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Toshiba Introduces a Cortana Keyboard Button For Windows 10
Ammalgam writes: In what seems like a really pivotal moment for computing, Toshiba have indicated that they will be introducing a new button to their line of keyboards. This key would be dedicated to summoning Microsoft's virtual assistant in Windows 10 — Cortana. A dedicated Cortana key would be one of the more significant changes to the keyboard since the Windows key was added at about the time Windows 95 was introduced, in 1995.
We need to handle a Mod-6 key now.
I write sci-fi for metalheads
Oh, remember all those times you used that e-mail button on your keyboard to start your mail program, or the globe button to launch the web browser. I can't even imagine life before I had those. I bet this will be just as successful!
Slagborr
a Clippy Key?
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
windows +L at work is pretty much the only time i use that key, or searching on windows 8
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
It means that if you get a Toshiba computer, you can't escape from Cortana's grip.
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
Remember when Windows only needed 3 keys?
There is no escape.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
the time Windows 95 was introduced, in 1995.
In case we thought that the 95 stood for something else.
If it was Google who wrote Windows, we would have hit Windows 95 back in the 1980s.
Back in the day, we'd play Quake using a keyboard, and the button between ctrl(shoot) and alt(strafe) was that dumb windows key. On all my keyboards I get for home use, the windows key rapidly meets the fate of being pried off by a screw driver.
God spoke to me
I dearly love my old Compaq keyboard, but he's a gap toothed beast ever since the "pivotal" moment where I hooked my fingernail under the exposed edge of my right-hand Windows keys and the key cap went catapulting through the air.
Another "pivotal moment" in my career was when I finally learned how to quickly hack together a user style to eliminate annoying bling on any web page I happen to visit.
I have close to 150 tiny user scripts in my inventory now, and no longer see any "social" buttons on any web site I frequent or any slider animations. As I don't actually use any social networks "share" decorations are just a visual plague so far as I'm concerned.
The worst web sites I've visited come up completely red with a giant profanity across the screen (those that pretend to offer something useful, but the hoops exceed any possible utility one might derive).
Just half an hour ago I coded up this user style:
body a {
background: yellow;
pointer-events: none !important;
cursor: default !important;
}
This makes all links on all tabs non-clickable, for when I want to select link text using MakeLink to copy into my wiki. It's damn annoying trying to select clickable text. I pretty much always use double-click drag (whole words only) for the main selection gesture. This simply doesn't work on links. Correction. It simply didn't work on links. Of course, I have to turn it on and off manually. I'll work on a button later.
Oh, yes, another pivotal moment was when I took control over USB insertion events to prevent a certain device from auto-mounting every time I put it on the tit to juice up. That initiative required several freakish lines of syntax, but at the end of the day was entirely worth the effort.
Huh. That's funny. There seems to be a pattern here. All my pivotal events, pretty much, are when I finally suppress some irritating pimple-glint love child auto-bling from imposing itself on my happy cocoon.
The article starts with a picture that suggests it replaces the Esc key. (I can hear your screams of shock and pain from here.)
Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
Looks like it replaced the esc key.
Now what?
You'll have to use "Ctl+[".
Cortana isn't even going to be available here in Canada when Windows 10 is released. Why would I want yet another Windows-specific key for a useless MicroSoft "feature" on my keyboard?
As it is, I use good old fashioned AT keyboards without any of the volume keys and other crap that you see on "consumer" keyboards. Don't need them, don't want them, and hate wasting the desk space for another row of buttons.
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
*presses Cortana key*
Me: Quit metro app
Cortana: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Me: Go fuck yourself!!!
*Windows 10 shuts down*
Me: I guess the Esc key does work after all.
Life is not for the lazy.
This is clearly a conspiracy by Emacs users to make vi unusable on Windows 10.
The Google Windows 95 beta was discontinued in 1986 after too many people came to rely on it for their daily work.
Here's a list of what it's good for, from ms's webiste and reformatted somewhat... ;)
YOU may not use these functions but they exist and I'll bet that a couple of them will be useful to you, but just a couple.
Windows key+Tab
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Ctrl+Windows+Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Windows logo key
Open or close the Start menu.
Windows key +Pause
Display the System Properties dialog box.
Windows key +D
Display the desktop.
Windows key +M
Minimize all windows.
Windows key +Shift+M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
Windows key +E
Open Computer.
Windows key +F
Search for a file or folder.
Ctrl+Windows key +F
Search for computers (if you're on a network).
Windows key +L
Lock your computer or switch users.
Windows key +R
Open the Run dialog box.
Windows key +T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar.
Windows key+number
Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.
Shift+Windows key+number
Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Ctrl+Windows key+number
Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Alt+Windows key+number
Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows key +Tab
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows key +Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows key +B
Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area.
Windows key +Spacebar
Preview the desktop.
Windows key +Up Arrow
Maximize the window.
Windows key +Left Arrow
Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
Windows key +Right Arrow
Maximize the window to the right side of the screen.
Windows key +Down Arrow
Minimize the window.
Windows key +Home
Minimize all but the active window.
Windows key +Shift+Up Arrow
Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows key +Shift+Left Arrow or Right Arrow
Move a window from one monitor to another.
Windows key +P
Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows key +G
Cycle through gadgets.
Windows key +U
Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows key +X
Open Windows Mobility Center.
If you need to press something to activate voice control, it has already failed.