Win10 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:25:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Win10 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Windows 10 and the case of the missing desktop https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/windows-10-and-the-case-of-the-missing-desktop/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/windows-10-and-the-case-of-the-missing-desktop/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:15:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232540 Previously with Windows RT, a specially developed version of Windows 8 made for ARM processors that ran on Surface (not Surface Pro) tablets, there was access to the desktop, but there was no way to install desktop apps. With Windows Phone 8, even though the core of Windows 8 was inside, there was obviously no …

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Previously with Windows RT, a specially developed version of Windows 8 made for ARM processors that ran on Surface (not Surface Pro) tablets, there was access to the desktop, but there was no way to install desktop apps. With Windows Phone 8, even though the core of Windows 8 was inside, there was obviously no access to the desktop at all. With Windows 10, Microsoft wants to simplify this a bit.

Starting with Windows 10, devices that have a screen size of less than 8 inches will not have access to the desktop at all, and as such will also have no access to desktop (Win32) apps. Any PCs 8 inches or larger will have access to the desktop and desktops apps, just like they do now.

Win10JoeB

So any devices with a screen size below 8 inches will be running the same OS as Windows 10 phones, where of course it would be mad to have access to a full desktop and win32 applications. All apps on these devices will have to come from the Windows store and will be properly vetted by Microsoft first, as all Modern and Windows phone apps are at the moment.

While this may not be what you wanted to hear if you have a 7 inch tablet, it's probably for the best, trying to use the desktop today on an 8 inch screen is not a great experience but it does work (as I'm writing this from an 8 inch HP Stream 7 right now) any smaller than 8 inches and almost any usability is gone. This should also clear up the confusion surrounding Windows RT which was always a confusing experience for consumers, with it's desktop that couldn't really be used for anything other than Office.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I have had a few friends who have been confused by the whole Windows RT debacle, wondering why the desktop is there but they cannot actually install apps on it. This should help clear that up and it will also help both marketing and consumer understanding. With one clear rule: If it's under 8 inches it doesn't have a desktop or desktop apps.

Photo credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

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New build of Windows 10 Technical Preview released https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/new-build-of-windows-10-technical-preview-released/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/new-build-of-windows-10-technical-preview-released/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:46:36 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232226 Microsoft have just made a new build of Windows 10 Technical Preview available online, for those signed up to its Windows Insider Program. This is the first build released this year, with the last build released in December of 2014. It contains a couple of new features over the last build, with a redesigned start menu, …

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Microsoft have just made a new build of Windows 10 Technical Preview available online, for those signed up to its Windows Insider Program. This is the first build released this year, with the last build released in December of 2014. It contains a couple of new features over the last build, with a redesigned start menu, Continuum for 2-in-1 PCs and the digital assistant Cortana as well as much more.

This build, number 9926, is only available to Windows Insiders, who now number well over 1.6 million, but signing up only take a minute and you will then be able to test the latest version of Windows 10, for free. Keep in mind that this should not be used on your main computer and it is not really ready for everyday use, this really is a preview of what's to come and your feedback can help define the next version of Windows.

Windows10build9926

There are several new features in this build, that could really make a difference to how some of us use Windows. Not least of which is the inclusion of Cortana, who is coming over from Windows Phone, as an integrated part of the desktop in Windows 10, right next to the start button. Cortana is a personalised gateway to search for anything, be it on your local computer, on Onedrive online storage or out on the internet. From cute photos of your cat, to cat facts, all available by typing, pressing the microphone button and speaking or just saying “Hey Cortana, …” from anywhere.

[yframe url='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9phebKc_DOs']

Secondly the Start menu has been redesigned from earlier builds, it's now transparent, and perhaps most importantly supports a feature called “Continuum” that will be very useful for those of us with tablets or 2-in-1 PCs. When you disconnect your keyboard, you will get a message asking if you want to switch to the touch screen optimised full screen mode (like Windows 8), then when you connect your keyboard again you will get another prompt asking if you would like to go back to desktop mode with a smaller Start menu (more like Windows 7).

Also in this build we have a new settings application , modernising the control panel and making it far easier to find the settings you need, new Photos and Maps apps, the beta of the new Windows Store and finally the new Xbox app. This Xbox app will allow streaming of Xbox One games to your PC, and DVR recording of Windows games. Matt talked about it a bit here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Well, I'm off to install the new build and test out the new features. Cortana for instance is, I think, going to be a real game changer and I cannot wait to try it out after using it on my phone for the last year. What new features are you looking forward to testing?

Source: Windows Blog

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Spartan update and the dark side of Windows 10 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/spartan-update-and-the-dark-side-of-windows-10/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/operating-systems/brendan-morgan/spartan-update-and-the-dark-side-of-windows-10/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:52:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=229922 According to some recently leaked images courtesy of cnbeta, it seems that Microsoft is exploring a new dark theme for Windows 10 with some very flat iconography. While all we have right now are these photos showing a concept of a dark taskbar with some white outlined icons and the Spartan browser there may be more leaks to …

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According to some recently leaked images courtesy of cnbeta, it seems that Microsoft is exploring a new dark theme for Windows 10 with some very flat iconography. While all we have right now are these photos showing a concept of a dark taskbar with some white outlined icons and the Spartan browser there may be more leaks to come before the Windows 10 preview event on the 21st of this month.

While it is certainly possible in Windows 8.1 to turn your taskbar and window colour black today, when you put this together with the flat outlined icons for both programs and the system tray, as well as the search box for Cortana access right next to the Start button, it does look like quite a dramatic change, even if it isn't that huge. Also worth bearing in mind is the time on the computer that, if correct, indicates that this was taken in July last year, so this may be quite an old and out of date concept and the previews released to Windows 10 testers so far do not have this theme.

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If this high contrast theme is in the works for the final release of Windows 10, which is scheduled for a mid-2015 launch, then hopefully we will know a lot more in 12 days after the day long Windows 10 preview event. This is also likely to include information about several new features, including Cortana the digital assistant from Windows Phone 8, the new Spartan browser and Continuum, a feature that will change the way Windows works when connecting and disconnecting a keyboard.

Continuum has been pretty widely discussed and shown off already, Cortana as well is available on Windows phones today, but the new Spartan browser we know very little about, we don't even know its final name yet. It is rumored to be replacing the Modern or Metro Style full screen IE browser that was included with Windows 8. As the image below shows it will have tight integration with Bing and Cortana that will apparently allow it to be voice controlled as well as knowing about things like your location and schedule.

Spartan Cortana, Bing
Spartan will also include features that allow note taking on web pages so that you can annotate websites and then share them with friends via Onedrive. On top of this there will be a plug-in system similar to Chrome and Firefox that will allow third-party developers to make add-ons for Spartan, something that is not possible with Modern IE today and is very limited in the desktop version. It's also worth nothing that Internet Explorer will not be going anywhere for now due to the requirements of millions of businesses that rely on it for compatibility reasons.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: In much the same way as Windows 7 was really a relatively small set of changes, made on top of the massive changes that Windows Vista brought, I think that Windows 10 is looking like a set of small changes made on top of the Windows 8 base. As a Cortana user I'm really looking forward to the Cortana integration the most, if it's done correctly it will be amazing. Are you looking forward to any of the changes?

Source: CNbeta (Chinese), CNet

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