Arriving in Spring for us here in the Southern Hemisphere, the next major version of Windows 10 has plenty of features from an evolved photos experience with videos and 3D effects, enhancements in security, gaming, accessibility, Mixed Reality and more!
Ok, so October 17 is presumably going to be October 18 for us down under, seeing as we live in the future thanks to time zone differences compared to our US brethren and sistren, but the next version of Windows 10 is due in just over six weeks.
Microsoft’s Executive VP of the Windows and Devices Group, Terry Myerson, has all the detail in his latest blog post but as I’m covering most of it here, let’s keep going.
Myerson starts off by noting Microsoft’s mission, which is to “empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.”
{loadposition alex08}It used to be a computer on every desk, but with a computer in every pocket these days, and a headset soon to be mixing reality on many people’s heads, it’s no wonder that Microsoft’s mission has long since evolved with Myerson stating “this next step in the Windows journey empowers the creator in all of us with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.”
Of course, Microsoft hopes you’ll fall for its latest version, which the company bills as “introducing fun, new ways to get creative.”
So, what will this new update deliver?
Myerson says the update “will deliver an evolution to the photos experience allowing customers to tell their story using photos, videos and 3D effects; enhancements in gaming, security, accessibility and immersive new experiences made possible by Windows Mixed Reality.”
In addition, “all of this innovation will be brought to life by a range of beautifully designed, and feature rich modern devices available from our hardware partners this holiday.”
Here’s more on each specific feature:
Windows Inking
“Windows Inking keeps getting better by letting users ink directly onto PDF documents, making it easier and faster to comment and share with others, improving on what can be done with pen and paper alone. Smart Ink applies artificial intelligence to inking automatically making the squares drawn more perfect, or turning boxes into a table with no extra work. With Windows Find my Pen customers will be able to locate their pen to start inking.”
Photos and Videos
“With the Fall Creators Update, the Windows Photos Application has been reimagined to deliver remixed experiences to let customers tell their stories with photos, videos, 3D and even inking.”
OneDrive Files On-Demand
“Customers can save their creations in OneDrive Files On-Demand, accessing their cloud files like any other file on their PC without using up their local storage.”
Gaming
“The fuel that often inspires creativity is play. The Fall Creators Update brings new enhancements to Game Mode, which allows games to use the full processing power of a device as if it was an Xbox game console, right from a new button on the Game bar. To take advantage of this power, Microsoft has a fantastic lineup of Xbox Play Anywhere games including: Cuphead, Forza Motorsport 7, Super Lucky’s Tale, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Additionally, the most powerful console on the planet, Xbox One X, will be available on 7th November.”
Security
“The Fall Creators Update also brings security improvements to Windows 10. Windows Defender is smarter and defends better than before with behind the scenes cloud intelligence that enables new defences against ransomware and exploits. Furthermore, Windows 10 S, introduced last May, is specifically designed for simplicity and security, with significant breakthroughs in battery life and performance.”
Accessibility
“With Fall Creators Update, Microsoft is making Windows more accessible for those with Lou Gehrig’s disease, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts the brain’s ability to control the body’s muscles. A new feature called Eye Control, implements eye tracking technology that lets users type, and operate a mouse using their eyes. This is life-changing technology for those with this disease, and a real advancement in accessibility.”
Windows Mixed Reality
Myerson explains that “one more aspect of the Fall Creators Update is all about immersing customers in a new reality, the world of Windows Mixed Reality.”
In what is clearly an evolution of the Hololens concept (which still exists as a separate device), Microsoft is promoting a stack of “mixed reality headsets” from brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, with prices starting from US $299 - so presumably somewhere between $400 and likely closer to $500 in Australia once GST and the inevitable “Australia tax” is applied.
Myerson says that “by combining physical and digital worlds, Microsoft believes mixed reality is the next step in the evolution of human computing. In Windows Mixed Reality, users are fully immersed in the experience and are not limited to a mobile device screen size. The setup is simple, and does not require users to mount cameras around the room – just put the headset on, plug it into a PC and get started.”
Previewed online for a while now (at least in various places online I’ve been reading), Microsoft says that Windows Mixed Reality headsets (finally!) “start to become available on 17th October when the Fall Creators Update ships.”
Acer’s Windows Mixed Reality Headset will feature motion controllers, with the statement that “when the headset is paired with the controllers users can take advantage of the full position and rotational tracking in the headset to easily create content or play games.”
The Asus Windows Mixed Reality headset “will be available in Spring of 2018 and will offer a unique design with a pattern of hundreds of 3D polygons and a glossy tone-on-tone effect.”
Dell’s mixed reality headset is called the “Visor” and “features high resolution 1440 x 1440 LCD panels for a sharp and smooth 360° panoramic experience for an ‘as-if-you-are-there view.”
Billed as being “thoughtfully engineered for comfort and convenience with well-cushioned head and face padding that allow for comfortable wear, even for users who wear glasses,” Dell clearly hopes its Visor will sell well.
HP’s Windows Mixed Reality Headset “will also be bundled with two motion controllers to provide great Mixed Reality experiences.”
The Lenovo Explorer Headset is “designed to be comfortable,” although which headset would claim to be designed otherwise? In any case, the Explorer headset is “ergonomically designed and optimised for comfort, so users can immerse themselves in Mixed Reality experiences for long periods.”
So, what if you haven’t got a Mixed Reality headset?
Well, thankfully, there are also opportunities for those without headsets to enjoy mixed reality experiences “through the PC.”
Myerson states that with the “Mixed Reality Viewer, users can see 3D objects – either from the Remix3D.com community or their own creations from Paint 3D – mixed into their actual surroundings through the PC’s camera – and snapped and shared – for powerful ways to tell their story.”
Now, with all of this software, and headset hardware, what about brand new Windows 10 devices?
Naturally, Microsoft has plenty of information to share on new devices, too.
The usual suspects, being the aforementioned Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, have announced what Microsoft says is “a range of beautifully designed, and feature rich modern devices,” featuring 2-in-1s, laptops, all-in-ones, and gaming PCs that feature “Intel’s latest 8th generation processors, include the latest NVIDIA graphics cards that enable Windows Mixed Reality experiences, deliver all-day battery life, and offer OLED and 4K screens for the most stunning visuals.”
No mention of the new AMD Ryzen processors then - maybe Microsoft is trying to placate Microsoft after its stated aim to release ARM-based devices later this year and Intel’s not-so-subtle threat of lawyers at the ready to protect x86 patents.
In any case, Microsoft is talking up a range of “Premium PCs, Popular PCs, Professional PCs, Student PCs and Gaming PCs."
There are two PCs in each section Myerson points to.
First are two Premium PCs:
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1
“Powered by an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, the super-slim Lenovo Yoga 920 2-in-1 is just what users need to create and be productive, and, when connected to an external USB-C Thunderbolt 3 Dock it is a powerful Windows Mixed Reality gaming PC. The Yoga 920 was designed to provide more natural and intuitive experiences and includes Far-field microphones, so users can use Cortana to wake the PC, play music, set reminders and more with their voice from across the room. An optional Lenovo Active Pen with 4,096 levels of pen sensitivity makes inking easy and fun, dramatically expands the creative and cross-application potential of the PC.”
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
“The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition is the first fanless 2-in-1 notebook equipped with discrete graphics. With an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics, it is an ideal companion for intensive tasks, creative production, and content streaming. Even though it’s powerful, Acer’s innovative Dual LiquidLoop technology keeps the Switch 7 cool and quiet. The Switch 7 Black Edition has an embedded battery-free stylus powered by Wacom EMR technology that features 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and pen tilt support to control the angle, width or shading of the stroke providing users a more authentic writing and sketching experience when using Windows Ink.”
Now for two Popular PCs:
Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1
“Designed for the person on the go or multi-user household, the new Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 line, available in 13 and 15 inches in Era Grey brushed aluminium, features stunning visuals with a narrow border, a standard FHD 10-point touch IPS display and an optional premium 4K UHD IPS touch display. It offers powerful performance with new 8th Generation Intel processors, DDR4 memory; flexible connectivity options with USB Type-C with support for DisplayPort and Power Delivery, longer battery life and quieter performance with standard SSDs. Optional Dell Active Pen offers a natural feel when using Windows Ink to draw, write or take notes.”
Lenovo Miix 520
“The Lenovo Miix 520 is a mainstream workhorse with the functionality and detachable form factor designed to give a firsthand taste of the many digital technologies and tools remaking the world in which we live. Powered by up to Intel’s latest 8th Gen Quad Core i7 processors with up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory and up to 1TB PCIe SSD, the Miix 520 is a powerhouse on which users can use Windows Ink to take notes or create presentations, or use the WorldView camera to capture images and edit them in 3D.”
Here are the two Professional PCs Microsoft is highlighting:
HP’s ProBook 400
"HP’s ProBook 400 series is a rugged powerhouse designed for business people who need to be productive in the office, or out in the field. The ProBook 430, ProBook 440, ProBook 450, and ProBook 470 feature a battery that will last all day, include an aluminum reinforced keyboard, and all of the devices keep apps and data secure with Windows 10 Pro."
Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1
"The thin and light Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1 is perfect for getting work done. It is a business detachable that features an Infinity edge display, it can charge wirelessly, comes with Windows 10 Pro, and includes Windows Hello for added security."
Now for two Student PCs:
Fujitsu Lifebook P727
“The Fujitsu Lifebook P727 with Windows 10 S is a 2-in-1 designed especially for students who need a powerful and secure device on which they can use Windows Ink and the included Active Stylus to take notes, create diagrams and the keyboard to write essays and reports. A dead battery isn’t a problem because this PC’s batteries can be swapped while the PC is in Standby mode. In addition to the Fujitsu device offering, Fujitsu is offering various solutions and services for the education market worldwide - more info here. http://education.global.fujitsu.com/students “
Microsoft Surface laptop
“The blend of beauty and performance on the Surface laptop hits all the right notes without compromising the things required to keep users productive, like all-day battery life, incredible display quality, and portability. Even the Alcantara material covering the keyboard balances its elegance with a clever design that resists spills and absorption. Every detail on this product has been thought through, and this meticulous attention extends to the software as well. Surface Laptop is made for Windows 10 S and the best of Microsoft’s products and services like Office and OneDrive.”
Two Gaming PCs:
ASUS ROG Chimera
“The ASUS ROG Chimera is a laptop with an ultra-responsive 17.3-inch FHD IPS wide-view display that features an impressive Full HD IPS anti-glare panel with G-SYNC technology for a 144Hz refresh rate and 7ms response time. Powered by the latest unlocked Intel Core i7-7820HK processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics the ROG Chimera brings together the best of laptop and console gaming. It comes with built-in Xbox Wireless, so gamers can effortlessly connect their favourite Xbox accessories to the PC, without adapters, and they won’t have to swap controllers when switching between console and PC.”
Omen X by HP
“The new Omen X by HP Laptop is exclusively built for gaming enthusiasts and e-sports athletes seeking uncompromised performance. The OMEN X Laptop is packed with Intel 7th-gen unlocked Intel Core i7 CPU options, XMP memory options for memory overclocking and tested profiles up to DDR4-2800, and factory-overclocked graphics cards up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080. The high-end components, advanced thermal solutions, fast and responsive displays, a customisable mechanical keyboard, and software enhancements to push components to the limit ensures that the Omen X provides unparalleled gaming performance and a stunning design.”
So, Microsoft has a stack of stuff arriving just in time for the fourth quarter of 2017, featuring the Christmas and end-of-year sales shopping season bonanza.
Microsoft has also managed to get all of this info out before Apple makes its announcements on its new iPhones, potential new Macs, new augmented and mixed reality announcements and more, which means that Q4 2017 is going to be as technologically jam packed as ever!