Late last year Microsoft (NYSE: MSFT) promised another, more comprehensive, preview of Windows 10 in January. Now that event is scheduled to take place later this week as many eagerly await what Microsoft has in store for the successor of Windows 8.
As with such a prominent release the rumor mill is abuzz with what might or might not be included. In order to separate fact from fiction, we’ve sorted through the rumors and compiled what’s likely to appear during the preview event on the 21st.
A closer look at the new Start Menu
One of the great disappointments for many with Windows 8 was the lack of the Start Menu. While Microsoft believed that the move to make Windows a purely hardware agnostic operating system meant moving away from the button first introduced with Windows 95, users hated it. Thus, with Windows 10 the Start Menu will make its return.
From what we’ve seen of the Windows 10 Start Menu thus far, it looks like it will integrate elements of the Metro UI into the new Start Menu.
A consumer focused build
This next preview is expected to largely focus on applications of Windows 10 in the consumer environment. While that’s a very broad spectrum to cover, the preview will likely be focused on showing off Cortana, Microsoft Office, and Windows 10 Mobile.
While Microsoft Office on Windows 10 isn’t expected to have any sort of radical transformations from its previous edition, it will be interesting to see what Microsoft does with the suite on the new version of Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft Office on the iOS and Android platforms, so a port of Microsoft Office to Windows Mobile is long overdue.
On the topic, Windows 10 Mobile is something of a wildcard. Microsoft may simply rebrand the existing versions of Windows Mobile with a new UI or it could be reworking it entirely. That will be something to watch for.
What about Phil Spencer?
One interesting attendee scheduled to be at the big unveiling is Phil Spencer, the boss of Microsoft’s Xbox division.
On Xbox Wire, Microsoft’s “state broadcaster” for Xbox news, Spencer said that Windows 10 will be the best OS yet for gaming from Microsoft. He also hinted that his team was working with the Windows team in some capacity but it’s up in the air to exactly what that means.
“For the Xbox team, this is the beginning of our discussion with fans about the work that we’re doing to bring gaming to the Windows 10 operating system,” he is quoted as saying. “It’s really nice to finally get to be able to talk about this. We’ll continue the conversation throughout the year.”
Unknown unknowns
The truth is there’s plenty we do not know about the more exciting features of Windows 10. Windows 10 is sure to be one of Microsoft’s most ambitious efforts to date with Windows. It has to be given the reception Windows 8 received.
