Microsoft Announces Windows 10

Microsoft on Tuesday announced Windows 10 at an event in San Francisco. No, you didn't somehow miss Windows 9. According to Microsoft OS chief Terry Myerson, who presided over the event with corporate VP Joe Belfiore, the new operating system is so substantial, "it wouldn't have been right" to simply tick up from version 8 to version 9.

Microsoft's detractors would no doubt counter that Microsoft chose the new name in order to further distance its latest release from Windows 8, which has been criticized as difficult to use on traditional, non-touch PCs. Myerson and Belfiore alluded to this criticism, emphasizing that Windows 10's user interface will be familiar to legacy desktop users.

"Whether you're coming from Windows 7 or Windows 8, [Windows 10] will let you be immediately productive," said Myerson. He said the new OS, which won't be available until next year, will be compatible with the apps, tools, and systems that desktop customers use today.

[Read the rest on InformationWeek]

Michael Endler joined InformationWeek as an associate editor in 2012. He previously worked in talent representation in the entertainment industry, as a freelance copywriter and photojournalist, and as a teacher. Michael earned a BA in English from Stanford University in 2005 ... View Full Bio