Microsoft have released on Monday the Windows 10 Technical Preview tools, which offers software developers the first go at designing the much discussed universal applications. The tools are available for download for developers signed up for the Windows Insider Program.
Using them necessitates an installation of the latest Windows 10 technical preview release, while also having the community technology preview for Visual Studio 2015, and the previews version of the tools which include the operating system’s software development kit.
The universal apps are the base on which Microsoft are pushing their „One Windows” ideal, meaning that apps will be built cross-platform on the same runtime version and framework, and will be available for sale on a single unified store. Microsoft also state on their Windows blog that their upcoming system’s device platform will offer tools and techniques that will cut the cost of manufacturing Windows 10 devices, while also making it easier.
Besides this, the software giant has also announced that its new OS will incorporate support for 8k displays, which do not exist commercially at the moment but are expected to emerge in the near future. These will show images at a mind blowing 7620×4230 resolution, and support will be limited to PC’s. Considering the fact that 4k displays are still in the process of being adopted, this marks some extensive long-term planning on the part of Microsoft.
These announcements continue the wave of details that are being released at an automatic fire rate about the upcoming operating system, which is to be released worldwide this summer. In the past week, we’ve learned that Microsoft will offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade for existing Windows 7 and 8 users. Moreover, this will also apply to those that use non-genuine versions of these operating systems, as they curiously have the option to be upgraded to an unlicensed version of Windows 10.
Concerns were also voiced that hardware manufacturers that strive to obtain the “Designed to Windows 10 logo” are now offered by Microsoft the choice of whether to allow users to turn the mandatory Secure Boot function off; not offering this option restricts the system to functioning only on Microsoft’s upcoming OS.