After rumors and supposed leaks, the next operating system from Windows will not be named Windows TH, Windows Threshold, or even Windows 9. They’re kicking it up a notch and naming it Windows 10. And you thought the name Xbox One was proof enough that Microsoft missed elementary math. Despite this, the new Windows 10 aims to be the next big one, right up there next to Windows XP. Here’s what we know and don’t know.
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AIO OS
All-in-one operating system. PCs, laptops, tablets, phablets, and phones. Windows 10 encompasses all of these devices. Just one OS. One hub for inter-device connectivity. The Internet of Things is starting. The keyword for the new OS: seamless.
Guess who’s back!
No, it’s not the Clippy. The Start Menu is back! The last time we saw it in a major release was Windows 7 (not counting Windows 8.1, that is). This time, it’s a combination between our beloved Start menu and the controversial Live Tiles. It’s a best of both worlds deal for the new OS.
Virtual DesktopsEver seen PC rigs with multiple monitors and thinking how awesome it would be to multitask work and play? Now, Windows is taking a page from Apple’s book. The new Windows 10 features virtual desktops. You can now launch a virtual desktop and jump seamlessly between one to the next. This works perfectly for working at home. One moment, you’re conferencing your boss; the next (after hours, of course), you’re playing Assassin’s Creed.
Continuum
What Windows failed to see the last release was the population that still used the keyboard and mouse. Touch adoption wasn’t booming. Now, Windows is rectifying this oversight by increasing the integration from keyboard/mouse to touch input. The new Continuum feature aims to seamlessly switch between preferred input methods.
Quadrant SnappingI always found the two-window snapping to be a bit limiting. Sometimes, I had to multitask between my browser, my music player, and an open Word document. It’s hard pressing Alt+Tab every two seconds. Windows 10 increases this capacity to four quadrants, a welcome addition for multitaskers worldwide.
That’s it!
Besides these, we don’t actually know a lot more about the new OS. We have no idea what the minimum system requirements are, how much an upgrade would cost, and when it will be released. We don’t know how this new OS is going to integrate the rising 4K and above resolutions. A Technical Preview will be released for developers later this week. But for us consumers, we have to wait until next year to sample this latest installment.
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