It’s a humbling and amazing thing to work on Windows, which is
used by over 1.5 billion people in every country of the world. From kids
playing with computers for the first time, to writers and journalists, to
engineers, to gamers, to CEOs, at some point Windows has empowered all of us.
In the Windows team, we’re proud of this – but we also know that
the world today is very different from the one in which Windows grew up. Today,
devices outnumber people. Connectivity is like oxygen. The tension between the
desire for agility versus stability poses a huge challenge for IT Pros.
Experiences – no matter what device you’re on – just need to work. The only
thing that hasn’t really changed is the situation for developers – still too
much to do, and not enough time.
One way to look at it is that
Windows is at a threshold :-). It’s time for a
new Windows. This new Windows must be built from the ground-up for a
mobile-first, cloud-first world. This new Windows must help our customers be
productive in both their digital work and their digital life. This new Windows
must empower people and organizations to do great things.
That new Windows is Windows 10.
Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation
of Windows. Windows 10 unlocks new experiences for customers to work, play and
connect. Windows 10 embodies what our customers (both consumers and
enterprises) demand and what we will deliver.
Windows 10 will run across an incredibly broad set of devices –
from the Internet of Things, to servers in enterprise data centers worldwide.
Some of these devices have 4 inch screens – some have 80 inch screens – and
some don’t have screens at all. Some of these devices you hold in your hand,
others are ten feet away. Some of these devices you primarily use touch/pen,
others mouse/keyboard, others controller/gesture – and some devices can switch
between input types.
And across this breadth of devices, we are delivering one
application platform for our developers. Whether you’re building a game or a
line of business application, there will be one way to write a universal app
that targets the entire family. There will be one store, one way for
applications to be discovered, purchased and updated across all of these
devices.Windows 10 will deliver the right experience on the right device
at the right time. It will be our most comprehensive platform ever.
Now, during the design of a new Windows, we spend time with many
diverse customers. One of the most important of these customers is the
enterprise. In the past year I’ve talked to dozens of enterprise customers and
listened to how they are using and deploying Windows, and what they need from
us.
These customers are betting their businesses on Windows – in the
first half of this year, shipments of enterprise PCs grew 14%. In that same
time period, shipments of Windows enterprise tablets grew 33%.
These customers have a need to
evaluate Windows early, so we are starting our dialog with them today. For more
details about what Windows 10 will have for these customers,
Tomorrow, we are excited to
announce the Windows Insider Program, where PC experts and IT
Pros can get access to a technical preview of Windows 10 for desktops and laptops.
Soon after, we’ll also be releasing technical previews of Windows Server and
our management tools.
With the Insider program, we’re inviting our most enthusiastic
Windows customers to shape Windows 10 with us. We know they’re a vocal bunch –
and we’re looking forward to hearing from them.
Today was an important beginning
for our customers and partners as we embark on the Windows 10 journey together.
I encourage everyone reading this to sign up for the Windows Insider Program, download the
technical preview, and let us know what you think. Check here tomorrow for
specific details – but in the meantime, here’s a peek at some of the new
features you can test drive once you become an Insider:
Start menu: The familiar Start menu is back, but it brings
with it a new customizable space for your favorite apps and Live Tiles.
Everything runs in a window: Apps from the Windows
Store now open in the same format that desktop apps do and can be resized and
moved around, and have title bars at the top allowing for maximize, minimize,
and close with a click.
Snap enhancements: You can now have four apps
snapped on the same screen with a new quadrant layout. Windows will also show
other apps and programs running for additional snapping and even make smart
suggestions on filling available screen space with other open apps.
Everything runs in a window: Apps from the Windows
Store now open in the same format that desktop apps do and can be resized and
moved around, and have title bars at the top allowing for maximize, minimize,
and close with a click.
Snap enhancements: You can now have four apps
snapped on the same screen with a new quadrant layout. Windows will also show
other apps and programs running for additional snapping and even make smart
suggestions on filling available screen space with other open apps.
Multiple desktops: Create desktops for
different purposes and projects and switch between these desktops easily and
pick up where you left off on each desktop.
Find files faster: File Explorer now displays your
recent files and frequently visited folders making for finding files you’ve
worked on is easier.
Watch the below video from Joe Belfiore to see many of these
features in action. Immediately you’ll see how Windows 10 carries forward a
sense of familiarity, while providing new capabilities to help you way the work
you want to and be more productive.
