Windows 10 Redstone ushers in business improvements
The next big release of Windows 10, due in 2016 and code-named Redstone, appears to be very helpful for business users. For a start, Cortana is planned to be a more mobile part of the operating system, appearing in Office apps, Office 365 and across the desktop. As Microsoft improve her communication and “smartness”, she should be able to better help with repetitive tasks, make it easy to communicate with coworkers and do more complex searches, without leaving the current document.
Other Redstone improvements will make changes to the Action Center and the notifications hub in Windows 10. This should make managing updates and resolving system issues less of a chore, with Cortana able to integrate with Microsoft’s Knowledge Base and suggest solutions ahead of users or IT departments having to go and hunt for them.
We can also expect to see the return of widgets and their helpful functionality. Widgets were a feature of Windows Vista, rapidly removed in later versions, but with users used to mobile sized apps, single-function features and viewing information at a glance, they could make a return to check document progress, contact availability, share prices and so on. A widget could relate to a Windows 10 app and offer that information without opening the main app, or showing useful alerts when an app needs to give information.
Other improvements in Redstone should see better task flow across devices. While Continuum provides pick up and go for some devices, soon your Windows 10 desktop will follow you around all devices, making it easier to keep your focus wherever you are. And with easier support for iOS and possibly Android apps, there’s a good chance that Windows will be more OS agnostic, as you can run your Office apps on any device and an increasing number of their apps will come to Windows 10.
Redstone will be a standard Windows 10 update, and the features will be available to test in the Insider Preview program, so set aside one PC in your office to see if they can improve how your company works before deciding to upgrade on final release.
