Fill your Apps gaps with the much awaited Windows 10

We all know that a smart device is nothing without apps. We all have apps for everything, from tracking our sleep patterns, to reminding you about having a glass of water. In this era of apps and devices, Windows 10 gives a fresh touch up to its mundane built-in apps like maps, photos, mail & calendar, music, and video, along with some exciting new inbuilt apps in the most awaited Windows OS.

With Windows 10, Microsoft is introducing ‘Windows as a service’ concept which will ensure that these built in apps are not final and that these will be updated continually. All these apps use OneDrive to back up your information and sync seamlessly across your Windows 10 devices, so you are never far from what you need.

Most interesting and new concept that Windows 10 boasts, is a common base on which developers will be able to build apps that work on smart phones, tablets, PCs and desktops, and even Xbox.

Narrowing App Gap

The tech-embracing consumers today have a range of personal devices like a tablet, a laptop, or desktop PC, or now game console too. Each of the devices has its own set of apps and its own app store. But, one may want apps without having to go to several app stores. And, Windows 10 is addressing this pain with much-talked about ‘Universal apps’.

With Universal apps, Windows 10 enables users to run apps either windowed (desktop-friendly) or full-screen (touch screen or tablet-friendly). These Universal apps have user interfaces that adapt according to the screen layout as well as user controls, for instance, user interaction via touch or keyboard/mouse.

Universal apps will operate on a common core that works across all platforms from PCs and tablets to Windows Phones, Xbox and the Internet of Things.

Developers get to use about almost same code regardless of the target platform, and users will need to only acquire an app once for all their devices. Developers will have to tweak them just a little for PC. This degree of unification of app development and stores will not just benefit the developers but also the entire Windows platform. A developer can target the entire audience of PC users and Windows Phone users, and the users in turn can also reap the benefit of having a vast variety of apps available no matter what device they use.

Not only PCs and mobile devices, but Microsoft’s Xbox console is also part of the universal app movement, so Xbox game developers can use that common code to create games as well.

Game On

A unified XBOX app does not only keep a track of your gaming stats, achievements, or allow you to chat with friends, view the XBOX activity feed, record gameplay, but also offers the ability of cross-device gaming (cross-device multiplayer-multiplayer gaming between XBOX One and Windows 10 devices).

Spartan

Also, an early version of Project Spartan, the successor to Internet Explorer, is also available on the Windows 10. It offers greater interoperability with the modern mobile web, and includes early versions of reading view and reading list. However, Project Spartan is not yet the default browser. Spartan includes a new UI with the address bar up top.

The web-based browser Project Spartan is meant for both desktop and mobile devices. It comes with a range of features, including the support for Cortana, an intelligent personal assistant originally introduced in Windows Phone 8.1. Just like a personal assistant, Cortana is capable of monitoring your schedule for alerts or for scheduled meetings. It also helps you to search your PC for files and apps, as well as for web searches. The browser also comes with annotation tools that enable users to scribble and draw on webpages, and share them with their network.

Office for Windows 10

This is the most interesting update in the Windows 10, especially for the rising number of people working on the go. Office for Windows 10 on phones now is a full-fledged version of the productivity suite, with touch support. It has all the features you will find in its desktop counterpart.

The new suite will come with a new user interface, and also feature the ribbon that you are all familiar from Office’s desktop client. The Office will also have some changes in layout and a new ‘reflow mode’ which will optimize documents for better viewing experience. The new Office will also come with support for wireless printing and Miracast. One can work on PowerPoint presentations, edit Word documents and enjoy other rich functionality in Office, on the go.

Skype, under central hub

The Skype app is becoming a core part of the Windows 10 on phones. The Skype conversations will now appear in the messaging app with SMS. The operating system will come with a new phone and messaging app, which will be a central hub for calls, SMS and video chats. In addition, users will receive actionable notifications, which will allow them to respond to a message from within the Toast notification.

Much organized Outlook app

Also, the mundane Outlook app has received an interesting update. It now allows users to swipe on an email to quickly dismiss it or flag it as important.

Moreover, Windows 10 has a Start Menu, just like Windows 7. On the left Start Menu column, you can find a list of your most used apps, most visited folders and recently added software. There’s also a button that will show you all your apps in a single list. On the right part of the Start Menu, there is a grid of app tiles that you can arrange the way you like. The ‘live’ tiles will show your updates, such as the latest stock prices, the last show you were watching on Netflix, social media updates, weather, news and sports scores. Windows 10 also comes with multiple desktops, which is helpful for cleaning up a messy workspace.