Microsoft to Show Off More Windows 10 Operating System Features

Microsoft will use an event Wednesday to offer a wider glimpse of the next version of Windows. The company is planning to show off new features of its flagship operating system — and possibly an improved Internet browser and more uses for Microsoft's voice-controlled digital assistant, Cortana. Executives will also demonstrate how the new Windows is designed to provide a more consistent experience and a common platform for software apps on different devices, from personal computers to tablets, smartphones and even the company's Xbox gaming console. Microsoft gave only a limited preview of Windows 10 last fall. More features will be announced as Microsoft gets closer to releasing it later this year. 'It can't be overstated how important this is for Microsoft,' Gartner tech analyst Brian Blau said. 'They've positioned Windows 10 as the solution to all the problems they created with Windows 8.' There won't be a Windows 9. Microsoft has skipped ahead in naming, from Windows 8 to Windows 10, as though to put more distance between them.