Microsoft will open its annual developer conference, Build 2016, tomorrow in San Francisco. The keynote presentation kickstarts at 16:30 BST / 11:30AM ET / 8:30AM PT.
Last year Microsoft used its Build keynote to announce a swathe of major updates, including its plan to convert iOS and Android apps for Windows 10.
The Redmond technology firm also unveiled the redesigned Start Menu, which debuted in Windows 10 some three months later.
Details about the HoloLens and Office 365 were also confirmed.
As always, Express.co.uk will bring you the latest news as it breaks from the Build 2016 conference.
In the meantime, here is what you can expect to see on-stage during the Microsoft keynote presentation.
Microsoft has gradually updated, tweaked and improved its next-generation operating system throughout the last year.
But there a slew of new features in the pipeline. Microsoft is currently planning two blockbuster updates for Windows 10, codenamed RedStone.
Microsoft has already teased that it will unveil "two highly-requested surprises" for Windows 10.
"Live Tiles are evolving with two highly-requested surprises that you won't want to miss," the brief description of the Live Tiles session teases.
Outside of the visual changes, Microsoft is expected to announce some changes for Cortana.
Microsoft could allow Cortana to follow users as they navigate around the operating system, surfacing useful information based on what users are viewing on-screen.
The nifty context-aware functionality sounds closer to Now On Tap in Android Marshmallow than the infamously annoying Clippy character bundled with Windows 97 to 2003.
Microsoft is also believed to be planning a number of updates to the Notification Centre, also known as Action Centre.
Related articlesFuture versions of this pane are expected to include widgets, offering users quick glanceable snapshots of data, synced across your Windows 10 devices.
According to technology blog WinBeta, Microsoft is also planning to migrate more controls and settings from the outdated Control Panel to the new, unified Settings app.
The confusing split between the Control Panel and the new Settings app is a problem highlighted in the Express.co.uk review.
Windows 10 AppsMicrosoft has already revealed it has a new Skype app in the works, that will debut in the coming weeks.
Build 2016 would be a good time to debut the new universal app, which will work across tablets, desktop computers and smartphones.
Microsoft has had some trouble attracting developers to its new operating system and unified app store.
However, Instagram and Facebook are both expected to launch Windows 10 apps in the coming weeks, so hopefully there will be more high-profile additions announced at Microsoft Build 2016.
It's not clear what Microsoft has planned for its Windows Phone platform.
After unveiling its flagship Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL devices last year, Microsoft has scaled back its smartphone hardware releases.
In the meantime, sales of all Lumia-branded devices have 57 percent in the recent quarter.
But rumours of a redesigned, all-aluminium Surface Phone continue to circulate.
Microsoft is believed to have green-lit plans for an Intel-powered Surface Phone, which will showcase the next blockbuster update to its Windows 10 operating system.
Sources have suggested the Surface team behind Microsoft's critically-praised devices are believed to be now the sole department working on the Microsoft smartphone, which could go on-sale by mid-2016.
Microsoft HoloLensHoloLens developments kits are being shipped to developers this week, so expect to hear a lot about the augmented-reality headset at this years' Build.
Microsoft will likely take the opportunity to show off some cutting-edge new demos on-stage.
Surface Book 2 or another surprise?Microsoft shocked everyone when they held a live HoloLens demo at Build 2015.
Here's hoping the Redmond technology firm can surprise us all with another shock announcement.
Related articlesSource: Windows 10 updates, Windows Phone devices, Surface Book: What to expect from Build 2016
Comments
Post a Comment