Microsoft reveals upcoming Windows 10 features

Microsoft has published a Windows 10 roadmap for Business and Enterprise customers that reveals upcoming features of the operating system as well as a planned release month for the operating system's Anniversary Update.

According to it, Microsoft plans to release the Anniversary Update in July 2016.

Cortana is also the best digital assistant at reminders, letting you set them in more ways including by pen, and [coming in July 2016] pulling reminder-relevant info from emails so you have the details at hand.

As I mentioned earlier, it would make sense for Microsoft to release the Anniversary Update shortly after the operation system's one year anniversary which would be at the end of July at the earliest.

While things may change depending on how development progresses, it is very likely that Microsoft will push out the free Anniversary Update to all Windows 10 devices around July 2016.

Upcoming Windows 10 Features

The list of features that you find on the page is probably what is most interesting from a user's and administrator's point of view.

While many are designed for Business or Enterprise use, some are available in all editions of the operating system.

Microsoft divides the feature listing into the categories "recently available", "in public preview", "in development" and canceled.

In Public Preview

These features are already part of Windows Insider builds or other preview builds of the operating system.

• Enterprise Data Protection: Designed to help prevent Enterprise data leaks, even on employee-devices. The feature ships with three protective modes: block, which analyzes activity and blocks employees from completing actions that would lead to inappropriate data sharing, override, which warning employees only, and silent, which logs but does not block or warn.
• Multifactor authentication for apps and websites: Use Windows Hello or Microsoft Passport to authenticate to an application or website.
• Microsoft Edge - Extensions: Extensions support for Microsoft Edge.
• Microsoft Edge - Pinning Tabs: Options to pin tabs in the Microsoft web browser.

In Development

These features are currently in development and usually not available for public preview at this point in time.

• Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection: A new service to help Enterprises respond to "advanced attacks" on their networks.
• Enhancements to Microsoft Passport: Unclear at this point how these enhancements will look like.
• Use your phone to unlock your Windows PC: Use a Windows or Android phone to unlock Windows 10 PCs, and authenticate with apps and services uses Windows Hello and Microsoft Passport.
• Use Companion Device to unlock your Windows PC: Use devices like the Microsoft Band 2 for Microsoft Passport basic authentication. Can also become a second authentication factor to unlock Windows 10 PCs.
• Touch screen support: Support for touch input when a phone that is compatible with Continuum is connected to a device connected to a touch monitor.
• Laptop-like accessory support: Support for a new accessory that looks like a laptop but does not ship with CPU or operating system. Designed for use with Continuum-compatible phones to use the phone with a laptop-like experience.
• Projecting on PCs: Continuum-supporting phones can not only be connected to standalone monitors or screens, but also to Windows 10 PCs.
• Microsoft Edge - Web Notifications: Adds support for Web Notifications to Microsoft Edge.
• PC to PC casting: Cast from one PC to another.
• Windows Ink: New and improved support for pen and touch-enabled devices.
• Cortana and Action Center Integration: Moves proactive Cortana notifications to the Action Center.
• Remote Display Experience: Windows 1o IoT feature that provides you with options to connect devices without displays remotely to devices with displays.
• Start Menu updates: Improvements to the start menu that make it easier to access all apps, and improve touch input support.
• Picture in Picture: Monitor content using the new picture in picture mode.
• Enhancements to Azure AD Join: unknown currently.

Now You: Anything on that list that you find interesting?