsoft Edge
After 10 years as the default Windows browser, Internet Explorer has finally been retired, to be replaced by the new Microsoft Edge.During development and in some Technical Preview versions, Edge was known as Project Spartan. However, in the end, Microsoft said it had opted for a name starting with "E" because of user familiarity with the "e" icon from Internet Explorer, meaning they would know at a glance what the icon in the taskbar represented.
In feel and design, Edge is much more similar to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox than its predecessor. Indeed, it has a level of interoperability previously unseen in a Windows browser and can use Firefox and Chrome extensions natively, although this feature will not be available at launch.
Other additions include the ability to annotate web pages and consult Cortana, not just for search, but also richer features like restaurant reviews or maps to a venue. She is also able to customise the information she presents based on data gathered about the user's interests over time.
Finally, there is the new tab layout, which will present suggested apps to download from the Windows Store, based on user interest and behaviour. It will offer varying degrees of detail ranging from plain icons through to headlines from media apps, and will also show news from regularly visited or subscribed sites, as well as a Bing search toolbar positioned at the very top.
Lenovo Yoga.
When docked or undocked from a keyboard, a pop-up will appear asking if the user wants to switch to or exit the full-screen "tablet mode".
This, once again, seems to be a response to criticism arising from Windows 8, where users complained the interface seemed more optimised for touch and was difficult to navigate using a keyboard and mouse.
The video below gives an idea of how it works. (Please note, the video has no sound).
Another new feature with Windows 10 is multiple desktops. While Windows has supported virtual desktops for some time, it was not natively accessible to users, who had to turn to third-party software.
Now, however, it is available as an inbuilt feature through the Task View interface, which lets users add, remove and move between virtual desktops.
Windows 10 Store and Universal Apps
Microsoft has overhauled the Windows Store for Windows 10 to improve the experience for both customers and app developers alike by removing clutter and making it easier to search for and discover apps.An integral part of the Windows 10 Store is Universal Apps. As the name would suggest, these are apps that work on all devices from the smallest Windows 10 compatible phone to the gigantic Surface Hub.
The idea of Universal Apps is to appeal to both developers and consumers. For developers, it provides a single platform on which to create their app once and deploy it across multiple platforms.
From a user standpoint, it means a smoother experience across all devices and, as everything is managed in the cloud, the app will be up to date no matter which device it is being used on, Microsoft has claimed. Additionally, users only have to buy the app once for it to work on all devices, rather than one for the phone and one for the PC.
Microsoft's ambitions for universal apps do not stop with Windows 10, though.
At Mobile World Congress 2015, Stephen Elop, who was then executive VP of Microsoft's Devices and Services division, told delegates: "It is our hope that our cross-platform initiatives deliver not only across our platforms but those of others."
Additionally, while not falling within the universal apps bracket, Microsoft announced developers will be able to port iOS and Android apps to Windows 10, not just emulate them.
Microsoft has, however, reduced the number of devices any given app can be used on. Rather than the 81 installs allowed with Windows 8.1, Windows 10 users will only be able to install an app 10 times per Microsoft account.
As pointed out by Neowin: "While 10 devices do seem like a lot, if you consider that phones and even your Xbox could be counted towards your usage, it does feel a lot more restricted than simply thinking you have 10 PCs in your home". It could also cause problems for users who upgrade or refresh their PCs over the course of the 10 years Windows 10 will be supported and possibly beyond.
There will apparently be "plenty of exciting new Windows 10 devices to choose from which will support Windows Hello", and devices already equipped with a fingerprint scanner will also work with the technology.
This isn't just a consumer feature (or gimmick) either, as, according to Microsoft: "Windows Hello offers enterprise-grade security that will meet the requirements of organisations with some of the strictest requirements and regulations.
"It's a solution that government, defence, financial, healthcare and other related organisations will use to enhance their overall security, with a simple experience designed to delight."
Windows 10 users without the devices featuring an IR camera can now use Windows Hello with Kinect v2, Neowin reports.
Those with a Kinect v2 can set it up to log in to Windows 10 by simply downloading the preview version of the Kinect for Windows driver and changing a registry setting. Full instructions can be found on Channel 9.
Other apps are also updating to include support for Windows Hello, with iHeartRadio finally releasing a Windows 10 Mobile version of its music app. For Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL users, support for Windows Hello authentification has also been added.
Microsoft Passport
Microsoft Passport is to apps and online content what Windows Hello is to logging into a device.
The system allows IT managers, software developers and website authors to provide what Microsoft claims is a "more secure way of letting [users] sign-in to ... sites or apps".
"Instead of using a shared or shareable secret like a password, Windows 10 helps to securely authenticate to applications, websites and networks on your behalf," explained Belfiore.
"Windows 10 will ask you to verify that you have possession of your device before it authenticates on your behalf, with a PIN or Windows Hello on devices with biometric sensors. Once authenticated with 'Passport', you will be able to instantly access a growing set of websites and services across a range of industries - favourite commerce sites, email and social networking services, financial institutions, business networks and more," he added.
As with Windows Hello, Microsoft Passport is not just a consumer service and will support "thousands" of Active Directory services at launch, including Exchange Online, Salesforce, Citrix and Box.
Windows 10 hardware and compatibility
Microsoft has said that Windows 10 should be compatible with all devices currently running Windows 8.1, as well as a 34 smartphones, which are listed here.However, it seems Microsoft may have some exciting new Windows 10 hardware in the pipeline, which will be unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics conference on 4 September this year by corporate vice president of the company's EM division, Nick Parker.
During the keynote, entitled "Windows 10 Lights up new Devices", Parker will "demonstrate a breadth of new Windows 10 devices, including tablets, 2-in-1s, premium notebooks, gaming devices and all-in-ones", according to a press statement.
Notably absent is the company's Lumia range of smartphones, which has caused the company significant losses of late (more on that here).
Windows 10 HoloLens and Holographic
During the Windows 10: The Next Chapter event in January, Microsoft dropped not one but two major surprises in the shape of Windows Holographic and Microsoft HoloLens.Windows Holographic is a special variant of Windows 10 that allows any Windows universal app to run on a standalone augmented reality (AR) device in a context-aware way. This means it takes into account information coming from the AR unit's additional sensors, such as depth camera or gyroscope when rendering display information.
So far, the only device making use of Windows Holographic is Microsoft HoloLens, the company's very own AR headset, although Alex Kipman, the brains behind Kinect, said at Build 2015: "HoloLens is the first ... holographic computer out there, but that doesn't mean that it will remain that [way] for a very long period of time. As a matter of fact, I hope that in the not-the-so-distant future there will be many such devices."
This has not happened yet, but in the meantime it has been announced that Windows 10 will offer native support for two VR headsets - Oculus Rift from Facebook and Vive from Valve - as well as Valve's Steam VR libraries. Solid details on how this will work have been scant, and it is not quite Kipman's vision of dozens of holographic computers, but it does show there is interest in Windows 10's AR and VR capabilities from big-name third-party suppliers.
While HoloLens itself has been pitched at least in part as an entertainment device, it also has practical business uses, particularly for those working in the fields of design, engineering and construction.
Specialist software maker Autodesk is one of several companies that have already announced support for the technology, saying its Maya 3D animation and Fusion 360 3D CAD/CAM software suites will both support HoloLens out of the gate.
Nadella has made it clear that enterprise applications like these are one of HoloLens' top priorities. As part of the device's "five-year journey", developers and commercial partners will be among the first to receive HoloLens units, with consumer applications coming as the technology evolves.
Windows 10 security and privacy
New releases inevitably have teething problems and Windows 10 is no exception. Before its official release, Microsoft had to issue an emergency patch (dubbed KB3074667) as a result of the Hacking Team data dump. The issue threatened to allow hackers to remotely control PCs without the user knowing if left unfixed.Then, in early August Microsoft came under fire over privacy issues in the newly released OS. Reports claim some of the default settings are a tad intrusive - some have claimed Microsoft is spying on users - as they pass information back to the tech giant or share sensitive data with other users. In particular, users are unhappy about behavioural targeting in ads embedded in Windows 10.
As with many settings likely to irk users, they can be turned off, but many don't feel that is good enough and are calling on Microsoft to be more transparent about the implications of the default settings and, perhaps more importantly, how to disable them.
Windows 10 users are also facing security issues of a different nature as scam emails have started to surface purporting to offer a free upgrade when, in fact, they contain ransomware. Said ransomware does what it says on the tin, locking all the machine's data and holding it hostage until payment is made for its release.
Torrent trackers started banning Windows 10 from their communities in late August because of fears the OS will report people’s illegal download histories to anti-piracy authorities.
A clause in Microsoft's Service Agreement read that Windows 10 “may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices”.
But while this condition covers a multitude of Microsoft products, torrent hosts are not taking any chances, with reports of some banning the OS for fears it will share user data with authorities.
One torrent tracker, iTS, announced its ban of Windows 10 on Reddit, claiming the OS sends users’ local disk content to a server belonging to anti-piracy outfit MarkMonitor.
Other trackers like BB and FSC may follow suit, according to Torrent Freak.
Windows 10 price
Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade for all machines running a genuine version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 for the first year after launch, after which time users will need to pay a licensing fee.Those with an older version of Windows, such as Vista, will need to pay to upgrade, as will those who are using non-genuine versions of the software, despite earlier indications to the contrary. Enterprise customers will also need to pay.
Microsoft has revealed that the retail price of the Home edition of Windows 10 in the UK will be around £100 while the US retail price for the Pro edition is $199.99 (before tax) - no UK pricing for this version is currently available.
At these prices, Windows 10 costs no more than Windows 8.1, which is in line with the strategy of making Windows 10 a free upgrade to its predecessor.
Microsoft backtracks on "nasty trick" of getting users to upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 10 updates: Windows 10 is the last version of Windows
Windows 10 is, in the words of Microsoft, the last version of Windows. While this doesn't mean there will be no new Windows releases at all, the new strategy will see Microsoft drop the massive overhauls traditionally seen between releases. Instead, the company will move to a more Apple-style focus on incremental iterations of and improvements to the existing OS.Speaking at the company's inaugural Ignite conference this spring, Microsoft development executive Jerry Nixon gave the rather tortuous explanation that: "Right now we're releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we're all still working on Windows 10."
Will Windows 10 be a success?
Windows 8 is widely regarded as having been a flop in the business sector, which is where Microsoft gains most of its revenue from. With the consumer version of Windows 10 now being given away free and the end of support for Windows 7 fast approaching, the acceptance of Windows 10 in the enterprise is even more crucial to the success of Microsoft's business model."Only about one in five organisations is offering Windows 8 PCs to employees right now," said Forrester analyst David Johnson.
"With Windows 7 extended support running until January 2020, Microsoft needs to give enterprises reasons to move to a new version before it becomes a crisis, like it did for so many firms running Windows XP last year," he added.
Analyst Frank Gillett, also of Forrester, said Microsoft will need to showcase how much better Windows 10 is than Windows 8 to ensure it is a success.
"[Microsoft] must show that it will be much easier to upgrade and update Windows, that the new OS will be easier to learn and use for traditional PC users than Windows 8 is, and that they've preserved mobile capabilities for tablets and phones," he said.
"It's a very tall order for Microsoft, but they have to reinvigorate Windows in order to remain relevant in the mobile first/cloud first world that it is aiming for," he added.
How to download and install Windows 10
If you want to get the new operating system as soon as possible, check out our sister site Expert Reviews and their guide on how to clean install Windows 10.Requirements: Users must have a Microsoft ID or Outlook email address. Microsoft claims the preview should work on any system that comfortably runs Windows 8.1, but warns users they may need to re-install or update some of their existing software after installing Windows 10.
Windows 7 users should check the specifications of their machine against the published Windows 10 requirements before upgrading.
This article was originally published on 19/09/14 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 22/03/16)
Written By :
Rumours
Ref ;
Post a Comment
Blogger Facebook DisqusComment ေပးရန္ ညာဘက္ေထာင့္မွ Blogger or Facebook or Disqus ကုိႏွိပ္ပါ။