Windows 10 Anniversary Update : First Impressions

With the anniversary update of Windows 10, it has now several new features that are pretty useful.

Here are some new key features added by this update:

Windows Defender Offline Scan : Windows Defender gets better detection capabilities with this update and can also scan PC offline.

offline scan in windows defender

Click on Scan Offline from Settings > Windows Defender to use this new feature.

Windows Ink Workspace : This feature once enabled (right click on task bar and choose Show Windows Ink WorkSpace button will show up as a pen icon in system tray.

windows ink workspace

Screen Sketch in Windows Ink Workspace

winkspace1

It offers a workspace that can jot down notes (Stickies), draw sketches/doodles (SketchPad) and edit screenshots (Screen Sketch). Makes a very useful addition.

Improved Cortana : Cortana can now add reminders with web links and pics.

cortana screen in windows 10

adding pics and web links to Cortana reminders

Dark Mode : Change the app appearance from light to dark using Dark Mode.

darkmode

This can be accessed through Settings > Personalization.

Windows Hello Integration : Windows Hello – the biometric authentication feature using face, fingerprint or iris can now be used to sign in to third party apps and compatible websites when using Edge browser.

Windows Hello

Smart Stickies : Once stickies are connected to Bing and Cortana (Enable Insights), simply writing down addresses/flight details and so on will fetch related information from the Internet and display it.

Smart Stickies in Windows 10 Anniversary Update edition

Microsoft Edge Extensions : Microsoft Edge browser now supports extensions that can be added directly from Windows Store.

Adding extensions in Edge browser

Start Menu redesigned : The update now shows all the apps in Start Menu and the Action Center is now positioned to extreme right in the system tray.

redesigned Start menu in Windows 10

action center position in Windows 10 after anniversary updates

Windows Store redesigned : Windows Store is now closely integrated with XBox Store and directly offers game subscriptions and bundles. Also, the overall design has become sleeker with download indicator for apps being more clearer and prominent.redesigned Windows 10 Store

 

These new features to Windows 10 do add a boost to productivity, do give them a try.

Happy updating.

 

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