The annual Microsoft Build Developer Conference has gotten progressive more interesting over the past few years, but there wasn’t quite as much to get excited about in 2016. But that’s not to say there weren’t any announcement, with one of the biggest centering around the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
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Some of the new features that Microsoft will be introducing in the update:
- Windows Hello: Easily sign into your device with enterprise-grade security.
- Windows Ink: Write on your device as you do on paper, creating sticky notes, drawing on a whiteboard, and easily sharing your analog thoughts in the digital world.
- Cortana Upgrades: Available above the lock screen; a new Cortana Collection in the Windows Store; proactive suggestions.
- Xbox One: Universal Windows apps on the Xbox One; Xbox Dev Mode; unified Windows Store.
Those are the highlights, but it’s the improved Start menu that seems to be getting the most attention. In order to make it easier for users to access apps from the Start menu, Microsoft has added a new All Apps list button to the top-left corner of the menu, as you can see in this GIF from Microsoft software engineer Jen Gentleman:
By popular request, to ease some concerns, and because @ZacB_ asked nicely, here's the new start menu in action! 😃 pic.twitter.com/MiIPO8Epuf
— Jen Gentleman 🌺 (@JenMsft) April 4, 2016
The Settings and Power buttons have also been moved to the new bar on the left side of the menu. It’s not a drastic change, but it should make for a cleaner Start menu.
