Windows 10 is coming later this year-and it brings some truly surprising changes with it, along with expected tweaks to relieve Windows 8 sufferers and lure more holdouts from prior versions. The OS is currently available as a preview, so it will continue to evolve in the coming months. Here are the highlights, plus links to more detailed coverage.
1. Windows 10 is coming out this year, maybe soon
After releasing a business-oriented major preview last October and a consumer-orientedmajor preview in late January, the official launch of Windows 10 is planned for sometime this year. A major prerelease version, or possibly even the final version, is expected to drop at the time of the company's Build conference, April 29 - May 1.
2. You can try Windows 10 now
Microsoft will release Technical Preview (read: beta) builds sporadically, which you can try if you sign up for the free Windows Insider program. Just remember, it's beta, so don't expect everything to be fully functional or stable.
3. Windows 10 will be free to most users
You heard right: Nothing. Nada. Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for the first year, for users with Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1. (XP users-we know you're out there-no freebies for you or others running versions prior to Windows 7. Sorry!)
Once you upgrade, Microsoft promises free version upgrades for the life of the device. What we don't know yet is whether Windows will cost something after that first year-such as a one-time upgrade charge, or a subscription model. You can sign up to be notified via Microsoft's Windows 10 webpage.
4. Windows 10 will have hologram technology
You heard right again: At the January consumer preview event, Microsoft introduced Microsoft Holographic, a set of technologies that will enable 3D imaging and hologram projection for Windows 10 apps. A video and live demo showed people wearing Microsoft HoloLens projection goggles to interact with remote coworkers, play a 3D version of Minecraft, or explore a 3D projection of Mars. Developers will be able to use HoloStudio software to develop 3D applications.
No one expected Microsoft to unveil 3D capabilities-and it was fun to try HoloLens at the January event. Even if it appears first in niche applications, it certainly gives Windows a halo of innovation it hasn't had in a while.
5. Windows 10 will include 'universal' Office apps
Microsoft is creating 'universal' Office apps that will be touch-friendly and run on all devices. Future Windows Phones and Windows tablets will come with Office apps preinstalled. This is all part of Microsoft's bid to take back territory it's lost to the free productivity applications, namely Google Drive. What's not clear is how these universal apps will relate to Office 365 or the upcoming Office 2016 desktop software.
6. Windows 10 will include Cortana
Cortana, the female-voiced, somewhat sassy digital assistant that debuted in Windows Phone 8.1, will become part of Windows 10. Tied in closely with the Bing search and notifications features of the new OS, you'll be able to type or talk to get information through your PC. We tried Cortana at the January consumer preview event, and also when it appeared in Build 9926 a few days later. It's definitely still a work in progress, but it's nice to see this highlight of Windows Phone arrive in Windows 10.
Cortana is coming from Windows Phone over to Windows 10, and she's already part of the preview builds.
7. Windows 10 will have two browsers
Windows 10 will have it both ways, browser-wise: It will ship with both Internet Explorer 11 and 'Spartan,' the new, uncluttered browser that Microsoft is developing, apparently to replace IE. But perhaps keeping good ol' Explorer is Microsoft's way of avoiding wrenching changes that could alienate users (*cough* Windows 8).
8. Windows 10 will be great for gaming
Microsoft is bringing big changes to PC gaming with Windows 10. We'll see the debut of the DirectX 12 API, which promises faster, "closer-to-the-metal" gaming performance and greater efficiency. Windows 10 will also include a "game DVR" mode to allow recordings of the last 30 seconds of play, all the better for social gaming.
In the most dramatic gaming move, the company said it would enable cross-platform, PC-Xbox play. Microsoft has attempted and failed to unite these platforms before, however, so we'll see how it works this time.
9. Windows 10 will embrace most Windows Phones
One Windows for all! At the January consumer preview, the company announced thatWindows Phones would receive Windows 10 and work in concert with other Windows devices. Some confusion has ensued since then about possible exceptions, so we'll continue to track any developments.
10. Windows RT may be on its last gasp
Microsoft hasn't shut the door entirely on Windows RT devices like its own Surface 2. But with excitement building for Windows 10, the most Microsoft would promise is that such hardware would get its own version of Windows 10-likely limited in functionality, as Windows RT was compared to Windows 8.
Then news broke that Microsoft would stop manufacturing the Surface 2 entirely. The company is downplaying the significance of this move, but it could indicate that Microsoft's keeping existing RT devices on life support via upgrades, but halting further development.
Ben Newman is a best-selling author, international speaker and highly regarded performance coach whose clients include Fortune 500 Companies, business executives, high performing sales people and athletes in the NFL, PGA & NCAA. Ben's most recent book, Leave YOUR Legacy, was ranked by CEO READ as a Top 25 business book of 2015.
I've spent my career surrounded by highly motivated people. Along the way, I've picked up plenty of advice from these accomplished and globally recognized leaders and athletes. It may surprise you, though, that the best piece of advice I've ever received didn't come from one of these visible and highly successful icons, but rather from my champion of a mother.
When I was 7 years old, my mother was diagnosed with amyloidosis, and her life quickly transformed into a full-time battle with painful medical procedures. Rather than wallow, though, she made a conscious choice to turn her pain into purpose. What once was an arduous journey from her St. Louis home to the Boston-based medical center instead became a fun family holiday. My mother's refusal to be belittled by her disease taught me my biggest life lesson: It's not how long you live; it's how you choose to live your life.
Ever since her passing in 1986, I have used this philosophy to teach others how to maintain perspective and make the right daily choices. Here are three big pieces of advice that will add fulfillment and success to your personal and professional life.
1. Let purpose overtake pain.
When I have a hard day, lose a big contract or struggle to find motivation, an image of my mother pulling an IV bag along with her to the dinner table pops into my head. My brother and I would be doing our homework, and she would always ask us about our day at school regardless of how well she was feeling. It wasn't easy for her to keep going, but she chose to stay connected to her purpose. Through her pain, she remained our leader and biggest supporter, knowing her strength would guide us in the future.
Let's imagine that you've lost a big contract. You can throw a pity party, or you can focus on connecting the behaviors that put you in a position to lose the contract and instead develop a solution. If you attack the process, you'll create more opportunities to silence the negatives. That will empower you to forget about the lost contract and focus on landing your next big contract.
2. Be courageous.
Life is too short to avoid tough conversations and situations. When you identify your goals and priorities, you must courageously and relentlessly pursue them--regardless of how difficult they may be to achieve.
Make an effort to pursue the relationships you believe in. We all get that gut feeling when we're uncomfortable and don't want to ask the questions necessary to get our relationships to the right place. Making ourselves uncomfortable is what gives us the ability to continue to grow.
Recently, I visited with one of the top financial boutique firms in the world, and the organization's leaders shared that more courageous conversations had driven them to the next level of success. They'd started asking the questions that needed to be asked of both themselves and their clients. We then talked about what was working and what wasn't. This ignited a spark and helped them to recognize that courage had made a difference in their success and their impact on their clients over the last 12 months.
3. Intend to succeed every day.
My mother taught me that to succeed, you need to give your best every single day. It doesn't matter whether you're tired, sick or uninspired. Live in the present moment and make a conscious decision every morning to be the best person you can be. Eventually, your commitment to greatness will create success on its own terms. No one can take this away from you, and you'll go to bed each night knowing that you did everything you could.
If you intend to succeed every day, then you have to be intentional in designing what it looks like to succeed. Take a look at the moment in time when you were most successful in your career. What did your behavior look like, and what daily actions did you take? Ask yourself what it would take for you to repeat those behaviors day after day. Use that moment as fuel to move forward with your business right now.
Greatness doesn't take days off. It lies in your ability to remain relentless in the face of fear and to be intentional in your actions every single day to grow your company and leave your legacy. You'll find yourself leading a more fulfilling career and meaningful life if you challenge yourself to let your purpose overtake your pain, be courageous, and intend to succeed every day.
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