Microsoft has disclosed the first details of Windows 10 – its next operating system (OS).
Bearing in mind it represents a jump from the last version – Windows 8, Windows 8.1 we called as Windows 9.0
The software will run on a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store.
It also marks the return of the Start Menu, which had been removed from Windows 8.
In addition to offering a list of the user’s favourite applications, the menu also brings up resizable tiles – similar to those featured in Windows 8’s touch-centric interface on PCs and tablets.
These provide a quick view of notifications from relevant applications, such as details of new emails, Facebook messages and weather forecast updates.
The company said the facility was intended to make the software seem familiar to both users of Windows 8 and Windows 7.
The behaviour of the OS will depend on the type of device with which it is being used. Unlike its predecessor, users will not need to switch between Desktop Mode and the touch-focused alternative.
However, they can still spread a number of “live tiles” across the screens of two-in-one laptop-tablet hybrids to make them easier to use with both a mouse and finger presses.
Windows 8 had been criticised for being too different to the previous version, which deterred some organisations from introducing it.
- Snap enhancements – a new “quadrant layout” will allow four apps to be easily arranged on the same screen
- Task view – a new button on the task bar will let the user see all open apps and files, helping them switch from one to another
- Multiple desktops – users can switch between distinct desktop screens, allowing them to group related work together rather than having to deal with a single screen overloaded with documents and apps. This is similar to a feature already available on Apple’s Mac OS
