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4 KEY Things Microsoft HAS To Get Right In Windows 10

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4 KEY Things Microsoft HAS To Get Right In Windows 10

Windows 10 gets official tomorrow and Microsoft has A LOT to prove after Windows 8. Here are four potentially BIG additions


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Poor Microsoft. A decade ago they were the hottest computer company on the planet, but the proceeding years have seen their street cred drop rapidly among consumers who have switched from PCs to MacBooks, from Office to Google Docs, from Internet Explorer to Chrome. And that’s saying nothing of the company completely missing the smartphone boat which saw the iPhone and Android handsets take over the tech world.

Now many pundits are saying that 2015 is the year Microsoft needs to make its products–specifically Windows–relevant again–or else. Tomorrow the company will hold a Windows 10 event to (hopefully) do just that. You can read everything we know about Windows 10 here, including many of the rumoured upcoming features. Below however are four of the things Microsoft absolutely needs to unveil if people are to start considering Windows devices as the best option for their needs in the future.

Continuum

Continuum isn’t actually something we’re hoping Microsoft will reveal. It’s already a stated feature of Windows 10. We just need to see it working flawlessly. So, what exactly is Continuum? It’s the name of the feature that will allow Windows 10 to adapt automatically based on the device you are using it on.

You see, Windows 10 is reportedly designed to run on any device: desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone. The idea is the OS can automatically detect which device it’s on and reformat itself to work optimally on said device. Now, why is this necessary? Because Microsoft is betting big that hybrid devices like the Surface, which can be a tablet when you want it to be and a laptop when you want it to be, are the future. And I think they’re right. 

The problem with the existing Windows 8 and the Surface is that detaching the keyboard from the Surface does not automatically prompt the user to have the OS switch into tablet mode.

This sounds like a little thing, but it’s not when you want seamlessness in the user experience. Apple provides software support for third-party iPad external keyboard makers. Attach a keyboard to the iPad and iOS knows automatically what to hide and what physical keyboard features to enable. Detach it and iOS can switch right back into full touch screen mode again. Microsoft needs to nail this seamlessness in Continuum as well if they want the Surface user experience to improve.

Give Developers A Way and A Reason To Fill The App Gap

I’m actually a big fan of Windows Phone. I use an iPhone, but I wouldn’t NOT consider switching to a Windows Phone one day if they could just solve one (major) problem: the lack of apps. Look at the Play store or Apple’s App Store and you’ll find hundreds of thousands of quality apps–including apps from all the big names. But then go to the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see at least half of your most-used iOS and Android apps are probably non-existent. People refer to this as Windows Phone’s “app gap”. Some major developers just don’t care enough about the platform to be bothered porting their apps over to it.

Windows as a desktop OS cannot stay relevant for another decade if its mobile counterpart doesn’t start catching on with users. After all, in the future mobile will be our most used devices and our desktops will be secondary. If Microsoft wants to be in the game they need to close the app gap. And they may have found a way. 

Windows 10 will feature universal apps, allowing developers to make an app for the desktop and easily port it over to Windows Phone with some simple coding. When it comes to apps for the desktop, Windows is king. If they can leverage this array of apps and make it simple for developers to port them to Windows Phone then they have a chance of filling that app gap. Tomorrow we just need to see how well these universal apps work–and how easy it is for developers to implement.

Spartan and Cortana

Internet Explore has shed market share over the last several years to both Chrome and Firefox, but Microsoft has a chance to claw some of that back with its new browser in Windows 10, called Spartan. From what we know of it, Spartan will not just be the next version of IE, but a totally new, lightweight browser with a killer feature–Cortana built in.

Cortana is Microsoft’s personal digital assistant software (Apple has Siri, Google has Now). Right now Cortana is Windows Phone-only. It’s also one of the strengths of Windows Phone. In my tests it works better than both Now and Siri and is much more user friendly and versatile. If Microsoft really bakes Cortana in to Spartan it could be the first one to have a unified personal digital assistant across all platforms (desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone). And if Cortana remembers your preferences between devices, it makes staying in the Microsoft ecosystem very appealing. 

Price

Because a lot of people felt burned when they paid to “upgrade” from Windows 7 to Windows 8, Microsoft has an uphill challenge in front of it. Even though Windows 10 looks like it really might be that much better than Windows 8, Microsoft risks slow adoption of it–especially in the consumer space–if they don’t price it right.

So what is the right price? Tomorrow I’d love for them to announce that Windows 10 will be free on all devices–I just don’t think that will happen. Sure, Apple gives OS X away for free now, but Apple makes its money off of hardware. Microsoft is still a software company. 

Still, the company needs to find a way to make the price right so people who still have nightmares about Windows 8 will risk shelling out the cash for the next Microsoft OS. For me, Microsoft announcing Windows 10 is free wouldn’t just be gutsy. It’d be a show of confidence that the company is saying “Yeah, we can give this release away for free because it’s so good we know you’re not going to want to switch away from us in the future.”

Will it happen? We’ll find out tomorrow.


Michael Grothaus

14:15, 20 Jan 2015

Windows 10 will get respectable the next day and Microsoft has I LOT to turn out after Windows 8. Here are 4 probably BIG additions

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Poor Microsoft. O decade in the past they have been the most up to date pc corporate in the world, however the continuing years have noticed their side road cred drop abruptly amongst shoppers who've switched from PCs to MacBooks, from Office to Google Docs, from Internet Explorer to Chrome. And that’s pronouncing not anything of the corporate utterly lacking the smartphone boat which noticed the iPhone and Android handsets take over the tech global.

Now many pundits are pronouncing that 2015 is the yr Microsoft must make its merchandise--in particular Windows--related once more--otherwise. Tomorrow the corporate will grasp a Windows 10 adventure to (optimistically) do exactly that. You can learn everything we know about Windows 10 here, together with the various rumoured upcoming options. Below on the other hand are 4 of the issues Microsoft completely must unveil if individuals are to start out taking into account Windows units as the most suitable option for his or her wishes someday.

Continuum

Continuum isn’t in reality one thing we’re hoping Microsoft will screen. It’s already a said function of Windows 10. We simply want to see it running perfectly. So, what precisely is Continuum? It’s the identify of the function for you to permit Windows 10 to conform routinely according to the tool you're the use of it on.

You see, Windows 10 is reportedly designed to run on any software: computer, pc, tablet, phone. The concept is the OS can mechanically discover which tool it’s on and reformat itself to paintings optimally on stated software. Now, why is that this essential? Because Microsoft is having a bet large that hybrid units just like the Surface, which is usually a tablet while you wish to have it to be and a pc while you wish to have it to be, are the longer term. And O assume they’re proper. 

The drawback with the prevailing Windows 8 and the Surface is that detaching the keyboard from the Surface does now not routinely recommended the consumer to have the OS transfer into tablet mode.

This seems like just a little factor, however it’s now not while you wish to have seamlessness within the consumer revel in. Apple supplies tool improve for 3rd-birthday celebration iPad exterior keyboard makers. Attach a keyboard to the iPad and iOS is aware of mechanically what to cover and what bodily keyboard options to allow. Detach it and iOS can transfer proper again into complete contact display mode once more. Microsoft must nail this seamlessness in Continuum as smartly if they would like the Surface consumer revel in to make stronger.

Give Developers O Way and S Reason To Fill The App Gap

O’m if truth be told a large fan of Windows Phone. O use an iPhone, however A wouldn’t NOT believe switching to a Windows Phone in the future if they may simply remedy one (top) drawback: the loss of apps. Look on the Play retailer or Apple’s App Store and also you’ll in finding loads of hundreds of high quality apps--together with apps from all of the large names. But then move to the Windows Phone Store and also you’ll see no less than part of your so much-used iOS and Android apps are most probably non-existent. People seek advice from this as Windows Phone’s “app hole”. Some prime developers simply do not care sufficient concerning the platform to be troubled porting their apps over to it.

Windows as a personal computer OS can not keep related for some other decade if its cellular counterpart doesn’t get started catching on with customers. After all, at some point cellular might be our so much used units and our computers might be secondary. If Microsoft needs to be within the recreation they want to shut the app hole. And they will have discovered some way. 

Windows 10 will function common apps, permitting developers to make an app for the personal computer and simply port it over to Windows Phone with a few easy coding. When it involves apps for the pc, Windows is king. If they may be able to leverage this array of apps and make it easy for developers to port them to Windows Phone then they have got an opportunity of filling that app hole. Tomorrow we simply want to see how smartly those common apps paintings--and the way simple it's for developers to enforce.

Spartan and Cortana

Internet Explore has shed marketplace percentage during the last a few years to each Chrome and Firefox, however Microsoft has an opportunity to claw a few of that again with its new browser in Windows 10, referred to as Spartan. From what we all know of it, Spartan won't simply be the following model of IE, however a unconditionally new, light-weight browser with a killer function--Cortana inbuilt.

Cortana is Microsoft’s private virtual assistant device (Apple has Siri, Google has Now). Right now Cortana is Windows Phone-most effective. It’s additionally some of the strengths of Windows Phone. In my exams it really works higher than each Now and Siri and is a lot more consumer pleasant and flexible. If Microsoft in point of fact bakes Cortana in to Spartan it usually is the primary one to have a unified private virtual assistant throughout all systems (personal computer, pc, tablet, and phone). And if Cortana recalls your personal tastes among units, it makes staying within the Microsoft environment very interesting. 

Price

Because a large number of other folks felt burned once they paid to “improve” from Windows 7 to Windows 8, Microsoft has an uphill problem in entrance of it. Even although Windows 10 seems to be adore it actually may well be that a lot better than Windows 8, Microsoft dangers sluggish adoption of it--particularly within the shopper area--in the event that they don’t worth it proper.

So what's the proper worth? Tomorrow A’d love for them to announce that Windows 10 might be loose on all units--O simply do not assume for you to occur. Sure, Apple provides OS Y away free of charge now, however Apple makes its cash off of hardware. Microsoft continues to be a tool corporate. 

Still, the corporate must give you the chance to make the cost proper so individuals who nonetheless have nightmares approximately Windows 8 will possibility dispensing the money for the following Microsoft OS. For me, Microsoft pronouncing Windows 10 is loose wouldn’t simply be gutsy. It’d be a display of trust that the corporate is pronouncing “Yeah, we will be able to provide this unlock away without spending a dime as it’s so just right we all know you’re now not going to need to transfer clear of us at some point.”

Will it occur? We’ll in finding out the next day.

Michael Grothaus 14:15, 20 Jan 2015
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