The 10 Most Righteous New Features Coming to Windows 10
At the Build conference in San Francisco, Microsoft showed off a host of new features and enhancements for Windows 10. Here are the ones to watch for.

Bloomberg via Getty Images
Featured in this article

Your Face Is Your Password
As long as you have a face, Windows Hello wants to make sure you don’t need a password. [Microsoft](http://www.wired.com/tag/microsoft/) is making its fingerprint- and face-unlock features available to apps across the platform, and is even going to allow websites to authenticate you using Hello, as long as you’re in the Edge browser. Hello is an awesomely fast way to unlock your computer, and should work just as well everywhere. Just, you know, don't get decapitated—then you won't be able to log in with this cool feature.

Genius-Level Sticky Notes
Microsoft’s Bryan Roper said during the Build keynote that 8 million people use [Windows 10](http://www.wired.com/tag/windows)’s built-in sticky notes app every month, and 3 million use it every day. So Microsoft has made the notes a little smarter. They do a good job of reading your handwriting, and Cortana can recognize dates and turn notes into reminders. It’s particularly useful if you’re writing with a Surface Pen. Speaking of which...

The Pen Is Mightier
Pen input is really, really important to Microsoft. And the Windows 10 Anniversary update has a lot of pen involved. You can use an on-screen ruler to draw perfectly straight lines, draw a line between two dots in Maps to calculate the distance, highlight and delete text in Word, and much more. Pen’s only one of many input mechanisms in Windows 10, but it’s clearly one of the most important.

Facebook Goes Windows-Native
The Windows Store, and the universal apps within, are critical to the long-term success of Microsoft’s one-platform-everywhere strategy. [Facebook](http://www.wired.com/tag/facebook)’s been a big missing piece for a long time, but now it’s bringing The Big Blue App, plus Instagram and Facebook Messenger, to the store.
Microsoft01Your Face Is Your Password
As long as you have a face, Windows Hello wants to make sure you don’t need a password. [Microsoft](http://www.wired.com/tag/microsoft/) is making its fingerprint- and face-unlock features available to apps across the platform, and is even going to allow websites to authenticate you using Hello, as long as you’re in the Edge browser. Hello is an awesomely fast way to unlock your computer, and should work just as well everywhere. Just, you know, don't get decapitated—then you won't be able to log in with this cool feature.
Microsoft02Genius-Level Sticky Notes
Microsoft’s Bryan Roper said during the Build keynote that 8 million people use [Windows 10](http://www.wired.com/tag/windows)’s built-in sticky notes app every month, and 3 million use it every day. So Microsoft has made the notes a little smarter. They do a good job of reading your handwriting, and Cortana can recognize dates and turn notes into reminders. It’s particularly useful if you’re writing with a Surface Pen. Speaking of which...
Microsoft03The Pen Is Mightier
Pen input is really, really important to Microsoft. And the Windows 10 Anniversary update has a lot of pen involved. You can use an on-screen ruler to draw perfectly straight lines, draw a line between two dots in Maps to calculate the distance, highlight and delete text in Word, and much more. Pen’s only one of many input mechanisms in Windows 10, but it’s clearly one of the most important.
WIRED04Facebook Goes Windows-Native
The Windows Store, and the universal apps within, are critical to the long-term success of Microsoft’s one-platform-everywhere strategy. [Facebook](http://www.wired.com/tag/facebook)’s been a big missing piece for a long time, but now it’s bringing The Big Blue App, plus Instagram and Facebook Messenger, to the store.
Microsoft05Your Xbox Is a PC Now
At long last, Microsoft has turned its game console into the full-fledged PC it’s always been meant to be. (The reverse is also true, as more and more games come to PC and Xbox.) The Xbox and Windows stores are now one thing, available everywhere, which means you’ll soon be able to run games, apps, and Cortana everywhere. Say hello to your new living room computer.
Microsoft06HoloLens Is Coming. Someday. Really.
Alex Kipman, one of the co-inventors of Microsoft’s futuristic [HoloLens](http://www.wired.com/tag/hololens) augmented-reality tool, got very excited when he announced that the first developer kits are shipping. To get people building, Microsoft has made a new app called Galaxy Explorer, and put all the code [on GitHub](https://github.com/Microsoft/GalaxyExplorer) for developers to peruse. NASA showed off some apps it’s already using, too. HoloLens is still a long way away for most people, but it’s getting a little closer all the time.
Microsoft07Cortana Is Everywhere You Are
Even if you’re not into the voice-assistant thing, you’re not going to be able to avoid Cortana for long. Now it works on the lockscreen, meaning you can yell “Hey Cortana” from across the room to get stuff done. It’s integrated into apps, looking for calendar appointments and reminders and helpfully suggesting apps you might want to use. It’s always watching, always running, always trying to help no matter what you’re doing.
Microsoft08Hello, Clippy 2.0
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella basically came out at Build and said the future of Microsoft is bots. “Chat as an interface,” he called it. Microsoft is hoping developers will build simple bots that let people order pizza, buy plane tickets, do absolutely anything you can think of. They want to make sure everything works through simple chat interfaces, in a way that normal (non-programmer) users can figure out. They’ll work with almost any app or platform, all hosted in Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Watch your back, Alexa.
Skype09Skype Is Getting Love Again
If conversational interfaces are the future, then Skype just got a promotion. The app is going to be deeply integrated with Cortana, and you’ll be able to chat with bots to do almost anything, a la Facebook’s artificial assistant [M](http://www.wired.com/2015/08/how-facebook-m-works/). Skype’s in HoloLens, on Windows, on your phone, it’s everywhere. And it’s about to become even more important to the next phase of computing at Microsoft.
Brian Smale10Developers, Developers, Developers
Never forget that Build is mostly a developer's conference. That may help explain the actual gasps that arose from the audience when Microsoft showed the Bash shell running natively in Windows, bringing Linux developer tools to the platform in a new and better way. Or the long-winded explanation of the impressive new CRIS (Custom Recognition Intelligent Service) platform. Windows is making real moves to be more developer-friendly all the time, and the audience reacted. *The bash shell, you guys!*
Comments
Back to topDavid Pierce is a former senior staff writer at WIRED, covering personal technology. ... Read More
Huawei's ‘Chip Queen’ Throws Down the Gauntlet
The Chinese company is adapting to the demise of Moore’s Law, which guides chip production. It could complicate US chip dominance.
Will Knight
A Dating App Is Giving Away Free Gas to Convince People to Get Out of the House
Amid ongoing economic anxieties, BLK and other companies are giving away basic essentials to appeal to the public.
Jason Parham
The Best Computer Speakers for Jamming Out in Your Home Office
These WIRED-tested computer speakers, from stereo speakers to surround sound, will suit any budget.
Simon Hill
I Like Ferrari's Luce EV. But This Is Why It's Heartbreaking
Designed by Jony Ive and a host of ex-Cupertino colleagues, the Luce shows us what might have been had Apple made good on its $10 billion bet.
Jeremy White
Drone Ports and Funding Mayhem: Trump's Ballroom Has Turned Toxic
“Republicans are just going to have to suck it up and get it done,” says one Trump aide about the funding melee. The votes, though, may simply not be there.
Hugo Lowell
Former Google and Apple Researchers Launch a Startup to Build AI’s Missing Feedback Loop
Trajectory is betting the rapid iteration cycle that supercharged vibe-coding can help all kinds of companies build AI products that learn continuously.
Maxwell Zeff
Xreal’s New $299 ‘xbx’ Smart Glasses Channel Xbox Vibes
These display smart glasses can connect to a phone, laptop, or gaming handheld and project the screen to your eyeballs.
Boone Ashworth
The State Department Really Doesn’t Want to Talk About the Office of Remigration
The office was created a year ago and seemingly named for a far right European plan to expel minorities and immigrants from Western nations. It now works, a source says, with little to no oversight.
David Gilbert
My Osprey Farpoint 40 Has Outlasted 3 Houses, 2 Cars, and a Serious Relationship
I’m a chronic overpacker, but this backpack is my perfect match, with its huge capacity, numerous pockets, and impressive durability.
Louryn Strampe
Waymo Takes Its Self-Driving Cars to Virginia
The company is mapping Alexandria and, soon, Arlington—right across from the power center of Washington, DC.
Aarian Marshall
Department of Labor Tells Employees to Report Anyone Prioritizing DEI
The email instructs workers to report behavior that predates Donald Trump’s second inauguration. One employee tells WIRED it felt like a “reminder to narc on your coworkers.”
Vittoria Elliott
Corsair’s Galleon SD 100 Is a Large Keyboard, but Stream Deck Customizations Are a Joy
Corsair unites Stream Deck functionality with Drop keyboard design expertise on its latest Galleon SD 100.
Henri Robbins
Wired Coupons

Squarespace Promo Code
10% Off Exclusive Squarespace Promo Code 2026

Home Depot Promo Code
Memorial Day Appliance Deals + Up to an Extra $1000 Off + Free Delivery on appliance purchases $998+

LG Promo Code
LG Promo Code: 20% Off Your First Order

Dell Coupon Code
Dell Promo Code 20% Off
.png)
Samsung Promo Code
30% Samsung Coupon - Offer Program 2026

Doordash Promo Code
Doordash Coupon $20 Off
