Windows 10: Microsoft previews new features coming in MAJOR update

Windows 10 has a number of new features, including a smarter Cortana

MICROSOFT has previewed a slew of new features, tweaks and improvements coming soon to Windows 10, including brand-new Skype apps and a smarter Cortana.

 

Microsoft is teeing up its first major update for Windows 10, codenamed Threshold.

The Microsoft operating system, which was released earlier this summer, has had a controversial roll out.

Users have reported agonisingly slow boot-up speeds, issues with wifi reliability, privacy concerns and problems with child safety features following the jump to Windows 10.

After recently pushing back its own deadline for a series of refreshed Skype apps, the new messaging services have appeared in the latest Windows 10 Insider Build.

 

Head of the Windows Insider program Gabe Aul announced the news on the official Windows blog: "As we’ve announced previously, Skype messaging, calling and video capabilities will come integrated into Windows 10 through the Messaging, Phone and Skype video universal Windows apps.

"These Windows applications enable quick and easy, free calling and messaging to other Skype users across phones, over 3G/4G and wifi tablets and to PCs wifi."

The new Windows 10 Skype universal apps will work in a similar way to Apple's iMessage service – syncing text messages across devices.

Microsoft has already started linking Skype usernames with mobile numbers to make it much easier to find friends.

Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana can intelligently identify reminders within your scrawls



A number of smaller visual tweaks have also been made across the operating system



It also means you won't need to know someone's obscure Skype ID to add their contact details.

The news comes days after Skype experienced worldwide blackouts for more than six hours – an outage now attributed to Microsoft reworking the service.

Alongside the refreshed Skype, Microsoft has also added new features to Cortana to Windows 10.

The Microsoft virtual assistant is now able to identify and create reminders from within your own handwritten notes.

Scanning through the notes you've penned with your stylus, Cortana can set reminders "based on locations, times and numbers".

Another major update to Cortana is the ability to help users to track and plan their free time.

 

Uber will show you a preview of your journey time to your next appointment and Cortana can book it

According to Microsoft, "Cortana will keep track of your bookings for movies and ticketed events through your email confirmations.

"Two hours prior to the event start time, you’ll get helpful information to be sure you know where to go and get there on time, including an option to book and track an Uber ride directly from Cortana."

Microsoft has also made a number of cosmetic changes, including the ability to change the colour of title bars in app windows to match the rest of your theme.

A slew of new icon designs have also been added to the latest version of Windows 10.

The Redmond technology firm has also improved performance across the operating system and fixed a number of known bugs.

"Windows Store apps should now be updating automatically," the blog details.

"Certain apps won’t appear twice anymore when pinned to the taskbar.

"We fixed the issue where clicking on the system icons in the notification area quickly results in Windows Shell blocking the launch of fly-outs like Audio, Networking, etc"

If you are registered as a Windows insider, you are able to download the Windows 10 build 10565 from Windows Update today.

If not, this major update is expected to roll out worldwide sometime next month.