Windows 10 Consumer Preview May Come In January
Just days after Microsoft indicated that no more builds of Windows 10 will be pushed off to Insiders this year, unnamed sources are now talking about a large-scale event that will take place in January. This event will happen later in the month and will reveal the Consumer Preview of Windows 10 "Threshold."
Microsoft is expected to announce the upcoming Windows 10 event before the end of the year. The event will be longer than the previous San Francisco showing in September, allowing Microsoft to take more time in revealing what's in store for consumers. Microsoft is also expected to talk about a new feature called Continuum, Windows 10 for phones and tablets, and perhaps even the dashboard of Xbox One.
Previous rumors indicated that Microsoft would launch the Consumer Preview build in Q1 2015, followed by a possible launch of the retail version in late Q2 2015 or early Q3 2015. As we've already seen with the Technical Preview, the new operating system will include a new Start Menu, a better environment for mouse and keyboard users, better visual effects and more.
News of the upcoming press event arrives after Windows 10 Build 9888 recently reared its head. The platform is supposedly more polished than the current Build 9879, feature new visual effects when maximizing and minimizing/closing windows, and offer new context menus. Currently, these menus are found on the Taskbar and Start Menu, but they're expected to be provided throughout the platform.
The 9888 build also provides a new search field in PC Settings, allowing users to search for specific settings rather than having to guess using the menu on the left. The zPC Settings app and the PC Settings app are also now combined, providing one destination for all the PC settings, leading to speculation that Microsoft is trying to ditch the Control Panel.
The beauty of Windows 10 is that it's meant to run on a number of devices, not just desktops and laptops. That said, it will be interesting to see what Microsoft has in store for mobile devices during the press event in January. We've already heard that Microsoft is looking to create one operating system for a multitude of form factors, and it will be exciting to see that vision come to fruition.
Are you using the most recent Insider build (9879)? If so, do you like it? Is Windows 10 the platform Microsoft should have launched back in 2012? Millions are participating in the Insider program, which means the final product should be more user friendly than what we've seen since Windows 7.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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This looks exciting. :D If this preview does come out, I would like to try it. But when Microsoft releases the full version of Windows 10 or on one of their builds, I hope they can put Aero Glass again.Reply
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3ogdy Bring back Luna themes AND AERO theming.Reply
You screwed up really bad with the Windows h8 interface, which looks retarded and a bit better than Windows 95, for F(r) U C K`s sake! -
xchoice hope this time Microsoft listen to feedback before launching the new version of win, not after -.-!Reply -
Tanyac Microsoft are listening, but it seems is if their listening is selective, hearing only the feedback that aligns with the direction they have already set their minds on.Reply
If they ditch control panel that will be the final straw for me.
The lack of Aero, the continuing saga of the flat, ugly kindergarten look and feel, the heavy dependency on online connectivity (cloud, MS Accounts etc), and the lack of any real new functionality that is useful in real terms, plus the hybrid live tiles and half baked start menu have already steered me away from this product, as is true for the several people who I've demonstrated the product to.
I was really hoping Microsoft was going to release something worthwhile that was not just Windows 8.2. As each week goes by that seems more and more unlikely. -
Ephebus Reply14692789 said:Microsoft are listening, but it seems is if their listening is selective, hearing only the feedback that aligns with the direction they have already set their minds on.
If they ditch control panel that will be the final straw for me.
The lack of Aero, the continuing saga of the flat, ugly kindergarten look and feel, the heavy dependency on online connectivity (cloud, MS Accounts etc), and the lack of any real new functionality that is useful in real terms, plus the hybrid live tiles and half baked start menu have already steered me away from this product, as is true for the several people who I've demonstrated the product to.
I was really hoping Microsoft was going to release something worthwhile that was not just Windows 8.2. As each week goes by that seems more and more unlikely.
Spot on. I couldn't have put it better myself. -
dimar The flat interface of Windows 8 is totally retarded. I prefer nice 3D icons. CCleaner 5 new Win8-like GUI is even more retarded..Reply