The universal operating system Windows 10 is optimized for various devices. It will work on a computer, smartphone.
Key features of Windows 10
1. The appearance of several desktops. For example, if you run several applications, they will be added at the bottom as several working windows (tables). Why is this feature useful? You can do different work at the same time on different desktops, without touching the arrangement of windows and without dragging them, but simply switching between them.
2. The new Windows 10 operating system installs all the necessary drivers for your computer or laptop by itself (if you have the Internet). The only inconvenience is that the drivers are not installed immediately, but only some time after the system starts.
1. Cortana voice assistant is installed by default. With it, you will find the information you need both on your local device and on the Internet. Additionally, you can type a letter with your voice, create reminders, find files with documents, turn multimedia content on and off.
2. Instead of Internet Explorer, Windows 10 has a built-in browser - Spartan. It has a very convenient feature - you will be able to leave any notes directly on the site page and share them on social networks. Cortana will be integrated into the browser. Spartan forms a special library from the pages you visit, which can be viewed without an Internet connection.
3. The interface of the "start" button when pressed is similar to Windows 7, now the "start" opens in full screen. If you place any tile applications here, you can immediately launch them. All of them are in the start button interface.
4. When you start on a regular desktop computer or you will not start a tiled screen, but immediately the desktop. If a keyboard is not connected on tablets and smartphones, the tiled interface will load.
5. The presence of a touch keyboard, which is very convenient if you only have at hand.
6. Search has become more functional. That is, you can simultaneously search for programs, necessary applications both on the Internet and on your computer. In addition, there are 2 control panels, one of which is designed for touch screens.
Upgrade to Windows and experience the convenience of the new operating system. In this case, your current Windows 7 or 8 must be licensed.
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What's new in Windows 10
Developing Universal Drivers for Windows
It is now possible to write a single driver that will run on all versions of Windows that share a common set of interfaces. The Universal Windows Driver can use the Kernel-Mode Driver Framework (KMDF) Runtime, the User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF) 2, or the Windows Driver Model (WDM). Windows Driver Development Kit (WDK) 10, built into Microsoft Visual Studio and debugging tools, provides the tools you need to develop, build, package, deploy, test, and debug drivers that run on multiple devices running Windows 10. Learn more about For new features for developing Universal Windows Drivers, see .
Windows One Core
Windows OneCore is a platform for any device: phone, tablet, desktop or IoT. Windows 10 contains a set of APIs and DDIs that are common to multiple editions of Windows 10. This set of interfaces is called OneCore. OneCore also enables drivers and applications built with OneCore interfaces to work across multiple devices. See the section for more information.
Continuum
Continuum is a new adaptive user experience in Windows 10 that optimizes the look and feel of apps and the Windows shell based on the device's physical form factor and user preferences.
Device capabilities with Cortana
Cortana, a personal assistant technology first introduced with Windows 8.1, is now supported on devices running Windows 10. Windows 10 uses the Speech Processing Platform to provide all of the voice features in Windows 10, such as Cortana and dictation. To take advantage of the technology, see guidance and best practices for designing, developing, and testing audio input devices for use with the Microsoft Speech Platform.
Hardware Compatibility Program
The new Hardware Compatibility Program lets you demonstrate to customers that your hardware meets Microsoft standards for compatibility and reliability. If you're familiar with the Windows 8.1 hardware certification, you'll find that the new Compatibility Program and the new Hardware Design Kit (HLK) for Windows 10 still have tools and features available. Compatibility can be verified by testing the product using the Windows HLK tests. And ISVs can now validate a driver's signature and have their hardware appear on the list of certified products. This program is designed to increase user confidence in the compatibility and reliability of your products with Windows 10. For more information about the Windows HLK for Windows 10, see .
See the and sections for more available kits for Windows 10.
New graphical user interface for image personalization and customization
The new Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) provides a graphical user interface that helps you quickly install drivers, configure system settings, and add languages and other Windows settings so you can install Windows 10 on test or commercial devices. With a single tool, hardware developers can create model or reference images, deployment solutions, and device provisioning packages for mobile, desktop, or IoT devices. See the section for more information.
Internet of Things
Quickly iterate and expand hardware and software projects with the new edition of Windows 10. It's specifically designed for small form factor IoT devices with or without a display. This platform brings Windows to a new class of small devices and allows Windows manufacturers and developers to get the most out of best-in-class development and debugging tools on a variety of hardware resources, including the Raspberry Pi 2. Stay up to date with the latest information about Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 2 devices - enroll in the program Windows Developers for IoT.
Rapid Deployment of Small Windows Images
We offer new tools to help you save production time and hard drive space. You can now separately package and apply Windows desktop applications to images, eliminating several time-consuming steps in provisioning and reimaging. You'll also be able to take advantage of quick reset enhancements and language packs, which will save you several gigabytes of hard drive space. To try out the new tools, see the Comprehensive Manufacturing Lab section.
Mobile device management
With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets at work, the burden on IT administrators who are responsible for managing these devices is increasing. In Windows 10, desktops and mobile devices can be configured with mobile device management (MDM) and converged administrative controls to make it easier to manage devices across organizations. A single mobile device enrollment protocol, unified across desktop and mobile devices, provides a higher level of user experience.
Now that Windows 10 is out and millions of people are using it, let's take a look at some of the best hidden features, tricks, and features of this operating system. For those in the tank, Windows 10 is out now and you're really going to love it, despite the many shortcomings that have been described over the past few weeks. It's definitely worth updating (or downloading the Windows 10 ISO directly). It combines the best of Windows 8 (super-fast startup and improved security) with many features similar to Windows 7 and just as easy to use. At the same time, no one forces you to purchase a touch screen or explore all the hidden interface elements.
And if you're a computer nerd like us, tweaking your OS is a lot of fun. Discovery and description tips for advanced users is our favorite step in getting a new OS. I remember the release of DOS 5.0, when we were still using DOS 3.3, and we tried to optimize our 286 with all sorts of new features. (We've come a long way.) Nostalgia aside, here's what you need to know about improving Windows 10 to take it up a level after installation.
Task View and Virtual Desktops
One of the best things about Windows 10 is its virtual desktop experience. The fact that it can finally work with them out of the box is a huge step, as Mac OS X and Linux users have been using this feature for a long time. This allows you to set up multiple tasks and windows on one desktop, email and Twitter on another, and a third browser to surf or something. To use this feature, click the Task View icon in the Control Panel (to the right of the search box), hold down the Windows key (usually shortened to Win), and Tab.
Setting privacy options
When you set up Windows 10 for the first time, make sure you select the Typical install so you can set up privacy, which you can't do with the Express install. (If you already skipped this step, that's okay - you can change it in the settings.) Otherwise, you'll have to put up with the distribution of a lot of personal data (and although Windows 10 is free for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8, the operating system itself is not free), and you are unlikely to want to share personal information without your knowledge and permission.
Make sure Wi-Fi Sense is turned off
You may disagree, but it's definitely wrong that your WiFi network password is sent out to everyone. This is a surefire way to make sure your computer isn't doing this, and if it is, you can turn it off by turning off WiFi Sense.
Running on a virtual machine
If you want to dive deeper into Windows 10 but don't want to take over your perfectly working machine just yet, you can install Windows 10 in a virtual machine first. It's worth noting that this is different from the virtual desktops above. This virtualizes the entire OS inside another OS (the one you have).
Windows Explorer Home Page and Quick Access
Windows Explorer windows are much more useful this time around, thanks to the new Home tab (pictured above). File copies are now perfectly tracked. and if you look to the top left of the window, you'll see a new Quick Access group that will let you navigate through your recently used folders. This will make it much easier to maintain the fast workflow associated with moving around the computer's file system.
Start menu customization
New Start is just a huge improvement over what was in Windows 8.1, and it's simply impossible to describe in words. It combines the best elements of Windows 7 and Windows 8. And it's completely customizable. Frankly, the first thing many people do is unpin all Microsoft applications, and reduce the size of the menu to look like Windows 7 (picture).
For a while, in some technical preview builds of Windows 10, you could pin the recycle bin to the taskbar, much like in OS X. Unfortunately, this feature seems to have been removed in the release version, but you can still pin its icon to the menu Start.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Here are some keyboard shortcuts that you should know, as they can come in handy in your daily routine:
Windows Tab (task view)
Windows-Right-Up (Moves the application to the top right corner)
Windows-Ctrl-Left or Right (virtual desktop)
Windows-Ctrl-D (new virtual desktop)
Windows-Ctrl-C (ask Cortana)
Windows-S (Daily Glance weather, news, sports)
Windows-Ctrl-F4 (Closes the virtual desktop)
Windows-Up and Down (pins an app to the top or bottom of the screen and maximizes it)
Integration with OneDrive
Free cloud storage is used almost everywhere these days, and Microsoft has made it very easy in Windows 10 with OneDrive. You can use it to store files from iOS or Android mobile devices, and even remotely access any file on your PC, not just those in your OneDrive folder.
Stream for Xbox
Windows 10 finally showed off true Xbox integration, and now you can log in to your Xbox Live account. But more importantly, you can use it to stream your Xbox One game through your PC. First you need to activate it on the Xbox One in the "Settings | Preferences | Allow game streaming" menu, and then launch the Xbox application on the PC. (Interestingly, Microsoft also went the other way and added keyboard and mouse support to the Xbox One - not a very useful feature when you have a PC.)
Original control panel with the rest of the goodies
The new settings panel is very easy to use, and makes a little more sense than the old control panel, which you'll still need if you want to dig deeper into system settings. She is easy to summon even if she is hidden. Just right-click on Start in the lower left corner of the screen, and select it from the drop-down menu, or type Control Panel (control panel) in the search bar in the lower left corner of the taskbar. If you right-click on the Start button, you will see a lot of useful menus there, such as computer management and disk management. Whatever you choose, you will bring up applications very similar to those found in Windows 7.
Few people know, but Windows 10 has many useful features and capabilities that can greatly simplify the interaction with the OS. Microsoft developers have tried to make the system as comfortable as possible for ordinary users. We have found for you 10 hidden features in the system that will allow you to comfortably use your PC.
Virtual desktops
If you work with a large number of files and programs, then this feature will be especially useful.
Note! To switch between tables, use the key combination "Ctrl + Win + right / left arrow".
Windows Sonic Surround
The new Windows has the ability to enable surround sound for headphones. Gamers will especially like this feature.
This setting allows you to plunge into the music with your head.
Memory control
Everyone knows about the ability of Windows to accumulate unnecessary files, which leads to OS freezes and slowdowns. Few people know, but the "Ten" has a function that will take care of cleaning the system.
Now the operating system will automatically delete unnecessary files that have not been used for more than 30 days, which will allow you to forget about the lack of memory.
You can connect your smartphone to your PC via Bluetooth. 1 minute after the loss of signal, Windows will block access to the system. This means that the PC is blocked if you move away from it.
- Go to "Start" → "Settings".
- "Devices" → "Bluetooth and other devices" → Connect a new device (smartphone).
- Return to "Settings".
- "Accounts" → "Login options".
- Find the "Dynamic blocking" section and check the box.
Backup with history
Windows 10 has a great backup feature. You no longer need to download special programs, you just need to specify a place to store copies, and then the OS will take care of it.
Controlled folder access
Recently, cybercriminals have begun to frequently use encryption viruses. To protect yourself from them, use this function.
The hacker will not be able to access them.
Alternative login methods
If you do not want to constantly enter a long password for
authorization in the system, you can use an alternative login method.
In the first case, you will have to enter a simple 4-digit PIN code, and in the second, you will have to move the picture according to previously invented gestures. This feature is made for the touch screen, but it also works fine on a regular PC.
Windows update options
If you are tired of Windows reboots followed by updates, then this setting is especially for you.
Microsoft has promised that no updates will occur on your PC at the specified time.
WiFi Sense
Application management
With the help of a new tool, you can find out the amount of memory that each application takes up. In the same place, you can remove an unnecessary program.
It is worth noting that such settings in the system hurt a lot, but we tried to select the most useful ones for you.
The long-suffering Start menu is finally back! Now Microsoft, having learned from bitter experience, has provided the ability for users to customize the size and location of this menu. To do this, you just need to hook and drag the border of the start menu with the mouse cursor. And if you again want to use the start screen from Windows 8, then just go to "Settings" → "Personalization" → "Start" and activate the option "Open the start screen in full screen mode."
2. WiFi Sense
This is a very interesting feature that is already known to Windows Phone users. It works as follows. Each time you connect to the network, Windows remembers and sends the entered passwords to the cloud. Thus, an online database of passwords for accessing wireless networks is formed, which can be shared. You can allow friends to connect to your network (contacts from Facebook, Skype, Outlook) and in the same way use the networks that they use or have previously used. In this case, you do not even need to enter any passwords, since when such a network is detected, the connection occurs automatically. You can activate and configure this feature at: "Settings" → "Network and Internet" → Wi-Fi → "Manage Wi-Fi network settings".
3. Selecting the start folder for "Explorer"
The standard file manager of Windows 10 has got a new section called "Quick Access Panel". In the settings of this program, there was also an option to select a directory that will open by default at startup.
4. New application management tool
We are already used to the fact that in each version of Windows, a well-known applet in the Control Panel section is responsible for installing and removing programs. Windows 10 comes with a new tool called Apps & Features. With it, you can not only get rid of unnecessary programs, but also estimate how much each of them takes up space on your hard drive. This function is located at the address: “Settings” → “System” → “Applications and features”.
5. Cloud protection
Yes, Windows Defender may not be the most powerful and secure antivirus currently available. But he had a chance to correct this state of affairs, because in Windows 10 he learned how to send data about potentially dangerous files to Microsoft servers, where experts will deal with their contents. You can activate this feature in the system settings: "Settings" → "Update and Security" → "Windows Defender".
6. Update from local networks
Previously, operating system updates were always downloaded directly from Microsoft servers. In addition, Windows 10 has the ability to download updates from other computers that have downloaded the necessary files earlier. This feature works using peer-to-peer technology. You can access it here: "Settings" → "Update and security" → "Advanced settings" → "Choose how and when to receive updates."
7. Analysis of data usage
Since Windows 10 has become a unified system for devices of different form factors, it has some features that are designed for mobile devices. However, on desktops they can be useful. For example, the network usage monitoring function will allow you not only to track the total amount of traffic, but also to identify the most “gluttonous” applications. You can open it by following the address: "Settings" → "Network and Internet" → "Data usage" → "Usage information".
8. Battery saving
Another feature that was borrowed from Windows Phone. However, laptop owners will only be happy to see it. A special saving mode will automatically turn on when the battery is low and will allow you to add extra battery life. You can configure this mode at the address: "Settings" → "System" → "Save battery". Here you can also find out which programs consume the most energy.
9. Place management
We have already touched on this innovation in the article "". The "Storage" section allows you to get detailed information about what is occupied by the space of your hard drives, and clear it of temporary files, junk and unnecessary applications. In addition, here you can set a place to save documents, videos, music and install applications by default. This useful tool is located here: "Settings" → "System" → "Storage".
10. Offline maps
The ability to use maps offline will be appreciated by all travelers who often need to navigate or find the right point, but there is no access to the Web. The Maps app included with Windows 10 can download maps of selected countries to your hard drive and then use them for navigation. To select the maps you need, go to: "Settings" → "System" → "Offline Maps".
These are the interesting things that can be found in the bowels of Windows 10. I am sure that further careful study of this operating system will bring us many more surprises. What's your favorite new feature in Windows 10?
