Windows 10 Anniversary Update Improves Security, Cortana And Edge On 2 August

Microsoft has confirmed the first major update to Windows 10 will be available from 2 August as a free download, adding a raft of new security features, Windows Ink capabilities and Cortana upgrades.

“When we introduced Windows 10, our vision was not only to deliver the best and most secure version of the OS ever, it was also to create an experience that would keep getting better,” said Terry Myerson, head of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group. “The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is a great example of this — and we look forward to building on it even further in the future.”

Windows 10 Anniversary Update brings Windows Hello biometric security for applications and websites in the Microsoft Edge browser, while Windows Defender will now automatically schedule scans and serve notifications when these are completed – detailing any threats found.

For businesses, Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (WDATP) is a new service that detects, investigates and takes actions against threats on an enterprise network. It is powered by sensors and researchers, as well as data from third parties, and currently covers more than 70,000 endpoints in trials held at 300 companies.

Read More: Windows 10 review

Windows 10 anniversary update

Windows Information Protection is another security feature aimed at enterprises, helping to minimise against accidental data leaks by separating personal and corporate information, protecting the latter at all times.

In terms of usability, Cortana is now available from the lock screen, can save information such as frequent flyer numbers, and offers cross-device notification. Reminders can also have an image attached so they are much more visual.

Edge now has browser extensions available from the Windows Store and claims to be much more power efficient by enabling fewer CPU cycles, improving memory use and minimising the impact of background processes.

Usability enhancements

Windows Ink is a new handwriting feature for touchscreen devices that lets users write notes, draw sketches and add annotations to certain apps such as Maps, Office 365 and Microsoft Edge.

“Windows Ink, available for the first time in the Anniversary Update, brings the writing you do every day into your digital world,” added Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi,

“Now, using a Windows 10 device, graphic designers can be more creative, musicians can write digital music, lawyers can edit documents with the power of the pen, and students can do mathematical equations and learn by writing – all with Windows Ink.”

More than 350 million devices will be eligible for Windows 10 Anniversary Update, but anyone wanting to upgrade from Windows 7 and 8 for free has to do so before 29 July.

Microsoft has a stated aim of having one billion devices running Windows 10, but its methods of encouraging people to upgrade for free to achieve this goal have been controversial.

Some have suggested Windows 10 has been installed against their will, including one woman in the US who was awarded $10,000 in compensation for a ‘forced’ upgrade. Earlier this year, Microsoft started issuing Windows 10 upgrade notifications to SMBs.

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