Windows 10 has been around for roughly two years now, and by the end of September 2016, Microsoft reported its use on hundreds of millions of active devices. Usage is expected to keep growing, and we can expect to see additional updates to the operating system’s capabilities and features.

For 2017, Microsoft announced the major “Windows 10 Creators” update (codenamed Redstone 2); at this point, it’s scheduled for April. More recently, additional reports have emerged about a second Windows 10 update for later in the year; its codename is Redstone 3.

What can we look forward to from each of these updates?

 

Windows 10 Creators

Anyone involved in creative work such as art, graphics, gaming, and animation will be especially excited about the features becoming available through the Windows 10 Creators update.

Even if your work doesn’t largely involve artistic endeavors, some of the new features can help you enrich the visuals you display in PowerPoint presentations, insert in your reports, or share through other software. You’re in a better position to capture people’s attention, present your evidence convincingly, or illuminate the points you’re making as you drum up interest for a project.

What are some of the expected developments from Windows 10 Creators?

• Working in 3D. In October 2016, the Windows YouTube channel posted a video demonstrating some of the beautiful visuals you’ll be able to create using 3D imagery. With Microsoft Paint 3D, for example, you can convert 2D images into 3D. Presenting, sharing, and printing in 3D are all possible through Windows 10 Creators.
• Immersing yourself in mixed reality. With relatively affordable VR headsets, and no need for any elaborate setups, you’ll be able to work in a mixed reality environment that blends virtual images with real-world settings. Imagine meetings where you use VR headsets to explore and interact with objects your team is designing, structures they’re planning to build, or landscapes they intend to remake. It opens up new possibilities for innovation, testing, and feedback.
• Enjoying a better Internet experience with Edge. With the features getting introduced through the Edge browser, users are expected to have an easier time staying organized while on the internet. More powerful tab management gives people thumbnail previews of all the tabs currently open on the browser, helping them find what they’re looking for more quickly and avoid a mess where they’re not sure what tabs they’ve opened; this will improve efficiency and help people switch more easily from one task to another on the web. Edge also offers other powerful features, including support for websites that provide a virtual reality experience.

Redstone 3

There’s still quite a bit of mystery surrounding Redstone 3 and the exact features that will be available through it.

One possible feature is something that Microsoft initially intended for the Windows 10 Creators update but ultimately postponed. This is the MyPeople taskbar, which allows you to organize your most important contacts right in the toolbar on your desktop, making it easier for you to quickly communicate with them. Let’s say you want to share an important project update with one of your contacts. You can drag a file right onto their icon and transmit it to them in various ways.

Redstone 3 may also give us the developments promised through Project Neon, the anticipated redesign of the Windows 10 user interface. MS Power User has described and highlighted some of the possible qualities of this new design, which will include improved ways of interacting with 3D visuals and mixed reality experiences.

With all of these anticipated developments, you may have questions about how you can best use Windows 10 for your business. How can you harness it to improve productivity, inspire creativity, and keep your work secure? Don’t hesitate to contact us for advice and assistance.