Microsoft is bringing Holograms into the real world

This past week was a big one for Microsoft as they outlined and announced new features and devices that they'll be releasing this year.The majority of the two hour plus announcement focused on Windows 10, to be released the second half of this year, and some of the highlights include:

• The start menu, left out in Windows 8, will be returning
• Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to all machines running Windows 7 and higher (during the first year of release)
• A new feature called “Continuum” that dynamically switches the interface between the PC-friendly desktop and a tablet mode that’s better suited for fingers, depending on how you’re using the device.
• Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant, will be coming to your desktop allowing you to interact with your PC using just your voice
• A new internet browser called "Spartan" will be replacing Internet Explorer
• One Windows on all your devices. This means that apps can be developed that will run on every device that runs Windows and is a big step in providing a seamless platform for developers to provide a uniformed experience across devices.

There are many other features and improvements to the new Windows 10 above and beyond what I've mentioned here but everything is moving into a much more in sync ecosystem with tighter integration between all devices.To go along with all of the Windows 10 announcements.  Microsoft also demoed a couple of new products including the the 84" Surface Hub, which is meant to be a central point for business meetings and whiteboarding as well as the new HoloLens which is shooting to merge the physical world with the digital.The Surface Hub definitely looked like a useful tool for businesses that need an easy way to conference, share and create and video demo of the device in action can be found here.The HoloLens looked like the future.  Basically, it's a device that uses holograms to overlay a digital world over the real one allowing you to bring all kinds of new ways to interact with the physical and imaginary.  My words won't really do it justice, but head on over to this video and take a look, it's exciting!Microsoft definitely just had one of it's best events in awhile and we're excited to start helping you bring this new technology into your home and business as it starts to come available this year.  Stay tuned! Want Bellingham IT blog updates to hit your email? Click here to subscribePhoto Cred:  Microsoft