BARCELONA: Microsoft has shown off several new features for the upcoming Windows 10 platform, including new snap modes to arrange multiple windows, touch pad gestures for 2-in-1 devices, and new ways to authenticate and secure company data.
Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's vice president for PC, Tablet and Phone, used the company'sTechEd Europe conference to unveil additional features coming to the Windows 10 operating system, emphasising that Microsoft is renewing its focus on enterprise users and listening closely to feedback as development of the new platform proceeds.
"The way we're rolling out is different this time; we're getting builds out early to users for feedback. It's a more collaborative development process," he said.
A feature for power users called Snap Assist will show everything that is open, to help quickly and easily set up a desktop for maximum productivity. Meanwhile, Snap mode now works across multiple displays, using a Snap Preview to show where Windows intends to snap a particular app window.
Another welcome addition for power users concerns the command prompt, which now supports the standard Windows hotkeys. This allows the user to press Ctrl-V to paste text into the command line window, and use the arrow keys in conjunction with Ctrl-shift to select text.
This is a small change, but one that shows Microsoft trying to make life easier for admins and experienced Windows users.
Using a Surface Pro 3, Belfiore demonstrated new touch pad gestures, including swiping downward with three fingers to clear all windows from the desktop, and swiping up with three fingers to bring all the windows back again.
Windows 10 will bring new security features for enterprise customers, including the ability to run only those applications that have been signed by the organisation or by Microsoft, for example.
Windows 10 will also introduce the concept of authorised applications that can be used to handle sensitive company information. Here, organisations will be able to set policies preventing data being copied and pasted from an authorised application to any other app, or forwarded via email.
Belfiore also demonstrated how employees will be able to use a Windows Phone to authenticate themselves with their computer. This uses a Bluetooth connection between the PC and phone to allow the user to key a pin into the smartphone to log-in to their PC, for example.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is aiming to make it easier to get PCs configured and ready to use within a corporate domain. As part of the out-of-the-box experience, a new Windows 10 PC will allow the user to sign in to their corporate account, at which point all the configuration and corporate polices will be pulled down from the cloud.
"Just enter a verification code, and the PC gets enrolled into your organisation. All the policy comes down from the cloud, all the approved apps and everything else is downloaded from the cloud. Your IT department never has to touch the PC," Belfiore explained.
Belfiore also demonstrated the Continuum feature, which will adapt the user interface on a 2-in-1 hybrid tablet device depending on whether the user has a keyboard and mouse connected or is using it merely in slate mode.
This feature, which is not due to be delivered until Windows 10 finally ships next year, runs apps full screen and shows larger menu icons when used as a tablet, switching back to the normal desktop view when the keyboard is docked with the device.
"We're making this a focus in Windows 10, building 2-in-1 devices that deliver the best user experience in both tablet and keyboard modes," Belfiore said.
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