Microsoft held a special event on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, and shared some more information about the Windows 10 operating system. One of the things Microsoft shared is that Windows 10 will be offered for free to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 customers who upgrade in the first year.

“Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Windows 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home.”

Back in October 2014, Microsoft introduced Windows 10, touting the fact that this will be the company’s most comprehensive platform ever. At the time, Microsoft unveiled that Windows 10 will bring back the Start Menu, will feature multiple desktops, will have a new task view button, and more.

On January 21, 2015, Microsoft held a special event and unveiled more details about the Windows 10 operating system. Here’s a quick summary:

• Free upgrade – Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade to existing customers. Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 users who upgrade in the first year will get Windows 10 for free. It is worth noting here that Microsoft will offer Windows as a service. Once a PC is upgraded to Windows 10, Microsoft will deliver new features as soon as they’re ready and will continue to keep the OS current for the supported lifetime of the device.
• Cortana – Microsoft’s personal digital assistant for Windows Phone will be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets.
• Spartan – say goodbye to Internet Explorer and say hello to a new web browser code-named “Project Spartan”.
• Xbox Gaming – enjoy new gaming experiences with Xbox Live and the new Xbox app on Windows 10.
• Office for Windows 10 – the Office productivity suite will offer a touch-first experience; it will feature new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook that were built for touch.
• Continuum Mode – easily switch from keyboard & mouse to touch if you have 2-in-1 devices.
• Universal apps – built-in apps that have a consistent design across devices and use OneDrive to store and sync content and thus let you start something on one device and continue it on another.
• HoloLens and Holograms – Windows 10 will be the world’s first holographic computing platform; it will include a set of APIs that will enable developers to create holographic experiences. All Windows universal apps will be able to work as holograms. To show what can be done with holograms, Microsoft presented HoloLens, the most advanced holographic computer in the world and the first untethered holographic computer. It's an augmented reality (AR) headset that creates a fusion of virtual images and the real world.
• Surface Hub – a new large-screen device meant to be used by groups in the workplace. Surface Hub will allow teams to work together as if they’re in the same collaborative space.
• Devices – Windows 10 will run on a large variety of devices, from PCs, tablets and 2-in-1s to phones to Xbox and the Internet of Things.

“Everything about Windows 10 — the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade — means that Windows 10 isn’t just another product, it’s an ongoing relationship — one that will give ongoing value to all our customers,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. “The new generation of Windows is a commitment — a commitment to liberate people from complex technology and enable them to do great things.”

Members of the Windows Insider Program will get the next Windows 10 Technical Preview for the PC sometime next week. The Windows Phone version will be released later in February.

Microsoft set up this webpage and this webpage to offer more info about Windows 10.

And now, some videos.

Highlights from the event Microsoft held to present more info about Windows 10.



Windows VP Joe Belfiore presents the new Windows 10 experiences.



The same Joe Belfiore takes us on a tour through some of the most exciting features that will show up in Window 10 for PCs.



A couple of videos about Microsoft HoloLens.





The new Surface Hub device for collaboration.