Windows is currently working on it’s next-generation operating system, Windows 10. What happened to Windows 9 you ask? Well I don’t know. They just decided to go all the way to ten.

Windows 10 brings back a start menu that the desktop users are used to, blending the metro tile look of Windows 8, and the start menu of Windows 7. Windows 10 also brings multiple desktops to Windows, something Mac and Linux users have had for quite a while. Metro Apps, which are apps downloaded from the Windows Store, can now be ran in Windowed mode, rather than full-screen all the time.

Windows is working on a voice-recognition system dubbed ‘Cortana.’ Videos show users being able to use their voice to do common tasks, like searching the web, checking the weather, setting reminders, and calling people on Skype.

Though a release date has not been set yet, Microsoft has an event for January 21, 2015, where more details about its next operating system are expected to be announced. Windows 10 is currently available as a free preview until mid-April. You can download your copy from the Microsoft website. I would recommend that you would not install it on the main computer you use, as it is still in development, could fail, and you could lose all your data.

There are ways, of course, to install the Windows 10 preview alongside your current operating system, so that you don’t have to replace your current system with Windows 10 if you just want to try it out. I shrunk the partition on my hard drive and made a second partition onto which I installed Windows 10. One could also create a virtual drive in Disk Manager and then mount it during the install process, allowing them to install a copy to a virtual drive in your computer. However you choose to do it, back up your data first. You wouldn’t want to lose that.

Hopefully, Windows 10 will encourage users to upgrade from Windows 8, 7, or even XP. Adoption of Windows 8 has been hesitant, as many users do not like the new start screen. Users of Windows 7 should consider upgrading, as mainstream support just ended last week (January 13, 2015), though extended support for Windows 7 will still be available for another 5 years. Users of XP should definitely considering upgrading as no updates have been issued for the operating system since last April!

That’s all for now…

So I’ve been trying out Windows Technical Preview for the past few weeks. The technical preview became available on October 1st. As with its last few operating systems, Microsoft has released an early beta testing version, allowing users to send feedback to Microsoft about the new operating system. This next version will be released sometime in 2015.

The next version of Windows seeks to introduce a number of new features. First, the start menu is back. The start menu of Windows 7 is blended with the start screen of Windows 8. Users can quickly search for an app, or click on a search suggestion to bring up the Search app.

Windows apps now run in a windowed mode, rather than just full screen, allowing keyboard and mouse users to use the apps more effectively.

Another recent addition that I enjoy is the recent files menu being included in Explorer’s main page. I can find files I just saved/downloaded, without having to navigate to the specific folder they are in.

Windows now supports the addition of multiple desktops. For example, I could have one desktop with a word document open, and another with a web browser open, and then switch between desktops, rather than having to find the app I want in the myriad of windows open on just the one screen.

On the technical related side, it seems Windows 10 will be built similarly to Windows Phone 10 and the next version for Xbox One. This will allow develops to easily make an app for all devices. Rather than having to start from scratch for each app, some of the same code will work between each platform.

Google has finally updated its Hangouts app to include voice calling. You’ll have to download the Hangouts Dialer app first if you have an Android phone.This app will allow you to call people in the US/Canada for FREE! If you have a Google Voice account, you can add funds and also make very cheap international calls as well. Once you download the app, just open it and click on the dialpad icon and place your call.

Hangouts is Google’s chat app. Hangouts users can chat, voice call or video call each other. You can choose to integrate your phone’s SMS with it, and Google uses it as the standard messaging app in it’s latest version of Android (KitKat). 

Okay, so many people have been trapped into all sorts of things on the internet.  It’s best to stay informed on how to be safe on-line. There are preventative measures that you can take, in order to avoid being taken advantage of by internet scammers.

1. Sharing to get access

People often get duped into sharing a link on their Facebook walls. It will often say, “Share this link to watch the video,” or something similar. Once you share the link, you don’t get access, and you have also just posted a link to your wall, which then traps your friends as well. Don’t do it. It’s a trap!

2. Programs that come with free programs. 

Often, when you get free programs off the internet, they will come with additional free programs that try to install themselves when you are installing the program you actually want. You have to watch out for these dialogues while installing the program. Often, there will be a check box that is automatically ticked that you will have to untick in order to prevent the installation of additional software.

3. Copying and Pasting Code

Hackers will often use snippets of code, and order you to copy and paste them into your address bar and then press enter. This takes advantage of JavaScript programming, and can manipulate the web pages you paste it on. For example, hackers can create code that will automatically post stuff to your Facebook, or add comments, send messages, etc. Do not copy and paste code into your address bar in order to get access to content!

4. E-mailed spam links

Hackers will often break into email accounts, either because of an easy to guess password, or easy security questions which hackers easily guess. They then use the account to email all the contacts on that account with a spam link. Often, that is the only link in the email, and nothing else is said about the link. There are certain things that throw red flags. Foreign domain names (for example, .fr instead of a .com address), long codes, etc.

Additionally, be aware of emails which say “You need to recover your account” or etc. For example, it might be an email from PayPal. However, it is not an actual email from PayPal, and clicking the link takes you to a PayPal looking website, designed to entice you to enter your username and password so they can use that information to compromise your account.

5. Password Stealing

Again, only enter your password on the website for which you use it. If a website asks you for a password for another website, make sure you trust that website before giving away your password.

These are just a few of the ways you can stay safe online. As always, be careful what you click on.