When was Windows 10 released for PC? How Microsoft representatives themselves answer a pressing question

Fans and simply interested parties are seriously concerned about the release of a new OS from Microsoft, which promises to become not just “the next numbered one,” but generally a new era in the history of operating systems. Despite the fact that now anyone with access to the Internet can touch the fruits of the developers’ labors, there are still a lot of questions about it. This is even if Microsoft regularly holds all kinds of conferences and closely communicates with users. The main question that interests absolutely the entire IT world, frozen in anticipation, is when will Windows 10 come out?

Not so simple

When asking such a question, it is important to remember that this system should work not only on personal computers and laptops, but also on other devices, including mobile phones. And the main efforts of the developers are now focused on finalizing the “older” system, and the release date for other modifications will be slightly different. Now only an approximate date has been named for all devices - the second half of the year.

However, when asked when Windows 10 will be released for computers, Microsoft answered unequivocally: Windows 10 officially launches on July 29, 2015.

This date will mark the beginning of a new era for the entire Windows ecosystem. Following the older OS, the mobile edition, the version for Xbox One and all other, more highly specialized modifications will be released in order of priority.

Preview versions

For those users who cannot or do not want to wait for the system to appear in stores and in the Windows Update menu (for), as well as for those who want to personally help developers catch as many errors as possible and create a system that will appeal to most people, now there is a program called “Insider”, and it allows you to download and install a preliminary version of the OS on your computer.

To do this you need:

1. Go to insider.windows.com.
2. Confirm your participation in the program by entering the email from your Microsoft account.
3. Get links to download the system and install it, which should not be difficult for an experienced user.

Important! If you are not an experienced user, that is, you cannot boast of extensive experience in handling a computer, do not work as a tester, or simply cannot cope with a problem that has arisen on your computer on your own, it is better not to try the preliminary version and wait for the final build to appear.

Mobile devices

Windows 10 Mobile is no less anticipated than its older sister, but no information has been provided regarding the exact release date for the mobile edition. It is expected that it will appear in the fall, simultaneously with the release of the new one, namely the Lumia 940.

It is worth remembering that the mobile edition also has an Insider program, which allows you to see all the innovations of the system with your own eyes. However, it is worth remembering that this system is at an even earlier stage of development than its desktop variation, and incorrect actions or errors that may occur can simply kill the device.

The wait is coming to an end, and it's just a little while before new systems hit the market. It is noticeable how competitors are trying to implement ideas and functions that became known from Microsoft’s announcements and press releases; it is clear that the whole world is also wedged into this idea of ​​“universality” and true “cross-platform”. In short, Microsoft retains the title of the most progressive and innovative company, and this will once again be confirmed when Windows 10 is released.

Today, the Windows 10 operating system will become available to millions of users around the world. “Ten” seems to be the most carefully thought-out version of Microsoft’s OS in recent years. There are many reasons in favor of the update: free, improved interface, Edge browser with support for advanced web technologies, universal applications. However, Windows 10, like any new product, has weaknesses. Vesti.Hi-tech found out what threatens a hasty update.

Non-disabled auto updates. In Windows 10, the company refused to release service packs and security patches that were released strictly on schedule. "Ten", unlike Windows 7 and Vista, will regularly check, download and install updates and drivers automatically. This change turned out to be one of the controversial ones - after all, many users want to have complete control over their system and everything that changes in it.

Firstly, the installation of Windows 10 updates will occur without the knowledge of users - the license agreement obliges them to do this. “The software periodically checks for system and application updates, downloads and installs them for you... By accepting this agreement, you agree to receive automatic updates without further notice,” the document says. After downloading and installing the update, Windows 10 users will be prompted to restart their computer (automatically or manually).

Secondly, it is no longer possible to refuse automatic downloading of updates or to select only some of them, as before. The new rules apply only to the “home” edition of operating systems (Windows 10 Home). Users of the business version of Windows 10 Pro (Windows 10 Pro), although with some restrictions, will still be able to defer downloading updates indefinitely.

You need to understand that updates are installed automatically to ensure that the user’s device is as protected as possible. The user can “roll back” only 1 release back, again, for security purposes. As for the transition from older versions of Windows, within a month after installing Windows 10, the user can return to the previous version of the OS that was originally installed on his device, provided that this OS is Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

Limited free. Windows 10 is the first Microsoft operating system that will be available to users completely free of charge. True, provided that you are the owner of a device with a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. It is impossible to make a direct upgrade to “ten” from Vista, Windows XP or an older version of the OS. In addition, your PC must have the latest version of Windows it supports. This could be Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 8.1 Update.

According to the official Microsoft website, users who upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 will receive a similar “edition” of Windows 10. For example, on a PC with “seven” (for Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium) Windows 10 Home will be installed, for Professional or Ultimate - Windows 10 Pro. So, you will obviously have to pay extra to switch from Windows 7 “home” to the business version.

Lack of Windows Media Center media player(WMC). The WMC media player is missing from Windows 10. The application, which plays music, photos and streaming TV, was not included in the new OS “due to a decline in popularity,” Microsoft explained. However, many users have long been accustomed to WMC, which debuted back in 2002 with the release of Windows XP.

The player was mainly used to play DVD movies and watch TV shows recorded from the TV in the living room on the computer. The company did not include an alternative to WMC in Windows 10 (to watch DVDs, you will have to install a third-party application), but promised to “provide another option for using this feature in the future.”

Windows 10 comes with a new app called Music and Video that's designed to play any kind of multimedia content. Music files in lossless compression formats (FLAC, etc.), as well as video in the .mkv container are supported.

From Windows 10 also such classic elements as desktop gadgets, Solitaire and Minesweeper games will disappear(new versions will take their place). Moreover, users will be forced to play solitaire with advertising displayed. You can get rid of it, as well as get bonus features, only for money ($1.49 per month/$9.99 per year). Microsoft followed the same strategy with Windows 8/8.1, but the game was not bundled with the operating system, but was available as an additional download.

Any operating system at the time of release may contain errors and vulnerabilities, which were not identified during the beta testing stage. For this reason, some cautious users will probably want to wait a month or two until Microsoft fixes the most obvious bugs. Yes, 5 million volunteers who tested the technical beta of the OS did everything to catch errors. But now Windows 10 will probably be installed by a much larger number of people, so it is likely that some shortcomings will emerge - after all, not a single software product is released without them, especially one as complex as the OS. However, it is better not to wait too long - from July 29, 2016, the transition to the “top ten” will become paid for all users.

A few days before the release of Windows 10, for example, it turned out that devices with the new "axis" work up to 10% less. True, the problem was identified in non-final builds of the OS; it is still premature to talk about the presence of the problem in the final version. Accelerated drainage has been detected on some PCs equipped with Intel chips. The company has already recognized the flaw and started working on optimizing the drivers. So if you want to install Ten on July 29, you should be prepared to install update packages on the same day.

When announcing Windows 10, Microsoft called the “smart” assistant Cortana one of the most important features of the “ten”. It allows you to control the system using voice commands (launch applications, play music, search for files, etc.), like Siri on i-devices. However, by the time Windows 10 is released, the secretary will only be available in a small number of countries, namely the US, UK, Canada, China, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Unlike the same Siri, Cortana does not yet speak Russian, and it is unknown when she will learn it. The delay is due to the high degree of integration of the “assistant” into the operating system and Microsoft services.

Microsoft has strengthened the security of Windows 10 by providing support for biometric passwords. "Ten" can be configured so that login is performed only when scanning a fingerprint, eye shell or facial recognition. These features will, however, work if you have compatible hardware.. In order for Windows 10 to recognize the owner, it will need an infrared camera in a laptop or PC, and a corresponding sensor to scan a fingerprint.

No matter how aggressive the marketing campaign, Microsoft cannot convince all users to switch to Windows 10. Some are guided by the principle of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and are quite happy with older versions of the OS: they can return the classic Start menu by installing a third-party program (for example, Classic Shell), do not plan to use the Cortana assistant and do not play games (therefore, the presence of DirectX 12 in the “top ten” is not an argument for them).

Users of Windows 7, the most popular OS in the world, especially do not see the need to switch to “ten” right now. Despite the fact that the main support for the "seven" expired in January, it will continue to receive free security updates for another five years - until January 14, 2020. Along with fixing vulnerabilities, you can get other improvements by paying for extended support. As for Windows 8, Microsoft will support this version until 2023.

Social networks and blogs also cite the labor-intensive update process as arguments against switching to Windows 10, since it can take several hours to create backup copies of all files and configure the system, if installed on a computer with outdated hardware. Moreover, it is absolutely necessary to check applications for compatibility with the “ten”. Not all developers took part in the Microsoft beta testing program, therefore, after installing a new system, it may turn out that your favorite program is incompatible with it, and you won’t be able to “roll back” the update.

However, not everything is so bad.
For Windows 10

The Windows 10 operating system has different editions (versions) of the system for use on computers, differing in their functionality. In this article we will dwell in detail on the differences between the editions of Windows 10.

On most computers purchased at retail (laptops, netbooks, all-in-one PCs, hybrid tablets, desktop system units), a certain edition of Windows 10 is already installed by the device manufacturer. In this case, the buyer has no choice; he has to be content with what he has.

Users who buy a device without an operating system (laptop, ready-made system unit, assembled system unit, etc.) independently install any version of the Windows operating system on their computer. Most users choose the modern Windows 10 operating system to install on their computer. Before installing the system, the question arises: which edition of Windows 10 to choose, how do the Windows editions differ from each other?

In this article, we will look at the editions of Windows 10 for PCs and laptops, without affecting the mobile and server versions of Windows. Users who do not know the details about the version of Windows 10 installed on their computer can easily find out the system edition by reading the article.

Since the release of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft has been adding new editions of the operating system from time to time. In addition to being divided into versions, each edition has a build number; build numbers change after installing system updates.

The major versions of Windows 10 are divided into three categories, differing in functionality:

• Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
• Windows 10 Pro (Windows 10 Professional).
• Windows 10 Enterprise (Windows 10 Enterprise).

Derived categories (subtypes of the main versions) are separated from the main categories of Windows 10, in which the main version has several variants of derivative editions of the system. The choice of Windows 10 edition depends on the needs of a particular user. You will see a comparison of Windows 10 editions with each other in the form of a table at the end of the article.

There is a Windows 10 Insider Preview program to preview new releases of Windows 10. Testing users receive free preview versions of Windows to use on their computers. In return, it receives telemetry about the use of the system, this allows you to check the operation of the system with new functions, identify faults and troubleshoot problems in the next builds of Windows 10.

Only 3 versions of Windows 10 are available for retail sale for installation on new computers:

• Windows 10 S

The Windows 10 Enterprise version is installed on computers only as an upgrade from the Windows 10 Pro edition. Microsoft supplies the remaining versions to equipment manufacturers (PCs, laptops) for installation on devices before selling them to consumers.

The original Windows 10 operating system can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website using the methods described in the article.

Windows 10 Home editions

An edition of Windows 10 has been released for home users, which contains all the basic features of the operating system. At home, you do not need the system functions used in enterprises, so there is no point in overpaying for extra functionality. This edition is well suited for home use. Windows 10 Home edition uses automatic updates.

Versions of Windows 10 for home users are divided into the following editions:

• Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
• Windows 10 Home for one language (Windows 10 Home Single Language; Windows 10 Home SL; Windows 10 Single Language; Windows 10 SL) - a version similar to the home edition, differing only in that you cannot change the operating system language here. Very often this edition is installed on laptops and netbooks. For manufacturers, this is a cheaper Microsoft licensing option than Windows 10 Home.
• Windows 10 Home with Bing - in this version you cannot change the Bing search engine in browsers and Internet Explorer (nothing prevents you from using a different browser). This edition is installed on some laptops.

Windows 10 Pro editions

For small businesses and home users who need advanced system capabilities, the professional version of Windows 10 is offered, which, in turn, is divided into several editions. This version includes a hypervisor (virtual machine), BitLocker and other system functions.

Professional versions of Windows 10 have the following editions:

• Windows 10 Professional (Windows 10 Pro).
• Windows 10 Pro for educational institutions (Windows 10 Pro Education).
• Windows 10 Pro for Workstations (Windows 10 Pro for workstations) - a version of Windows 10 Pro with expanded hardware support for enterprises with high computing loads.
• Windows 10 S is a version with a special configuration of Windows 10 Pro, which allows applications installed from the Microsoft Store to run. All other programs will not work on this version of the operating system.

Windows 10 Enterprise editions

A corporate version of the system has been created for medium and large businesses. The Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the professional version, as well as additional features that are relevant for use in enterprises.

The enterprise version of Windows 10 has the following editions:

• Windows 10 Corporate (Windows 10 Enterprise).
• Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing (Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB).
• Windows 10 for educational institutions (Windows 10 Education).

Other versions of Windows 10

There are also several other versions of Windows 10, including:

• Windows 10 IoT (Windows 10 for the Internet of Things) - this version has several editions for installation on industrial equipment (terminals, ATMs, etc.).
• Windows 10 Team - this version is installed on Surface Hub tablets.

Differences between Windows 10 editions

Many users have probably noticed the differences between the editions of Windows 10 with letters at the end of the system version designation.

The letter "N" is added to editions of Windows 10 released for the European Union. The names of the editions are as follows: Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, Windows 10 Enterprise N, etc. The difference from the standard versions is that these versions, at the request of the EU, do not have some applications (Groove music, Windows Media Player, Cinema and TV), which you can add to the OS yourself.

The letters "KN" are added to the South Korean versions of the system. The same applications are missing here. The version designation is as follows: Windows 10 Enterprise KN, Windows 10 Pro KN, Windows 10 Home KN, etc.

A special version of Windows 10 China Government Edition has been released for China for use in government agencies.

The letter combinations “VL”, “OEM”, “COEM”, “GGK”, “GGWA”, “FPP” indicate the types of licenses for Windows.

Comparison of Windows 10 versions in the table

Two editions are optimal for use on personal computers: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional. Using a list showing the capabilities of different editions of Windows 10, it is much easier to choose the best version of the system that suits the requirements of a particular user.

For a visual comparison of versions of Windows 10, look at the table, which displays the main features of the system in different editions: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education.

Components	Window 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro	Windows 10 Enterprise	Window 10 Education
Start Menu and Live Tiles	√	√	√	√
Tablet mode	√	√	√	√
Voice, pen, touch and gestures	√	√	√	√
Cortana	√	√	√	√
Microsoft Edge	√	√	√	√
Windows Ink	√	√	√	√
Continuum for phone	√	√	√	√
Windows Hello	√	√	√	√
Group Policy		√	√	√
Mobile device management	√	√	√	√
Windows Update	√	√	√	√
Windows Update for Business		√	√	√
Microsoft Store for Business		√	√	√
Shared PC Configuration		√	√	√
Test		√	√	√
Limited access		√	√	√
BitLocker		√	√	√
AppLocker			√	√
Direct Access			√		√	√	√
Windows Device Health Attestation Service	√	√	√	√
Device encryption	√	√	√	√
Joining a domain		√	√	√
Internet Explorer in Enterprise Mode (EMIE)		√	√	√
Assigned Access mode		√	√	√
Remote Desktop		√	√	√
Hyper-V		√	√	√
Windows To Go			√	√
BranchCache			√	√
Managing the Start screen using Group Policy			√	√
TPM support	√	√	√	√
Join Azure Active Directory with single sign-on for cloud apps		√	√	√
Microsoft Passport	√	√	√	√
Enterprise Data Protection		√	√	√
Credential Guard			√	√
Device Guard			√	√
Windows Sandbox		√	√	√

Conclusions of the article

The Windows 10 operating system is available in different editions, which differ in functionality, depending on consumer needs. The recommended versions for home use are: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional.

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02/06/2018, Tue, 13:21, Moscow time , Text: Valeria Shmyrova

Microsoft is preparing to release a Windows 10 update called Redstone 4. The main innovations are the history of all user actions on all devices over the last 30 days, viewing a complete list of data that is sent to the company, transferring data between devices via Bluetooth and others.

Windows 10 update

In March-April 2018, a major update of this system, codenamed Redstone 4 or version 1803, will become available to Windows 10 users. The latest OS builds released for members of the Windows Insider program already contain almost all the changes that this update will bring. With the release of Redstone 4, these changes will appear on the devices of ordinary users.

Action history

The most significant innovation in Redstone 4 is called by specialized media the so-called Timeline - a screen on which the user can view all his actions on all devices over the past 30 days. Timeline shows the user's latest actions in various applications, browsing history in the browser, recent locations on maps, articles read, documents opened, playlists listened to, etc. The user can view all actions tied to a specific date, and also use the search.

All devices are synchronized via a cloud account. You can use multiple accounts - for example, work and home. Without cloud synchronization, Timeline only shows history for the last four days. Thanks to synchronization, the user can, for example, finish work on a laptop, and then start it from the same place on his home PC. At the user's request, actions can be deleted from the Timeline - either one at a time, or all actions for the last hour or day.

Appearance

Microsoft has tried to improve the display of legacy apps on high dots per inch (DPI) screens. A section has appeared in “Settings” that allows you to adjust the scaling for various applications in order to display them as clearly as possible. The system performs the setup automatically. If this option is disabled, Windows 10 prompts the user to allow the setting. The user can also manually set a convenient DPI value for each application separately.

Timeline will allow the user to view all activities for the last 30 days

As for the design of Windows 10, here Microsoft continues to implement the Fluent Design concept, common to all the company's products. In this regard, visual changes have appeared in the system: additional animation when opening an item in the Start menu and pop-up windows of various applications, acrylic effects on the taskbar, updated design of the Edge browser and other system components.

Languages ​​and fonts

Fonts have been added to the Windows Store, which can now be installed directly from the store. Also, the “Fonts” menu item has been added to “Settings”. The user will now be able to install and remove fonts in “Settings”, after previewing their appearance.

In “Settings” it became possible to install fonts with previews

In addition, you can now install language packs through the app store. The same feature is present in “Settings”, where the corresponding section has been updated.

Privacy and Security

For security purposes, Redstone 4 will add the ability to block applications from accessing the camera. This even applies to system applications. Regarding privacy, Microsoft continues to improve the level of user awareness about what data is transferred to the company. For this purpose, a special application was created to view diagnostic data that is sent to the Microsoft cloud. In the application you can see a list of collected data for each user device.

The corresponding function will need to be activated in “Settings”, after which the system will offer to download this application from the store. To implement the entire scheme, about 1 GB of permanent memory will be required - diagnostic data will be stored there. The application is equipped with a search system for more convenient viewing of data.

Nearby Share will allow you to transfer files between devices that are nearby

Let us remember that since the launch of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft has repeatedly received criticism from ordinary users and various organizations who did not like the fact that the OS transmits telemetry data to the company, and this cannot be disabled. As a result, in November 2015 the company made it possible to disable “surveillance”, but only for corporate clients.

In April 2017, Microsoft made changes to the privacy settings in Windows 10, as well as the data it will collect. There was no talk about disabling “surveillance,” but the user was able to choose between a basic and a full package of sent telemetric data.

Other changes

The new Nearby Share feature will allow you to transfer data between nearby devices via Bluetooth. The receiving device receives a request to transfer data, and if this request is confirmed by the user, it receives the files. Nearby Share shows you which potential devices for sharing data are nearby.

EPUB reading capabilities have been enhanced in the Edge browser

The My People contact list, which appeared on the taskbar in the fall update, has also undergone changes. You can now pin more than three contacts to the taskbar by simply dragging them from the list. Already on the panel itself, they can be arranged and organized at the user’s discretion, also by dragging and dropping.

A number of changes have been made to the Edge browser. In particular, the browser introduced auto-filling of forms based on the data that the user entered there previously. Sites that are not currently open in the browser now have the ability to send notifications to the Action Center panel. Support for a number of audio and video formats such as OGG Vorbis and Theora has been added, and PDF and EPUB reading capabilities have been expanded. In addition, there is support for progressive web applications.

I think it’s no secret that a new update for Windows 10 will be released in the fall, codenamed Redstone 5. Microsoft called the Redstone 4 update the April 2018 Update - simple and concise. And it looks like the company will continue this idea with similar naming of upcoming updates.

Tero Alhonen on Twitter posted a screenshot from the insider version of PowerShell, where when using the Get-VMHostSupportedVersion command, all the names of system updates were displayed, including Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Of course, Microsoft has not yet officially announced the name of the next update, but if we rely on the name of the current version, then, in principle, this really seems to be true.

It is also worth noting that the other day Microsoft released build 17713, which is already in the rs_release branch, that is, this means that, in fact, the latest insider build will not differ much from the release one and there will no longer be major new functionality. Now there will only be debugging of the code. Perhaps some small new functions will be delivered, but you shouldn’t expect anything large-scale. Absolutely new features can be expected in builds codenamed 19H1. 19 is the year, and H1 means the first half of the year. Yes, Redstone 5 is the latest build in the Redstone series. Microsoft hasn't released everything it planned, but nevertheless, people who are members of Skip Ahead will most likely soon receive new builds, but already 19H1. Yes, you can probably tell that the release branch was formed quite quickly. Yes, perhaps Microsoft does not want to rush, as with the April 2018 Update, so it created a release branch in advance.

Although, if you look at the website builldfeed.net, for example, information about the release branch of Redstone 3, that is, the Fall Creators Update, you will notice that the end of development of the update also began in July, so for now Microsoft is doing, in principle, as before .

The truth is that this October update does not include many changes. I can only remember the new cloud clipboard, screen snippet - new screenshot functionality and another integration of Fluent Design into Windows 10 due to shadows and depth. In essence, these are three major changes. Yes, you can recall the dark version of Explorer, which is unfinished, and the Edge browser, but these changes are less significant, it seems to me. Naturally, in the review we will go deeper into all aspects of the system, but so far there are not so many changes. Although, in principle, it was similar before. The big change was supposed to be the Sets function, but it was cut out in the latest builds, alas.

Perhaps I am somehow biased in looking at this, but this is my preliminary opinion about the upcoming update. I don’t even know when a new video on assemblies will be released, since there will be code debugging in the rs_release branch, as well as in the new rs_prelease or whatever it will be called. Doesn't matter. Most likely, only in the fall we will receive new functionality for Skip Ahead, and the release of Redstone 5 or the October 2018 Update will take place, oddly enough, in October, and the final build 1809 will be compiled in September. I wouldn't be surprised if the release date falls on the 30th, as was the case with the April update. Firstly, it’s almost the end of the month, since there is also the 31st, and secondly, it’s Tuesday, and Microsoft releases updates on Tuesdays, so it’s quite possible, but not certain.