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Creators

Everything you need to know before installing the Windows 10 Creators Update

by Loknath Das April 5, 2024

written by Loknath Das

Windows 10 Creators Update release date

There shouldn’t really be a question of should you download the Creators Update: it’s free, and running the latest version of your operating system is the best thing you can do to keep your computer healthy, performing well, and safe from hacking and viruses. Microsoft will keep pushing security patches for older versions, but the easiest and simplest way to keep up-to-date is to download the Creators Update.

Of course, it’s not just security fixes in the update. Microsoft is calling it the “Creators Update” because of the creative-people-friendly features that have been stuck into Windows.

Paint has a new 3D mode, which allows you to draw 2D objects and extrapolate them into a 3D model in seconds. It’s mostly aimed at anyone using a VR or AR headset, as it brings VR object creation into the hands of everyone, and gives Paint a much-needed update at the same time.

Another app that’s getting a major bump is Microsoft Edge. Statistically, you’re probably reading this on a Chrome browser, but there’s still reasons to use Microsoft’s browser instead. It’s more battery and resource-efficient than Chrome, and thanks to the new update, it has new features that let you organize and group tabs far more efficiently.

Before you download the update, take this excuse to make the PC backup that you’ve been meaning to make for ages. Using the Windows Recovery tool and a spare hard drive, you can make an offline backup of your entire system that’s easy to restore. It’s good to have around generally, and a particularly excellent idea when you’re about to mess with your operating system.

When everything’s ready to go and it’s April 11th or later, Windows will start prompting you to install the update. Depending on your system, it could take up to an hour, so make sure you’re not planning on using your PC any time soon. If you want to get the update sooner, it’s available for you to manually download right now using the Windows Update Assistant.
[Source:-bgr]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Tech Update

What the tech press is saying about Windows 10 Creators Update

by Loknath Das April 5, 2024

written by Loknath Das

Today marks a significant day for Microsoft, as the company finally announced an April 11th launch date of the Windows 10 Creators Update. As is expected, an announcement of this nature gets a lot of attention from the tech press, so we’ve compiled a few of the reports from around of the web to give you a better idea of how Microsoft’s big announcement is being received.

CNBC: Microsoft takes a shot at stealing hardcore Apple users

In a report by Todd Haselton, CNBC dubs the Windows 10 Creators Update as Microsoft’s “shot at stealing hardcore Apple users.” According to their report, the creative aspect of the Windows 10 Creators Update is, “Microsoft’s latest attempt to go for Apple’s throat and attack the core Mac user base of creative professionals.” While the CNBC report highlights features such as improvements to Edge, Game Mode, and Paint 3D, it also highlights the fact that the new additions are “not really exciting,” and that most Windows 10 users “probably won’t notice any of the changes.” At one point, the report also falls back a bit from the headline and dubs that “the update isn’t going to send Mac fans running to Best Buy for a new laptop just yet.”

WIRED: Windows ‘Creators Update’ Has Come to Kill Your Apps

WIRED is perhaps one of the most respectable tech publications out there, and WIRED’s Tim Moynihan has put up a very interesting review of the Windows 10 Creators Update. Unlike other tech reporters who have just looked at the features of the OS, Moynihan dives a bit deeper and finds that the update is “clearly aimed at getting you to move from third-party apps like Twitch and Chrome by packing more functionality into Windows itself.” In diving into the features, he also comes to the conclusion that Artists and gamers will get the most out of Creators Update, and that Windows 10 is a “constantly evolving platform.”

Ars Technia: Windows 10 Creators Update is quite a small major update

Peter Bright from Ars Technia has a much different take on the Windows 10 Creators Update, finding that it is quite a small major update. In his report, he writes that the Creators Update is “not all so creative.” Mr. Bright points out that while the Creators Update introduces programmatic support for Windows Mixed Reality, the headsets are still months away. He also highlights that the operating system itself doesn’t include any particularly significant 3D features for the end-user. Not to be vexed, though, as Bright finds that the biggest recipient of visible changes in the Creators Update “is probably the Edge browser.” He also dives into the details on Game Mode, and the other new elements of the Creators Update, giving his own creative analysis of what Microsoft has to offer to Windows 10 users come April 11th.

Mashable: Windows 10 Creators Update is the best Windows yet

Though the publication’s Tweet speaks a different tone than the actual published story, Mashable’s Lance Ulanoff finds that the Windows 10 Creators Update is the best Windows yet. Overall, the report highlights that the Creators Update is a “smart Windows 10 update that improves the overall experience without breaking anything important.” It also looks at the good, including Updated Edge, Fun 3D tools, and Native game streaming. Interestingly, Ulanoff also mentions that Windows 10 has momentum, now that, “the disastrous Windows 8 is barely a spec in Microsoft’s rearview mirror.”

Engadget: Windows 10 Creators Update lives up to its name

Perhaps in tone with Mashable’s Lance Ulanoff, Devindra Hardawar from Engadget believes that the Windows 10 Creators Update lives up to its name. Hardawar writes that the Update is “more than a mere operating system upgrade,” highlighting that “Microsoft wants to make it clear that Windows is not only a platform for productivity apps but also an OS where you can produce all sorts of creative things.” In line with Todd Haselton from CNBC, Hardawar also finds that the Creators Update can possibly encourage kids and the more creative types who usually use Macs.

There are many other reviews of the Windows 10 Creators Update out there, so these publications are just scratching the surface of the general consensus of the latest version of Windows. We invite you to keep it tuned to OnMSFT as we continue to dive in to the Windows 10 Creators Update and beyond. What are your thoughts on the Windows 10 Creators Update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

[“Source-onmsft”]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

News Update

Windows 10 Creators Update: The 5 biggest changes

by Loknath Das April 5, 2024

written by Loknath Das

Microsoft just announced that the Windows 10 Creators Update will start rolling out on April 11, building upon the foundation laid by vanilla Windows 10 and its subsequent “November” and “Anniversary” updates. While not every feature that Microsoft promised at the Creators Update’s reveal last fall actually made the final cut, it’s still overflowing with helpful new extras that polish rough edges and just plain make things more fun.

You’ll need to read PCWorld’s comprehensive Windows 10 Creators Update review for our hands-on impressions, or PCWorld’s mammoth Creators Update roundup for nitty-grittier feature details, but here are the five biggest changes you’ll encounter when it rolls out to your device.

1. A better install

The first change you’ll notice in the Windows 10 Creators Update is literally the first thing you’ll see when you boot up: An improved installation process.

Mark Hachman

The Windows 10 Creators Update’s new privacy options during the initial setup.

Microsoft’s taken a lot of heat for Windows 10’s deeper hooks into your personal data. The Creators Update addresses that concern with the introduction of an easy-to-parse privacy dashboard that’s now integrated directly into the installation setup. It’s a handy overview of your broad options. Don’t want every aspect of your system beamed back to Microsoft? Turn the diagnostics to Basic. Don’t want Cortana listening to your microphone, awaiting a verbal summons? Disable speech recognition. (You may still want to dig into Settings privacy section for more granular controls, however.)

IDG / Mark Hachman

Setting up the Windows 10 Creators Update with a cheery Cortana.

Note that disabling speech recognition kills another key new installation highlight: The Windows 10 Creators Update’s setup process can be done almost hands-free with Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant if you have a working microphone. Cortana narrates your options, you tell her what you want, and it’s over in less than five minutes. Nifty!

2. A more helpful Cortana

Speaking of Cortana, the digital assistant’s picked up some other new tricks. Perhaps most notably, the enhanced full-screen version that debuted on the Anniversary Update’s lock screen branches out in the Creators Update, appearing whenever you verbally summons Cortana, whether your PC’s idle or locked for 10 seconds or more.

IDG / Mark Hachman

Setting up a recurring reminder with Cortana.

The Windows 10 Creators Update finally gives Cortana the ability to set recurring reminders, so Microsoft’s assistant can help you remember to pay your bills or attend your weekly board game session. And Cortana recently gained the opt-in ability to scan your Office 365 or Outlook email account for commitments you’ve made and automatically configure reminders. So if you told someone you’d book a reservation or deliver a presentation on a certain time, Cortana will toss you a reminder when that time comes—no action needed on your end.

3. Edge enhancements

After months of losing market share to Chrome, Microsoft’s rolling out a raft of new features to lure you back to Windows 10’s Edge browser.

IDG / Mark Hachman

Edge’s new Books section is how you access its e-reader capabilities.

Two of the major draws revolve around downtime. First and foremost, Edge is the only browser that can play Netflix videos at 1080p resolution rather than 720p, and the Creators Update ups that to 4K support. You’ll need a 4K monitor and a bleeding-edge PC with an Intel Kaby Lake processor, though—and hopefully no data cap. Edge is a basic e-reader now too, tying into the Windows Store’s newfound Books section. You’ll find your available books in aptly named new “Books” section of Edge’s “Hub” menu (where you’ll also find webpage bookmarks and articles stashed for later).

Brad Chacos

If you’re a tab addict, you might love Edge’s last major addition: the ability to set aside tabs for later perusal. At any point, you can click the new Set these tabs aside button to the left of the URL bar to whisk them away to a new holding pen for later re-summoning. It’s all or nothing, though; if you want to keep some of the tabs open, you’ll need to move them to another Edge window. Once you’ve set some tabs aside, click the black Tabs you’ve set aside icon to the left of the stashing button to see what you’ve got stored for safekeeping.

4. A focus on gaming

The Creators Update places a larger focus on gaming, adding a new Gaming hub in the Settings app. The Gaming hub yanks Windows 10’s Game Bar and Game DVR options from the Xbox app (huzzah!) and includes settings for two new features: Broadcasting and Game Mode.

Microsoft

Broadcasting Minecraft with Beam.

Broadcasting is where you’ll fine-tune the Creators Update’s newfound ability to stream games to your Xbox Live friends via Microsoft’s Beam service. The available settings are pitiful compared to Twitch’s options, though that also makes streaming dead-simple. It’ll probably be most useful if you primarily game on an Xbox console and have a deep friends list there, or if you’ve been picking up pals in Xbox Live-powered Play Anywhere games that have appeared on PCs, like Gears of War 4 or Forza Horizon 3.

You can start streaming your games by opening the Game Bar using the Win + G command and selecting the streaming option.

Microsoft

Windows 10’s Game Mode in Forza Horizon 3.

The Creators Update’s new Game Mode can potentially speed up and smooth out your gameplay by dedicating a given number of your CPU’s threads and your graphics card’s processing cycles to your game, reducing the threat of background tasks influencing performance. Some Windows Store games will be whitelisted (and Microsoft says Game Mode will work better with Windows Store games) but you’ll be able to enable Game Mode with any title in the Game Bar’s settings. Don’t expect miracles though; Microsoft predicts just a 2 to 5 percent performance uplift in CPU- or GPU-bound games.

We’ll have hands-on guides for both Beam broadcasting and Game Mode very soon.

5. Paint 3D

Let’s be frank: A lot of the niftier 3D and VR stuff promised for the Creators Update didn’t make it to the finished product. There’s no scanning app for Windows Phones to turn physical objects into 3D digital items, no 3D support in Office apps, and no wild user-facing VR capabilities. But the next-gen Paint 3D app is there, and it’s a blast.

Paint 3D exists to make crafting cartoony 3D scenes fast, fun, and easy. The app also hooks into Microsoft’s new Remix 3D website, where you’ll find fresh 3D objects created and shared by other Paint 3D users. It’s a blast.

Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Paint 3D tutorial is overly complicated, and the program doesn’t explain itself very well. Check out PCWorld’s guide to using Paint 3D and you’ll be creating awesome 3D landscapes in no time.

The rest

These flagship features are just the tip of the iceberg, though. Microsoft’s upgrade is utterly brimming with new goodies and tweaks. For a more in-depth examination, be sure to check out PCWorld’s Windows 10 Creators Update review as well as our roundup of all of the Creators Update’s best new features. This rabbit hole goes deep.

To comment on this article and other PCWorld content, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter feed.

[“Source-pcworld”]

April 5, 2024 0 comment

Internet

YouTubers’ first organizing attempt, the Internet Creators Guild, is shutting down

by Loknath Das July 12, 2019

written by Loknath Das

Around the same time that companies like Nike and Sony started realizing the powerful potential that online creators held for them, a group of established personalities banded together to create a guild meant to protect creators’ financial and personal interests. Three years later, that group, the Internet Creators Guild (ICG), is shutting down.

The ICG started out as a personal project from Hank Green, one of YouTube’s most respected and admired creators, to build a centralized organization for people who work online. The guild was supposed to educate creators, protect their interests, and help them succeed on platforms that were constantly changing monetization methods. “There is no system for protecting creators, many of whom have no experience in any industry, let alone the notoriously cut-throat entertainment industry,” Green wrote at the time.

But the $60-a-year membership and union-friendly language never really caught on. The guild never disclosed membership numbers, and it struggled to gain interest from the very people it was meant to represent.

“Creators with big audiences often don’t feel the need for support from a collective voice,” the ICG’s board wrote in a statementannouncing the closure. “We believe these attitudes will change as our community encounters new challenges. Antitrust sentiment grows in the US, and Article 13 now threatens the foundation of digital creativity in Europe.”

The board said that support has “declined to the point where we cannot maintain our work actively,” and that it’s limited their ability to recruit new members.

Despite the shutdown, the ICG’s concerns are even more apt years later. The guild says it remains concerned about networks and studios using illegitimate copyright claims to take down “huge amounts of content,” record labels allegedly taking 70 percent of every dollar spent on YouTube Premium subscriptions, and brands mandating that creators hide how much they’re paid for sponsorships, making it harder for everyone to be paid fairly. (The Verge reached out to YouTube for comment, but the company did not respond by publication time.)

The guild also found it difficult to get individuals spread across several continents to rally together, Anthony D’Angelo, the guild’s former executive director, told The Verge. Unlike labor movements happening right now in areas like digital media and the tech sector, creators are usually isolated. Not having that same kind of camaraderie affected the organization’s attempt to fight for a more secure front. Whereas traditional unions’ fights have immediate physical results (like requiring actors to have a membership card before stepping on certain sets), online media doesn’t.

“It’s seen as an inconvenience to them, rather than this amazing power,” D’Angelo said. “The setup of the space makes it harder to bring everyone together because they’re not all on the ground.”

Prominent YouTube creators also felt the guild wasn’t doing enough to help creators. Multiple YouTube creators like Lindsay Ellis and PhilosophyTube (who are often regarded as a part of left-leaning YouTube referred to as “BreadTube”) have specifically spoken about the lack of movement on the ICG’s end to actually help creators, instead of just raising awareness of the problems they face.

“One thing that liberal groups tend to forget a lot is accountability; being accountable to the people you’re trying to help,” Philosophy Tube said in a video about the subject. “Not just in the sense that they can write to you and give you feedback in a Slack group, but in the sense that you actually give them the power to direct the movement and say, ‘We’re going to use these tactics and do this.’”

Those concerns were heard by the ICG, said D’Angelo. He doesn’t disagree, but he argued the concerns raised by Ellis and others didn’t explain why the ICG failed. The reasons were more “nuanced, complex, and internal.” Part of that was incredibly low membership — numbers which D’Angelo declined to share with The Verge. But the biggest reason was trying to convince YouTube creators that in a constantly changing industry where nothing was certain, banding together through an organization was necessary. It’s hard to see the value of something if its existence seems ephemeral.

“Only when they realize that they have something to lose here will they be motivated to unionize,” D’Angelo said. “Because the space is so atomized, it’s hard to build that awareness and that solidarity.”

The fight isn’t over yet. The ICG may be gone, but D’Angelo is already starting to think of what’s next when it comes to protecting YouTube creators. Early rumblings of conversations happening with other guilds, including the screen actors guild, SAG-AFTRA, have started. (The Verge has reached out to SAG-AFTRA for comment.) People are migrating online faster, and developing more full-time jobs that exist solely on the internet. They need to be protected, D’Angelo said, and just because the ICG is closing shop doesn’t mean the fight ends here.

“The space needs health care. It needs fair contracts,” D’Angelo said. “I’m certain that collective action is the only way to achieve those goals. There are a lot of barriers to translating that imagined community into something that can change the world. Only when that conversation kicks up and people realize, ‘We have to do something about this,’ based on a common material interest, that is the key to actually mobilizing.”

[“source=theverge”]

July 12, 2019 0 comment

Blogging

Ex-Ripple CTO Launches Blogging Platform to Pay Content Creators XRP

by Loknath Das May 6, 2019

written by Loknath Das

Image result for Ex-Ripple CTO Launches Blogging Platform to Pay Content Creators XRP Cryptocurrency startups are increasingly eyeing content creators as a key use case.

Coil, the San Francisco-based startup founded by former Ripple CTO Stefan Thomas, just opened the public beta on its blogging platform designed to help scribes earn XRP.

Since the closed beta started in August 2018, roughly 1,000 test users have been paying in-browser subscriptions for a monthly rate of $5. Comparable to Spotify, Coil then automatically pays the content creators in XRP based on usage while the user enjoys the flat subscription fee.

Thomas told CoinDesk the new Coil.com blogging platform is working with the digital wallet provider Stronghold for dollar cash-out options in addition to XRP. Initially, the goal is to allow free access with tipping and payment options for bonus content.

“Every participant can decide what currency they want to use,” Thomas said. “Part of the next phase is really to experiment with what works, both from a creator’s side – where the constraints are, ‘How do I get some good quality bonus content without investing a huge amount of effort?’ – and from the users’ perspective of, ‘What will people actually sign up for?’”

Avi Kabani, the author of several nonfiction books about love and relationships, told CoinDesk that so far he’s earned 21 XRP, nearly $6, through Coil and XRP tips. Meanwhile, he’s spent nearly $20 worth of XRP watching Twitch users. So far, it appears Coil has enabled a circular economy within the XRP community.

“I typically like to save [XRP] in my [Coil] balance to support other creators,” Kabani said, adding he’d love to use the Coil blogging platform in addition to his social media channels. “It’s also good to know that XRP is liquid enough so that if someone does need fiat they can get it.”

Likewise, early Coil user and Forbes contributor Thomas Silkjær told CoinDesk he looks forward to seeing Coil integrations replace some publishing paywalls.

“You pay per second you are visiting a website. But the underlying technology is much more capable,” Silkjær said. “Imagine paying per kilobyte streamed of video, or paying for time spent reading articles otherwise walled by paywalls and subscription.”

Competing options

While Coil is uniquely focused on time spent on the page, it is hardly the only tool offering micropayments directly to content creators.

Starting in 2016, the privacy-minded web browser Brave has offered a rewards program for content creators, with payouts to bloggers, YouTubers and publishers denominated in the company’s Basic Attention Token (BAT).

In 2018, the lightning blog Yalls facilitated 20,000 bitcoin invoices in just seven months, while the ethereum-centric platform Cent currently hosts more than 50 blogs that earned creators between $55 and $326 worth of ETH in the past 30 days. By comparison, the Coil subscription earnings appear modest.

However, Silkjær said that Coil’s true potential will only be unlocked when the Ripple-invented interoperability protocol Interledger allows the micropayments tool to support multiple currencies.

“Using Interledger, content creators can define what currency they wish to receive. And no matter if Coil is spending XRP, it will be bridged on the network to match the content creators’ needs: currency-agnostic micropayments,” Silkjær said.

Indeed, Thomas confirmed there are plans to leverage Interledger for a variety of cash-out options, from diverse cryptocurrencies to direct bank transfers.

“We think of it as a platform for publishing and it’s built on open standards so it is more interoperable than past publishing platforms,” Thomas said, adding:

“The standard that we’re built on, called Web Monetization, is intended to be a browser standard someday. But in order to be a browser standard, first you have to show some market traction, so that’s what we’re building out right now.”

[“source=coindesk”]

May 6, 2019 0 comment

Tech Update

Microsoft asks users not to miss Windows 10 Fall Creators update

by Loknath Das September 21, 2017

written by Loknath Das

Next big update for Windows 10 is coming next month.

ext big update for Windows 10 is coming next month.

Microsoft wants users to keep their software up to date in order to avoid another series of deadly cyber attacks such as WannaCrypt that impacted worldwide PCs that were running an outdated Microsoft software.

Two new ransomware families like “WannaCrypt” and “Petya” targeted dated Windows operating systems and created havoc across the world, including at some places in India.

Now, with the official rollout of Windows 10 “Fall Creators” update slated for October, Microsoft wants to stay one step ahead in identifying and preventing security threats.

“If you are running Windows 10 and have the ‘Fall Creators’ update, then you are completely protected from those specific malwares,” Vineet Durani, Director, Windows and Surface Business, Microsoft India, told IANS in an interview.

The “Fall Creators” update would feature “controlled folder access” inside its Windows Defender Security Centre that would enable users to secure data through “protected” folders.

“This is an ever-changing landscape. If anybody comes and says, hey, here is a piece of technology and you are completely protected for life, that is not going to happen. That is the reason we build an update or version twice a year because we want to stay a few steps ahead of whatever is out there,” Durani noted.

Microsoft spends over $1 billion every year on cyber safety and security-related research and development.

The company advises users and organisations to install all available security updates — including the previous patch MS17-010 — and ensure that automatic updates are enabled.

Windows 10 OS includes mitigations that prevent common exploitation techniques by cyber threats.

“As India gets more digital (which is now happening at a faster pace than ever), we now have the advantage of moving fast because we do not have too much of a legacy (digital) as a country,” Durani said.

The company has also introduced security features such as Microsoft “Credential Guard” and Microsoft “Hello”.

“We have this tech called the ‘Credentials Guard’ that basically stores your credentials in the hypervisor layer — that is the layer between hardware and software. It does not come with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version. One has to buy it as an additional capability so that larger organisations can use it,” Durani told IANS.

“We have worked with partners like Intel and AMD to enable it. The feature is enabled on modern hardware like 5th-gen Intel processors and onwards,” the Microsoft executive added.

Windows “Hello” lets the user set up a quick biometric login instead of a password. With this feature, the user is promised enterprise-grade security without having to type in a password.

Microsoft devices such as Surface Pro 4, Surface Book and most personal computers (PCs) with fingerprint sensors are already compatible with Windows “Hello” and more devices that can recognise your face and fingerprints will be available in the near future.

According to Microsoft’s “Security Intelligence” report, financial institutions have always been popular phishing targets because of their potential for providing direct illicit access to bank accounts of the victims.

Sites that targeted financial institutions accounted for the second-largest share of both attacks and impressions during the first quarter of 2017 and accounted for the largest share of impressions in February and March this year, the report said.

Microsoft would roll out the “Fall Creators” update for Windows 10 on October 17 which will include Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) support.

Announcing the availability at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) industry show in Berlin earlier this month, Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President for Windows and Devices, said that the free update will also include a new photo app and many tweaks to the overall design and usability of Windows 10.

[“Source-hindustantimes”]

September 21, 2017 0 comment

Tech Update

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to Have New Feature to Prevent WannaCry-like Attacks

by Loknath Das August 20, 2017

written by Loknath Das

Image result for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to Have New Feature to Prevent WannaCry-like Attacks

Microsoft India in a select press briefing in New Delhi showcased a new feature to prevent ransomware attacks like the recent WannaCry infection. The feature will be available in the upcoming major update for Windows 10 (Fall Creators Update) in September. Microsoft will introduce something called “Controlled folder access” inside its Windows Defender Security Centre in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

“Controlled folder access monitors the changes that apps make to files in certain protected folders,” according to Microsoft. Also, the new update will provide folder containerisation. This means you can create protected folders to guard important files from unknown threats. So, in the event of any ransomware attack, the files saved under ‘protected folders’ will be accessible while unprotected files could be locked by the ransomware. System folders will be protected by default. Having said that the recent WannaCry ransomware had majorly affected PCs running older Windows operating systems, like Windows XP, Microsoft has tightened its grip to prevent ransomware attacks on its latest Windows 10 OS.

Windows 10 fall creators update

“If an app attempts to make a change to these files, and the app is blacklisted by the feature, you’ll get a notification about the attempt. Also, you can add additional folders to the list of protected folders, but you cannot alter the default list, which includes folders such as Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Desktop,” as per a statement by Microsoft.

Source:-news18

August 20, 2017 0 comment

News Update

Official: Windows for Workstations returns in Fall Creators Update

by Loknath Das August 11, 2017

written by Loknath Das

Microsoft is reviving Windows Workstations with a new cut of Windows titled “Windows 10 Pro for Workstations”.

The last time your vultures heard “Windows for Workstations” was the 1990s when Redmond used that moniker to market flavors of 16-bit Windows 3 with networking stacks. Then along came the 32-bit NT Workstation editions – such as Windows NT Workstation 4.0 launched in 1996. The term Workstation fell away as Microsoft labelled its operating systems Server, Home, Pro, Enterprise, and so on.

Fast forward to June this year, and it emerged Microsoft was bringing it back with the upcoming release of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations. Now, the software giant has officially announced this edition of Windows, listing its confirmed features.

This time around the target is power users, not the mainstream: Microsoft’s bringing back the name and a workstation product because its says some Windows 10 users wanted a version of the OS that can handle higher-performing hardware.

The new version of Windows can therefore run up to four CPUs and they can be Xeons or Opterons instead of their less-powerful cousins intended for desktops. The new OS will also be able to handle six terabytes of RAM.

The OS also runs ReFS, the Resilient File System adopted in Windows Server 2012, rather than the NTFS used in other cuts of Windows 10. Another notable storage-related feature is SMB Direct, which when paired with Remote Direct Memory Access-enabled NICs will speed data into and out of PCs running Windows 10 Pro for Workstations.

Persistent memory is another option, thanks to NVDIMM-N support.

Microsoft’s intent here is clear: the world buys about a million workstations each year and right now Windows 10 isn’t a good choice for plenty of them. The new cut of the OS will change that.

Microsoft’s not offered pricing for the new version of Windows.

Interestingly, the new OS is at first glance overkill for Microsoft’s own workstation, the Surface Studio, as it maxes out with a Core i7 and has an integrated Ethernet port that appears not to support RDMA. If Microsoft upgrades the Studio to suit Windows 10 Pro for Workstations it will be a mighty machine indeed.

Source;-theregistre

August 11, 2017 0 comment