Microsoft Jumps To Windows 10 With New Operating System

By Edward Cardenas

SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Microsoft Corp. gave a computer users a preview of its new operating system Tuesday, and gave it a name the surprised a number of analysts.

The current version is Windows 8. During an industry event in San Francisco, Microsoft revealed the name of the new operating system will be Windows 10.

"Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows, unlocking new experiences to give customers new ways to work, play and connect," said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft, in a release. "This will be our most comprehensive operating system and the best release Microsoft has ever done for our business customers, and we look forward to working together with our broader Windows community to bring Windows 10 to life in the months ahead."

While the actual release of the Windows 10 isn't until 2015, Microsoft will have an early technical preview for Wednesday for personal computers. The Windows Insider Program allows customers to engage in a two-way dialogue with Microsoft, including a Windows Feedback app for sharing suggestions and issues and a Windows Technical Preview Forum for interacting with Microsoft engineers and fellow Insiders, according to the company.

According to a release, Windows 10 adapts to the devices customers are using including Xbox, PCs, phones and tablets.

But unlike Windows 8, which had a full-screen Start menu, the new version of the operating system has a more traditional mouse and list of the programs found in earlier versions of Windows. It does have a few Live Tiles with programs, which is found in Windows 8, according to CNET.

Other features the new operating system will feature include:

• Apps that run in a window. Apps from the Windows Store now open in the same format that desktop programs do. They can be resized and moved around, and have title bars at the top allowing users to maximize, minimize and close with a click.

• Snap enhancements. Working in multiple apps at once is easier and more intuitive with snap improvements. A new quadrant layout allows up to four apps to be snapped on the same screen. Windows will also show other apps and programs running for additional snapping, and it will even make smart suggestions on filling available screen space with other open apps.

• New Task view button. The new Task view button on the task bar enables one view for all open apps and files, allowing for quick switching and one-touch access to any desktop created.

• Multiple desktops. Instead of too many apps and files overlapping on a single desktop, it's easy to create and switch between distinct desktops for different purposes and projects — whether for work or personal use.

This is the first major update of Windows since 2012, when Microsoft released Windows 8, which frustrated users with its departure from familiar features, USA Today reported.