Microsoft Corporation Offers Windows 10 For Free And Unveils New Glasses
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) unveiled Windows 10 on Wednesday with the news that it would offer it as a free upgrade for current Windows users. The offer is set to last one year after the release of the operating system, and it is available for the more recent versions of Windows, 7, 8.1, and even Windows Phone 8 users. The people who move to Windows 10 will be able to use it for however long they wish, and will be able to update it without any extra charge. There has been no specific date set as yet for the official release, but it is expected to come out in the second half of 2015.
Microsoft has never offered any of its new versions of Windows for free before, because it was a significant part of its income in the past. The main source of its income comes from hardware companies that install the operating system on their computer and firms who pay for licenses. This new strategy has been implemented to get many devices running the latest version of Windows. The Windows 10 operating system will run on phones, tablets and, of course, PCs. The company would be able to make up on revenue by charging for its services, such as Office, in the future.
Windows has often been the dominant force when it comes to desktop computers and laptops. However, with time, its grip on the market is loosening as people are moving towards the use of smartphones and tablets. Microsoft tried to bring people back to the Windows platform by releasing the more touch-based Windows 8, but that did not turn out to be a success, because people found it difficult to navigate.
Microsoft wants more and more people to use this next-generation Windows platform, because many are using versions of the operating system that are more than a decade old. 15% of all devices in the world (including phones and tablets) are still on Windows XP! Its rivals, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), are popular because they update their software systems for free on a regular basis. Expert analysts suggest that this was a necessary move by Microsoft rather than a tactical one.
Forrester analyst, Frank Gillett, commented on the move and said: "The way to motivate consumers is to make upgrades transparent and painless - meaning free and low-to-no effort… Microsoft had to match the expectation set by the mobile and Web leaders."
However, the idea Microsoft has is that it wants its operating system to run on multiple formats, and when you switch between devices (like from a phone to a tablet) you can resume working from the point you left off. So the company encourages software developers to create these “Universal Apps” so that the interface remains the same.
Windows 10 is now fitted with more control options for the users. Apart from the usual mouse and keyboard, users can use ink, voice commands, or even make gestures to carry out functions. The digital assistant,, Cortana, supports seven different languages and even has a “Yoda Impersonation mode” but that is still in its beta stages. It can write down emails and send them through voice commands; it can also search for data that is stored in your hard drive. A more detailed version of what Windows 10 looks like can be viewed here.
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