Windows 10: Release date
During his time on stage, Belfiore suggested Windows 10 was very much a work in progess, hinting that the April 2015 release date mooted by some may be a little optimistic.
Further doubt was cast on a possible, rumoured April 2015 release date during a Q&A at the event, when attendees were told Windows 10 won't be shipping until "later" in 2015.
Windows 10: Specs
The company also confirmed that Windows 10 will support all of the apps currently offered via the Windows Store.
Expectations for the next-generation operating system are high, as Microsoft looks to win back PC users put off by Windows 8 (and Windows 8.1) and entice more Windows XP users to ditch the aged operating system for good.
A preliminary page hosting what appears to be download links to both the 3.16GB and the 4.10GB versions of the operating system appeared ahead of the launch event, according to Beta News, confirming its file size.
Microsoft took the wraps off the technical preview at a launch event in San Francisco on Tuesday 30 September.
During the event, it revealed the new operating system would feature the return of the traditional start button, which disappeared with Windows 8 to much dismay from users. The new start menu houses apps and an enhanced search function as well as the layout we all remember.
Continuum will make the Windows 10 interface adapt to its device and situation, acting accordingly whether it’s on a tablet, a hybrid or a desktop PC.
Multiple desktops will also be a feature of the operating system, and Microsoft set out a list of new keyboard shortcuts that would help users manage this.
A unified app store is something that has been rumoured for a while, and it will arrive with Windows 10. Developers will now be able to create one app that runs across all Windows devices.
Security updates will now be easier to manage, with consumers alerted to monthly updates and businesses able to opt-in for a faster cycle.
Multitasking is a big feature of Windows 10 that Microsoft has been keen to push, with a quadrant layout that allows users to snap up to four apps together and a smart suggestions feature for any dead screen space.
MDM will be built into the new operating system, allowing admins to manage devices both through traditional methods and via the cloud.
According to WinBeta, third-party developers will be able to create unique lock screens with Windows 10, and apps such as Data Sense and Battery Saver will come over from Windows Phone.
The Notification Center is also one of the 7,000 reported improvements, along with new security features such as multi-factor authentification, and a built-in way of separating business and personal data for encryption.
New leaked screenshots from an internal build of Windows 10, Build 9879, from ithome (via WinBeta), shows off more options added to the UI such as the choice to hide the ‘Search and Task View’ option. The build is a recent one, according to the site.
File Explorer has also been tweaked, with users now able to pin things to the Home area, and the charms bar button in modern apps shows in the “hamburger-style” rather than as three dots as before.
The site also reports that the windows animations have been made smoother for Windows 10, and that the Notification Center button has been moved from the taskbar to the tray beside the clock.
Windows 10: Will it be a success?
Forrester analyst David Johnson said there is a lot riding on Windows 10 for the enterprise, and Microsoft will be keen to do all it can to ensure it has mass appeal to users in that space.
"Only about 1 in 5 organisations is offering Windows 8 PCs to employees right now, and with Windows 7 extended support running until January 2020, Microsoft needs to give enterprises reasons to move to a new version before it becomes a crisis, like it did for so many firms running Windows XP last year,” he said.
Meawhile, Johnson's Forrester colleague Frank Gillett, said Microsoft will need to showcase how much better Windows 10 is than Windows 8 to ensure it is a success.
“It must show that it will be much easier to upgrade and update Windows, that the new OS will be easier to learn and use for traditional PC users than Windows 8 is, and that they've preserved mobile capabilities for tablets and phones," he said.
"It's a very tall order for Microsoft, but they have to reinvigorate Windows in order to remain relevant in the mobile first/cloud first world that it is aiming for.”
This article was originally published on 16/09/14 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 20/01/15) to reflect new information that has become available since publication.
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