Fingerprint sensors and depth-sensing cameras (like Intel's RealSense) still aren't all that common. Still, the problem with Windows Hello is actually being able to use it. Hello was one of the best additions to Windows 10, so it was only a matter of time until its zippy login capabilities spread throughout the OS. It'll even log you into some websites when you're using the Edge browser. Microsoft's biometric authentication feature is branching out from the lock screen to let you sign into apps like DropBox and iHeartradio. So if you have to take some emergency notes for class or simply want to jot down a burst of inspiration, you won't have to wait to log into Windows to do so. Just like Cortana, you can also access all of the new Ink features from the lock screen. I've found myself using the stylus even more now with the Surface Pro 4 to create Sticky reminders, or simply caption an image to share with friends. It was great for people who liked to sketch or jot down handwritten notes, but that was about it. Previously, hitting the Surface Pen's eraser button would simply open a blank OneNote document. While it's still fairly rudimentary, the current Ink interface is a lot more useful than what Microsoft offered in the past. Other active stylus models will have access to the feature too, and you'll even be able to use it with a keyboard and mouse (right-click on the taskbar and choose "Show Windows Ink Workspace" button). From there, you can create a Sticky Note (basically a digital Post-It), access a blank sketch pad or jot notes down on a screenshot of whatever you're looking at. Clicking the eraser button on the Surface Pen, for example, brings up a new menu on the right side of the screen. With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Ink finally steps out from behind the scenes for stylus users with an interface all its own. Apple's Siri will be the highlight of MacOS Sierra this fall when it's officially released (though you can try it in beta form now), but Cortana still has that beat featurewise. While I still find Google Now to be more accurate at listening to voice commands, Cortana stands out as the only voice-powered digital assistant on a desktop OS. She can also search within your documents for specific bits of text. They're particularly useful for things like frequent-flier numbers or complex parking spot locations, in situations where asking your phone to look it up is easier than searching through your notes manually. And yes, those reminders carry over to Cortana's mobile apps too. Now you'll also be able to add photos to those reminders, as well as create them from Windows apps directly. Just like before, you can send her reminders and have her recall them at any point. Microsoft reps say one reason for that is that it's simply harder to implement it on Apple's platform.īy subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy.Ĭortana is also getting the smarts to act like a real assistant. While there's a Cortana app on iOS, this extensive integration won't be available to iPhone users just yet. You'll be able to see notifications from your phone right on the Windows desktop, as well as alerts like when your phone is running low on battery. Perhaps most intriguingly, Cortana will work across different platforms, with the ability to talk to Windows Phone and Android devices. (Unfortunately, there's no Spotify support yet.) She'll also control some apps, like iHeartRadio and Pandora, with voice commands. Cortana is accessible through the lock screen, allowing you to ask simple questions or do things like play music without even having to log in. CortanaĮxpect to see Microsoft's virtual assistant just about everywhere in the Anniversary Update. But while it definitely delivers some useful upgrades to key features like Cortana and Windows Ink, don't expect any massive changes to Windows 10 as a whole. So expectations are running pretty high for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which arrives Aug. Microsoft says the software is now running on more than 350 million devices worldwide, and it's seeing the highest customer-satisfaction ratings for a Windows release. Other than Microsoft's bafflingly forceful automatic upgrade policy (which has led to lawsuits and plenty of ticked-off users), the operating system's first year on the market has been relatively smooth. "It's nice, for once, to be able to recommend a new version of Windows without any hesitation." That's how I summarized my review of Windows 10 last year, and for the most part, it's lived up to my expectations.
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