The Start Menu is back, with Live Tiles plugged into the classic shell
Microsoft has got back the old Start Menu in the Windows 10 update. While Microsoft hasn’t completely given up on its ambitious Metro UI with Live Tiles, it has created a fusion of modern apps running inside the classic window. There are, however, a few changes here.
You have both, the classic Start Menu and the Start Screen that works in a full-screen mode. You can switch between them by using the expand bottom feature on the right top corner of the Start Menu. As you can see in the image above, the Start Menu now displays the user account logged into and places such as File Explorer, Documents and Settings. Just below that, you have the recently used aps and programs. The expand button and power options have been moved to the the top left.
Live Tiles on the Start menu is a good addition as you get quick access to the information that matters most to you. Right from the latest news, to live stock rates, emails to weather and social networks, you can pin all these apps to the Start Menu. These apps refresh in real-time, so you have the first-hand information right at your fingertips. You can also resize these Live Tiles to small, medium, wide and large sizes, depending on your needs. If you don’t like the Live Tiles, you can unpin them too, but then the Start Menu just shows a blank screen, which is a turn off.
Notification Centre – Never Miss those Important Notifications
Most of us who use smartphones are aware of the notification centre where all the missed calls, text messages, emails and updates from other apps. Microsoft is focussing more on a single OS for laptops, tablets and smartphones with Windows 10, so they have introduced a unified notification centre which will be seen across all devices running Windows 10.
As you can see here, the bottom has all the quick toggles for display, settings, Wi-Fi, Location and Airplane mode. There’s also a tablet mode which is meant for hybrid-tablets. When docked onto the keyboard, it switches to the Start menu and when undocked, it switches to the full screen mode optimized for tablets.
Settings – The New Control Panel
In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, there was confusion between the PC Settings menu and the Control Panel. With Windows 10, all the settings are available under one roof. The new interface is slick and easy to navigate.
There are 9 categories to choose from – system, devices, network and internet, personalization, update and recovery, etc. Clicking on these icons takes you through the sub-menus where all settings related to it are present.
For the sake of demonstration, we have reached the System settings and as you can see in the above image, the left corner has the entire settings sub-menu. Built-in settings such as Storage Sense, Battery Saver, Notifications & Actions that were introduced in Windows Phone 8.1 update can also be seen here in Windows 10. These settings let you control each and every aspect of your PC and tablet.
Cortana for Windows 10 – PC and Tablets Become Smarter!
Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual personal assistant first made its way to Windows Phone 8.1 devices. In a nutshell, Cortana is an interactive, personal assistant. She can do various tasks such as set alarms and reminders, update you about the current weather, sports updates and a lot more.
Including Cortana in Windows 10 will give Microsoft an edge over its competitors. It will also take Windows 10 a step closer in offering a single OS experience. Cortana is designed in such a way that it learns about your preferences and provides you with quick access to information that matters you the most. She can update you about the nearby places to eat and drink, directions etc.
The experience that you get by interacting with Cortana is as close as talking to a human being. The best part is that Cortana is voice activated. Simply say “Hey Cortana”, followed by what you want to ask and she will respond. While Cortana responded to most of our queries correctly, there were times when it couldn’t recognise our voice commands. But considering that this is still a very early build, we expect it to get better and as we approach the final release.
Multiple Desktops – More Productive, Yet Easy to Use
Operating systems such as Apple’s Mac and the open source Linux, Ubuntu allows you to have multiple desktops. With Windows 10, you get the ability to add up to 7 virtual desktops. This feature is like an icing on the cake for those who usually open a lot of applications while working.
With virtual desktops, you can open individual apps on each desktop and easily switch between them using the Windows + Ctrl + Arrow keys. If you want to see all the desktops, the Windows + Alt combination will bring it on your screen. It’s a perfect tool to keep your desktop well organized and clutter-free. We saw that the transition between one desktop screen to other was pretty smooth.
Universal apps and the redesigned app store
Right when Microsoft announced the Windows 8 OS for PCs and tablets, and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones, they stressed more on universal apps. So, what the noise all about? In a nutshell, Universal Apps will allow app developers to create an app with the same design and features, but optimized for different devices running different screen sizes. This initiative can be a major game changer, which if it works well, can take the experience across devices to a whole new level.
The Windows app store has been completely redesigned with improved interface to go along with the OS. Searching for apps in the store has become easier than ever before. The simplified interface now lets you browse for apps or games, and look for top charts, app categories, Microsoft collection, etc. There is also a separate category to look for and download based on free games and apps.
Unlike Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, where apps were docked through the entire screen and the only options available were minimize and close, the latest Windows 10 update lets you undock apps. They now run in a separate window, which can be moved across the screen and resized as per your needs, just like the x86 programs on the previous operating systems. As you can see in the above image, this feature is another good addition to the OS, as it will now allow you to use 4 different apps side-by-side on your homescreen.
Closing words
Microsoft’s Windows 10 sees a major overhaul in terms of features and functionalities when you compare it to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. It adds several new features such as the Start Menu, the personal assistant Cortana, redesigned interface, Action and Notifications centre, etc. to name just a few. At Microsoft’s event, they had announced that Windows 10 upgrade will be free for one year, from its time of launch. So, if you are currently running Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you’re in luck.
