Microsoft Announces Windows 10

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Microsoft Announces Windows 10

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday September 30, 2014 @06:00AM from the because-7-8-9 dept.

Today at a press conference in San Francisco, Microsoft announced the new version of their flagship operating system, called Windows 10. (Yes, t-e-n. I don't know.) With the new version of the operating system, they'll be unifying the application platform for all devices: desktops, laptops, consoles, tablets, and phones. As early leaks showed, the Start Menu is back — it's a hybrid of old and new, combining a list of applications with a small group of resizable tiles that can include widgets. Metro-style apps can now each operate inside their own window (video). There's a new, multiple-desktop feature, which power users have been demanding for years, and also a feature that lets users easily grab objects from one desktop and transfer it to another. The command line is even getting some love. The Technical Preview builds for desktops and laptops will be available tomorrow through the Windows Insider Program. They're requesting feedback from customers. Windows 10 will launch in late 2015.

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Unified Experience Across Devices by Anonymous Coward · 2014-09-30 06:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

Isn't that what Windows 8 was supposed to do? I am confused.
1. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by BarbaraHudson · 2014-09-30 06:08 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  You're not the only one, obviously, and that's intentional. By calling it Windows 10, they're trying to put as much distance as possible between it and Windows 8. And make 7 look even more "old".
  
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  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
2. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by jd2112 · 2014-09-30 06:30 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  You're not the only one, obviously, and that's intentional. By calling it Windows 10, they're trying to put as much distance as possible between it and Windows 8. And make 7 look even more "old".
  And the OS version will probably report something linke 'Version 6.5.xxxx'
  
  --
  Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
3. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by bondsbw · 2014-09-30 06:38 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  And the OS version will probably report something linke 'Version 6.5.xxxx'
  This seems odd, but they do it on purpose for driver compatibility.
  
  --
  All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
4. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by VGPowerlord · 2014-09-30 06:51 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Not just driver compatibility.
  Windows 7 fixed a bunch of Vista compatibility issues with programs built for XP simply by having the version be set to 6.1.
  Turns out that companies doing braindead Windows version detection of
  
  if (majorVersion >= 5 && minorVersion >= 1)
  
  had it fail spectacularly for version 6.0.
  
  --
  GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
5. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by jd2112 · 2014-09-30 07:32 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Not just driver compatibility.
  Windows 7 fixed a bunch of Vista compatibility issues with programs built for XP simply by having the version be set to 6.1.
  Turns out that companies doing braindead Windows version detection of
  
  if (majorVersion >= 5 && minorVersion >= 1)
  had it fail spectacularly for version 6.0.
  Particularly bad since Windows does have built-in functions to compare version numbers (eg. major.minor.patch.build format)
  
  --
  Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
6. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by tompaulco · 2014-09-30 10:38 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I don't care for consistency in UI between my smart phone and my desktop. On my smartphone, I am stuck with a tiny screen, with not input method other than my fingers and a couple of buttons. On my desktop, I have a mouse and keyboard, which are dozens of times more efficient. I only use my smart phone for apps if I don't have a more efficient method readily available at the moment. I have no desire to be stuck with that input method on my desktop.
  
  --
  If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
7. Re:Unified Experience Across Devices by jd2112 · 2014-09-30 11:39 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Well, how many times have you seen "let's make our own date/time/number/argument/xml parser"?
  Weeks of programming can save you from the arduous task of 5 minutes of searching Google.
  
  --
  Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
Better call it Windows 11 by jkrise · 2014-09-30 06:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

Everyone knows the even number versions suck.

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If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
1. Re:Better call it Windows 11 by plebeian · 2014-09-30 06:16 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Everyone knows the even number versions suck.
  You forget windows 2000. When compared to the alternatives at the time it was a kick a$$ operating system.
  
  --
  "I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."
Windows OS X by glennrrr · 2014-09-30 06:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

Sounds familiar.
1. Re:Windows OS X by Art3x · 2014-09-30 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Sounds familiar.
  Yes, they should use the Roman numeral and call this Windows X. Apple did it, and it was cool. Then they could call their next version Windows 10 Plus, or for short, Windows XP. Businesses will jump right on that one.
April fools! by Anonymous Coward · 2014-09-30 06:07 · Score: 5, Funny

Truth stranger than fiction...
Re:OMFG, stupid by kthreadd · 2014-09-30 06:09 · Score: 5, Funny

Look at it from the bright side, at least it wasn't called Windows One.
Microsoft skips 'too good' Windows 9, jumps to Win by neilo_1701D · 2014-09-30 06:10 · Score: 5, Funny

From InfoWorld, April 1, 2013:
If you've been looking forward to Windows 9, the OS that will fix what Windows 8 got wrong, you're in for a surprise: There will be no Windows 9. Instead, Microsoft announced it will proceed directly to Windows 10.
"The Windows 9 internal beta was a phenomenal success," said Microsoft PR rep Cheryl Tunt. "I mean, it blew Windows 8 out of the water, and as we all know, Windows 8 is nigh flawless. After discussion at the C level, Microsoft has decided it will not mess with success and will leave Windows 9 exactly as it is. As such, work is now getting under way on Windows 10, which should see a public release."
http://www.infoworld.com/artic...
No 9? by Retron · 2014-09-30 06:11 · Score: 5, Interesting

When I was a kid I remember reading that in Japanese, "4" sounded like death and "9" sounded like suffering. A quick bit of Googling 25 years on and:
"[In Japanese] Nine is also sometimes pronounced ku, which can mean suffering."
I'm guessing they skipped Windows 9 because they didn't want it to sound like "Windows Suffering" in parts of the world!
Re:Need to see how to get in the Windows Insider P by Aighearach · 2014-09-30 06:13 · Score: 5, Funny

Don't let them bring you down, I'm sure this is finally the update where windows is ready for the desktop. What do you have without your dreams?
Everything makes sense now! by xepel · 2014-09-30 06:13 · Score: 5, Funny

I used to think that Microsoft's problems were due to leadership issues and completely ignoring their userbase's wants and needs...

But no! Really, the problem is that they've been coding everything in base 9!
Re: Missed opportunity by VTBlue · 2014-09-30 06:13 · Score: 5, Funny

The coolest things have X:
OS X
Windows X
Xbox
Malcolm X
Mega Man X
X-wing ...
Xylophone
Re:we are DOOOMED!!! by nine-times · 2014-09-30 06:22 · Score: 5, Insightful

Nah, it's fine. Every other release is garbage, not every odd number. How would you possibly try to figure out Microsoft's numbering, anyway? Their version numbers go from 3 to 95, jumps to 98, 2000, then goes to the lettering, ME and XP (are those roman numerals?). Then in goes to Vista. Now, lets be fair. 95 and 98 are the years, so let's just count. So 95 is version 4, 98 is version 5, 2000 is version 6, ME is version 8, XP is version 9, and Vista is version 10. So next comes 11, right? Nope, version 7.
Ok, but some of those were professional builds, right? So let's just start from NT v4 and count major NT releases. 2000 is version 5, XP is version 6, Vista is version 7, and... wait.
Wait, wait, I know, let's look at Microsoft's internal versioning numbers. NTv4 is version 4, 2000 is version 5, XP is version 5.1, Vista is version 6. Ok this is making sense, because next version after vista (v6) should be 7, right? Nope, Windows 7's internal version number is v6.1. Windows 8 is version 6.2. WTF?
Re:OMFG, stupid by cayenne8 · 2014-09-30 06:25 · Score: 5, Funny

Shouldn't it be called "WinX"?
Then, we'd know it was on par and lock step with Apple's OS going forward.
;)

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detailed feature list leaked! by sootman · 2014-09-30 06:33 · Score: 5, Funny

Full list of planned features here.

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Re:we are DOOOMED!!! by chuckugly · 2014-09-30 06:35 · Score: 5, Insightful

Engineering, meet marketing.

The internal version numbers are completely sensible, the marketing names are dreamed up by marketing people, what did you expect, logic?
Re:OMFG, stupid by jamiesan · 2014-09-30 06:37 · Score: 5, Funny

And if they create a Developer Edition, They can call it Windows Developer Edition X..... WinDEX!
Re:Skipping a version number by Minwee · 2014-09-30 06:44 · Score: 5, Funny

Calling it "Windows 8.2" would support the idea that Windows 9 was just an update.
Skipping straight to Windows 10 makes it look like they're either just messing with us, or trying to compete with WordPerfect again.
this must be stopped. by nimbius · 2014-09-30 06:49 · Score: 5, Funny

Gentlemen I'm from the future, a microsoft you do not yet know, and I bring dire warnings. here in this foul year of 2054 where we've reached windows 456,776 elite premium solar helium wombat version, the releases never end.. The upcoming version is just a box with a nine volt battery and a stack of old playing cards but we cannot stop. newer products are being released every millisecond without so much as a tertiary consideration for what, if anything, users still want from us. The leaks are also getting worse, with version 914,135 electric pickle teleportation premium recently being leaked from the year 2089 by a screaming, sweating man in a time-suit known only as ball-mar. The latest version of Microsoft Windows RT CBBQ pro pony mobile implant indigestion premium was also mistakenly leaked to a confused Thomas Jefferson during a continental congress meeting of the Land Ordinance of 1784. this was approved by the Microsoft board of directors in the year 2153, despite the computer not even existing, with a standing ovation.

help us. Even now windows 11-14 are being released. First to feral cats off a european costal city, next to an air conditioner in tempe arizona, and finally to a street light in a dennys parking lot. Windows 28 will simultaneously require, and forbid, the use of a touchscreen to gain functionality to a windows "start" button (later this will be renamed the Gorloc device, in honor of Gorlok the malevolent for a future release predicted by the corporate runemaster during the coming interplanetary ork battle.) I beg you, stop the madness.

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Good people go to bed earlier.
Re:Catching up with Fedora by Anonymous Coward · 2014-09-30 07:12 · Score: 5, Insightful

oi excuse me? PowerShell is actually pretty damn awesome. It's very powerful.
About god damn time.. by william.meaney1 · 2014-09-30 07:22 · Score: 5, Insightful

That i can use CTRL-C and CTRL-V on the command line. Jesus christ...
Re:OMFG, stupid by Moof123 · 2014-09-30 07:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Or they could adopt the new place names like Yosemite. Being a Washington state company they should do Windows Mount St. Helens.
Re: Missed opportunity by Richy_T · 2014-09-30 08:02 · Score: 5, Funny

Or, (can't believe I missed this) Windows 0Ah
Abbreviated as "W0Ah" and endorsed by Keanu Reeves
Windows 10 by apcullen · 2014-09-30 08:02 · Score: 5, Funny

It's actually just a re-do of Windows 8, but they wrote it in octal.
Re:Catching up with Fedora by Austerity+Empowers · 2014-09-30 09:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

Except it's not *sh, all my sh* is in *sh, and all my sh* runs on Linux's *sh and OS X's *sh. I'm not interested in being tied to anyone's platform, not in my shell, not in my language (No C#, .NET Obj-C, Swift, other bullshit).
Without *sh the OS is useless to me.