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Windows 10 introduced a number of new elements, including the option to use a touch-optimized interface (known as tablet mode) or a traditional desktop interface similar to that of Windows 7 along with live tiles from Windows 8.
Development platform
Windows 10 supports an extension of the Windows Runtime platform introduced by Windows 8 known as the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). UWP emphasizes a core set of APIs common to all variations of the operating system, enabling the ability to code a single application with adaptations (such as user interface differences) for different device families and states, including desktops and laptops, tablets, smartphones (via Windows 10 Mobile), Xbox One, and other new device classes such as Surface Hub and HoloLens. An application may also react to the available displays and input on a device; when connected to a monitor or a suitable docking station, a UWP app on a smartphone can take on the appearance of the app on a PC. Information can also be synchronized between versions of an app for different devices, such as notifications and licensing.[1][2][3]
Cortana
Windows 10 has added support for the new helper Cortana. Through voice or text you can ask Cortana questions about the weather, your calender and other types of notifications along with online information. Although Cortana is being added in Windows 10 she debuted on the Windows Phone 8.1. Cortana can also be used for fun as she can tell many jokes, and has hidden Easter Eggs as well.
Microsoft Edge
Sticking to the common theme of Windows 10, Microsoft Edge was added to make surfing the web easier for all types of users and remove the old Internet Explorer 11 (However, IE 11 can still be accessed within Windows 10). Microsoft Edge still runs Bing as did IE 11 which to most people is just as good as Google. Microsoft Edge also has its own list of new features such as Cortana integration and its new icon. Microsoft Edge is fast new browser and may be the standard for all browsers to come.
Shell and user interface
Windows 10 also allows web apps and desktop software (using either Win32 or .NET Framework), to be packaged for distribution on Windows Store. Desktop software distributed through Windows Store is packaged using the App-V system to allow sandboxing. Web apps are executed from remote servers, and have access to Windows functions such as notifications and camera access. As with Windows 8, locally-packaged web apps can be written using HTML and WinJS.[4][5]
Continuum
Continuum is the blanket title for a group of features on Windows 10 that are designed to enable smoother transitions between a default interface mode designed for use with a keyboard and mouse, and a interface designed for touchscreen environments, especially on hybrid devices such as laplets. Enabling "Tablet mode" switches the primary interface to a full screen version of the Start menu, and opens all applications in a maximized view by default. The taskbar is also modified, adding a Back button next to the Start button, and by default, hiding buttons for opened and pinned applications. Task View is used as the primary means of switching programs. Windows can prompt to switch between these two modes, or automatically do so, if certain events occur, such as plugging in a keyboard or mouse to a tablet, switching a laplet to its laptop state, or vice versa.[6][7][8][9]
Task View
Task View is a task switching and virtual desktop system, accessible via the taskbar button, keyboard shortcut Windows+Tab ↹, or swiping from the left of a touchscreen.[10][11] Activating Task View shows a zoomed display of all windows currently opened on a specific monitor; clicking on a window switches to it. Task View can also be displayed when a window is snapped to half the screen or three windows are snapped to fourths of the screen, prompting for a window to occupy the remainder of the screen. Task View also allows the creation of virtual workspaces; windows can be dragged into and out of these workspaces.[12]
Start Menu
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Windows 10 reintroduced a Windows 7-style start menu that includes live tile features from Windows 8 and introduces features such as the ability to resize the Start menu and view recently added and most used applications. It can also be made full screen apart from tablet users.[13]
Action Center
Action Center is a sidebar that provides a list of received notifications and a group of "Quick actions" buttons for different settings areas. It is accessed by clicking the Notifications icon in the system tray, or swiping from the right of the screen on touchscreens.[14][15][16]
Gaming
DirectX 12
Windows 10 includes DirectX 12 alongside WDDM 2.0.[17][18] Unveiled March 2014 at GDC, DirectX 12 aims to provide "console-level efficiency" with "closer to the metal" access to hardware resources, and reduced CPU and graphics driver overhead.[19][20] Most of the performance improvements are achieved through low-level programming, which can reduce single-threaded CPU bottlenecking caused by abstraction through higher level APIs. The performance gains achieved by allowing developers direct access to GPU resources is similar to other low-level rendering initiatives such as AMD's Mantle, Apple's Metal API or the OpenGL successor, Vulkan.[21][22] WDDM 2.0 introduces a new virtual memory management and allocation system to reduce workload on the kernel-mode driver.[17][23]
Early in-game benchmarks using DirectX 12-compatible game Ashes of the Singularity showed slight performance gains on the Nvidia GeForce 980 Ti card tested, and major performance gains over DirectX 11 on AMD Radeon R9 290x—with average frame rates nearly doubled in extreme cases, meeting or even exceeding the performance of the Nvidia card tested (by contrast to the Nvidia card, which outperformed on DirectX 11 benchmarks).[24]
Xbox One intergration
Windows 10’s new Xbox app should feel deeply familiar to Xbox One fans the center point is your Activity Feed, which is populated by your Xbox Live Friends’ activities, such as unlocking an achievement or launching a Twitch stream. The right side of the app lists your friends and selecting one offers options to view their game clips, invite them to a party, send an instant message and more. You can also view your own achievements, manage your own profile, and more all right within the app. You can even stream your all Xbox One games to a Windows 10 PC or tablet.
Shortcut keys
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2015) |
| SHORTCUT | EFFECT |
|---|---|
| ⊞ Win+Ctrl+F4 | Close new desktop |
| ⊞ Win+Ctrl+← and ⊞ Win+Ctrl+→ | Switch between desktops |
| ⊞ Win+Ctrl+D | Create new desktop |
| ⊞ Win+← | Snap active window to the left |
| ⊞ Win+→ | Snap active window to the right |
| ⊞ Win+↑ | Snap active window to the top |
| ⊞ Win+↓ | Snap active window to the bottom |
| ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ | See all desktops and open apps via the Task View page |
| ⊞ Win+Q | Open up Cortana for voice input |
| ⊞ Win+S | Open up Cortana for typed input |
| ⊞ Win+A | Open up Windows 10 Action Center |
| ⊞ Win+X | Open Start button context menu |
See also
References
- ^ Kevin, Gallo (March 2, 2015). "A first look at the Windows 10 universal app platform". Windows Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Our first look at Windows 10 on phones, and Universal Apps for touchscreens". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Guide to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Peter, Bright (March 3, 2015). "Microsoft's next attempt to fill the Windows 10 app gap: Web app apps". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Here's how Microsoft hopes to get Android and iOS phone apps into its Windows 10 Store". ZDNet. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ "Watch how Windows 10 works with touch interfaces". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ "Windows 10 Technical Preview 2: Configure Tablet Mode". Thurrott.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ^ "Windows 10 Technical Preview 2: Continuum and Tablet Mode". Thurrott.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ^ Bowden, Zack. "Windows 10: The tablet experience is better than ever (with video)". WinBeta. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ^ "Microsoft Unveils Windows 10 with New Start Menu". Tom's Guide. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ Warren, Tom (September 30, 2014). "Windows 10 is the official name for Microsoft's next version of Windows". The Verge. Vox Media.
- ^ "How to use Windows 10's Task View and virtual desktops". PC World. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ "Upgrading from Windows 7 or 8? You'll Love Windows 10". CNN Money. February 22, 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ "This is Windows 10 for phones". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ "Windows 10: a closer look at the future of Microsoft's vision for PCs". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "How to customize Windows 10's Action Center". PC World. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ a b "The DirectX 12 Performance Preview: AMD, NVIDIA, & Star Swarm". Anandtech. Purch Inc. February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ^ Langley, Bryan. "DirectX 12 and Windows 10". DirectX Developer Blog. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ "Windows 10 will woo gamers with supercharged DirectX 12 graphics API". PCWorld. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ "Microsoft details DirectX 12 for better Xbox One, PC performance". Techradar. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ Smith, Ryan (March 24, 2014). "Microsoft Announces DirectX 12: Low Level Graphics Programming Comes To DirectX". AnandTech. Purch Inc. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ Smith, Ryan (March 3, 2015). "Next Generation OpenGL Becomes Vulkan: Additional Details Released". Anandtech. Purch. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ^ "What's new for Windows 10 Insider Preview display drivers (WDDM 2.0)". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ^ Walton, Mark (August 19, 2015). "DirectX 12 tested: An early win for AMD, and disappointment for Nvidia". Ars Technica UK. Retrieved August 19, 2015.