Windows 10, the very best of Windows
THE VERY BEST OF MICROSOFT WINDOWS: WINDOWS 10
Previous versions of Microsoft Windows is nothing compared to Windows 10. Permit me to say that Windows 10 is a Done Deal for Microsoft Windows with lots of functionalities. Going down the memory lane, every other release before now was good but had its related issues. Surprised right? The series of Windows versions starting with Windows 98 was a bit messy, Windows Me was awesome, Vista was a “Night mare”, Windows 7 was stable with limitations and Windows 8 a pain in the neck.
All these releases were in a bid to have a high performance operating system and proffer bespoke functionalities.
Since the era of Windows operating systems, Microsoft has come up with tons of different versions of operating systems (OS) that cuts across different platforms but the release of Windows 10 and its various editions made the hit including Windows IoT (Internet of Things) which forms the base OS for robotics in artificial intelligence (AI).
Tech giants say Windows 10 has high aspirations of being the world’s most popular OS. Users concur with this thesis statement.
Interestingly, Microsoft has termed Windows 10, “ The VERY LAST OR END of Microsoft Windows and the FUTURE of Microsoft Windows” hence it is called Windows as a service. This does not mean that Windows has reached its end of life but implies that there will be no further release of Windows versions. Instead, there will be incremental updates to address bugs fixes and constantly improving the performance of Windows OS.
These updates released every Tuesday, hence the name “Patch Tuesdays”
Two things bugged the users of Windows 8 the most:
1. Multiple personality disorder (The touch interface and old desktop mode that struggled for the attention of users causing confusion.
2. The unceremonious death of start menu thus causing the terrible user experience of windows 8.
Microsoft addressed these issues plaguing previous version of the OS. Booting up Win 10 takes you to the familiar desktop environment with the “Start menu” at the bottom just beneath the programs pane.
Microsoft over the years has improved a great deal to achieving the objective of people NEEDING Windows, to CHOOSING Windows to LOVING Windows.
WHAT IS THERE TO LOVE ABOUT WINDOWS?
Feasibility study has proven that Windows 10 has indeed addressed the issues that plagued the older versions of Windows. Windows 10 combines the best of Windows 8 (super-fast startup, improved security) — with much of what made Windows 7 familiar and easy to use making Windows 10 a killer OS with the return of “Start Menu”.
This brings us to evaluating WHY Windows 10 is better than the older versions and these very key special features of Windows 10 are illustrated below:
1. Bitlocker Drive Encryption — This is a security feature in Window 10 that encrypts data on drives thereby denying access to unauthorized people trying to spoof into your data. It makes data unreadable via encryption.
It is a data protection feature that integrates with the operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers. BitLocker provides the most protection when used with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1.2 or later which is a microchip, a hardware component installed in newer computers by the computer manufacturers. In a scenario where the device is stolen, you have nothing to worry about as the culprit will not be able to access you data.
In addition to the TPM, BitLocker offers the option to lock the normal startup process until the user supplies a personal identification number (PIN) or inserts a removable device, such as a USB flash drive, that contains a startup key. These additional security measures provide multifactor authentication and assurance that the computer will not start or resume from hibernation until the correct PIN or startup key is presented.
2. Microsoft edge
– This is an improved version of internet explorer, a Microsoft browser on which you can attonate web pages, this browser is embedded with the web Note — a web format of One Note on which you can draw on web pages and comment on them as well as sharing them with others via email etc. The reading capability feature is also embedded into it to set a web page into a readable format stripping off all necessary distractions like sounds and videos. It also has better security feature.
3. Virtual Desktops
- Multitasking is made easy and achievable with virtual desktops whereby one can create multiple desktops and can switch between the desktops as desired on a single monitor.
4. Bash shell — This is a great news for Linux gigs. The special feature of bash shell — Windows subsystem for Linux (beta). With this, one can run bash shell as if you were working on Ubuntu system. This is a popular feature that has been present on some Linux OS and via third-party Windows tools for years which makes it possible to run some Linux commands on Windows — which is now native in Windows 10.
5. Action Centre
– Windows now has a centralized notification centre, which is a nice to have feature. In a smart phone dominated world, Notifications are part of everyday life. Getting these notifications on desktop is good. Swiping in to the right of your screen launches the Action centre where emails, Facebook likes and tweets notifications are displayed.
6. Continuum — Windows 10 has a clever feature called Continuum, which knows which device you are using and switches the user interface specific modes to make it suitable for the device like PCs, tablets, or even turns your phone into a PC. Windows is smart enough to figure out what device it is running on and quickly switch to the mode depending on that device. The keyboard and Continuum is one of Microsoft’s signature features in Windows 10 where the user interface can adapt automatically depending on the device either a desktop mode or mobile surface pro. For example, on a Surface Pro 3, Windows 10 will default to desktop mode with the keyboard attached and will then switch to tablet mode when you remove the detachable keyboard.
7. Dynamic Lock — This works with the Bluetooth technology. Dynamic Lock is a new feature of the recent Windows 10 build 15002 Insider Build release designed to lock the PC / laptop automatically when you are away from the device’s Bluetooth connectivity distance range. To achieve this, your phone has to be paired with the device by Bluetooth.
8. Windows Hello
– This security feature works with infrared technology. We have far gone pass the era of passwords, which can easily be predicted/hacked. Not even the finger print scanner on the phone is as awesome as the Windows Hello. The new facial recognition software built into the OS works with the camera built infrared sensor. This is provides a second level and higher security/ authentication measures. Just sitting in front of the systems automatically unlocks the system during startup without requiring the password.
9. Cortana
– It is virtual assistant built into the OS and is personified with human attributes with a female voice. She could search the web and your personal computer as well as remind you of upcoming appointments and other information like football matches and any random requests.
I wonder why Apple has not yet integrated Siri into Windows OS 10.
10.Night Mode Display: Windows 10’s Creators Update includes Night Light, a “blue light filter” that makes your display use warmer colors at night to reduce the health hazards of the sights (The bright rays from the screen is harmful to the human eyes) and help you sleep better.Microsoft has identified this problem and addressed it. It works just like Night Shift on the iPhone and Mac, Night Mode on Android, Blue Shade on Amazon’s Fire tablets.
11.Xbox streaming
- This is good news for Games lovers. You can stream your Xbox games into windows computer and play them with Xbox controller.
12.Free OS: Window 10 is extremely free. You can simply upgrade to Windows 10 from Microsoft website provided you have the legit version of Win7, 8 or 8.1 and the license key. Boxed copies are available though. Isn’t this amazing? We all like free things coming handy…!
*** From a standpoint of technical personnel, I completely agree that Microsoft has done well in achieving their goal of making Windows 10 a wonderful OS.
VIOLA…! I hope you all will agree with me that Windows 10 is a wonderful OS.
“Never Quit Learning Because It Wrinkles The Mind”
By Chimdi Okoye.
