After more than 10 years as Microsoft's flagship operating system, support for Windows 7 finally reached end of life this month. When Windows 7 was released back in 2009,Microsoft said it would deliver "the best productivity experience of the time"; which it did. But 10 years is a long time in technology, and the advent of tech like artificial intelligence (AI) and other intuitive tools in the time since Windows 7 was released means the aging system was no longer offering users the best experience.
Since 2015, Microsoft's cloud-based operating system Windows 10 has been Microsoft's preferred operating system, and as of 2019, more than 900 million devices around the world use Windows 10.
The most recent Windows 10 update – version 1909 – came in November 2019, offering new functionality and improvements to existing capabilities that made the system more conducive to productivity and secure than ever. As Microsoft put it, the November 2019 Windows 10 update “makes it easier to get things done on your PC and across your other devices.”
So, what new features are included in the update and how do they improve user experience..?
The latest updates to Windows 10 are designed to enable productivity, offer intelligent security, simplify updates and give more flexible management.
Update: Calendar - Create events more quickly
Microsoft has made it quicker and easier to create events and add reminders to your calendar, directly from the Taskbar. Previously, users had to access the calendar, then select the date, time and manually enter the event or reminder. Now, users can bypass this and create events, just by clicking the date and time on the Taskbar.
Update: Cloud Clipboard - Copy and paste from your Cloud Clipboard
This update lets you copy text, graphics, links and more, on one device and paste it to another using the Cloud Clipboard, which is a welcome update given that most of us work on multiple devices. The Cloud Clipboard can be used with Azure Active Directory (AD) or with a Microsoft Account (MSA). You can also see a history of recently copied items.
Update: Notifications - Improved configuration and management
Users have more control over notifications by configuring or turning them off entirely in the Action Centre. Notifications are automatically sorted by most recent, rather than sender name.
Update: Digital assistants and Narrator - Voice commands
Third-party digital assistants can now activate the Lock screen by voice command, and Narrator can detect the location of the FN key to determine if it is locked or unlocked.
Update: Automatic backups
Documents, folders and pictures are automatically backed up in with OneDrive, so even if you have a problem with your PC, your files will be safe and accessible. Backing up important documents is vitally important in business, in case you have a problem with your device. Automatic backups mean you never need to worry if the device is lost, stolen or damaged.
Update: Ease of Access - Make the pointer and text larger
Whether you are registered visually impaired or just struggle to see the screen, this update under Ease of Access allows users to change the colour and size of the pointer, as well as making the text on your screen bigger.
Update: Light and Dark mode - make your most-used apps more prominent
Personalise your desktop appearance and make the apps you use most stand out, by choosing Dark or Light mode in the Personalisation menu.
Update: Better battery life
Who doesn’t love better battery performance? Microsoft has made improvements for general battery life and power efficiency improvements for PCs running certain processors; great for users that are working on the go, without a power bank, and need longer battery life.
With Windows 7 reaching end of life last week, incurring high support fees for users that continue to use the platform, it makes sense now to migrate to Windows 10 – and Microsoft's Autopilot makes migrating on mass easy for organisations with lots of users.
Windows Autopilot is a quick, convenient and cost-effective way for organisations to deploy Windows 10 across the business, on multiple devices, in as little as one hour.
For more information on Autopilot, listen to episode one of the Core podcast, Reid Only Access, where our sales Account Manager, Harry Reid, talks discusses the pros and cons of Autopilot with our Cloud and Infrastructure Manager, Stephen Hynes, and Head of Public Sector, Paul Saer.
Upgrading to Windows 10 is also an essential to ensure your network isn't vulnerable to malware, hackers and cyberattacks. To review your IT security strategy, book a Security Workshop with Core.