14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella took the stage at the company's Windows 10 press event on Wednesday to discuss the strategy behind its revamped operating system, as the software giant is set to start a major overhaul that will span across all its platforms, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
In an enthusiastic speech, Nadella praised Microsoft's employees for working so hard to make Windows 10 successful, explaining at the same time that customers, who provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve the operating system, are all working together to make Windows better.
But the motif of his speech was the transformation of Windows. “We want you to love Windows,” Nadella said several times, explaining that Windows is no longer just a software solution to be installed on your computer but a piece of technology that can make your life easier and help you be productive wherever you go.
Windows 10 on all devices
Microsoft confirmed during the Windows 10 event on Wednesday that it wanted the operating system to be available on as many devices as possible and explained that it was tailored to be compatible with every display size and form factor on the market.
That's why Windows could become a real-life companion, Microsoft said, and Nadella reiterated this in his speech.
“For Microsoft, as I said, it allows us to think of success, measure our success and our progress in a way that is aligned with customers and their engagement. We want people to love Windows on a daily basis,” he added.
Windows 10 is definitely a major step forward for Microsoft and its users, and as compared to Windows 8, the company hopes that it can finally change the way people work on their computers.
Nadella pointed out that Windows 10 is a joint effort, as it's no longer just a product designed by Microsoft, because users are now directly involved in the development process and they can very well get in touch with the company and ask it to tweak the OS in a certain way.
“We have bigger hopes, higher aspirations for Windows. We want to move from people needing Windows to choosing Windows to loving Windows. That is our bold goal with Windows,” Nadella added.
“This is one of the most collaborative releases of Windows and we’re looking forward do that feedback cycle. We want to make Windows 10 the most loved release of Windows.”
Free Windows 10
One of the ways to make people love Windows is to release the operating system free of charge and the company acknowledged this. Windows 10 will be free of charge for one year after launch, but only as an upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 customers, so everyone should be able to benefit from all the improvements that Microsoft is working on right now.
Windows 10 should be introduced in the fall of 2015, sources say, and many of these new features will be part of the Technical Preview builds that are rolled out as part of the Windows Insider program.
The next testing build will be released next week and will also include Continuum and Cortana.