TechRadar Verdict
With the October Update, Windows 10 becomes more reliable than ever before and comes with fresh – if minor – features. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, but Windows 10 is now better than ever and still continues to progress with a host of constant updates.
Start menu improvements
Action Center, Cortana are useful
Edge continues to improve
Windows Hello faster, easier
Timeline genuinely useful
OneDrive needs work
Improvements also cause issues
Some changes are incomplete
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Windows 10isMicrosoft’s most versatile OS yet. Rather than overhauling an entire OS every year, the company has designed it to receive semi-annual updates that largely focus on adding in new features and offering improvements to stability and overall performance. And, by doing so, it’s given WindowslaptopandPCusers the option to update incrementally.
Adding to Windows 10’s versatility are its handful of variations to suit different types of hardware, individuals or businesses. There’s Windows 10 Home Edition that is best suited for individual use, as well asWindows 10 Prowhose suite of tools are ideal for businesses and professionals. And, there’s even Windows 10 Education designed for a classroom setting. It’s no wonder this has become Microsoft’s most popularoperating systemto date.
Even with its successor,Windows 11, now available as a free optional upgrade for Windows 10 andWindows 7users, Windows 10 continues to be among the most widely used operating systems out there – which is likely why Microsoft will continue to update it for the foreseeable future.
Windows 10 20H1is on the horizon and we’re tracking the biggest changes
Windows 10 getsArch Linux, one of the trickiest distros around
It’s simply an operating system like no other, and it’s likely to stay beloved long after its successor has completely taken over. From its key features to its semi-annual updates, here’s everything you need to know about this powerful and extremely versatile OS. Read on and find out what makes it tick.
If you’d like to try out its successor, we show youhow to download and install Windows 11right now.
This review pertains to the Home and Pro versions of Windows 10. For detailed Windows 10 system requirements and the various versions, check outthe Microsoft website.
Windows 10 October 2020 Update
Unlike theMay 2020 Update, which came with a whole new set of features and performance refinements, this October 2020 Update is a relatively minor one. Rolled out on October 21 and nowavailable for download, its main focus is on implementing fixes to the previous update.
That isn’t to say that this October 2020 Update doesn’t come with new features of its own, however. Among those are the full integration of the Chromium-basedMicrosoft Edgebrowser into the OS, inclusion ofMicrosoft Edgetabs into the OS’s Alt-Tab menu, and abrand new Start menuas well as more support for high refresh rategaming monitors, an improved Taskbar, and the addition of app logos in Windows 10 notifications.
New Start menuThe October 2020 Update has given theWindows 10 start menu a facelift. While it’s not the drastic redesign that people were hoping for, it does give the start menu a fresh look. The design is more streamlined, removing the solid color backplates behind the logos in the apps list and applying a partially transparent background to the tiles. It makes it blend in better to your desktop theme and easier to find the apps you’re looking for.
Alt + Tab changesThis update also changes the Alt + Tab function, one of the most-used keyboard shortcuts. So, now when pressing those keys, you can not only switch between open apps using an on-screen menu, but also scroll through open Edge tabs as well. That makes it easy to switch between websites when you’re using the browser.
Improved tablet experienceWhile not exactly a new feature, this update also improves the operating system’s overall experience on2-in-1 laptops. Improvements here include automatically switching to the tablet experience when you undock the screen on detachable 2-in-1s as well as better spacing between desktop icons.
Current page:Introduction and October 2020 Update overview
Dan (Twitter,Google+) is TechRadar’s Former Deputy Editor and is now in charge at our sister siteT3.com. Covering all things computing, internet and mobile he’s a seasoned regular at major tech shows such as CES, IFA and Mobile World Congress. Dan has also been a tech expert for many outlets including BBC Radio 4, 5Live and the World Service, The Sun and ITV News.
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