Windows 10 anniversary: ​​analysis and main news

After more than 30 days testing Windows 10 Anniversary it is time to show you our review in Spanish where we explain its main news and the reasons why we should switch to the new and great update of Windows 10 (Click to see our analysis).

Brief summary of improvements in Windows 10 Anniversary

Windows 10 emerged not only with the mission of sweeping the scene left by Windows 8, but also with the aim of being the symbol of a new Microsoft. A year after its launch, the company reaps the fruits of the company, but without hiding that there is still a lot of work to do. This is why Windows 10 Anniversary Update (formerly known as Redstone 1) is so important: The update brings features that really improve the platform. You can see the main news and improvements over normal Windows 10, below:

• Windows Ink: Windows 10 now offers a native tool for using touchscreen devices. With Windows Ink, you can draw or take notes, for example, using a pencil or your fingertip. Microsoft Edge: Microsoft's browser is more agile and now it finally supports extensions. Windows Hello: The Windows 10 biometric authentication tool comes to support online services, such as bank websites. Windows Defender: Windows 10 native antivirus has gained the ability to run in the background, even if you have another antivirus installed. Xbox One: more integration with Windows 10, including support for Cortana. Bash: The classic command interpreter for Unix-based systems now comes to Windows 10. Notification synchronization: Now you can receive notifications from your smartphone (Windows 10 Mobile or Android) directly in the Windows Activity Center. Project Centennial: Adapting classic programs to the universal Windows 10 application ecosystem is easier. Cortana: can also be used with the screen locked.

The official arrival of Windows 10 to the market occurred on July 29, 2015. From there until now, the platform has conquered more than 350 million users worldwide (21% of the market share so far). It's a respectable number: never has a version of Windows managed to reach so many people in such a short time.

Microsoft is right to celebrate this number, but it does not mean a precise parameter of success. For the first year, the upgrade to Windows 10 was free (and, in many cases, "forced": many people were surprised by an automatic upgrade that happened from one moment to the next). Without the license recipe, the company has to play its chips in convergence with services.

Well, you will notice that the integration with various services is quite present in the Anniversary update.

Windows Ink

Windows 10 has also been prepared to work on touch-sensitive screens. Only the compatibility with this input method has not been well explored. Windows Ink comes to help change this scenario: the tool makes it easier for the user to use stylus pens to take notes, draw graphics, draw pictures, and more.

It can be seen that Windows Ink gives access to what Microsoft calls “sticky notes” (post-its) and drawing blocks (it can be drawn on a screenshot, for example). But the most interesting aspect is intelligence. The tool can put a virtual ruler on the screen to quickly make straight lines or allow a sticky note to be used as a reminder of an engagement (in this case, Cortana interprets the information and will notify you of the event).

Another highlight is the integration of Windows Ink with Microsoft's own applications , such as PowerPoint, Maps and Cortana, and third-party tools such as Adobe Illustrator CC and Autodesk SketchBook.

Microsoft Edge

It is undeniable that Microsoft Edge is light, has a simple interface and does not present problems when rendering pages. Still, the browser is nowhere near bothering Chrome and Firefox: Edge's market penetration stood at 2.75% in June, just to give you an idea. This is one of the factors that has forced Microsoft to sustain the retirement of Internet Explorer.

But things are improving. Windows 10 Anniversary Update brings a version of Edge suitable for receiving extensions. The lack of them has always been seen with one of the main deficiencies of the browser.

Installing extensions in Edge is a process similar to that found in Chrome or Firefox: you have access to a store, choose the extensions you want and install them in a few seconds. The amount is not very large in this initial phase, but service extensions such as Evernote, LastPass and Pocket are among the already confirmed options.

In addition to extensions, the new version of Edge is capable of displaying notifications from the web (a basic requirement of current browsers) with the possibility of integrating them into the Windows 10 Activity Center. Another new feature is biometric support: it is possible use fingerprints or facial recognition to enter web services, it is enough for the user to choose the option to log in through Windows Hello (when available, of course).

Performance? Edge is very fast, but it was made even more agile thanks to the optimization of the use of RAM and the application of fewer processing cycles, according to Microsoft.

Windows Hello

It is true that the name is not clear, but Windows Hello is an effort by Microsoft to get rid of passwords. The feature already exists in Windows 10, basically allowing the computer to be unlocked using fingerprint, facial or iris recognition.

In this update, the power of Windows Hello was expanded. In addition to the operating system itself, the tool can be used for authentication in third-party applications and online services, such as a virtual store or a bank's website . This explains Edge's support for this login form.

Obviously, Windows Hello will only work on third-party services that have implemented the technology.

Windows Defender

By default, Windows Defender (the native Windows 10 antivirus) is disabled when another antivirus is installed on the system. Now this doesn't always have to be this way: Windows Defender has won a feature called Limited Periodic Scanning that is complemented by the antivirus you have installed.

It is as if it were an additional layer of security: if the first antivirus does not detect malware, Windows Defender may be able to do so.

Xbox One

The Xbox universe was more integrated into Windows 10 than ever. For many people, Xbox Play Anywhere will be the most interesting feature of this convergence. With this, the player purchases a game license and can play both on PC and console. It is not necessary to buy a license for each platform.

But there are still more novelties: the integration has been extended in such a way that Xbox One has gained support for Cortana (you can give a voice command to open a game, for example) and the ability to run universal Windows applications on the console.

Bash renewed

Perhaps this is the most unusual news from the big Windows 10 update. But it is very welcome! Thanks to an agreement with Canonical (company responsible for Ubuntu Linux), Bash came to Windows 10 natively.

For outsiders, Bash is a well-known command interpreter for those using Unix-based operating systems. Anyone who only uses basic resources will probably not find any use in this, but developers, systems analysts and users related to Bash will, since it is easier to run scripts or applications originally developed for Linux, for example. And you can even install packages via APT.

Phone notifications in the workspace

The topic that the PC is dead due to the advancement of mobile devices is a prohibited topic at Microsoft. The company is committed to the integration of the two worlds. Proof of this is that you can synchronize your smartphone with Windows 10.

If you receive an SMS or a WhatsApp message, for example, the notification will be displayed in the Windows 10 Activity Center. You can also reply to messages, or if the notification is not important, ignore it without touching the smartphone.

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On Windows 10 Mobile devices this integration will be native. But she will also be available on Android: you just have to install the Cortana version for the platform.

Project Centennial

With Project Centennial, developers will be able to bring classic Windows, Win32 and.Net programs (programs with an.exe or.msi extension, basically) to the universal Windows 10 application ecosystem.

In addition to allowing the application to be available in the Windows Store, the conversion makes the software work in a kind of container in which the operating system is protected. Thus, the installation will not contaminate the Windows registry or the system folders.

Applications can be installed and uninstalled quickly, therefore, without a trace. Apart from that, the converted softwares can use the Api until then only available for modern applications. Thus, it is easier to view notifications or integrate classic software with current ones.

Cortana: the assistant of the present and of our future

If you've never spoken to Cortana because of the region you live in, take note: Microsoft's voice assistant finally learned more languages. Yes, this means that you can request information from Cortana or give voice commands in your own language.

It is not a superficial compatibility. According to Microsoft, support for different languages ​​has been in place since the first semester, but the company had to spend the last five months testing and making adjustments for Cortana to learn to deal with letters, regional expressions, speaking speed, and so on.

It was worth so much effort. In addition to speaking many languages, Cortana speaks well, that is, that typical robotic voice intonation is not present or is discreet, which leaves the interaction more fluid and less boring.

We recommend reading tips and tricks for Cortana.

Those who already used Cortana regularly can expect more integration of the assistant with various services. Cortana can now, for example, keep track of your emails, the delivery of a purchase or the date of a flight to remember later, something that refers to the Google Now work mode. Also, you can now use Cortana even on the lock screen.

A detail that should not go unnoticed: Windows 10 Anniversary Update makes Cortana mandatory, that is, it is not possible to disable it (unless you use some unsafe trick). At least it is possible to limit the amount of information that the wizard can access.

What else does Windows 10 Anniversary bring?

An update of this size also brings bug fixes, functional adjustments and, as usual, interface tweaks. You will realize, for example, that in the Start Menu it will not be necessary to click on All Applications: the list of apps comes from there immediately, with the most frequently used ones remaining at the top. Because of that change, the On / Off button and File Explorer now appear as icons in a bar on the left.

In the Activity Center, notifications are more organized. Now you can know how many notifications have not yet been read. The notification window has been slightly modified to see more information.

The clock in the system tray, in addition to displaying the calendar, can be easily integrated into your calendar. Regarding aesthetics, one of the highlights is the option of choosing a dark theme.

When will it be available?

Windows 10 Anniversary Update is gradually coming to computers, that is, you may not receive the update for several weeks, but you will receive it at some point. However, don't worry, as this update will arrive automatically through Windows Update.

Obviously, this is an update that increases the power of Windows 10, which means that you cannot use it to update Windows 7 or Windows 8.

To find out if the update is already available to you, go to Start Menu> Settings> Update and Security. If available, the update will be identified with code 1607.

Windows 10 Anniversary

STABILITY

GAME EXPERIENCE

INTERFACE

INTEGRATION WITH THE CLOUD

PRICE

9.1 / 10

GREAT UPDATE, BUT WITH SLIGHT BUGS