Microsoft announced that it is rolling out the first major update to Windows 10. The new update brings improvements in every aspect of the operating system, and thousands of hardware and software partners have submitted new or improved drivers and applications for better compatibility with Windows 10.
Starting today, Microsoft is rolling out to services designed for IT professionals. Windows Update For Business provides controls over the deployment of Windows Updates. This allows for staggered deployment of updates through device groups in order to prevent widespread software compatibility issues. It can also be used for scaling deployments optimized for the network.
Windows Store for Business is also launching today, and it will let businesses manage and deploy Windows Store apps, including a special line of business apps. Organizations will have the freedom to assign apps to specific devices or publish apps to a private company app store or through third party management solutions.
The new update also introduces Mobile Device Management for Windows 10 devices. IT departments can leverage the power of Enterprise Mobility Management, which can manage the entire gamut of Windows 10 devices, including mobile, tablet, PC, and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices running Windows. Microsoft said this tool can safely and securely manage devices, apps and data access on BYOD products.
Microsoft also added Azure Active Directory Join. Users can have one login that can securely roam from one Windows 10 device to another with access to the same files and Windows settings on all devices. Microsoft said that Azure Active Directory Join will enable any Windows 10 device to become Enterprise ready with a few simple clicks.
For Enterprise customers, there is also the ability to turn off all telemetry information. Microsoft advises against this so it can continue to improve the Windows 10 experience, but the option is there for companies that aren't comfortable with sharing the information.
The big update mostly focuses on Enterprise features, but there are still some improvements for the general public beyond updated drivers and software compatibility. A new version of Cortana is included that now lets users with Surface tablets use their Pen to scribble notes in the Cortana Notebook, and the software will recognize a phone number, email address, or physical addresses for contacts and future reminders. The digital assistant can now also keep track of event and movie bookings and will provide directions to get to your destination. Cortana is also now capable of hailing an Uber and tracking its whereabouts.
For international Windows users, Cortana has been expanded into more markets. Japan, Australia, Canada and India all have access to Cortana in English, and each region will have unique features.
The Edge web browser has some updates too, which includes performance, security and user experience improvements. There is now a tab preview feature that lets you hover over an open tab to see a preview pane similar to the task bar. The browser now syncs Favorites and Reading List items across all Windows 10 devices following your credentials.
There are further improvements to many Windows 10 apps as well, including Mail, Calendar, Photos and Xbox.
The Windows 10 update is starting to roll out today on PCs, Surface tablets and even Xbox One consoles. Mobile users will have to wait a little longer, but the company said it will roll out to phones soon.
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