Microsoft is off to a good start with Windows 10 as it holds the record for the fastest adoption rate Microsoft has seen for any windows OS since Windows 7. To further cap things, they’ve released the first-anniversary update for Windows 10. The update, packed with tons of cool new features, will bump your Windows 10 experience up a notch. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting new features;
Start Menu:
The Start Menu has been refreshed. The power icon and the folder icons have been made smaller and pushed to the left side. Also, all the installed apps are now shown on the left side of the start menu (there’s no more an ‘All Apps’ button).
Cortana:
Cortana now has better integration in the OS and can now control desktop apps, look up directions, schedule appointments or create reminders. People in countries where Cortana doesn’t have full support can now use the voice assistant by choosing any other region they may prefer. Cortana is now available on the lock screen. Also, with the help of Cortana, you can now see the notifications from your phone on your laptop by installing Cortana on your phone.
Windows Ink:
Windows 10 is now more pen and stylus friendly with Windows Ink, a new pen-centric experience that lets you use your active stylus throughout the operating system. Windows Ink comes with its own special workspace, which you can access through an icon in the system tray. Ink will also be integrated into existing apps.
Action Centre:
The action centre has been improved on and notifications are now grouped by app (rather than chronologically) and can be easily dismissed in chunks. You can also set priority levels for each individual app in the Settings menu. You can also customise the number of notifications to be shown on each app, as well as things like whether an app’s notifications appear as pop-up banners or sounds.
Windows Hello:
Microsoft has also introduced Windows Hello, but only devices with supported hardware can use the feature. Windows Hello, the biometric login that lets you sign into your computer with a selfie or fingerprint scan, to include supporting websites on the Edge browser and some apps. Windows Hello will also let you sign into your PC using a “companion device,” such as a USB security token, an activity tracking band or a smartphone.
Microsoft Edge:
Microsoft’s new Edge browser finally gets support for browser extensions. A handful of third-party Edge extensions including AdBlock (see my article on AdBlock), the Pinterest Pin It button and Evernote will be available at launch, hopefully with more to come. Extensions will be available through the Windows Store. Edge now also syncs with the cloud, works with Cortana and with Hello.
Windows Defender:
Windows defender, Microsoft’s native antivirus software, makes a comeback in the anniversary update. If you install a third-party antivirus program in Windows 10, Windows Defender automatically disables itself. But thanks to a new feature called Limited Periodic Scanning, Windows Defender can now act as an “additional line of defence” to your existing antivirus program. When Limited Periodic Scanning is turned on, Windows Defender will turn itself on to scan your PC periodically (and send you a summary of its findings when the scan is complete) without interfering with your existing antivirus program
Dark theme:
It might not be such a big deal, but many Windows users have asked for a dark theme and Microsoft has finally answered. Users can now toggle between light and dark mode in the personalization settings.
The Windows 10 update also brings cool features like screen mirroring and mobile hotspot. There’s also Linux support for developers.
A notification to update your computer should appear in Windows Update. For more information on the anniversary update, visit this link.
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