Windows 10 news recap: Cortana on the desktop, build 9888 leaks, and release date rumors

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Windows 10 news recap: Cortana on the desktop, build 9888 leaks, and release date rumors

This week has been quite informative when it comes to Windows 10, Microsoft’s upcoming operating system. In case you might have missed any important Windows 10 related news or announcements, lets do a quick recap highlighting the previous week’s news.

We exclusively brought you a video showcasing Cortana running on the desktop in Windows 10. Cortana can do pretty much everything the Windows Phone version can. This includes reminders, call people with Skype, check my location/maps, play/pause music, launch apps, check the weather and more. Head over here to check out the story and watch our exclusive video. We’ve also embedded the video below.

Also this past week, we learned that Microsoft is on track to release Windows 10 during the late summer or early fall of 2015. Windows 10 so far has been mostly experienced through the technical preview, however that will change in early 2015 because Microsoft plans to talk about their consumer plan. A consumer focused version of Windows 10 is expected to come with more refined animations, icons, continuum, and a couple of more features mainly focused on refining the UX.

After our exclusive hands-on with build 9888 of Windows 10 roughly two weeks ago, the build ended up leaking onto the internet this past week. You can check out our hands-on demo of the build below, showcasing newer animations, context menus, and much more.

For those of you who have this build installed, you will still be able to install the Consumer Preview when it becomes available next year. This build was not released as part of the Windows Insider Program, and will not be receiving any “patches” like Microsoft has been doing with build 9879.

Earlier this past week, a report from Mary Jo Foley, who is very credible in the field of Microsoft news, claims that Microsoft plans to roll out the “January Technical Preview (JTP)” in January, along with support for Continuum and Cortana. Microsoft will then roll out the February Technical Preview (FTP) and March Technical Preview (MTP), and so forth. You can read that story here.

Stay tuned for yet another exciting week of Windows 10 news and features. Remember, keep an eye on WinBeta for everything you need to know about Windows 10.