This is the last of three posts on Windows 10.  Previously I examined specifications, compatibility issues, and default settings for Microsoft’s new OS.  Today I review all the cool new features Windows 10 has to offer.

Print to PDF

At long last, Windows has native, built-in, Print to PDF.  Any Windows application that supports printing to paper will now support printing to PDF.

A New Browser

Tired of Internet Explorer?  Meet Edge:

• Write, draw and take notes directly on web pages
• Read without distraction in full screen mode using “Reading View“
• Add articles and posts to a reading list for later viewing
• Search directly from the address bar
• Find more information instantly by highlighting or right-clicking on any word.  Cortana integrates with Edge, providing a wiki-like experience.
• Use the new “Hub” to organize and collect your favorites, reading list, browsing history, and current downloads

Biometric Security

Windows 10 uses face, iris, and fingerprint recognition – not user names and passwords – to unlock your computer.  Check out this video posted on Techlicious.

Meet Your Virtual Assistant(s)

Cortana is Siri’s new competition.  Touted as Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana responds to voice commands to set reminders, track your schedule, or find documents.  To get the most out of Cortana, check out PC World’s comprehensive how-to guide.  To search popular cloud services and all devices connected to your PC, get the add-on REACHit.  Learn more here.

The Clutter Folder

If you have a love/hate relationship with your spam filter (blocks too much/doesn’t block enough), you may feel the same way about the Clutter folder in Windows Mail.  Email you probably don’t care about (ads? listserv messages? broadcast email?) can find its way to the Clutter folder.  Check this folder often, and if you find that legitimate, important messages are being diverted to “Clutter,” move them back to your inbox.  Windows Mail uses predictive filing to guess which emails are less important, and thus subject to filing in “Clutter.”  Over time, the Clutter tool will learn your preferences.  Find the Clutter folder under the “More” button in Mail.

Better Support for Multiple Monitors

Windows 10 now lets you scale each display separately, for example: set one display ratio for your tablet, use another setting for your desktop monitor(s).

Sync OneDrive Files

Gain full access to your OneDrive files by enabling the “fetch” feature.  PC World tells you how.

Laptop Battery Saver

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could optimize the battery life of your laptop?  Windows 10 makes it easy as pie.  Click on the Start menu, select: Settings > System > Battery Saver.

A Better File Explorer

If you use File Explorer to find files, you’ll appreciate the improvements made in Windows 10. The new “quick access” view now displays the most used/most recent files and folders.

Load Windows Apps from Anywhere

Before Windows 10, users could only load Windows Apps from the Windows store.  Now you can “sideload” an app from any source – just be aware that using an unofficial source may pose a security risk.  PC World describes how to enable sideloading.

Save Videos from any App or Program

This trick requires using Windows 10’s “Gaming DVR Tool.”  If you want to save actual video – not just a screenshot – read more about this feature here.

Many thanks to PC World and Techlicious for their excellent posts!

Final Thoughts

Let the buyer beware.  Remember our old Latin friend?  It applies here.  These features ARE cool, but many permit Microsoft or third parties to collect or access data about you.  If you didn’t read last week’s post on default settings, please do!

 All Rights Reserved [2015] Beverly Michaelis