Ten cool things about Windows 10

Over 4 million users have tested Windows 10 over the past few months. Come July 29 and the rubber will finally meet the road as Windows 10 makes its much awaited debut all over the world. We give you 10 reasons why you might want to be excited: 

Its Free: Yes, Microsoft is offering a free upgrade for all users currently on Windows 8 (or 8.1) and Windows 7 as well as mobile users on Windows 8.1. Microsoft has however clarified that the free upgrade is currently valid for one year.

Geared for all modes and all devices: ‘The best screen is always the one you’re on’ – this has shaped Microsoft’s game plan for Windows 10. Apps flit effortlessly from different modes and different devices; the screen works equally well with touch or with a keyboard and mouse on 2-in-1 devices. Windows 10 aims a seamless experience from screen sizes ranging from 4 inches to 80 inches. You can easily snap up to for apps in place and view all open tasks with a single view.

The start menu is back: One of the many cribs about Windows 8 was how the tiles displaced the ‘classic’ start menu that most of us grew up with. Windows 10 has fixed that – the tiles haven’t quite disappeared but the start button is back, aiming to find a cool blend of the old and new, allowing easier navigation.

Cortana comes to the desktop: Microsoft’s mobile digital assistant now finds a role on your desktop. Cortana home gives you a daily snapshot of the day ahead, a list of recommendations (like restaurants) and also personal suggestions. An integrated taskbar search allows Cortana to throw up results from the PC, Web and One Drive. Cortana Notebook keeps a track of your preferences – what you like and want. 

Cross device gameplay: Xbox (finally) comes to the desktop, about time too! With 4GB of RAM and a 1.5GHz (or above) processor, the new Xbox integration on Windows 10 finally allows you to max out on your PC’s hardware for gaming. The New DirectX 12 technology claims a better visual experience, while the new eco system also boasts of better social skills. The Cross device gameplay allows you to start a game on your PC and move to on to your Xbox midway.

Living on the Edge: Windows 10 brings with it a new browser – Microsoft Edge. One of the cool tricks this browser possesses is built-in inking capabilities where you can write or type directly on to webpages before you share with others or just save it on ‘One Note’. The improved search bar is integrated with Cortana and the search function allows you to get responses to typical questions from within the address bar itself. 

Built-in Apps: Most of the traditional apps have been given a facelift with one eye on better integration across all devices. There’s an all-new Music App – Groove with its own ‘Groove Music Pass’ that allows you access to scores of music tracks, while the new Photo App comes with an enhanced image editing software and One Drive online storage integration.

Calendar and Email get a rejig: One of Windows 8’s serious chinks was the email and calendar App. Thankfully that has changed with Windows 10. You don’t just have a zippier, more responsive calendar and email functions but also the ability to dynamically shift their interfaces to fit into different sized devices. 

More secure: Say hello to ‘Windows Hello’, a new way to log in without keying in a customary password. Windows 10 features a two-factor identification (with a look or touch) for fast access that is also enterprise-grade secure. Windows 10 is also in-built with Windows Defender with improved protection against malware.

Action centre notifications: You’ve got used to handy prompts on mobile phones and tablets but this has been a problem area for Windows PCs. That has finally changed with Windows 10 thanks to the more tight integration of Cortana. The Action centre will finally become a useful repository of information.