After teasing its forthcoming operating system last fall, Microsoft is back today in force: it has officially unveiled Windows 10, sharing new details of the next-generation desktop and mobile operating system.
This year, Microsoft promises to help you forget its previous failures by providing a unified experience: Windows 10 isn’t just for the desktop and tablet — like Windows 8 tried to be — it is for phones, too. There is a Windows 10 build tailored for mobile devices with screens smaller than eight inches. This move goes much further than Apple did with Yosemite and iOS 8: it approached the two platforms in terms of design, removing skeuomorphism, but it kept them as separate platforms.
Microsoft also took a page from Apple and announced that Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade for one year for users running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1. That’s a shocker from a company that has historically charged customers for every version of its desktop OS.
Today was a monumental day for us on the Windows team because we shared our desire to redefine the relationship we have with you – our customers. We announced that a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch.
This is more than a one-time upgrade: once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device – at no additional charge. With Windows 10, the experience will evolve and get even better over time. We’ll deliver new features when they’re ready, not waiting for the next major release. We think of Windows as a Service – in fact, one could reasonably think of Windows in the next couple of years as one of the largest Internet services on the planet.
Apple changed its strategy with Mavericks, and the results from the free upgrade were immediate: the installed user base reached record heights in the first weeks of availability.
Windows 10 has plenty of functions that are somewhat reminiscent of features found in OS X and iOS: the Action Centre, for example, mirrors the functionality of the Notification Centre, a new unified messaging app that allows users to maintain a single conversation with a person through multiple mediums like SMS or Skype.
You can find the full list of features and all the details on Microsoft’s site. The Windows 10 technical preview for PCs will be available next week, while the mobile version will arrive later in February for Windows Insiders.
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Smart move. If the OS is better than its predecessor, they will gain some confidence back from their customers.
“…announced that Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade for one year for users running Windows 7…” so after one year do I need to pay to keep Windows 10 or role back to Windows 7, or, is access to Windows 10 license key only available for one year for existing Windows 7 users and after a year you need to pay?
It means if you upgrade within the free one-year period, you can keep using Win10 for as long as it is supported. You don’t pay. If you upgrade after the free period, then you pay.
It is NOT subscription based.
For the first 365 days, you can upgrade for free. Then you must pay to upgrade if you do not within the first 365 days. You never have to pay to keep using W10
what is the link for the free upgrade?
There’s no release date yet. It’s several months away. There will be a pre-release version next week for testers. You just have to sign up for it.
I saw the add on xbox last night, its suppose to integrate well with the console. moving from game to pc, playing remotely. Actually quite cool, to grab a controller and play on your computer or tablet if the tv is busy.
If it’s anything like windows 8, I will be staying away. I’m fine with windows 7 and my start menu.
It’s not like Windows 8. It’s basically like Windows 7 UI, with all the underlying improvements of Windows 8 and a bunch more optimizations and improvements, without the forced Metro crap).
Really? That’s great news. Thanks! I will be looking into it then.
I don’t know how Windows 8 is. However, Iirc, the push about Windows 8 was it makes older PCs run better or faster instead of making them obsolete. If that’s the case, I am all in, especially if it’s a free upgrade for Windows 7 because with each Windows 7 update, your PC slows down and consume more resources.
Hello guys. For an original Windows 10 licence key, I suggest you to go
and visit this websit : licence-activation dot com, it’s really awesome !
I have had some keys from them and they are just perfectly working.
Perfect
Thanks Lucas, it’s perfect.