Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for the first one year

REDMOND, USA: Releasing a preview of Windows 10, Microsoft announced that the new version of the OS  would be available as a free upgrade for the first year to users running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1. The company is expected to release the software later this year but has not yet given a specific date.

Windows 10 will  inspire new scenarios across the broadest range of devices, from big screens to small screens to no screens at all.  The new generation of Windows is also designed to usher in a new era of more personal computing.

Microsoft showcased a variety of new experiences coming to Windows 10, including the following:

Windows 10: Making computing more personal

Cortana comes to PC and tablet.

The Cortana personal digital assistant, which debuted on Windows Phone last year, will now also be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets to help people get things done.2 Cortana is a personal helper who learns an individual’s preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders, bringing what matters most to their attention.

New browser “Project Spartan”. 

Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, code-named “Project Spartan,” which was built with interoperability in mind. Some of the most advanced features in the browser include the ability to annotate whether by keyboard or pen directly on the webpage and easily share with friends; a reading view that is distraction-free, displaying the article in a simplified layout for a great reading experience for Web articles online and offline; and the integration of Cortana for finding and doing things online faster. All of this is offered with a new look and feel built just for Windows 10.

Office for Windows 10.

Office universal apps on Windows 10 deliver a touch-first experience across devices. New versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook are designed from the ground up to run on Windows, built for touch, and offer the unmistakable Office experience customers know and love. The next version of the Office desktop suite is also currently in development and Microsoft will have more to share in the coming months.

Additional Windows 10 features and innovations:

Continuum mode.

On 2-in-1 devices, Windows 10 will move easily between keyboard and mouse and touch and tablet as it detects the transition and conveniently switches to the new mode.

New universal apps.

Windows 10 will offer new experience applications, consistent across the device continuum, for Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar.

Microsoft, also unveiled two devices yesterday that will empower customers to experience Windows in incredible new ways. The next Technical Preview for Windows 10 on the PC will be available for free to Windows Insiders in the next week and for the first time on phones later in February.