New Post has been published on Steven Lutz
I wrote some stuff on http://stevenlutz.com/windows-10-preview-9926-cortana/
Windows 10 Preview 9926 With Cortana
Quick and Dirty – The Primary Changes So Far
Long the biggest complaint from users new to Windows 8.1, the Windows 10 start menu returns to desktop screen in a revamped style that combines the Metro tiles of Windows 8.1 and the traditional pop-up menu of Windows 7 and previous incarnations. Users now have the option of having the live tiles available in grouping of 4 across that can be scrolled through, or they can expand the menu to a full screen view mimicking the Windows 8.1 Metro tile screen that users are familiar with.
The re-designed folder icons leave a lot to be desired. Keep in mind, this is a beta version of the software, so there is no telling what the final design will be. However, as it stands, I think the icons are very childish and parochial. That said, after an hour of use, I hardly noticed the stand out anymore.
Multiple Desktops, One Screen
Users of Mac and Linux have long had access to the multiple desktop environment, leaving Windows the last major OS designer to join the club. For those that are not able to have multiple monitors but require/desire a more spread out desktop working environment, this feature is a blessing from above. As of this date, users can add up to 12 individual desktop spaces.
With Windows 10 Microsoft invites a permanent guest from their mobile OS to the party. Windows phone users will probably be familiar with Cortana, the soft-soaked voice assist that allows users to complete searches, send emails, launch aps & programs, and a plethora of other tasks. Cortana requires that one be signed into their computer with a Microsoft account however (as opposed to a local account) and an active internet connection.
Movies, videos, and photos have always had a small overview icon of the folder contents applied to their folder icon. Now that overview is more prevalent than ever with the preview size doubling. Oddly Microsoft has chosen to utilize a cropped image cut from the media file for the icon overview. I can only suggest that this decision was to keep the icon overview images uniform in size.
Running applications have had their borders all but stripped in this streamlined version of Windows. The transition effects between opening and closing applications,a s well as minimizing and maximizing them has also been streamlined and quickened allowing for very pleasing visual results.
I am going to attribute what feels like a slightly sluggish start in the daily operating of the OS the continued use of Microsoft’s Super Fetch. The listening and learning part of the operating system that monitors the users usage pattern to develop faster application start times. The look is incredible, aside from the icons; exceptionally clean. Users will need to be come accustomed to almost all of the PC’s setting being wrapped into one overall app simply called, Settings. From here the user has many of the same abilities to adjust the computer that they would normally find in the control panel. The traditional control panel is also still available. So for now, we’re batting 8 out of 10.