The Windows 10 thread

[localzuk]

Not sure what you're smoking, but I want some (MacOS pre-X was nothing short of abysmal!)

 

I grew up on it - its what I learnt computers on! I remember setting up MacTCP and various PPP tools to get online on my Color Classic on my 14.4kbps modem. Having to wait for the new version of Mac Format to get a new version of the connection tools.

 

Ahh, the memories.

[LeMarchand]

After an abortive attempt to install on the secondary disk on my ageing desktop, I just went the VM route for now.

 

First thoughts:

 

- Still don't like that rainbow thing on the lock screen, the "smashed screen" wallpaper or the store app on the taskbar (all of which is simple enough to change). Is it me, or does the file explorer icon look like a bit has been sliced off the bottom? Only "real" minus is that at first glance the new Start Menu looks a cluttered mish-mash, but I'll wait to play more.

 

+ That previously interminable "setting up" animation is a bit more brief.

[tmcd35]

I grew up on it - its what I learnt computers on! I remember setting up MacTCP and various PPP tools to get online on my Color Classic on my 14.4kbps modem. Having to wait for the new version of Mac Format to get a new version of the connection tools.

 

Ahh, the memories.

 

Ditto for the Amiga

 

I think we should agree on BeOS (inspired by both) before we reduce this thread into a retro flame war!

[Arthur]

why do you need virtual desktops?

For the same reason people use Spaces in OS X. It's better having applications full screen and then swipe left or right on the trackpad to switch between them.

[gshaw]

BeOS was awesome, used to run it on my firsy Pentium 166 PC and the speed of it was incredible

[EduTech]

For those of you whom have access to Azure via MSDN, PAY AND GO or Enterprise Agreement I just wanted to let you know that you can try out the Server Technical Preview on there.

 

1. Sign in to http://manage.windowsazure.com

2. Select New > Compute > Virtual Machine > From Gallery

3. On the Choose an Image screen, filter down by clicking Windows Server under All > Microsoft

4. Select the Windows Server Technical Preview, October 2014 image

5. Continue with the provisioning of the new VM

 

Regards,

James.

[SYNACK]

Windows 10, literally an order of magnitude better

[SYNACK]

I grew up on it - its what I learnt computers on! I remember setting up MacTCP and various PPP tools to get online on my Color Classic on my 14.4kbps modem. Having to wait for the new version of Mac Format to get a new version of the connection tools.

 

Ahh, the memories.

 

The first school I supported, my intermediate school was solely Mac OS, I knew a depressing amount about the many quirks of that OS despite having a PC at home.

[SYNACK]

Ha I can't even download it, select a different location, thanks windows 8.1.

 

Edit: Fine I give up is anyone rehosting the ISO. Microsoft...

 

False alarm, once I bypassed the Akami BS it worked fine.

Edited October 3, 2014 by SYNACK

[Arthur]

These improvements should please a lot of people here.

 

More on the 'under the covers' security, Store features « ZDNet

 

Oliver Niehus, a Microsoft Principal Application Development Manager for Windows and Security, posted about some of the Windows 10 security, privacy and management features on his MSDN blog on October 1. By October 2, that post had been removed. But not before I got to do a little cutting and pasting.

 

According to Niehus, Microsoft is doing a lot of work on the security front with Windows 10. Microsoft has made Azure Active Directory a "first class citizen" with Windows 10, so that customers can use Azure AD identities to log into their devices "so users can get the same benefits as using an MSA (Microsoft Account) such as Store access, settings, sync and live tiles." Business also can use their existing Active Directory, federated in the cloud with Azure Active Directory, no Microsoft Account needed. Windows 10 also includes "next generation user credentials," like password alternative, which enables single sign-in everywhere.

 

"Threshold (Windows 10) builds data protection into the natural flow (and) integrates data protection at the platform level," Niehus blogged. It also enables per-application VPN, meaning it only allows specific apps to be on the VPN. Administrators will be able to restrict remote access to specific applications and/or with specific port/IP addresses. He cited as an example that IT will be able to allow IT access over the VPN, but restrict that access to specific ports or IP addresses. He also noted that IT can use the same list of apps for Enterprise Data Protection and allow them to access the VPN. Existing inbox VPN clients or Windows Store VPN clients for Windows Phone 8.1, or Windows Store VPN clients for Windows Phone 8.1 will all work with this functionality.

 

With Windows 10, there will be a unified store for Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox One, Microsoft officials said this week. But the new single Store will include a number of changes and improvements, according to Niehus. From his blog post:

 

"The (new) Windows Store will also support more than just modern apps. It will add desktop apps, as well as other types of digital content. We will provide many different ways to pay for apps. And we'll provide an organization store within the public Windows Store, where an org can place their own curated list of public apps as well as specific line-of-business apps that their employees need."

 

Microsoft is creating a new volume-purchasing program that will allow companies to buy apps in bulk, deploy those apps and manage the licenses, meaning reclaiming and re-using licenses when an employee leaves a company, for example. Microsoft will support using Azure Active Directory accounts to acquire organizational apps, and Microsoft Accounts for personal apps. Microsoft will give users the option to continue to sideload apps, if they'd prefer to continue to do so, or to deploy apps from the Windows Store by using new mobile-device-management controls to interact with the volume purchase program.

 

Organizations will have the option of using a mobile-device-management (MDM) service like Intune. The MDM service will communicate with the Volume Purchase Program so that Windows Store will do the "heavy lifting," Niehus blogged, meaning it will install the apps and acquire a license for the user.

 

Speaking of MDM, Microsoft is bringing MDM capabilities to traditional desktops and laptops with Windows 10. Additionally, Microsoft will allow third-party MDM offerings to manage both Windows and Windows Phone VPN-based remote access. Any VPN service provider will be able to create a remote-access app, and third-party VPN client apps will be distributable through the Windows 10 Store.

 

A couple of other enterprise-focused Windows 10 tidbits that weren't in Niehus' post: Windows 10's fast-updating feature is an opt-in thing, as Rod Trent of Windows IT Pro noted. There will be a locked-down version which will allow businesses to throttle how quickly their users get the regular updates to Windows 10 by using Windows Server Update Services.

[zag]

ooOO desktop apps on the windows store. Now that IS a good idea!

[SYNACK]

^^^^^

Only several years too late rather than a decade after and a decade before everyone else catches up, they are making progress. Why the hell can't they fix o365 logon in Windows 8 though, promises are all well and good but adding a year to the time frame is ridiculous, also the wholesale replication of IOS features is junk and the new guy should get his own ideas.

[gshaw]

MS must've been reading my mind or blog as the improvements to the sign in options and Store are exactly what I wrote about a few months back

[Arthur]

The new lock-down feature was designed specifically for @zag.

 

Windows 10's Fast-paced Updating Feature Will Be Opt-in

 

Microsoft is now communicating that there will be two different modes for updates, based entirely on customer choice:

 

• Opt-in – This mode means that Windows 10 will be updated on a fast-moving pace (i.e., when Microsoft rolls 'em out). This is defined as a consumer-type updating mode. These include security updates and fixes, but also new features and OS updates.
  
• Lock-down – Locked-down mode is for mission critical environments (i.e., businesses) where updates are managed centrally. This will work similar to the way things happen now and will not include feature updates, only security updates and fixes.
  

When the rumored feature was first reported, many business were a bit frightened by the idea. A faster-paced updating system would mean a loss of control, and situation where updates could potentially damage existing systems and software.

 

Some businesses may opt in, but the choice is clearly theirs to make. However, it's important to understand that Windows 10 represents Microsoft's LAST major version of Windows. From here on out (after Windows 10 releases) there will be one Windows (no versioning), and it will be updated regularly. Businesses that choose to opt-out will need to be very mindful not to get too far behind.

 

^ Apparently there won't be a Windows 11!

 

Edit. Computerworld's article mentions a third update mode.

 

Microsoft reveals biggest-ever change in Windows updates « Computerworld

 

Rather than the historical offer-everything-to-everyone updating policy -- which has relied on security patches during the approximately three years between each edition of Windows -- Microsoft will create three different "tracks" that customers can essentially subscribe to.

 

"Windows 10 will be delivered in a way that gives more choice and flexibility to businesses," wrote Jim Alkove, the head of Microsoft's Windows enterprise program management team, in the Tuesday blog. "As a result, a business can pick the speed of innovation that is right for each group of its users, rather than apply a one size fits all solution."

 

Silver called the three "consumer speed," "near-consumer speed" and "long-term."

 

The first will include all changes, including security patches, new features and user interface (UI) changes, as well as upgrades from, say, Windows 10 to Windows 10.1, if Microsoft uses that numerical naming convention. Adopting the consumer speed tempo means customers will receive all updates as soon as Microsoft has them ready.

 

[...]

 

Sitting between consumer speed and long-term will be what Silver named "near-consumer speed." As the name implied, it will be a mix of the fastest and slowest update cadences.

 

"In near-consumer speed Microsoft will release a bunch of updates, and you'll have about four months to deploy them," said Silver.

 

That timetable -- four months -- was the same that Microsoft settled on for Windows 8.1 Update, which shipped in April. Wes Miller, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, believed the time span came out of that experience, and that Windows 8.1 Update was a trial balloon floated by Microsoft to figure out what enterprises would tolerate.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Arthur

[Quackers]

So Windows 10 is going to be like the Mac OS X releases? So its all Mac OS 10, but they release Mac OS 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 etc?

[localzuk]

I'm guessing most enterprises will go for the long term track.

 

Dunno about schools though. I'm guessing it depends on people like Capita and RM keeping up. I'd probably aim for near-consumer but end up on long term.

[JRowley]

I think they should just have called it Windows and left it at that, no number, no name, nice and simple.

[flyinghaggis]

^^^^^

Only several years too late rather than a decade after and a decade before everyone else catches up, they are making progress. Why the hell can't they fix o365 logon in Windows 8 though, promises are all well and good but adding a year to the time frame is ridiculous, also the wholesale replication of IOS features is junk and the new guy should get his own ideas.

 

To be fair I'm sure Microsoft would have had a desktop app store over a decade ago if they'd been allowed to. I can only begin to imagine the anti-trust/abuse of monopoly lawsuits MS would have been hit with if they'd announced 10 years ago that they were going to bring out an app store which all software vendors would have to release their apps through and Microsoft would take a cut of the profit on each sale. I suspect it's only because Google/Apple operate on that basis that Microsoft are now able to get away with doing the same!

 

Personally I think they should have called it Windows 11. It would have been great for Spinal Tap homages. I can see the sales pitch now .....

 

Microsoft : "For years Apple have struggled to bring out an OS version higher than 10 but we're pleased to announce that Microsoft now has an OS that goes to 11. "

Public: "...But why not just call it Windows 9?"

Microsoft " Because 11 is two major release versions more advanced than 9"

[ADMaster]

2 + hrs to download 15-20 min to install in a VM.

 

I too have the default account and this is the standard not enterprise preview if that makes a difference.

I also have to say I like the blue as the default background so much better than that bright yellow.

[SYNACK]

I got it an like it but would suggest that no one runs it as anything more than a basic test environment as they appear to be taking feedback very seriously to the point of logging everything Using the Windows 10 Technical Preview? Microsoft might be watching your every move to help with feedback I wil still be running it as a VM and testing it thoroughly but I will not be giving it any passwords or details that MS does not already know.

 

I like the new backgrounds, the uber quick install and the new/old start menu hybrid, actually having GPOs for it will be great to and when they do a release it will not come with any overly intrusive monitoring gadgets. Lets hope they keep on the track through as I found the 7 beta even with all the debug tools switched on to be far faster than the RTM, same with Vista. They need to stop making it slower through the testing cycle.

[sted]

had ap lay with it properly friday and server as well. i can confirm if anyone needs it std folder redirection for the start menu works the same as in win7 (as does folder redir in general)though atm i havnt tried to stop people pinning apps and tiles to the right of the menu as personally im not bothered if people pin stuff they use and im actually locking down less anyway given them access to specific control panel bits. it also by default creates roaming profiles as username.v5 no need to reghack that in. basically i applied my std win7 policies and it worked like a win7 domained pc with a funny start menu and a win8 logon screen

[X-13]

i applied my std win7 policies and it worked like a win7 domained pc with a funny start menu and a win8 logon screen

 

Cool, that's good to know.

 

Do the Win8 specific policies apply?

[sted]

Cool, that's good to know.

 

Do the Win8 specific policies apply?

 

diddnt try as its just running on a vm on my laptop but tbh my win 8 specific ones just deal with the start menu and disablong the store they dont do a huge amount but i see no reason why the wont but i suspect you might need to be careful applying start screen policies as they may affect the start menu tile screen as well

[DMcCoy]

Privacy Statements for Windows Technical Preview - Microsoft Windows Do take a little care where you deploy it.

[Ed_Pinkman_13]

Cant wait for Windows 10...