If you're approaching this festive season with one eye on purchasing a low-cost laptop or an extremely cheap Android tablet then it could be worth holding off on the usual - but somewhat limited - options.
After weeks of apparent deliberation over the name and months of screenshots, Microsoft has just taken the wraps off Windows 10, and below, we've all the key details as revealed by the software company.
There has been much talk about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 9 just recently, particular with regards to its features. But the actual name of the next major release is still something of a mystery, and given that 'Windows 9' is merely a reference point for an upcoming product, like the "Nintendo Revolution" or the "Xbox 720", it is expected that the software giant will seek a different direction after Windows 7 and Windows 8.
We've already seen how Android can be run on a PC or Mac via the BlueStacks app, and with the official App Runtime for Chrome extension having recently brought this power to Chrome OS, we got a glimpse into a future where the search giant's mobile and desktop operating systems join forces. The fact that it was limited to Chrome OS and only worked with certain apps was a bit of a bummer, mind, and so it has taken the dogged work of a hacker to give App Runtime for Chrome its customary license to roam. Thanks to the endeavors of this one individual, Android can now essentially be run on any desktop OS where the Chrome browser is present, and although it's a little rough around the edges, it's nonetheless very exciting.
How would you feel about one single keyboard accessory that works with your smartphone or tablet, regardless of the platform that powers it? Microsoft has today introduced its new "Universal Mobile Keyboard" that can function with Apple iPads, iPhones, Android powered smartphones and tablets as well as all Windows based tablets that contain Bluetooth Human Interface Device support (HID) and are 10mm or thinner.
Microsoft has officially invited members of the press to join in on September 30, 2014 "to hear about what's next for Windows and the enterprise". The event will be held in San Francisco and is widely expected to heavily feature the future of Windows by focusing on the next version of the operating system. The official invites have started to land in the mailboxes of the invited elite today, with invitees expecting to be part of an in-depth discussion about the company's plans for Windows 9, led by Joe Belifore and Terry Myerson.
Windows Phone may have only just received a notification center to call its very own, but it looks like the desktop version of Windows is about to follow suit. With Windows 9 expected to be officially unveiled on September 30th, new information is popping up about what it will contain all the time, and the latest information has the next version of Microsoft's desktop operating system coming equipped with somewhere to keep all its notifications.
A couple of days back, we saw the new and improved Start Menu from Windows 9 in action thanks to a leaked video, and today, the same German source has provided us with another leak that shows the multiple desktops / virtual desktops in Windows 9, and they look pretty slick. More details and video can be found right after the break.
Microsoft looks set to take the wraps off the Windows 9 Technical Preview very soon, and having already seen scattered leaks of the new operating system in screenshots, we now have what appears to be the clearest look yet at what the software maker has in store. A new batch of screen grabs, which do include another peek at the eagerly awaited return of the traditional Start menu, can be seen below, and while Microsoft is still very much pressing ahead with its motion to blend desktop interface with the contemporary touch-based environment, it's also abundantly clear that Windows 9 will be at least a partial reversion to type.
The so-called 'Tech Preview' of Microsoft's Windows 9 has been tentatively slated for launch the end of this month, and although the software giant is not yet dead-set on a date, some details are beginning to emerge as to what said release might entail. Like Apple, Microsoft's mobile and desktop features are constantly crossing over, and having introduced a new Notification Center with Windows Phone 8.1, the forthcoming Windows 9 for desktop and tablet will likely enjoy a similar implementation. According to a new report, we could see the Notification Center of Windows 9 as part of the Tech Preview, something which we’ve heard about before, and while it won't be finished, it'll give us a flavor as to what's in store for the eventual Windows 9 launch.
