Windows 10: Bring the best of Microsoft to your Android smartphone

Microsoft's new Android Launcher app feels closer to iOS 9 than Windows 10

MICROSOFT has released a nifty new Android Launcher which brings some of the best of Windows to your Android smartphone.

Android is known for its endless customisation options.
And now Microsoft has released an Android Launcher application which hopes to bring some of the Redmond firm's Windows 10 charm to your Google-powered smartphone.
It's called Arrow and was briefly released in beta earlier this summer via a close-knit Google+ group for testers.
But now Microsoft's first Android Launcher is available for everyone to try in the Google Play Store.

The Android Launcher fits neatly into Microsoft's new platform-neutral business model and brings an intuitive and well-designed lick of paint to your Android homescreen.
The design of the Arrow Launcher feels closer to iOS 9 than Windows 10 but should afford Microsoft the ability to tie-in some of its most successful Windows 10 services, including OneDrive and Office 365.
But for now, the only clue that Microsoft is behind the beautiful Arrow Launcher is the inclusion of circulating Bing background wallpapers.
The headline feature of the new Android Launcher is its ability to learn from your smartphone usage to customise and streamline its appearance.
In a nutshell, the more you use it – the better it will get.


The Arrow Launcher learns your habits and prioritises the right apps, contacts and files

Arrow will present you with a Recent screen with the apps, files, images or contacts it thinks you are looking for, based on your day-to-day usage.
It's similar to the new proactive Siri functionality Apple baked into iOS 9, which rolled out across the globe last month.
Arrow also sorts your static app drawer based on your usage, too.
As a result the entire OS feels fluid as it tries to pick-up your smartphone habits.
Microsoft has not shied away from the customisation options which make Android such a popular choice.

Microsoft has included a customisable iOS-esque Control Centre settings menu

Its new Arrow Launcher is compatible with all your favourite widgets, organised into one page, as well as third party icon packs.
You can also customise the semi-transparent settings dock that is swiped up from the bottom of the screen – sound familiar, iPhone users?
The dock brings together your favourite apps and commonly-used settings, such as Aeroplane Mode, Wifi Controls, a Bluetooth toggle, Torch Mode and more.
It's a interesting side-project from the Microsoft Garage and is currently available in English and Chinese.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is hard at work improving its own operating system, Windows 10.



The Arrow Launcher allows Microsoft to tightly integrate its own cloud services and apps

The new Microsoft OS has an impressive adoption rate – racking up 110 million installations in just 11 weeks – and is expected to receive its first major update sometime next week.
But the new OS has not been without issues.
Users have reported infuriatingly slow boot-up speeds, trouble with wifi connections, privacy concerns and issues with child safety features following the jump to Windows 10.
Windows 10 is currently a free operating system upgrade to customers running genuine versions of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
If you have managed to get your version of Windows 10 up and running smoothly – NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has rounded up SEVEN top tips to master your new operating system.
And if you are feeling negative towards the new operating system, here are the WORST features Microsoft included in Windows 10.