The Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the largest update to the PC software since it launched last year, has become available to consumers today. The global update sees Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana become more central, being used as part of any search, while a new feature called Windows Ink enables users to annotate on their screens more freely, and across different apps, with a stylus.
The Anniversary Update comes just days after Microsoft ended a free upgrade program for users eligible to update to Windows 10, which was released in July last year.
Anyone who has already upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade will get the new features free.
More than 350 million devices upgraded for free to Windows 10 since the software was released last year.
But users wanting to move to the software from either Windows 7 or 8 must pay for Windows 10, with prices starting at £99.99 ($132.11) in the UK.
The update sees Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana become more central, being used as part of any search, the company explained in a blog post.
A new feature called Windows Ink enables users to annotate on their screens more freely, and across different apps, with a stylus.
The Microsoft Edge web browser, introduced in Windows 10 to replace Internet Explorer, is also being tweaked so it becomes more power efficient.
New gaming experiences were also introduced, including features for Xbox One and the Xbox app.
For schools with dedicated IT support, the updated Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer tool enables them to set up shared devices, in bulk, in a matter of minutes.
‘We are committed to delivering continuous innovation to you: including features that bring Windows Ink and Cortana to the mainstream; a faster, more accessible and more power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser; advanced security features for consumers and enterprises; new gaming experiences and new tools for the modern classroom,’ the technology firm said.
‘Everyone running Windows 10 will get these new features for free.’
The advanced security features include facial recognition technology, Windows Hello, being made available to log in to websites and apps.
To help protect businesses from accidental data leaks, the biggest source of lost data, the update delivers Windows Information Protection, formerly referred to as enterprise data protection.
The company has been pushing hard to encourage users to upgrade to the new operating system.
But Microsoft has found itself embroiled in controversy over the upgrade.
Some users reported the new operating system – which comes in at around 6GB – downloading automatically in the background without their permission.
It has also faced criticism after it emerged Windows 10 contained a keylogger that tracked what users type.
It also tracks their activity online and collects data about their computing habits.
Despite including a series of controls to disable some of the tracking elements, many of the core data collection features cannot be turned off.
This, together with the threat of progammmes that worked on earlier versions of Windows not working with the new software, has left many unwilling to upgrade until the operating system was updated.
But Microsoft’s free download period for Windows 10 ended on July 29.
The free upgrade was available to people whose tablets and PCs are running on Windows 7 or newer.
It now costs £99.99, or $119, for the Home version and £189.99, or $200, for the Pro version.
Windows 10 has a range of new features, designed to be as user-friendly as possible.
According to Microsoft’s Windows lifestyle fact sheet, as of January 2018 Windows 10 will be the only current Microsoft OS getting regular updates.
