Microsoft has rolled out a new test build of Windows 10 for desktops last days, the "January preview", which is build 9926. This is a full build, and it will be installed as an in-place upgrade.
The January preview includes Cortana integration, allowing users to use Microsoft's Cortana personal digital assistant technology to use voice or keyboard input to set reminders, find information stored on their PCs and tablets or search for information on the Web.
I have installed Windows 10 January Preview in VMWare Player (used express settings) and will test it in the next few days. My main interest is Cortana, I already know by my wife's Windows Phone.
The new Start menu that Microsoft officials showed off on January 21 is part of this January Preview build, as is the much better organized Settings menu. The new Xbox, Photos and Maps app previews, the Windows Store beta, improvements to wireless audio and video connectivity are all part of this January Windows 10 preview build, too. And the Charms bar from Windows 8 is gone (huzzah!) and is replaced by the new Action Center in this build.
Windows 10 January Technical Preview Major New Features:
- Xbox App – View your friend's activity, post to timeline, watch game DVR videos and more ( Xbox One to PC streaming is coming in a later update to the app)
- Cortana – Cortana is now built into Windows 10 search and syncs to Cortana on your Windows Phone
- Action Center – Gone is the Charms bar, and instead the Action Center now houses notifications, Quick Action keys, and settings
- New Universal Apps – People, Outlook, Photos, and Maps are all overhauled with new features and designs
- New Icons and design – Many elements of the OS, including Settings have had a makeover to match Modern 2.0 design
- New smart snap mode – When snapping an app, a list of currently running apps will appear in the space next to it, as the system assumes you will want to snap a second app
- Continuum – Users can now dynamically switch between Tablet and PC mode with a touch of a button, making apps full-screen (tablet) or windowed (PC). Devices like the Surface Pro 3 should do this automatically with the addition or removal of the keyboard
System requirements
Basically, if your PC can run Windows 8.1, you’re good to go. If you're not sure, don't worry—Windows will check your system to make sure it can install the preview.
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
- Free hard disk space: 16 GB
- Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
- A Microsoft account and Internet access
DL:
The code to activate Windows 10 January Preview is: NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR
More info here:
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 25-01-15 at 05:49 PM. Reason: activation code added
Look Here -> |
I'm sure they'll improve wireless connectivity to the point where the wifi interface in my laptop doesn't need to have the driver restarted to make it work after coming out of sleep / hybrid sleep / power up using fast start... one day.
Windows 7 didn't have the problem.
Windows 8 didn't have the problem.
Windows 8.1 didn't have the problem.
On Windows Phone 8.1, you can order Cortana to do a number of things:
- Call or text a contact
- Check your calendar or create a calendar entry
- Set a time, place, or person-based reminder
- Take a note
- Set an alarm
- Navigate to a place, or search an area for specific locations or places
- Ask about the weather
- Solve a math problem
- Ask who win an NFL football game
- Ask about the stock markets
- Ask a general fact-based query, such as “What is the tallest building in the world?”
But on Windows 10 January Preview (Build 9926), only a subset of these are enabled. Asking general fact-based queries worked fine: Cortana reported her answer in the Cortana box if she "knew" the answer, such as details on the tallest building in the world. Windows 10 Build 9926 Cortana can also set reminders as well as she can on Windows Phone 8.1; report the current stock market conditions; and tell you the weather, both at your current location and elsewhere around the world. (Reminders appear as popups in your Action Center notifications.) Noticed that Cortana also governs local search, but she can’t yet search for documents or files.
However, for all of the other Cortana staples - note-taking, setting a calendar appointment, navigating to a location, and the rest - I got a pop-up error message stating, "I'm sorry, I can’t do this for you right now. Check back again after future updates." An all-too common response, unfortunately. Cortana will also take requests and plug them in as Microsoft Bing search queries. With math problems, that works just fine. But for navigation questions, you’ll be forced to manually bring up the new Maps application and perform the search yourself.
I note on the desk display there are tree titles in what I presume is Dutch, MEISTVERWENDET, RemotetodesktopVERSBINDUNG, WECKER and Alle Apps.
I already have a picture program in this version of WIN 8 which is Dutch and I have never been able to get an English version of so I hope this new WINDOWS 10 is ALL in English.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!
Dont give a shit if its Hindustani, It aint bleedin' ENGLISH, is it???
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!
I deference to the OP, He's German - that's not his fault but it goes a long way to explaining why his Desktop is in German
In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.
tristen (30-01-15)
So the Start Menu looks in English version of Windows 10 January 2015 Preview
Might be of interest, too:
You can try out the new browser "Spartan" already present in this current build of Windows 10. It should be much faster than Internet Explorer 11. Type "about: flags" in IE's address line, and IE shows its advanced options.
Last edited by jwoegerbauer; 30-01-15 at 06:43 PM.
So for those of us looking at this new OS for migration from Windows 7, my company uses desktops almost exclusively, and our tech department absolutely exclusively. How is this new OS so far on hard disc encryption, and playing nice with other browsers, since we are forbidden from using IE, Opera or Chrome. We must use a version of Mozilla on our machines, currently Pale Moon seems to be browser of choice.
We also must coexist with physical comm ports on motherboards and no cameras or microphones. Will disabling those features in the OS be a problem?
I see they've also attempted to make the removal / replacement of BING just a little more difficult as well.
They didn't succeed, but full points for trying.
Mozilla seems to be playing well here at the moment, however this release is as Joey explained a test / evaluation build.
It would appear that some aspects available in the European release don't quite translate to what I'm seeing here - However again in deference, this PC is a very low end I3 desktop with no speakers - perhaps before I complain I should install on something a little more upmarket first
In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just buggered a 14 year old escort".
The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated and the wife has gone off to her mum's.
The version of Photo Gallery that came with this Computer using WIN 8 is in either German or Dutch and I havent been able to find out how to get an English version which is why I made my original comment, NOT to critisise Jwoegerbauer because he posted his version of the desktop to illustrate the new desktop which I thank him for.
The fact I cant differentiate between Dutch, German, Swedish or Chinese is immaterial because I have no need to or want to and when I PAY for a program which I did for this, I expect it to be in the language of my choice hence my posting.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!
Seymour Butts (01-02-15)
I finished installing Windows 10 Preview January 2015 on a Dell Optiplex 960 SFF an hour or so ago in order to try it out.
It installed easily and so far is performing very well, much the same as Windows 8.1 did on this machine.
I replaced Internet Explorer with Firefox and installed the add-on, Ghostery.
I am very happy with its performance at this stage and will try installing some applications tomorrow. So far, so good!
tristen (01-02-15)
On Microsoft's page you can suggest a feature or property for Windows 10, also can support the ideas of other users ( you have a total of 20 votes ).
Nevertheless, Microsoft does not guarantee, of course, to implement the proposals. But, in the past, the company has however proved to be quite responsive to user needs.
So, hurry up!
NO.
If you don't want to support people like Mozilla's CEO Brendon Eich, who is fighting for "gay rights", especially gay marriage, then you probably have to switch to Pale Moon.
If PM would be times better than FF, as they claim, I am wondering why so few people use PM: PM's market share is negligible.
Which browser you are using, at long last is as always a question of faith.
Bookmarks