Microsoft is giving Windows 10 a big upgrade.
The free “anniversary update” on August 2 will give users a slew of updated tools for browsing, gaming and security.
— Microsoft Edge: The browser will be updated to use less memory and power. There will also be better features for people with disabilities, such as a high-contrast mode and screen readers. And for the first time ever, users can also use biometrics through Windows Hello to authentic their identities on certain websites.
— Xbox One: Buy a game once and play it on a console or Windows 10 computer with shared game progress. Students can also save $300 if they buy an Xbox One and a Surface together before August 14. Strategically, Microsoft has timed its new smaller Xbox One S to launch in August, starting at $300.
— Cortana: The virtual assistant is getting smarter, according to Microsoft, with features that help the program save, recall and synchronize data across devices, including, for the first time, the Xbox.
— Windows Defender: Users will have the ability to schedule automatic and periodic anti-malware scans of their computers, and receive reports about threats.
Microsoft says Windows 10 is the company’s most successful version of Windows and it now runs on more than 350 million devices.
A free upgrade to Windows 10 is still available for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices until July 29.
The new version got its first huge update a few months after launching last year.
Windows 10 is the end of the line for the operating system. Microsoft has no plans to build a “Windows 11.”
That’s actually a good thing because users will get steady upgrades like this instead of waiting years for a new version.
— David Goldman contributed to this story.