Windows 10-New Features & Apps
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Windows 10-New Features & Apps By Tom Krauser This article discusses some of the new features and apps that come packaged in Windows 10. It is only a brief summary of these features. For more information you can search the internet or check YouTube for instructional videos on your topic of interest. The following links provide some good basic information on Windows 10 and should be helpful to you. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/products/windows?os=windows-10 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4043948/windows-10-whats-new-in-fall-creators-update-1709 The following article from PC World Magazine provides articles on a lot of new features in Windows 10. https://www.pcworld.com/tag/windows10/ The following article by CNET discusses some of new features in the latest update to Windows 10. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/windows-10-tips-best-features/ Alarms & Clocks: A combination of alarm clock, world clock, timer, and stopwatch. Set alarms and reminders, check times around the world, and time your activities, including laps and splits. The following link discusses how to set timers, alarms, and stopwatches: https://www.howtogeek.com/225211/how-to-set-timers-alarms-and-stopwatches-in-windows-10/ Camera: Many modern devices with Windows include a webcam and, to use it, you need an app that helps you take pictures, record videos or stream video while video chatting. For this purpose, Microsoft has built an app called Camera, which is available by default in Windows 10. Connect: Use Connect App to Cast Your Smartphone Screen to Your PC. The Connect app in gives smart-phone users the ability to “cast” their screens to a PC or laptop running Microsoft's latest version of its ever-evolving operating system. Cortana: Cortana is a voice activated personal assistant. Think of it as Siri, but for Windows. You can use Cortana to get weather forecasts, set reminders, tell you jokes, send email, find files, search the internet. In order to use Cortana you must have a Microsoft account. You can be logged in with a local account but when Cortana is setup it needs to know your Microsoft account information. You can setup Cortana in the settings where you say “Hey Cortana” to activate Cortana to listen to your request. Feedback Hub: The Feedback Hub app lets you tell Microsoft about any problems you run in to while using Windows 10 and send suggestions to help them improve your Windows experience. Sending a suggestion or reporting a problem can be as easy as finding feedback similar to yours and upvoting it. However, if there isn’t feedback like yours, then go ahead and create some new feedback for Microsoft. You can even attach some screenshots or recreate a problem to help Microsoft see what you’re experiencing. Games: Windows 10 comes with several games included in the installation plus some new features for gaming. Get Help: If you experience an issue and need additional assistance beyond what the community can provide, the new Get Help app makes it easier to resolve issues yourself or be connected to an expert if needed. With the newest release, the app introduces Microsoft’s new virtual support agent, which uses your description of an issue to help find the best troubleshooter, Instant Answer, support article, or other solution available (initially available only in English in the US). Grove Music: Microsoft Groove Music is brand new for Windows 10. It plays your music collection and lets you make and listen to playlists. Add your MP3s to OneDrive and you can use the Groove Music app to play your songs on other devices, too—PCs, tablets, Windows Phone, and Xbox—for free. Microsoft states that the app is best when you use it with a Groove Music Pass. For a low monthly fee, Groove Music Pass lets you stream and download music from one of the biggest music catalogs on the planet. Custom radio stations play hours of music based on your favorite artists. Use Groove Music Pass on your PC, tablet, phone (including iOS and Android), and Xbox. The following link gives information on using Grove Music: https://www.windowscentral.com/everything-you-need-know-about-groove-music-app-windows-10 Mail: This new Windows 10 Mail app, which comes preinstalled along with Calendar, is actually part of the free version of Microsoft's Office Mobile productivity suite. It's called Outlook Mail on Windows 10 Mobile running on smartphones and tablets, but just plain Mail on Windows 10 for PCs. The following link gives instructions for setting up email in Mail for Windows 10: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Set-up-email-in-Mail-for-Windows-10-7ff79e8b-439b-4b47-8ff9-3f9a33166c60 Maps: Microsoft's new Maps app was designed for your Windows phone, but because Windows 10 is a universal operating system, the app also comes preinstalled on your PC. It's actually a pretty neat app to explore -- turn-by-turn directions are just one of its many features. The Search feature is for more than just plugging in your final destination. Hit the Search icon and type in anything -- an address, a city, a tourist attraction, a local hotspot or a category (e.g., "restaurants in Los Angeles") and you'll see real- time Bing results pop up in the left sidebar. The information you receive will depend on what you're looking for, but Bing will pull up all sorts of relevant results, including photos, Yelp reviews and Wikipedia statistics. The following links discusses several features of the Maps app: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/exploring-the-windows-10-maps-app/ Messaging: Microsoft wants you to use Skype Messaging -- simply titled "Messaging" in Windows 10 -- as your main over-the-top messaging app. (Over-the-top messaging is a data-based alternative to texting -- think Whatsapp, Line, and iOS's iMessage.) The following link discusses features of Messaging: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/getting-started-with-windows-10s-messaging-app/ Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Edge replaced Internet Explorer in Windows 10. It was completely rewritten to overcome some of the security holes in Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is still available in Windows 10 under Windows Accessories but not recommended for general use. With Microsoft Edge in Windows 10, you get a browser built for fast, safe, and productive web experiences. You can search directly from the address bar or take advantage of integration with Cortana to make your search easier. The Hub saves your favorites, a reading list, your browsing history, and downloads. Make a Web Note on a page to save for later or share with others, and enable roaming so that your favorites and settings follow you to any PC or Windows 10 Mobile device. Microsoft Store: The Microsoft Store contains many applications that can be used with Windows 10. Many are free to download and install but many have a charge associated with them. Mixed Reality Portal: The following link explains how to use the Windows Mixed Reality Simulator: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-windows-mixed-reality-simulator-windows-10-creators-update Mixed Reality Viewer: Take any 3D model into the real world-using just the camera on your Windows 10 PC. With Mixed Reality Viewer, mix the digital and physical, push the boundaries of reality, and capture it all with a photo to share. It allows users to open 3D models inside Windows 10 and view them with a mixed reality headset, or through a standard 2D monitor. Movies & TV: Microsoft Movies & TV brings you the latest HD movies and TV shows on your Windows 10 device. Rent and buy new blockbuster movies and favorite classics, or catch up on last night's TV episodes. Movies & TV also brings you instant-on HD and fast access to your video collection. OneDrive: OneDrive is free online storage that comes with your Microsoft account. Save your files there and you'll be able to get to them from any PC, tablet, or phone. The following link provides information on Microsoft OneDrive. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17184/windows-10-onedrive Files you save to OneDrive are available online at OneDrive.com and offline on your PC. That means you can use them anytime, even when you're not connected to the Internet. When you reconnect, OneDrive updates the online versions with changes you made offline. OneNote: OneNote is your digital notebook for capturing and organizing everything across you devices. Jot down your ideas, keep track of classroom and meeting notes, clip from the web, or make a to-do list, as well as draw and sketch your ideas. Paid WiFi & Cellular: The Paid Wi-Fi & Cellular app helps you get online in more places on your Windows 10 PC. Buy a data plan to get connected to a participating paid Wi-Fi hotspot or cellular network in your area. There are no contracts or recurring charges, and all you'll need to buy a plan is a Microsoft account. Paint 3D: Paint 3D is the latest evolution of classic Paint, with a ton of new art tools to try on your 2D canvas or 3D objects. The following link gives help with using Paint 3D: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3163631/windows/how-to-use-microsofts-paint-3d-creating-cool-3d-scenes-has- never-been-so-much-fun.html People: The People app is your address book and your social app all in one. You can add your contacts and keep in touch with friends and family on Skype—all from a single app.