I don't think Microsoft and I have the same idea about focus and distraction.<p>I just got a small Windows laptop for a couple of tasks I can't do well on Linux, and after it updated to the latest Windows stuff it had dozens of notifications enabled. All kinds of ridiculous crap popping up while I'm trying to do things. Like, a constant battery of interruptions, with noise and visual bubbles over in the notifications corner. Sure, they can be disabled, but I had to manually go through and turn them all off. That's not to say Linux or Android are immune, but this was just nuts.<p>Actually, to be fair, Android may be worse these days, I've had to start turning off all notifications for apps like Facebook, even though I'd like to get some (like timeline events that actually involve me), but they group things I don't care about (like events my friends are going to) with things I do, so it gets turned off completely. But, it's just gotten crazy how insistent everything is about getting my attention constantly. Our devices have become like needy children.<p>So, cool, I guess? But, I'm a bit mistrustful that anyone has an interest in fixing this problem, since for most companies it isn't a problem but a money-making tactic.
New features:<p>- Voice as text entry for any text input, across the OS. (Surprised this has taken so long; the speech recognition libraries have been in .NET since 2014.)<p>- Ecobee, Honeywell, Nest integration with Cortana.<p>-Timeline... Tracks your "stuff" (files? online activity? It's unclear) across all Windows devices. It has 30 days of history. I'm interested in knowing how much of my file and URL history is being sent to MS.<p>- Focus Assist is a notification cache. It will pend notifications during focus time, and give you them all at once when focus time is over.<p>- Edge browser has a few:<p>-- When a tab is playing audio, clicking on the speaker icon will mute the tab. (Just what we need, yet another mute button to miss.)<p>-- Autofill for payment info.<p>-- Full screen mode for PDFs, books, and reader mode.<p>-- Grammar Check.
Anyone know of any deep dives on new kernel/lib stuff in this release? MS has been doing good work on their network stack but it only occasionally is editorialised like this <a href="https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/networking/2017/07/13/core-network-stack-features-in-the-creators-update-for-windows-10/" rel="nofollow">https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/networking/2017/07/13/co...</a>
I'm really struggling to know who their target audience is with this stuff. I watched their marketing materials... I just don't get it.<p>Meanwhile, some features I think they are still missing the boat on:<p>1) Driver Updates. I want a tool that will go out and download the latest drivers for all my stuff.<p>2) Password manager integration; I don't want to have to type or copy paste passwords I just want them all pulled from my password manager.<p>3) Clipboard history; like Jumpcut or CopyClip.<p>4) Cloud font sync; like SkyFonts.<p>5) Better screenshot annotation tools; like Skitch.<p>6) Better ad block; like Stephen Black's hosts file.<p>7) Most importantly, better privacy and the option to turn off all tracking by Microsoft.
My computer is from 2012 with Windows 7 and they will pry that out of my cold dark hands. I was going to upgrade but literally the week I was going to buy my new computer, the Meltdown/Spectre exploit came out, so I'm waiting for an entirely new chip, if it can even be fixed.
I had a Windows 10 installation sitting around on a spare drive that was used for a few games for a while until I discovered all the malware that it installed automatically (Candy Crush Soda Saga is malware don't even try to deny it). Needless to say that drive has since been zeroed.<p>It really is a shame how abusive Windows 10 is to users because I know there are some extremely talented people doing great things at Microsoft.
Developers need to be extremely careful to make sure their lowest target is Windows 7. Nowadays Microsoft is doing everything to make sure the lowest target is Windows 10. Windows 7 is the last traditional version of Windows and there is a huge number of people interested in keeping it this way. Some of us are just interested in getting our work done.
Are they going to add a new Power Management setting saying "Don't randomly lock the screen and/or sleep the computer while you're actively using it"?