All you want to know about Windows 10

We saw it coming. When Apple announced its OS X and iOS upgrades for free, we knew Microsoft will soon have something similar up its sleeve. And here it is : Windows 10 debuts as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Yes, users can use the operating system for a nada once its hits the streets, at least for the first year. The biggest plus of this OS is that it’s designed to deliver singular, cohesive experience across myriad devices.

Here we take a quick look at the biggest and the most important features of Windows 10.

Free Upgrade for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 users

If your PC or laptop is using Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 and your phone has Windows 8.1 OS, then sit tight: a free upgrade for your PC, laptop, tablet, and your smartphone is on the way. But, what is not clear is, whether this facility will be available to laptop and PC users for a longer time. As of now, Window 7 and 8 users could enjoy the benefits for at least a year.

Unity Across Operating Systems

The new Windows 10 will bring your desktops, mobiles, laptops, and tablets on the same Windows 10 Os platform. This is good news for those who have massively invested in the Windows Eco-system, not to mention the apps developers who won’t have to create a separate app for mobile or tablet.

Sizeable Start Menu and Action Center

Unlike Windows 8.1 the Start Menu of Window 10 will have full screen. The Action Center will come with quick buttons to on Wi-fi and Bluetooth.

And the notifications in the Action center will give you updates about your emails, weather, subscribed news sources and more. And the info will matched across all devices.

Even the Control Panel and Settings menu are in a single folder. Also, if you are using a 2-in-1 device, users will advised to switch from desktop to tablet mode. It will also have a Cortana built in.

Cortana for PCs

Until now Cortana was exclusively an integral part of Windows phone . But from now onward, the Windows 10 digital assistant will be available across all devices.

Cortana will be there next to the start button in the desktop task bar and will be supporting 7 languages.

And since its your personal digital assistant, you can request Cortana to do different things. For instance, you can ask it to open apps, find PowerPoint slides and Word document and so on. And ‘hold your breadth’ you can also use it to dictate emails in Outlook and send them across to the recipient by voice commands.

It’s also armed with a new feature called Notebook. It would keep a track of the latest sports scores, travel, weather and other information you may like to read,

Universal Apps For All Devices

Just like Apple, Microsoft will be introducing a universal apps. The new app would work across PCs, laptop, smartphones and tablets.

The Outlook will come up with an in-built word engine with an office ribbon which will help in formatting documents in many ways. The calendar app will work in tandem across all devices and will sport a consistent design as well. A new Photo App gallery is also there, which seems to Google+ inspired.

Project Spartan

Project Spartan is the new browser that comes with Cortana built -in with its contextual searching. For example, if you are looking up for a club on Spartan, Cortana will throw in a map, menu and contact details of that club.

Reading mode in Project Spartan will be like Apple’s Safari. It would put articles in a layout that does not take into account unnecessary elements on a page. You will also have a Reading List feature that syncs across all devices, even offline.

The other plus point is, you can comment on any section of the web page using a Stylus or touch interface. The comment then could be shared with friends or co-workers.

Gaming on Windows 10

The Xbox app will come huddled with all the Windows 10 devices. A new feature helps record 30 seconds of gameplay. The recorded game can then be sent across to Xbox Live so that Xbox users could watch it as well.

Windows 10 is also introducing cross-play. The feature helps users play with friends on Xbox on a Windows 10 PC. In fact, Microsoft is planning to launch Windows 10 on the Xbox One platform.