Microsoft officially announced the global release of Windows 10 for PCs and tablets available on July 29. The Windows 10 upgrade is designed to be compatible with your current Windows device and applications. As previously announced by Microsoft, Windows 10 is a free, automatic upgrade for anyone running Windows 7 or 8.
Windows 10 will cost $119 for the Home version and $199 for Windows 10 Professional, which should be around Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000 respectively.
Windows 10 brings back the Start menu and it is faster than ever before, with quick startup and resume. It provides the most secure platform ever, including Windows Defender for free anti-malware protection, and being the only platform with a commitment to deliver free ongoing security updates for the supported lifetime of the device.
Windows 10 will power an incredibly broad range of devices – everything from PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens and Surface Hub.
Microsoft said in its blog,
“As we announced earlier this year, for the first time ever, we are offering the full versions of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Pro as a free and easy upgrade for qualifying Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year after launch. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device.
Consumers will have one year from July 29th to take advantage of the free upgrade. Once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, Microsoft will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device—at no cost.”
Windows 10 will be more productive and have more fun, with a range of these new features.
Cortana learns your preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information, and important reminders. Interaction is natural and easy via talking or typing. And the Cortana experience works not just on your PC, but can notify and help you on your smartphone too.
Microsoft Edge, is an all-new browser designed to get things done online in new ways, with built-in commenting on the web – via typing or inking — sharing comments, and a reading view that makes reading web sites much faster and easier.
With Cortana integrated, Microsoft Edge offers quick results and content based on your interests and preferences.
Office on Windows: In addition to the Office 2016 full featured desktop suite, Windows 10 users will be able to experience new universal Windows applications for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, all available separately. Also new versions of OneNote and Outlook are included with Windows 10 at no additional cost.
Xbox Live and the integrated Xbox App bring new game experiences to Windows 10.
New Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People, Mail & Calendar apps have updated designs that look and feel familiar from app to app and device to device. You can start something on one device and continue it on another since your content is stored on and synched through OneDrive.
Windows Continuum enables today’s best laptops and 2-in-1 devices to elegantly transform from one form factor to the other, enabling smooth transitions of your tablet into a PC, and back. And new Windows phones with Continuum can be connected to a monitor, mouse and physical keyboard to make your phone work like a PC.
Windows Hello, greets you by name and with a smile, letting you log in without a password and providing instant, more secure access to your Windows 10 devices. With Windows Hello, biometric authentication is easy with your face, iris, or finger, providing instant recognition.
Windows Store, with easy install and uninstall of trusted applications, supported by the broadest range of global payment methods.
