New Microsoft Windows 9 system. Remind Me, Cortana and other changes
Microsoft's idea to create a universal operating system that would cover
- and the computer market,
- and the tablet market,
- and the touch screen laptop market,
never achieved the success the company had hoped for.
Windows 8 failed to repeat the market success of “Two-in-one” shampoos - for hair and body, for men, for women, for children, for problem scalp, and for scalp without any problems. Next up is Windows 9.
But before you do brief overview Windows 9, let's try to look at the current situation with the Windows operating system. Most users (desktop computers) treat Windows 8 and its evolutionary continuation - version 8.1 - more with curiosity than seriously, preferring the good old
And users of new devices that were purchased with the “Windows 8 pre-installed” feature are constantly faced with various system shortcomings - hard drive loads 100% without obvious active processes, then old versions of programs are not installed, then without account Microsoft won't open anything.
What can we say about Metro applications with a tiled interface? Already limited choice Windows Store(compared to Google Play Market or App Store) for Russian-speaking users is even more limited by the small number of Russified Metro applications. If we also take away paid or shareware applications from this number, then the question of the advisability of purchasing based on Windows 8/8.1 at first glance seems very controversial.
However, Windows 8.1 also has advantages:
- Firstly, the tiled interface is really beautiful and many times more convenient than any dock panels, like in Mac OS or modified builds of Linux. It’s just that the giant Microsoft got a little carried away (who doesn’t?!) by removing the familiar Start menu from the Desktop.
- Secondly, Windows 8.1 is more productive than Windows 7 - it starts up faster and responds more quickly to standard functionality.
- Thirdly, among the Metro functionality there are several sensible standard applications - mail, calendar, travel, news.
A few applications can be installed from the Windows Store - colorful clients for social networks, clients from news sites, culinary builds, etc.
But even a bad experience is an experience. Since the presentation of Windows 8, Microsoft has been working and continues to work with feedback from users of the “universal” system. And now the answer to their criticism and complaints is about to be released - meet Windows 9.
IN new version operating system defects will be corrected and user suggestions will be taken into account. Windows 9 will incorporate all the best that was in Windows 7, 8, 8.1. By the way, the last one Windows update 8.1 was released on August 12, 2014.
A short overview of Windows 9
Windows 9 will no longer be a universal product - the Metro start screen will be installed by default only in versions for devices with touch screens.
For desktop PCs and regular laptops, there will be a version with the ability to enable or disable the tiled screen. In a similar way, Microsoft is trying to make the new Windows 9 flexible and user-friendly.
The classic Start button will return (as in Windows 7), but in a new format. Besides standard set desktop functions (functions for regular desktop PCs), it will be possible to place tiles of Metro applications (more typical for portable devices) in the Start button menu.
Metro apps will no longer be limited to full screen. They will be available as separate windows that can be moved around the desktop, minimized and maximized in the same way as regular program windows.
Information has emerged that Microsoft may be licensing users of its “old” operating systems Windows systems XP, Vista, 7, 8 will do free upgrading to Windows 9 to keep them on their Windows platform.
Basically the idea free update operating systems have long been successfully used by competitors. For example, this applies to the company version Apple mobile iOS operating system.
Many corporate clients, including many payment terminals, still work on Windows XP, because the transition to other licensed versions Windows will cost companies a pretty penny. Therefore, it is possible that rumors about a free upgrade to Windows 9 are far from groundless. But what will happen in reality - we'll wait and see.
We, apparently, must get used to “swimming in the clouds,” since the future lies behind the clouds.
Microsoft understands this perfectly, especially since the cloud solves problems with varying performance various devices. By the way, now they are very popular, which in turn appear in large numbers, like mushrooms after rain.
Any device that has access to the Internet serves as a transmitter-receiver when using cloud technologies.
At the moment when Microsoft releases the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of the operating system, there are only a few months left before the retail release of the OS. As a rule, the company provides RTM images 2 months before the release, so that system builders can start selling computers with the new OS.
According to Wzor, known for its forecasts and leaks of software versions, Microsoft will release an RTM version of Windows 9 before the end of this year, which means a retail release of Windows 9 in February 2015.
Wzor himself reported this information on Twitter, where he wrote: “according to the plans, Sign-Off Windows 9 RTM is scheduled until the end of 2014... only the period of time is known when this can take place...”.
Apart from reporting the expected time frame for signing the RTM build, Wzor did not provide anything else.
Considering that the first preview version of Windows 9 will appear on September 30, expecting an RTM version within just 4 months would be too optimistic. However, in the past, Wzor always gave stunningly accurate forecasts and provided absolutely accurate insider information. In any case, this information, like any rumors, should be taken with skepticism.
Windows 9 Build 6.4.9788 already exists
July 15, 2014As you know, Microsoft is actively working on preparing the next full version of its operating system - Windows 9, and according to a recent report, the company already has a completed build of this system.
A Twitter user with the nickname FaiKee, who revealed a lot of secret information about the company, said that the Windows 9 build numbered 6.4.9788 is currently being tested and most likely it will be leaked in the coming days. He also noted that ISO image system has a volume of 3.83 GB and is named en_windows_6_4_9788_0_x64_dvd_0000000.iso.
While other details are unknown to us, if this is true, then Microsoft may present the first beta version of its new OS at the WPC conference, which will take place this week.
Previously, well-known Russian informant WZor reported that at this event Microsoft will show the first working version of Windows 9, but at the same time, other sources close to the development process stated that this is unlikely, since the software giant has not yet finished work on some of the most important features future operating system.
As we know, the Windows 9 operating system should be released in early 2015 in presumably two versions, one of which will be designed for desktop PCs and the other for portable systems.
Windows 9 preview is due out in February 2015
May 26, 2014The Windows 9 operating system, codenamed Threshold, is scheduled for April 2015.
This information came from well-known Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott. So, according to existing rumors, Microsoft will offer a trial “preview” version of the new OS sometime in February 2015.
Just like the Developer Preview or Consumer Preview of Windows 8, the public build of Windows 9 will appear sometime between fiscal quarters 2 and 3 of 2015 (which on a typical calendar would be February or March of that year). This move will allow users to evaluate the new operating system before it is installed. official release. This information was provided by a person under the username Faikee, who recently debunked the Windows 365 name for Microsoft's new OS.
The most important question is what Windows 9 will be able to give us in terms of new capabilities. Our colleagues from the Softpedia site expect the integration of the Cortana service and the initial presence of the Start button. The Modern UI should also be updated, however, what exactly will change is still unknown.
There is an opinion that Microsoft has decided to release small updates, as Apple does, and therefore, it may release the next update to Windows 8. At the same time, the name Windows 8 has bad associations, so renaming the OS will attract more customers.
Microsoft hints that Windows 9 will release ahead of schedule
March 1, 2014The Windows 9 operating system should be released in about a year. Microsoft itself recently confirmed that Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be released this spring, but it was also said that a new version of the OS could appear really soon.
Joe Belfiore, a Microsoft spokesman, told reporters attending the company's MWC 2014 conference that Redmond plans "continue to improve and modernize Windows to ensure a productive and superior experience for all users, on all devices".
According to previously received information, Windows 9 should be released at the very beginning of 2015, which is about a year later than the release of Windows 8.1 Update 1. The new OS promises a number of improvements. So, the Start menu should finally return and it will be possible to launch Modern UI applications on the desktop.
While there is no confirmed information about the new release, it is expected that Windows 9 will be presented at the BUILD 2014 developer conference in April this year.
January 24, 2014Now the entire network is filled with rumors that Microsoft will return the Start menu to us with the next Windows 8 update, but it doesn’t seem like this will happen in the near future. It is likely that the company wants to implement the old new feature only on Windows 9.
Screenshots recently leaked online showed the upcoming Windows 8.1 Update 1 update, from which it becomes clear that the Start menu is probably not worth waiting for in this update.
Windows package 8.1 Update 1 is the first major update for Windows 8.1. Previously, it was expected that the development company would still bring back the long-awaited menu, but it turned out that the software giant is not yet ready to do this. The reason for this is most likely the incompleteness of this work.
Now observers expect the project to be officially presented in April at the BUILD developer conference. The show should also reveal new information about Windows 9, the next big release of Microsoft's operating system, scheduled for April 2015.
Microsoft may delay Windows 9 release
April 20, 2013Microsoft is currently working on two Windows projects, both of which should bring significant improvements to the Windows 8 operating system, released in October 2012.
The main OS update is now called Windows 8.1. It should be released late this summer. At the same time, Windows 9, the next generation of the OS, will appear in November 2014.
But it appears that the firm has much longer-term plans, as there are reports that it is ready to postpone Windows preparation 9 in case Windows 8.1 is unsatisfactory, same as basic version OS.
Also, according to recent rumors, Microsoft is thinking about preparing another big OS update, which will probably be called Windows 8.2. It will also introduce many changes to Windows 8.1, and its release is possible in the summer of 2014.
And if that's true, then releasing Windows 9 the same year wouldn't make much sense, so Redmond would have no choice but to delay Windows 9 to a later date.
Of course, these are rumors, and you don’t have to believe them, but don’t be surprised if Microsoft continues its saga with OS updates next year.
The first screenshots of Windows Blue have appeared
March 26, 2013As we know, the new release of the Microsoft operating system was codenamed Windows Blue, and one of its builds leaked online.
It's too early to call this version a preview of Windows 9. It's more like Windows 8 "Service Pack 1."
So, in the screenshots we see Windows NT with kernel version 6.3. The current Windows 8 kernel is number 6.2. The build number remained from the previous 9000 series, namely 9364. Typically, Microsoft does not change the numbers of OS kernels when releasing an update package, changing it only with the release new system.
In the screenshot we see a slightly modified start screen, in which there are tiny tiles (a la Windows Phone 7.8+), fast multitasking within the Modern UI and between its applications without the need to switch to desktop mode, as well as other options for customizing the tiled interface. We also see a shot with a web browser Internet Explorer 11, the interface of which has not changed in any way compared to the modern tenth version, which is traditional for early builds of Microsoft browsers.
The leaked build of Windows Blue takes its roots from France, although the images clearly show an interface in one of the Western Slavic languages. The existing OS only supports 32-bit x86 architecture, which means it is unlikely to be useful for real use and is intended for free testing by developers. This is confirmed by the ISO distribution name: “9364.0.FBL_PARTNER_OUT13.130315-2105_X86FRE_CLIENT”.
Windows 9 will be released in November 2014
March 25, 2013According to unconfirmed information, Microsoft plans to release the next version of its Windows operating system in November next year.
Most likely, the product will not be called Windows 9, but it will definitely replace Windows Blue. The current version of the OS will receive big update, and already in January 2014 we will be able to see the first beta version of Windows 9, the changes in which are still unknown, but most likely it will feature improved support touch screens.
According to a report from Win8China, which has often spread verifiable rumors in the past, Microsoft is tentatively preparing the release of Windows 9 for November 2014. But do not forget that these are just another rumor, so you need to be skeptical about them.
March 20, 2013Windows Blue, the first major update to Windows 8, coming late this summer, will bring a ton of improvements to Microsoft's modern operating system. However, in addition to improvements, users will have the opportunity to install the first beta version Internet browser Explorer 11.
In principle, this news seems quite logical. For Windows 8, the company released the final version of IE 10 in October, and the company is already working in full force on the preparation of IE11. Therefore, the release of the first public version should take place by August, which is fully consistent with the available information.
In addition to the release of the first beta version of the new browser, it is also reported that the final version will be released along with the Windows 9 operating system, which means that Redmond is also working on the future OS.
This conclusion follows from the vacancy opened by Microsoft. According to the announcement, the company is looking for an engineer to improve the integration of IE 11 into Windows 9.
Of course, such information should be taken with some skepticism, at least until Microsoft confirms it. But you and I know that the company does not comment on rumors.
At the end of this month or at the beginning of next month, official testing of the technical preview of Windows 9 will begin. A number of German, English and even domestic resources managed to gain access to alpha versions of this system about a month earlier than everyone else. They did not want to share the builds themselves, obviously fearing anger from Microsoft, but they posted a lot of screenshots and videos of the new operating system online.
Making reviews based on screenshots and videos is a dubious task, to put it mildly, but there is already so much information that we decided to combine all the leaked data into one to form the very first impression of the new Microsoft operating system.
Before continuing, let us clarify once again: we are looking at only the alpha stage of Windows 9 development, at which the system will inevitably be perceived as nothing more than “Windows 8 + a dozen and a half differences.” The OS will not acquire a complete look and full functionality any time soon, so traditional exclamations in the style of “I expected more”, as it seems to us, are inappropriate for now.
Start Menu
The most intriguing moment in Windows 9 concerned whose side Microsoft would ultimately take: those who liked the tiled screen from the “eight” or those who wanted “the way it was.” Accepting any of them was a guarantee for the corporation to receive another voluminous portion of criticism from the other side, which would then remain offended. But the latter does not fit into MS’s plans at all, to start a new OS with a positive clean slate.
Has Microsoft gotten out of the current impasse? It seems to us, yes, and she did it as cleanly as she had not done for a very long time. The smart decision was made not to choose between one or the other, but to take the best of both worlds and combine it into a new Start menu:
Before us, on the one hand, is the compactness and functionality of the menu from Windows 7 combined with the interactivity and customizability of tiles from Windows 8 (you can watch a video of the operation and settings of such a menu).
It’s also surprising how the company’s rhetoric has changed in just one year. Remember the fall of 2013: “press your button and calm down,” Microsoft hinted when introducing Windows 8.1 with the return of the Start button.
What now? Not only does the user have a new menu that takes the most strengths previous decisions, and extreme options also did not go unnoticed.
As a result, Microsoft's attempt to please everyone may be quite successful.
Avoid full-screen apps and pop-up panels
In Windows 8, Microsoft relied on full-screen Metro applications, as well as pop-up sidebars.
Considering that some users were horrified by the mere absence of the familiar Start menu in their system, you can imagine their reaction to the “innovations” described above.
For example, a user wanted to listen to music, opened an mp3 file, and instead of a compact player, something incomprehensible opened up on the entire screen, and how to close this “something” was also unclear, and the same incomprehensible panels flickered on the sides:
Intuitive player in Windows 8.0
In general, when getting acquainted with Windows 8, “pleasant troubles” were provided for a person completely unprepared for “innovations”.
Realizing that ordinary users were confused in the semi-mobile interface it created, Microsoft began to play everything back. Initially, it was very neat: in Windows 8.1, for example, the built-in search was no longer full-screen. Then the changes became much more serious. In , released this spring, graphics and multimedia on desktop PCs began to open desktop applications by default - the built-in graphics viewer and the good old Windows Media Player. In turn, from the Metro interface it became possible to get quick access to the taskbar, and the Metro programs themselves received a pop-up panel at the top with “minimize” and “close” buttons.
In Windows 9, Microsoft puts an end to this Santa Barbara: on desktops, Metro applications now generally run in the most ordinary windows. It was decided to abandon the panels that pop up on the sides; their functionality is now available from the menu of the applications themselves:
This, in fact, is the logical result of an unsuccessful attempt to impose a mobile interface on desktops.
Notification Center
When the message “a notification center from Windows Phone will appear in Windows 9” appeared on the information feeds of foreign IT sites, we took it very coolly. Why?
Firstly, these pictures were spinning before my eyes, where the neat connection interface from Windows 7 turns into something mobile, covering the entire right edge of the display from Windows 8:
It seemed that new center notifications, since it came from Windows Phone, will be something very similar to the content of the screenshot above.
Surprisingly, in fact, the center turned out to be much closer in style to Windows 7. It is a neat and compact interface, optimized for the mouse.
Secondly, we did not immediately understand the beauty of this solution, but we changed our minds after seeing this video from the Germans from WinFuture:
Notification Center is perfectly integrated with Skype. Now imagine that the same center will support everything else: social media, boxes email, clients for fast messaging and much more.
As a result, you don’t need to constantly open tabs in your browser and check your accounts in services for new emails/messages. Instead, you'll instantly know when new items arrive online, right from Windows interface. We may be getting ahead of the curve, but it appears that this is exactly the kind of functionality being prepared for the Action Center in Windows 9.
Virtual desktops and window navigation
Immediately after the release of Windows 8, a rumor was circulated online that Microsoft allegedly did not want to stop there and would release the next version Windows working the table and windows will retire together, finally giving way to the mobile interface presented in the G8.
Lovers of everything new, of course, picked up this canard, foaming at the mouth, proving on numerous forums that the desktop is last century and in a mobile future we will all be happy together. In this regard, it is triple pleasant to look at the wonderful slap in the face that Windows 9 will present to these people. The desktop will not disappear in it; now, if desired, there will even be several desktops.
Virtual desktop technology is actually not something new, as it has been successfully used in Linux and OS X for a long time. The point is, instead of constantly minimizing/maximizing and searching for windows, distribute them across additional desktops and thereby switch faster between different tasks.
Switching between desktops in Ubuntu Linux
If you rarely open anything more than one browser window or one window of your favorite game, then you can safely pass by. If you work intensively with a number of applications, switching from time to time to take a break from them, then you will definitely find a use for several desktops.
Responsible for virtual desktops new button"Task view" In addition to virtual desktops, the visual previews of which will be located above the taskbar, this function is also responsible for window navigation:
If you press alt+tab, then you are in the current Windows versions You will be able to see a simple window switch, but the preview in it is very tiny. Of course, you won’t confuse a calculator with a player, but, for example, distinguishing the contents of two Explorer windows will be problematic. In this regard, the new window switcher from Windows 9 looks more interesting, rendering large and high-quality previews of open applications.
Design
If we can talk about any functional changes in Windows 9 at such an early stage of development, then we should probably remain silent about the design, since designers usually get involved in the main work towards the end. In the early stages of development, all MS operating systems are visually not much different from previous versions; even Windows 8 lost its Aero transparency when it reached the release candidate stage, i.e. pre-final version.
Still, some visual changes in Windows 9 can already be noticed. First of all, Microsoft continues its course towards minimalism. So far this is reflected in the changed icons of Explorer, computer, network and desktops. This approach will certainly upset some, since flat, boring icons do not look so attractive. On the other hand, a good interface is one that does not force the user to focus on himself.
New "my computer" (this PC) icon from Windows 9
In our opinion, the key Windows problem 8 in a kind of Frankenstein style, when some UI elements are completely new, minimalistic, others are preserved from Windows Vista/7, and still others even exist in the system just like Windows 95. As a result, due to such a mixture, the system is perceived as something hastily put together from different pieces . Judging by the work that has already begun on Windows 9, we hope that the new OS will present a unified and pleasant minimalistic style.
There were a lot of complaints about Windows 8 specifically about windows. Some people criticized them for their thick frames (in fact, they remained the same as in Windows 7, just because of the lack of transparency this began to catch the eye), others for being too flat, which made it more difficult to distinguish between active windows.
In Windows 9, Microsoft resolved these issues right away. The frames on the sides and bottom of each window have been reduced significantly, leaving maximum space for content. The shadow cast by the windows was increased at the same times.
Finally, to bring the windows to life, the designers introduced a new animation for them instead of the one that appeared in Vista and was saved through Windows 8 inclusive.
The jump list on the taskbar also has no borders.
Personally, we liked both, and the third, but this is purely subjective.
Internet Explorer 12
If you, having read the news on some website that about 60% of users use IE, are sure that the MS browser is doing great, then we can assure you: you are deeply mistaken. Such statistics are produced exclusively by one office in the world - Net Applications. Alas, it is their data that IT resources prefer to reprint.
In fact, Net Applications only collects information from corporate clients. According to other static resources (StatCounter, W3Counter, W3Schools), the real market share of IE is neither 60 nor 40, and is about to fall below 20%.
It's certainly sad for Microsoft to watch hundreds of millions of users simply ignore its product, which has firmly established itself as a download tool for other browsers. Not long ago, the corporation supposedly wanted to take a radical step: rename IE something else, but then abandoned this idea.
Windows 9 will ship with the new Internet Explorer 12. The builds from which screenshots and videos were leaked did not include IE 12. IE 11 is still the default browser. However, this will change in the next builds. Inside the corporation, version 12 of IE is being developed under the code name "Spartan".
The “zSpartan” shortcut in the leaked screenshots appears to open the Metro version of IE 12. We have no guesses about “Time” right below it. Obviously a bug
Insiders report two key features 12th "donkey". The first one is absolutely new interface. The second is full support for extensions.
In terms of interface, the last major change in IE occurred in March 2011, along with the release of the ninth version. The subsequent IE 10 from Windows 8 and IE 11 in Windows 8.1 did not bring any major interface changes, which, at one time, was already the reason.
We can hardly call the design, when only 3-4 tabs are comfortably located next to the address bar, and at the same time there is a lot of unused space on top:
Microsoft eventually realized this, so in IE12 they will make the tab bar layout similar to Firefox/Chrome.
As for extensions, it seems that we are in for a third round of their popularization. In the mid-2000s, Firefox proposed extensions, in the early 2010s, Chrome and Safari supported the idea, and finally, by 2015, Internet Explorer will also catch up.
DirectX 12
As we have noted more than once, in the world as a whole, Windows 8 has been received coldly by users and are very reluctant to update to the new system. The total market share of Windows 8 and 8.1 in the world is at 15%. However, there is a category of users that accepted the “eight” noticeably more warmly than others. These are gamers. According to Steam statistics, the total share of 8 and 8.1 among service users is almost 30%.
Microsoft appreciates this and this time is preparing a worthy gift for gamers in the form of DirectX 12. In the old days, the corporation acted very clumsily in relation to DirectX. Like, here's a picture from DirectX 9:
But from DirectX 10:
“Do you see the huge difference? Then march to the store for ours new Windows Vista".
In practice, the user received approximately the following difference:
And then, he received it only if he had the appropriate video card and support from the game developers themselves.
In the case of DirectX 12, everything is somewhat more interesting, but there is no backstory here. In the fall of 2013, AMD introduced such an entertaining thing as Mantle (mantle). If you have a new one AMD video card and a game that supports/uses the mantle, then your frame rate in this game will be noticeably higher than when using DirectX. Initially, Mantle was also treated as marketing nonsense, but when the first game (Battlefield 4) supporting this technology was released, it turned out that AMD, on the whole, did not lie to its users.
The secret of Mantle is low-level access to hardware, which is open to the developer. Due to this, you can squeeze out an increase in productivity of almost 50%. The key drawback of the mantle is its availability only on AMD GPUs and relatively weak support from game developers. So far, Mantle is involved in only ten major projects, half of which are still in development.
This is where Microsoft comes in with its DirectX 12. According to representatives of the corporation, it will offer the same thing as Mantle and even more, and for everyone (it seems that not even the newest AMD and Nvidia cards will do). If this is true, then there will be much more support from game developers here. Unlike the marketing illustrations of the Vista era, this time the user can get at least something more or less tangible.
Remind Me, Cortana and other changes
“Is this all new?” – someone will ask sadly, quickly skimming through the article. In this case, let us remind you once again: at the time of writing, not even a technical preview of Windows 9 had been released, not to mention a full beta version. So frustration over the small number of changes in the “nine” is premature. Well, now a little about what still remains unmentioned.
In Windows 9, there's a new Home category in the navigation pane in File Explorer. The most recently used files and folders are stored there.
In Windows 8.1, such a basic application as an alarm clock was added. In Windows 9, the company follows the same path and adds Remind Me, a reminder application, to the system. Moreover, it can resemble something based not only on time, but also on your physical location (relevant for tablets and mobile PCs).
Some functions from Windows Phone are moving (or running?) to Windows 9. For example, Wi-Fi Sense and Storage Sense. The first one will make it easier to connect to wireless networks and will make it easier to share login information with other users. The second will tell you where exactly it was squandered free space on your disk.
Windows 9 will provide support for ultra-high resolution 8K - 16 times more than Full HD, which for the average user is more of a foundation for the future, and for a very distant future.
For dessert, we left the voice assistant, which will also move to Windows 9 from Windows Phone. IN Vista Microsoft I was already experimenting with speech technologies: I could issue simple commands to the system and dictate text. However, the corporation never delivered support for the Russian language. This time we are dealing with something that wants to impersonate artificial intelligence and, it seems, even planning to learn Russian sooner or later. Cortana will be able to answer you by voice, clarify, ask again, and even sincerely apologize if she didn’t understand your speech.
Conclusion
The attentive reader will certainly notice that almost all new Windows features 9, which are currently known, can be divided into two groups. In one, Microsoft is fixing the bugs of Windows 8, and in the other, it is actively borrowing ideas from competing systems and applications.
Cortana is reminiscent of Siri and Google Now that preceded it. The new DirectX may have been born thanks to the activity of AMD. IE 12 will take the tab bar combined with the header from Chrome, where it appeared in 2008, and the extensions from FF that were in the “fire fox” back in 2005. We have already talked about virtual desktops. The window switcher that comes with them is very reminiscent of Expose/Mission Control from OS X. Even in terms of design: huge shadows from windows are a signature feature of OS X, and almost frameless windows have been observed by Ubuntu users for more than six months.
Some changes in Windows 9 in one screenshot
But everything can be looked at from a different angle. With regard to the closed schools of the G8, the corporation can only give the corporation a plus, but as for borrowing other people’s ideas, not everything is clear here. Yes, Siri was introduced three whole years ago. But this does not negate the fact that it is available exclusively on i-devices, does not know Russian, and is not particularly intelligent. Would it be too much for her? good competitor? It's the same with AMD's "mantle", which is limited to AMD's own GPU and is supported by only a dozen developers. Internet Explorer 12 in 2015 will get what Mozilla offered a decade ago. But Mozilla itself will only release Firefox next year with a multi-process model, which appeared in IE in 2008. We could give many more similar examples...
As a result, the very first glance at Windows 9 leaves a positive impression. Microsoft has finally fixed the usability flaws of Windows 8, once again turning its face to desktop users. The corporation now more often provides the opportunity to choose and takes the best from its competitors. Otherwise, we would like to refrain from making any other conclusions at such an early stage. There is an official presentation and many months of testing ahead, during which we will learn a lot more about Windows 9.
What Windows service Defender will be expanded to devices that run OSes other than Windows 10. To reflect this change, the company has renamed Windows Defender ATP to Microsoft Defender ATP. And although nothing has changed for PCs running Ten, it is possible that in the future it will be Microsoft Defender that will be used.
Microsoft is reportedly in the process of introducing a new version of Defender into the Windows 10 20H1 update, which is scheduled for release in April 2020. This is indicated by changes in the recent Insider build number 18941. For example, Windows Defender Exploit Guard was renamed to Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard, although there were no other innovations other than the name change. In fact, the company simply renamed existing project, without changing the code and functional features.
However, until next April the company will add some new features to change not only the name of the program. It is also possible that these extended functionality, if announced, will also appear on Mac devices.
Thus, Microsoft continues its expansion into devices with other operating systems. At one time this was tested on Android. Now it looks like it's up to macOS. After all, the operating system from Cupertino already has a test version of Edge based on Chromium. Office and Skype builds have existed for a long time, although often with their own numbering. So the appearance of Microsoft Defender for macOS is unlikely to surprise anyone.
The description of this peculiar game reads: “Experience the nostalgia of 1985 with a special application for PC based onWindows10, inspired by Windows1.0, but switched to the “other side” in the “Stranger Things” universe. Uncover the secrets and mysteries plaguing the town of Hawkins, find unique content and Easter eggs related to the series, play retro games and puzzles - all inspired by the third season of Stranger Things. Join Eleven, Steve, Dustin and company as they strive to save Hawkins and the world. Step back into the 1980s and bring your hairspray, because it's basically the best addition to the series. But fair warning: beware of the Mind Flayer. Download the Windows app1.11 today. Good luck!"
What if they told you that there is a version of Windows that you will never find on the Microsoft website? This version does not track your network activity, it's optimized for speed and reliability, delivering better performance than Windows 7 and Windows 10. Follow me down the rabbit hole and I'll see you on the other side.
Microsoft cited the desire to use a round number in the name as the official reason for not releasing Windows 9. However, we know how it really happened. Meet Windows 9. This is an unofficial custom build of the operating system based on the Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro edition. There is a long list of changes, resulting in a system that looks and feels like Windows 7. Since this is the Windows Embedded edition, it is intended for use in payment terminals, kiosks and other industrial applications. 8.1 Pro lacks telemetry and tracking and is noticeably lighter than the standard Windows 8.1 version. Fewer services work here by default.
Despite his appearance, inside it's still Windows 8.1 and that's good. You get new functionality like SMB 3, recovery tools, improved memory management, a new file copy dialog and task manager, Secure Boot and, most importantly for enthusiasts, native USB support 3.0. The result is shiny new motherboards will not have problems with Windows installation 9 and those who have stopped using optical drives will not have to look for drivers.
This all sounds great, but what's the catch? First, you have to trust the person on the Internet who created this modified version of Windows. Secondly, it is almost impossible to obtain a license for Windows 8.1 Embedded Pro, since it is sold only for industrial use. This means that you will have to be content trial version system, which is not ideal. What can be done?
We will create our own edition of the system. First we will take the licensing part, add modifications and tweaks and get Windows 9.5. It won't be exactly like Windows 9, but it will be pretty close. To do this, you can use Windows 10; we’ll start with a clean installation. It will only install updates and benchmarks that will be useful later.
First you need to make Windows 10 look the part. It wasn't easy, but with the help of a few free tools and resources, everything turned out just right. To begin with, graphic themes were used in Windows style 7 for Windows 10 from the developer sagorpirbd. Next, the Aero Glass interface, loved by many users, was installed.
Next we take Classic Shell, this is a well-known utility with its own version of the Start menu and graphic theme, which, when changing several settings and installing a number of textures from third-party users, returns the Windows 7 Start button, Start menu and taskbar. After that, you need the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker application to make the desktop buttons look familiar. When everything is added we get Windows Explorer in the style of the Windows 7 system.
Finally, uxstyle community edition unlocks previously installed themes to complete the system's look and feel. After this, it remains to make a couple of changes to Windows registry and before us is Windows 7.
Of course, Windows 9 is not just a pretty shell. Some familiar Windows functionality, some services and other unnecessary functions are disabled here. We will also disable them. We cannot guarantee that our Windows 9.5 has all the tweaks available in Windows 9, but the key ones are definitely there. Full description Changes to the registry and disabling telemetry can be found in the blog at the link below.
How do you know that everything turned out as expected? We use our test build and three different solid state drive capacity 1 TB with different versions Windows. They have Windows 7, Windows 9 and Windows 10 installed. This will allow for the most complete comparison of the performance of these systems. We will run the tests multiple times on each version of Windows and our build of Windows 9.5. The results will not be exactly what we expect.
In the game Rise of the Tomb Raider, you can see that Windows 9 has almost identical results compared to Windows 7. Windows 10 and Windows 9.5 showed almost identical results to each other.
Next, consider the game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. As you can see, Windows 9 failed this test. All attempts to launch the game resulted in nothing, as the DRM protection system displayed an error message. Otherwise, the results were almost identical.
Cities: Skylines shows better performance central processor in versions of Windows 9.5 and Windows 10. The performance increase is 5-6 frames per second, most likely due to support for Intel Speed Shift technology on Intel processors Kaby Lake.
The last game in this testing was Crysis 3, where the results again are almost the same.
Next, we'll test system performance and start with network file transfer over a 10 Gbit LAN. The results here were quite surprising, as Windows 7 outperformed more modern operating systems despite their support for SMB 3.0, even when testing groups of small and medium-sized files.
The PCMark benchmark shows completely different results. Windows 7 lags noticeably behind other operating systems, with Windows 9 in the middle. The same thing is observed in the latest Atto I/O test, Windows 7 took last place. Windows 10 outperformed Windows 9, which was not expected before testing began.
So is it worth the effort to find a license for Windows 8.1 Embedded Pro? Judging by numbers alone, no. Even Windows 9 didn't perform as well as expected. If you look more broadly, the answer is not so clear-cut. The difference between editions of Windows does not matter much, even between different generations of the operating system. There are times when drivers or support for hardware components and features like Speed Shift play a role, but user experience, privacy, functionality and support play a larger role. This is where Windows 9 and 9.5 show themselves much better.
Did you expect the results obtained and will you use Windows 9? Or are you even ready to create Windows 9.5 yourself?
