Whether you’ve been using Windows 8 on a desktop PC, on a tablet, or on a “two-in-one” device, you’ll find a lot of changes. Tablet users will see the biggest changes.
Windows 10 isn’t just a big change for Windows 7 users. There have been some major changes in philosophy since Windows 8. Windows 10’s touch interface is now very different and more integrated with the desktop. Whether you’ve been using Windows 8 on a desktop PC, on a tablet, or on a “two-in-one” device, you’ll find a lot of changes. Tablet users will see the biggest changes. If you're in charge of IT security, keeping users safe on the web is one of the biggest problems you face. But there are some outdated notions about threats that can get in the way of effective security. Protecting users on the web requires you to think about all the ways users access it, and the different weapons cybercriminals have in their arsenals for getting around traditional anti-virus security. To catch the bad stuff, keep your users productive, and cut down on the amount of time you spend cleaning up compromised computers, take a look at the following security myths and read our recommendations for getting web security right. Myth #1 - A strict browsing policy that simply blocks unsavoury sites keeps users safeWindows 10 will be released on July 29, 2015. Microsoft is already advertising it to WIndows 7 and 8.1 users using a system tray pop-up. This is a free upgrade, and will probably be a good one for Windows 7 and 8 users alike.
Microsoft wants to get all recent Windows machines on the same operating system, providing a standardized Windows platform and pushing the “universal apps” offered by the Windows Store. After the mess of Windows 8, Windows 10 is looking pretty good. Yes, It’s Free (For Most People)Windows 10 will be a free upgrade, assuming your computer runs Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1. As long as you upgrade to Windows 10 within the first year, you won’t have to pay a cent. Despite some confusion online, you won’t have to pay anything. As long as you upgrade to Windows 10 within the first year, you can continue using Windows 10 and getting updates for the “supported lifetime of the device.” It’s a full copy that will continue to work. If you have an older computer running Windows Vista or a previous version of Windows, you won’t get a free upgrade. You may want to buy a new computer if you have such an old computer, anyway. If you have a pirated (“non-genuine“) copy of Windows, you may be able to upgrade — but you’ll continue to have a “non-genuine” copy of Windows 10. If you’re building your own computer or purchasing a copy of Windows 10 to run in a virtual machine, you’ll have to pay $110 for Windows 10 Home or $199 for Windows 10 Pro. If you want to upgrade an old computer to Windows 10 after the first year and you miss out on the free upgrade offer, you’ll need to pay for a copy of Windows too — unless Microsoft extends the offer. Windows 7 and Windows 8 users might have noticed a new Windows icon in their system trays that when clicked, will open a dialog that introduces Windows 10 and determines if you’re eligible for a free upgrade. Here is how to remove that icon and dialog permanently.
We’re all aware of Windows 10 here at How-to Geek. We can’t go a day now without hearing about its pending arrival, which it turns out is July 29. In truth, we can’t wait for Windows 10 because we feel it finally fixes most of Windows 8’s ills and we believe it is going to be a must-have upgrade for all current Windows users. Microsoft obviously believes this is true as well because they’re offering it as a free upgrade to most qualifying current Windows owners. They’re also pulling out the stops when it comes to making you, the average everyday Windows user, aware of its existence. This includes adding a “Get Windows 10″ icon and dialog to user’s system trays, which has alarmed quite a few people, who aren’t sure if it is some kind of trick or malware. Let us say with no uncertainty, it is not, but it is a little underhanded and annoying on Microsoft’s part. From today, Windows users will be able to reserve their upgrade to the new operating system, which has seen its icons revamped by Microsoft. Microsoft's next operating system will be available for PCs and tablets from 29th July - with existing Windows users able to reserve their upgrade from today. Windows 10 will be available both on new PCs and as a free upgrade for those running Windows 7 and 8.1. Owners of these operating systems will see a Windows icon in their taskbar that will allow them to "reserve" their upgrade. The 3GB file can be downloaded from 29th July. The free upgrade will be available until July next year and those choosing to switch to Windows 10 can cancel their reservations at "at any time", according to Microsoft. The upgrade paths for Windows 7 and Windows 8. To upgrade using Windows Update users must be running Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) or Windows 8 (Windows 8.1 Update). Other Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will still be able to upgrade to Windows 10 by downloading the ISO image from Microsoft. Image: Microsoft While Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise and Windows RT/RT 8.1 releases can't be upgraded in this way, Microsoft has said that "Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing" will be able to "upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer". Microsoft are yet to clarify when users of Enterprise versions of Windows will be able to move to Windows 10 Enterprise. Microsoft is betting Windows 10 will win over users with its ability to run on a variety of platforms, allowing users to use the same cloud services and software as they swap between fixed and mobile computers. "We designed Windows 10 to run our broadest device family ever, including Windows PCs, Windows tablets, Windows phones, Windows for the Internet of Things, Microsoft Surface Hub, Xbox One and Microsoft HoloLens-all working together to empower you to do great things," said Terry Myerson, VP of Microsoft's operating systems group in a blog post. Features such as Continuum mode will detect when mobile Windows 10 devices are docked with a mouse, keyboard and monitor and reorient the UI to suit - for example switching from tap-friendly tiles to smaller icons suited to a mouse pointer - while Universal Apps will tailor their interface to the device they are being used on. Myerson is keen to stress that "Windows 10 brings back the Start menu" familiar to Windows 7 users, following the backlash against Windows 8's fullscreen Start menu. Microsoft is also hoping users will take to Cortana, the built-in virtual assistant that users can talk to in order to set appointments, search for information and answer rudimentary queries, and which should become more capable as it learns more about you. Windows 10 will include the free anti-malware software Windows Defender, which will have free updates for the lifetime of the OS, as well as its new faster and more capable Edge web browser. While the operating system will launch on PCs and tablets in July, it is expected tolaunch on phones, small tablets, Xbox, and Hololens at unspecified later dates. Microsoft said it had refined the OS using feedback from more than four million Windows Insiders testing early builds of the OS. The firm revealed a new, or at least slightly tweaked, look for Windows 10, in its latest Build 10130, which has just been made available via the Windows Insider programme. The update overhauls the rather plain icons present in earlier builds and replaces them with what Microsoft describes as "more modern and lightweight" alternatives. The revamp means that app icons will also be more consistent between desktop and mobile in apps such as Word and Excel. Top to bottom: Windows 8.1 icons, old Windows 10 icons, new Windows 10 icons. Image: Microsoft While the new icons may not look vastly different, Microsoft said extensive work had gone into the redesign.
"Between the legacy aero-style icons and new app icons, several thousand icons were designed and redesigned. We explored Swiss graphic design, Dutch product design, and modern architecture (among other design fields and styles) to inform and inspire the design process. The icon evolution will continue as we push more consistency and better functionality," according to a blog post. Other improvements in the latest build include the ability to customise the Start menu, a new look for Jump Lists on the Taskbar, new swipe shortcuts for Tablet mode, the addition of a Favorites pane and other features to the Edge browser, Taskbar settings for Virtual Desktops, a Cortana keyboard shortcut, Print to PDF feature and fullscreen playback for the Movies & TV app. |
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