Windows Phone 10 for Phones Preview Released Today
For those with a Windows Phone (or just those interested in seeing how Microsoft plans to attempt to lure them to the platform in the future), Microsoft has released their Windows 10 Preview for phones today to coincide with their release of Windows 10 Preview for desktop that was released last month.
The new update brings universal Office apps (Excel, Word, why am I naming them, you know them). These universal apps are meant to work across desktop PCs, tablets, and phones alike –simply switching UI and controls to accommodate the device it’s being used on (think responsive website). Also, included is a Windows Store that is a similar concept. A concept I personally have been saying needs to be stretched across the entire Windows/Windows Phone ecosystem for a while now, but we’ll touch on that and why in a video later possibly.
The other major changes it brings are:
- UI enhancements
- New Xbox app that allows you to do some stuff (the only one of which I think is particularly interesting will be live TV streaming from the Xbox, but that’s coming in another update in the “coming weeks”).
- Improved Music app that allows you to play your music from OneDrive and has some UI improvements itself.
- Redone Video app that allows you to play more formats of videos on your device (including MKV files).
- And a new Camera app with various improvements.
The update is only available to people in the Insider program and even only ones within the Fast Ring of that program (Insider is the beta testing group and Fast Ring is those that opt to get it as early as possible, being well aware of it meaning more bugs etc). If you’re in that inner ring, you can go to your Settings and manually check for the update, otherwise, if you want to join in the testing fun, head to Microsoft’s sign up page here.
Any one excited? Underwhelmed? Read this even though they don’t have Windows Phone and are ready to scoff? Let me know below.
