In what can only be interpreted as an admission of failure, Microsoft says it will release its next operating system – Windows 10 – free as an upgrade in July.
That means any users wanting to upgrade from the much-maligned Windows 8, or the earlier Windows 7 operating system, won’t have to pay for the new software. Microsoft says that equates to “hundreds of millions of people” around the world.
Microsoft says it will release Windows 10 on July 29 in 190 countries.
“Windows 10 will help people be more productive and have more fun, with a personal and natural experience that works across all their devices. Familiar, yet better than ever, Windows 10 will deliver ongoing feature innovations and security updates,” the company said in a statement.
One of those “updates” is the return of the “Start” button, the loss of which frustrated tens of millions of people around the world who struggled to make sense of Windows 8, Microsoft’s most confusing, unintuitive and complicated operating system ever.
“Windows 10 is a new generation of Windows designed to empower you to do great things,” said Terry Myerson, executive VP of Microsoft. “Windows 10 starts to deliver on our vision of more personal computing, defined by trust in how we protect and respect your personal information, mobility of the experience across your devices, and natural interactions with your Windows devices, including speech, touch, ink and holograms.”
Among the improvements: Windows 10 “starts fast, resumes fast and helps enable batteries to last longer” the company claims.
“More secure than ever, Windows 10 includes Windows Hello, Microsoft Passport and Windows Defender for anti-malware protection, and a commitment to deliver free, ongoing security updates for the supported lifetime of the device. Optimised for both keyboard and touch, the Windows 10 upgrade is designed to be compatible with Windows devices and applications.”
Cortana, the world’s first “truly personal digital assistant”, helps people get things done across all their devices, learning individual preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders via talking or typing. It’s a concept first introduced by Apple on its iPhones several years ago.
Windows Hello greets people by name and lets them log in to their PC without a password — providing instant, more secure access to their Windows 10 devices through biometric authentication. Windows 10 also lets people interact with their device via the traditional mouse and keyboard or through more natural ways such as voice, pen or gesture.
It will also feature Microsoft Edge, a new browser which supersedes Windows Explorer.
With Cortana integrated, Microsoft Edge offers quick results and content based on individual interests and preferences, the company claims.
“Fast, streamlined and personal, Microsoft Edge empowers people to focus on just the content that matters to them and actively engage with the Web.”
Windows 10 offers a familiar and consistent experience across devices. Continuum enables devices to transform, enabling elegant transitions of a tablet into a PC, and back — and for a Windows phone to become like a PC. Xbox on Windows 10 brings the expansive Xbox Live gaming network to both Windows 10 PCs and tablets. People can communicate with their friends on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One while playing any PC game and share content using Game DVR. People can also stream games directly from their Xbox One console to a Windows 10 tablet or PC in their homes.
