Windows 10's new features: Cortana, a 'Spartan' browser, Xbox streaming, and more

Microsoft showed off new, consumer-focused features for Windows 10

It’s official, folks: Windows 10 is coming to the people. After kicking off Windows 10 with a bevy of business-friendly features, Microsoft drew back the curtain on the operating system’s new consumer-focused features at an event on Wednesday, while simultaneously driving home a vision of an operating system designed to deliver a singular, cohesive experience across a myriad of device types

And it'll be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users, who can snag the operating system for nada in the first year after Windows 10 hits the streets.

After Microsoft operating system chief Terry Myerson announced that crucial tidbit, Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore took the stage to run through some features coming to Windows 10 Preview that are designed to make using the operating system a smoother experience.

First, Belfiore showed off some helpful tweaks to Windows 10 features that have already been announced: The Start menu will be able to expand to fill the full screen if you desire, for one thing. The Action Center (read: Windows 10’s notification center) is receiving improved functionality, such as Windows Phone 8.1-esque quick action buttons that let you activate features (such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) with a single click. Notifications in the Action Center will be able to be expanded.

More helpfully for everyday workflow, Windows 10 will condense the Control Panel and the modern UI PC Settings into a single interface, eliminating Windows 8’s maddening insistence on dumping crucial system tools into two separate locations. 

Microsoft also announced that its Continuum feature, which dynamically shifts the Windows 10 interface from the Modern UI to the desktop depending on whether you’re using a traditional PC or a touchscreen device, will soon appear in Windows 10 Preview builds.

Cortana comes to PCs

As anticipated, Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant will make the jump from Windows Phone to Windows 10, assuming control of many of the operating system’s search features. Cortana, which will get her own place next to the Start button in the desktop taskbar, can perform many of the same basic tricks she does in Windows Phone. Cortana can be interacted with via text or natural voice queries, just like on mobile devices.

Still based off Microsoft’s cloud-based Bing brains, Cortana can answer basic queries like “Will I need a coat tomorrow?” or how much it costs to attend the University of Washington, as Belfiore showed in live demonstrations. But Cortana’s also been tweaked for more useful PC-like interactions. She can scour your local machine, OneDrive account, and even your business network to find files based on natural language queries. Belfiore showed off the capabilities by asking Cortana to “Find PowerPoint slides about the charity auction” and “Show me photos from December.” The digital assistant surfaced the desired information nearly instantly.

That sounds pretty darn handy, and there are more playful commands, too: Telling Cortana to “Play my music” launches the music app, while asking her to “Please be quiet” silences the music. Nice!

Windows 10 for phones and universal apps

Belfiore then veered off to show Windows 10 on phones and tablets, including a brief demo of mobile, touch-friendly Office apps. Windows 10 for phones will basically act like an extension of your PC, featuring universal Windows apps that share the same central heart and design as their PC counterparts, as well as newly universal notifications that synchronize across Windows 10 devices.

Windows 10 phones and small-screen tablets will include a free copy of Office. For a quick look at the universal Office apps, be sure to check out our article on Windows 10 for phones and tablets.

After the mobile talk, Belfiore showcased a rebuilt version of Outlook designed for PCs, tablets, and phones alike as a universal Windows app. Strongly resembling the Mail app in Windows 8—at least aesthetically—the universal Outlook map will sport a unified look across device types, packing touch-friendly commands such as swiping left on a message to remove it, or swiping right to flag it for later follow up.

Since many of Microsoft’s apps—including Outlook—have their heads in the cloud, changes you make to a universal app on one device will be immediately reflected on other devices, as Belfiore demoed by actively editing Calendar app entries simultaneously on a PC and a phone.

Microsoft’s bringing the same cloud-centric, universal app experiences to its core Windows apps as well, all powered by OneDrive on the backend. The Photos app will create albums from all your devices, intelligently removing duplicates and burst photos. A revamped universal People app will collate your contacts, while the Music app is also receiving a universal overhaul. As rumored, Microsoft will add support for you to put your music collection in OneDrive within the next month or two, so you can listen to your tunes anywhere. Maps will also be receiving Cortana integration, and she'll be able to remember where you parked your car.

This is Spartan

Also new to Windows 10 is Spartan: A new, clean-looking, lightweight browser built around a new rendering engine. It won’t be available in the first Windows Insider builds, and it will only come to phones eventually, Belfiore said.

The Spartan browser includes a note-taking mode that lets you annotate a webpage, then share your marked-up, commented-on version with others using Windows 10’s native Share feature. There’s also a clipping tool so you can save portions of websites directly to OneNote.

Spartan also doubles down on the mere act of reading on the Internet. The browser integrates an updated version of the stellar Reading Mode found in Windows 8’s Metro Internet Explorer app. Reading Mode strips all the ads and sidebar crud out of webpages, formatting articles so that they appear similar to a book. It’s a wonderful thing. Spartan also taps into the Windows Reading List app, so you can save articles to read later, synchronizing the list across multiple devices. Unlike the Reading List app in Windows 8, the one in Windows 10 will let you save content to read offline.

Cortana is also being integrated directly into Spartan. "Because she knows you, she can help in more nuanced ways,” Belfiore said, showing an example where searching for “Delta” in his address bar popped up information for the Delta flight Belfiore was scheduled to take later. Cortana will also pop up when you visit a restaurant’s website, surfacing directions as well as information about the restaurant’s menu, hours of operating, and Yelp reviews.

Improving PC games with Xbox

Microsoft’s also bolstering Windows 10’s gaming chops by deeply integrating Xbox capabilities into the operating system. A new Xbox app essentially looks like a more fully fleshed-out version of SmartGlass, letting you chat with your Xbox Live pals, view your achievement information, or access game DVR clips. The app also lets you like, share, and comment on game clips.

But Windows 10’s new gaming chops is about more than merely expanding Xbox’s footprint. While you’re playing traditional PC games, be it in Steam or otherwise, a new Windows key + G keyboard shortcut brings up an interface for saving snapshots and 30 second video clips of your adventures, which then brings you into the Xbox app to share it. Games don’t directly have to support the functionality as it’s being overlaid directly by Microsoft in Windows 10.

As previously announced, the performance-enhancing DirectX 12 gaming API is also coming to Windows 10. Xbox head Phil Spencer claims that the API can deliver up to a 50 percent performance improvement in games.

Microsoft also wants to enable more gaming experiences regardless of the device you’re using. Fable Legends players on Windows 10 and Xbox One will be able to play with each other, and you’ll be able to stream your Xbox One games directly to any Windows 10 device, though it sounds like it will be limited to local networks only, similarly to Steam in-home streaming.

Surface hub and Windows Holographic

This has nothing to do with Windows, but it's a major—and unexpected—hardware announcement from Microsoft: The company's rolling out the Surface Hub, an 84-inch, 4K, touch-enabled display for office collaboration. You can read the full details here.

And the Surface Hub isn't even the craziest hardware announced by Microsoft today. That honor goes to Windows Holographic, a set of technologies—a headset, new Windows 10 technology, and a HoloStudio dev app—that brings some insanely intense augmented reality capabilities to Windows. You'll definitely want to check this out.

When can you get it?

Myerson also revealed some stats from the Windows 10 Technical Preview. Thus far, more than 1.7 million people have registered for the Windows Insider program, and they’ve installed Windows 10 on more than 3 million different PCs.

A fresh Windows 10 Preview build containing the newly announced features will hit PCs next week, with a Windows 10 build for phones becoming available after the Super Bowl. Here's how to get started with the Windows 10 Preview.

This story, "Windows 10's new features: Cortana, a 'Spartan' browser, Xbox streaming, and more" was originally published by PCWorld.

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5 trends shaping computers in 2015

In 2014, we have seen lots of new computer technology trends that are shaping more clearly. From cheap computers, Chromebooks to the new operating system, biometric security technology ...

Here are the technological innovations expected to alter the perspective of the computer industry this year.

Computer - thinner, lighter with Intell Broadwell microprocessor

Haswell - 4th microprocessor generation was focus on solving the problem electric consumption and this topic continues to promoted on Core M chips (also called Broadwell-Y). Not only saving less electricity, Core M aslo enables laptop manufacturers to develop models not use fanless, ultra-thin and lightweight design.

One of such models is Samsung Ativ Book 9 Ultrabook has been introduced at CES 2015. Because of doing not use fanless, Ativ Book 9 has a thickness about 10.2 mm and the duration of battery save up to 10 hours at medium brightness.

Windows 10 will completely replace windows 8.

Windows 10 is the operating system that is waiting for in 2015. Based on the shortcomings in Windows 8, Microsoft has quickly developed Windows 10 to "correct" and equipped the best features that the company had. With the release a Technical Preview version in 2014, Microsoft has listened to users. From the feedback in Insider Program program, the company will improve and complement the features that users want to be on the official version at the end of this year.

However, unclearly, how will Microsoft release Windows 10? Users have to purchase copyright or use as Office 365? Microsoft will organize a conference on January 21, promising to reveal more features of Windows 10. With the popularity of Android tablets, smartphone and Chromebook in recent years, Windows 10 is facing to pressure to revive the computer market.

4K screen is more popular, so gamers also have benefit.

At the end of 2014, the price of 4K screen fell down and expected to continue fall down in 2015.

In 2015, HDMI 2.0 will become more popular and 4K screen will have fresh rate of 60 Hz. Besides, multi-screen trend is expected to break out in this year. With the improvements in both hardware and software, multi-screen users, especially gamers will get a better visual experience.

Chromebook and cheap computers become more attractive

The laptops which use Google's Chrome OS will not yet be a threat to the traditional laptop, because it's platform depends on the internet and functional restriction. However, Chromebook has been expanded gradually the market, especially education and enterprise market.

Biometric sensor and expanded utilities in computers

Biometric technology will be change the way that you login to the computer and make online payment activities. If on smartphones, biometric sensor (fingerprint security) has become a trend when manufactures (such as Apple, LG, Samsung, HTC) put it into their product, the computers also must not be an exception.

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The form of payment when shopping online.

When visiting a number of shopping sites, consumers in Vietnam can make payments in various forms.
The payment method is being applied include cash on delivery, bank transfer, send money through the mail or via international money transfer systems, online payments.

- Online payment: Some websites in Vietnam had a form of payment online help for the purchase and payment simple and convenient.

- Payment by credit card or debit international customer owns the cards Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB can pay online at more than 60 sites connected with the payment gateway OnePAY.

- Payment by electronic wallet: Property for electronic Mobivi, Payoo, VnMart, customers can pay online on a website electronics accepted for this.

- Pay cash on delivery: This is still the main form of payment when purchasing through the web page for ensuring the safety, customers receive goods ordered are strictly new pay.

- Bank transfer: ATM or through direct transactions at the bank, the account transfer to the account of the seller some money before receiving the goods.

This method should only be done when the buyer can trust in the seller, usually when two parties are patrons on the shopping website or seller is a reputable partner. This method is useful in cases where buyers and sellers stay away from each other, can not directly pay in cash, but there are certain risks to the buyer, the seller does not ship or deliver inferior quality than the sale.

- Sending money through the mail or international money transfer systems: In case the buyer or seller in the distance, did not have a bank account, you can use this way. But will cost a fee to transfer money; depending on each bank's services, fees may be several tens of thousand.

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4 common misunderstandings about technology

Stationery - phone charger overnight is harmful ... there are just one of the advice that you hear many times in the newspapers, as well as from friends , you need to reconsider.

Home Business Insider has listed 5 common misunderstanding, the most notable of the technology used at this time.

1. Mac computer can not infected virus


Yes, Apple computers could not immune to malicious software, virus, Trojan. Apple ever eloquent advertising that their products are not vulnerable to viruses such as PC, but in fact had to quickly change the marketing campaign after a Trojan was discovered infecting thousands of Macs in 2012 .

2. Mode browsing Private / Incognito can help you anonymous

Many people mistakenly believe that the private browsing mode synonymous with anonymity. If you are using Google Chrome or Ingognito Mode in Private Browsing in Safari, the browser simply will not save web surfing history, do not copy or bookmark website automatically logged into the account access your only. Your identity will not be concealed

3. Phone charger all night will damage the battery

Many people have the habit of charging plug all night, after the battery is full 100%. A number of cell sites warned that this will harm the battery life, but in fact, until now there is no any evidence of this claim at all. The advent of modern smartphones are using lithium-ion batteries, a technology that is smart enough to disconnect the battery when fully charged.

4. Do not turn off the computer every day

Although many people believe that computer off at night is not good, it is quite the opposite: Your computer should be turned off frequently. You can easily fall into the habit to laptop in sleep mode because it's more convenient when on again, but as Lifehacker points out, the machine off when not in use will help preserve the power of computer components as well suffered less pressure, as a result, longevity and durability of them will be higher.

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Guide shared computer screen via Skype

Guide readers an easy way to quickly share desktop with friends via Skype.

Maybe you do not know you can quickly share screen your desktop with friends directly via Skype besides messaging, video call. This feature is built-in Skype quite long but very few people are aware of this.

However, you simply share the screen of your desktop and can not control the remote computer as a software professional Viewer. All you simply can share with other users see the desktop with the manipulation from you.

So how can quickly share screen your desktop to your friends via Skype?

First, you need to make a call or video call to the person you want to share the desktop. When the call window appears, click the Plus button and choose Share Screens ...

Setup window will appear, please adjust several parameters to match and click Start to proceed shared screen desktop

The recipient will immediately see screen your desktop. Even when making or receiving calls from iPad devices.

This feature of Skype is done according to the protocol P2P quite well in the remote manipulation instructions. In addition, you can apply this feature to a group call with other users.

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The simplest way to experience try the version of Windows without installation.

Guide  simply to be able to experience the version of Windows in a comprehensive way no need to install them from the beginning.

If you are using a lower version of Windows, such as Windows XP , you thinking of upgrading to newer versions like Windows 7 or Windows 8, but maybe you're wondering if you upgrade to the user experience how it right?

Understanding this problem, Microsoft has launched a new service called "modern.IE". In essence, this is the website offers versions of Windows and IE in the form of a virtual machine is made available for users to select, download and use the software on a virtual machine like VirtualBox or VMware Player.

This article will teach you how to exploit and use the virtual machine package is provided in "modern.IE", if interested, you can see how to do the following.

Step 2 you proceed selected virtual machine software that you will use to run the virtual machine package that you are about to download. Here comes the VMware Player and VirtualBox to choose from.

Once you have selected a virtual machine tool, you will be taken to choose 3 includes links to download the virtual machine package has been compressed into smaller and.

After downloading the package compress the virtual machine, you compress them flush with 7-Zip or WinRAR to get the packet format or .mf .OVA for VirtualBox, VMware .OVF and .VMDK for you selected in step 2. here we should choose simple VirtualBox.

After you get the packet containing the virtual machine Windows and IE have been made available from Microsoft. Please proceed to download and install VirtualBox on your computer (if not already).

After installation is complete, you double-click the virtual machine file was downloaded earlier. A setup window appears, you select or deselect the setting is not necessary (if desired) and click Import to packet VM VirtualBox automatically be added.

Wait a few minutes and the name of the virtual machine that contains Windows and IE ready for you to use.

If the virtual machine when  asks account, please enter your account.

Very fast and easy right?

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Google Translate will translate word on the picturesand in the near future.

Just place camera of phone in the text you want to translate, select the target language and Google Translate app will do the rest.

Google Translates is a tool that been neglected for a long time. Normally, want to translate a text  you have to copy to a box on the Google translate, but for this application, the letters on the photos can also be translated. This app was born from about 2010 and obviously Google bought Word Lens earlier this year.

Word Lens began development on iOS in 2010, after it was built in 2012 for Android and Google Glass was born in late 2013, Google bought in May this app and turn it into a free app charge. This time, perhaps this function will be applied to Google Translate. That means you can put your camera phone into a signpost or a menu, and the text will be translated in real time from English into French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spain. However, this application can only translate from English into other languages or vice versa.

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Google Hangouts for Android equipped with sticker, smart suggest.

Google has just released a new version for Android Hangouts adding sticker package, launch  new filter when video calling, and particularly intelligent feature suggestions.

Features suggest new in Google Hangouts will identify key words or phrases when you're chatting, to make suggestions concerning the content of this chat. For example if you type "Where are you?"  to ask about the position of the other party, Hangouts will suggest for you to share your location with one touch on the touch screen.

The company is also looking for additional new sticker packs Hangouts much as cats, penguins, pirates, bears ... to help the conversation is more vivid. During a video call with Hangouts, you can use the new filter as black and white, sepia ...

According to Google, they have adopted the process of natural language technology and artificial intelligence (AI) from Emu (Google bought the company in January 8/2014), to put to use the new features once this.

Hangouts new version will be updated to Android users in the near future. Google also promises to soon launch new Hangouts for iOS, the app has now been posted to the App Store and Apple just waiting to be approved for release.

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