Less than a month ago on October 1, Microsoft released the technical preview of the next version of Windows, Windows 10. It brought back the start menu as well as adding some new functionality such as multiple desktops.
Over the last week, Microsoft has been rolling out their first major update to the Windows 10 Technical Preview. The new build number is 9860, and considering that it’s only 19 builds higher than the previous public build, it’s quite a feat that they added 7,000 new features.
On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, Microsoft showed off the next version of Windows which would be called Windows 2015. Wait, it was Windows 9. Wait, it was Windows One. After playing with us, they explained that they skipped Windows 9 and went straight to Windows 10.
They explained just about all of the features that had been leaked. Users can create multiple desktops, the start menu had returned, and modern apps could now be in windows.
One feature was noticeably missing: Cortana on the desktop.
Now this is more like it. When I first installed the Windows 10 Technical Preview, I installed it on a Surface Pro. Unfortunately, the most famous feature of Windows 10 – the start menu – is not present on Windows 10 when it runs on tablets.
Now that I have installed it on the Acer Aspire S7, I can get a good look at Windows 10.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced Windows 10. If you haven’t been following, you’re thinking “What happened to Windows 9?” Well, apparently it wasn’t far enough away from Windows 8. Also, Windows 10 will be the last major release of Windows, and Windows 10 is a much better name to go with for eternity than Windows 9. After all, it works for Mac OS.
As of noon eastern time on October 1, 2014, the Windows 10 Technical Preview is live for anyone who wants it. The only caveat is that you have to agree to updates and you have to agree to report bugs.
Microsoft announced Windows 10 today. They teased the audience about the name, first saying they couldn’t name it Windows 9. They toyed with the idea of calling it Windows One, but then said that Windows 1 had been done.
Microsoft mentioned Windows 7 before they even mentioned Windows 8. They mentioned that they wanted people to feel like they were driving a Prius while using Windows 7 and driving a Tesla while using Windows 10, while never needing to relearn to drive.
Microsoft has been falling under criticism with Windows as of late as it is the only operating system that costs money anymore. After all, in this world of free mobile updates, Mac OS for free, and Chrome OS being open source, who would choose to pay for an operating system?
Earlier this year at BUILD, Microsoft showed off the new start menu. At the time, they said that it would be available as a free update to Windows 8.1 users. Back then, everyone thought that they were talking about Windows 8.2. We later found out that Windows 8.2 wasn’t happening and it became all about Threshold.
Boy has it been one heck of a week for Windows 9 or “Threshold” leaks. As Windows Threshold is something that Windows fans are super excited about, the shear amount of leaks of the Technical Preview in the last week would suggest that Microfoft themselves are behind the leaks.
It would appear that the upcoming GoFone GF47W phone will be the first Windows phone to drop the Windows Phone branding. It is likely that this phone will ship with Windows Phone Threshold since it will be called Windows.
Windows Phone is not just a brand, it is the actual name of the operating system. Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 are already here, so expect the next version to just be called Windows.
To be clear, I loved Windows 8 from day one. I loved Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 as well. I have always loved how Windows 8 starts up so fast. I love live tiles. I love not having to use a tiny start menu in the corner of the screen that lags when you hold the mouse over Programs. In fact, when I have to use a Windows 7 PC, I get frustrated sometimes.
So why does everyone hate it? The performance is fantastic. In fact, it’s the first new take on an operating system since the GUI was invented. In fact, that’s a huge part of the problem…
For the Love of Tech 