Microsoft Windows is a group of several families of graphical operating systems, all of which are developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft Corporation. This operating system has several versions that have been released since 1985. Active Windows families include Windows NT, Windows Embedded, and Windows Phone. Each of these families may include several subfamilies. (For example: Windows Server) Older Windows families also include Windows 9x and Windows Mobile. The latest and most graphical version of Windows, which was officially released on June 24, 2021, is Windows 11.
*MS-DOS:
The first version of MS-DOS was released in 1981 and consisted of eight major versions. Microsoft stopped development of MS-DOS in 2000. MS-DOS was a single-user, single-tasking command-line operating system that was created in 1981 for the IBM PC. The original version of DOS was created by a small company in Seattle, Washington for laboratory work. Since Microsoft was going to provide an operating system for IBM, it purchased that version and developed it into the operating system it wanted for IBM. Microsoft later released higher versions of DOS. This operating system did not have multitasking capabilities and could only run one program at a time. DOS was considered one of the most widespread operating systems for a long time. DOS is an abbreviation of the words (System Disk Operating) Disk Operating System. It is known by this name because this system is located on a disk and regularly uses the hard disk to perform various tasks.
*Windows 1.0 :
Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical user interface developed by Microsoft Corporation and released on November 20, 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to create a graphical multitasking operating environment for personal computers. Windows 1 was the first version of Windows to be released. Support for this Windows ended on December 31, 2001. The arrival of the mouse and the windowing environment made it more accessible, but its graphical display was very low and primitive; but we find a few classics such as the Paint program, Notepad, calculator or clock in it. Also, despite its rudimentary nature in the first months of its release, this operating system suddenly gained great popularity among the public and many Windows standards that are still valid today were introduced at that time.
*Windows 2.0 :
Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating system developed by Microsoft. It replaced Windows 1.0 on December 9, 1987. Although Windows 3.0 was released in 1990, Microsoft supported it until December 31, 2001 (14 years).
*Windows 2.1 :
Windows 2.1 (also known as Windows/286 or Windows/386) is a historical version of the Windows graphical user interface operating system.
*Windows 3.0 :
Windows 3.0 was the third version of Microsoft Windows, released on May 22, 1990. It was the first version of Windows to achieve widespread success, rivaling the Macintosh and Commodore Amiga in terms of graphical appearance.
Windows 3.0 originated when a group of Microsoft programmers independently and experimentally decided to develop a protected mode for Windows in 1989. Their prototype was ready to be presented to company executives, who approved it enough to make it an official project.
*Windows: 3.1 :
Windows 3.1 is a set of 16-bit operating environments developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers and released on April 6, 1992.
*Windows 9x :
Windows 9x is a generic term for a series of Windows operating systems from Microsoft. The 9x series was developed from 1995 to 2000, based on the Windows 95 operating system kernel and the foundations of MS-DOS (both of which were updated in subsequent releases). The 9x series includes Windows 95 and Windows 98, but Windows ME is sometimes also included in the series. The Windows 9x series is primarily known for its use on desktop computers, with Windows holding 82% of the operating system market share in 1998.
*Windows: 95 :
Windows 95 is a graphical user interface based operating system. This operating system was released by Microsoft in the past. During its development, it was known by the code names Windows and Chicago. Windows 95 sold well and was the most successful operating system of its time. Three years later, Microsoft released Windows 98. Before Windows 95, Windows 3.1 was released.
Windows 95 is also known as Windows 4 because it is a member of the Windows 3 series. Some consider Windows 95 to be a revolution in computer software and operating systems of its time. This version of Windows also introduced and supported the Start menu for the first time. This version of Windows was considered a masterpiece until Windows 98 was released, and another good feature was that wallpapers appeared.
In this operating system, the Internet Explorer browser was first used so that users could easily browse the Internet. There was also a major change in the appearance of Windows.
Internet Explorer (abbreviated as IE or MSIE) was a web browser developed by Microsoft that was first included by default in Windows 95 and was last installed by default in Windows 8.1, eventually being replaced by Microsoft Edge. The first version of the browser was released in 1995 as part of an update package for Windows 95.
Microsoft finally officially announced the end of Internet Explorer after 27 years on June 14, 2012.
*Windows: 98
Windows 98 (codename Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. This Windows was widely used in the world and is still in use today. Its features include:
- Microsoft's standalone browser, Internet Explorer.
- Ability to send and receive e-mails @
- FAT32 file system for the first time in this operating system.
- USB support for the first time in this operating system.
- DVD support for the first time in this operating system.
Windows 98 is an operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows 9x family of Microsoft Windows operating systems, and was released to the general public on May 15, 1998, and generally on sale on June 25, 1998. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit and 32-bit product. The boot process is based on MS-DOS. It is an operating system that is weak in terms of drives but good in terms of allocating computer resources to itself. Among other things, Windows 98 can be considered a masterpiece.
Windows 98 is a fully integrated web-based operating system that bears many similarities to its predecessor. It relies heavily on the HTML language. Most of these improvements are cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience., but there are a few features that increase the performance and capabilities of the system. These include better USB support and accessibility, as well as support for hardware enhancements such as DVD players.
It was the first Windows operating system to use the Windows Driver Model. It also introduced features that would become standard in later generations of Windows, such as Disk Cleanup, Windows Update, support for multiple monitors, and Internet Connection Sharing. Development of this operating system ceased on June 11, 2006.
*Windows ME :
Windows Me (Windows Millennium Edition), a graphical operating system released by Microsoft on September 14, 2000. It was the last version of the Windows 9x series. The original version of Windows ME was available for purchase in early 2000, when Windows XP was still being designed and a few years after Windows 98 was released and was used as the operating system for most personal computers. However, Microsoft released ME after 98 for use in offices. However, Microsoft's rush to design a comprehensive operating system for office work caused Windows ME to build a strange bridge to XP and then break down after it arrived. So much so that when Windows ME was released as the worst Windows in 2000, XP was released immediately a year later, completely erasing ME from the computer screen for personal and office use; to the extent that even in 2014, Windows XP was still welcomed by users.
In terms of software, Windows ME was essentially Windows 98, with a few new features. However, some of these features, such as System Restore, were so buggy that they were practically useless. Also, features like DOS mode were removed from this version of Windows, which did not allow users to install old programs.
In terms of software, Windows ME was essentially Windows 98 that tried to introduce a few new features. However, some of these features, such as System Restore, were so buggy that they were practically useless. Also, a feature like DOS mode was removed from this version of Windows, which did not allow the user to install old programs. In addition, one of the biggest weaknesses of this operating system was having Internet Explorer (IE 5.5), which was not very popular with users at that time. It should also be noted that many browsers were not available to users in those years, and if they installed Windows ME, they were forced to use the worst browser on the worst operating system!
Apart from the many bugs in the added features, Windows ME also caused users many problems in terms of execution power and offered very low and poor processing speed. In a way that, according to some users, even moving the mouse and moving its cursor caused Windows to malfunction and the problem could not be solved for hours even by turning the system off and on!
In the case of this version of Windows, we can conclude that Microsoft's rush to build an office platform based on the rotten Windows 98 caused such things to happen, and Windows ME It was effectively a failure for the company.
Support for this version ended on July 11, 2006.
Windows ME replaced Windows 98 and was specifically targeted at home PC users. It included Internet Explorer 5.5, Windows Media Player 7, and the new Windows Movie Maker, a simple video editor designed for home users. It remained included with the operating system until the release of Windows 7.
Compared to other versions of Windows, Windows ME was short-lived. It was quickly replaced by Windows XP (on October 25, 2001) just a year after its release.
(Windows Movie Maker)
Which was known as Windows Live Movie Maker in 2009, is a movie making software.
It is a free and popular Windows tool for making movies with a collection of images. With this program, you can share your made movies. Support for popular video formats such as MPEG-4, 3GP, and ... is one of the features of this program. If you want to have your precious memories in the form of video clips, you can easily achieve your goal with this very simple program.
Windows: 2000 :
Windows 2000 is an operating system for personal computers (PCs) produced by Microsoft. This graphical operating system was introduced in 2000 and is used for workstations and network servers. In fact, this Windows is the same as Windows ME, of course, its commercial version.
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server :
The most comprehensive and largest version of Windows 2000 is called Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. This version supports up to sixty-four gigabytes of RAM and thirty-two processors. It has all the clustering capabilities of the Advanced Server version and other standard capabilities. It is used in environments with very high computing and operational capabilities. In addition to the impressive statistics of the above version regarding the amount of memory and the number of processors, Microsoft has claimed that the useful time (Uptime) of the above operating system 99.999%. If you intend to obtain this version of Windows (legally!) and are looking for its price, you will never succeed in this way. Because you cannot buy a copy of it. Microsoft only offers the above version to the hardware manufacturers of the server (usually called OEM and adapted from Original Equipment Manufactures). The manufacturing companies perform specific configurations in relation to the server hardware and examine and test it for compatibility with DataCenter Server, and then the above service providers sell it to the applicant companies along with the Datacenter Server operating system. The Datacenter system and support method are also different from other versions of Windows. Microsoft does not provide direct technical support for the above version. In contrast, the OEM will establish the necessary communication and support channel with the relevant customers. One of the important points of Datacenter support is that changes and modifications to the server hardware configuration are not permitted without obtaining the necessary authorization from the OEM.
Windows XP :
Windows XP is one of the operating systems that was codenamed : "Whistler" because during the development of Windows XP, many Microsoft employees were working on it in the Canadian resort of Whistler. Windows XP was launched in 2001 on the basis of the Windows NT and 2000 cores and succeeded Windows 2000 and ME. This operating system was the best-selling computer operating system from 2004 to 2011 and is still considered the most successful Windows in history, along with Windows 7.
Microsoft Windows XP was developed and released in 2001 to update the user interface (the appearance of the operating system), add new features, unify the "code base" between different members of the Microsoft Windows family, and provide a more stable platform.
Released in October 2001, Windows XP is one of the most popular computer operating systems in the world, with more than 400 million copies in use. However, Microsoft has announced that it will no longer allow major computer manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and Toshiba to install the previous operating system on production computers, and that Windows XP will not be available on new computers starting in January 2008.
Windows XP was initially released in two editions, Home and Professional. Windows XP supported several different languages.
Windows XP is available in various editions, the most common of which are Windows XP Home Edition for home users and Windows XP Professional, which has other features such as Windows Server domain support and is suitable for professional and business users. Windows XP Media Center Edition is actually Windows XP Professional, which has additional features for multimedia systems such as watching TV, watching DVDs, and listening to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run on Table PC platforms. There are also two 64-bit editions of Windows XP: Windows XP 64-bit edition for Itanium processors and Windows XP Professional x64 edition for x86–64 processors. Windows XP was one of the most popular operating systems that Microsoft decided to produce after Windows 98. Of course, there are different versions of this Windows, but the most widely used version on home and office systems was Windows XP Professional, which was very popular among Iranian users. Although other operating systems have been released since Windows XP, some systems still use this popular Windows.
Windows XP has been noted for its improved performance and stability over previous versions of Windows. In Windows XP, the graphical user interface has been completely redesigned and is much more user-friendly than previous versions of Microsoft Windows. New software management features have been introduced in XP that free users from the DLL hell that plagued everyone in previous versions. XP is the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat software infringement laws. Despite all its features, XP has been criticized by users for security vulnerabilities, the presence of Microsoft third-party programs such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player in Windows by default, and some areas of the user interface. In the main edition of Windows, the Home edition is for home users and the Professional edition is for professional and business users. In addition, a Media Center edition is available.
Here are some additional features that Windows XP Professional has over the Home edition:
The ability to join a Windows Server domain, a group of computers that are managed remotely by one or more central servers (most businesses that use Windows have a domain and Windows Server).
Use access control list schemes to specify file access permissions for specific users, although users can use tools to remove these permissions. Going into safe mode is one way to modify access control lists.
Terminal Services Server, which allows users to use Windows on other computers over a local area network or the Internet.
Offline folders and files, which allow a PC to store and run a copy of files on other computers on the network when disconnected.
Encrypted File System, which encrypts files stored on the hard disk, preventing unauthorized users from reading them.
Centralized management capabilities, including Group Policy, automated software installation and maintenance, Remote Installation Services (RIS).
Dual CPU support and Hyper-Threading capabilities, which are considered part of a single physical processor in modern processors.
Windows XP for Specific Hardware
Microsoft has also released customized versions of Windows XP for specific hardware markets. There are five editions of Windows XP for specific hardware, two of which are specifically designed for 64-bit processors.
64-bit edition of Windows XP
The 64-bit edition of Windows XP is designed for computers with Itanium processors. This edition was discontinued in 2005 after Itanium systems were discontinued by Hewlett Packard, the last company to sell Itanium systems. However, Itanium processors are still supported in Windows Server versions.
x64 edition of Windows XP Professional
The "x64 edition of Windows Professional" is based on Windows Server 2003 and supports AMD 64 processors and the extended version of Intel's IA-32 architecture. This architecture is found in AMD's Opteron and Athlon 64 chips and the extended x86-64 versions of Intel's chips. Microsoft has supported specific microprocessors in previous versions of Windows. However, Windows NT treated 64-bit processors as 32-bit. The necessary files for all different processor architectures are included on the XP installation CD, and there is no need to purchase separate versions.
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition is designed for media center computers. This edition is only available on those computers and is not sold separately. In 2003, this edition was updated as "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added new features such as FM radio. This edition was also upgraded in 2004 and 2005.
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition:
Microsoft designed this edition specifically for laptop/netbook computers, also known as tablets. This edition supports handwritten notes, image-oriented displays, and pen-sensitive displays. This edition is also sold with the Tablet PC and cannot be purchased separately.
Windows XP Embedded:
This edition is designed for use in certain electronic devices such as set-top boxes, kiosks, ATMs, medical devices, POS devices, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) components.
Windows XP Starter Edition for Older PCs
In July 2006, Microsoft introduced a thin-client version of Windows XP for older PCs, available only to Microsoft Software Assurance customers who want to upgrade to XP but are unwilling to purchase the hardware required for XP.
Windows XP Starter Edition:
This edition of Windows XP is a low-cost version available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It is similar to the Home edition but has certain limitations, such as allowing only three programs to run at the same time. According to Microsoft, Windows XP Starter Edition is "a low-cost edition of Microsoft Windows XP designed for entry-level PC users in developing countries." The resolution is limited to 768×1024, and there is no support for domains or workgroup networks. This edition is also designed for low-end processors such as Intel's Celeron and AMD's Duron. It supports a maximum of 256 MB of main memory and 80 GB of hard disk space. (Microsoft has not explicitly stated that this limit is for the entire disk size, but for each partition) and finally, there are limited options for customizing themes, desktop, and toolbars.
On October 19, 2006, Microsoft announced that it had sold 1,000,000 copies of Windows XP Starter Edition. However, this edition was not very successful in mass production. Cracked and unlicensed versions of this edition are also widely available.
N Edition of Windows XP:
In March 2004, the European Commission fined Microsoft €497 million (US$603 million) and ordered it to provide a version of Windows without Windows Media Player. The Commission alleged that Microsoft "infringed EU competition law by monopolizing the market for PC operating systems for servers and media players." However, Microsoft complied with the law and released a legally compliant version that did not include Windows Media Player, but instead encouraged users to download its own media player. Microsoft initially intended to call this edition "No Media," but EU authorities suggested calling it "N Edition," where the "N" stood for "Not with Media Player." Since the price of the edition without Media Player was the same as the regular edition, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and Fujitsu Siemens Computers sold the edition that came with Media Player.
The Starter Edition has special features for non-US markets, where customers may not be computer literate. For example, localized help features for non-English speakers, country-specific wallpapers, and custom screensavers, as well as other default settings designed to make Windows XP easier to use, are some of the features unique to this edition. In addition, this edition has limitations that make it less expensive than other versions of Windows XP.
In this edition, only three programs are allowed to run at the same time, and each program can have a maximum of three windows. Most Windows XP includes a command-line interface, cmd.exe, for executing single commands and running scripts called "Batch files". The syntax help for the Windows XP CLI language is not as well-written as its graphical interface. A simple list of simple commands available at the command line is displayed by typing "help". The full syntax of a command can also be displayed by typing "command-name|?" for each command individually.
Microsoft releases service packs for the Windows operating system from time to time to fix problems and add features.
*Service Pack 1:
Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on September 9, 2002. Among the most important additions to note are support for USB 2.0 and the ability to "Set program Access and Defaults". For the first time, users can control and modify the default programs for activities such as web searches and chat programs. Of course, this feature was also available in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3. Service Pack 1a is another version that Microsoft released later, in which it removed the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine from Windows following a lawsuit from Sun Microsystems. Logical block addressing, which allowed the operating system to see hard drives with capacities greater than 137 gigabytes, was enabled by default in Service Pack 1, and support for SATA was also available. Microsoft support for Service Pack 1 ended on October 10, 2006.
- Service Pack 2: Service Pack 2 (codenamed "Springboard") was released on August 6, 2004, after much delay, with specific security fixes for Windows. Unlike previous service packs, Service Pack 2 added new features to Windows XP. An advanced firewall, improved Wi-Fi support with a wizard, a pop-up blocker for Internet Explorer, and Bluetooth support were among the new features added in Service Pack 2. Security improvements included the addition of a firewall called Windows FireWall and its activation by default. Enhanced memory protection that prevented processor buffer overflow and removed raw socket support were other security considerations. This reduced the possibility of damage from "zombie" attacks (which remotely execute programs that consume all of a computer's resources). In addition, the service pack provided security-related improvements to web browsing and e-mail. Windows Security Center, introduced in Service Pack 2, provides a comprehensive overview of system security aspects, including the status of antivirus software, Windows Update status, and the new Windows Firewall. Antivirus and firewall software can be integrated into the new Security Center. Windows Movie Maker 2 was introduced with new video effects and options in this service pack. A complete list of features added in SP 2 is available on Microsoft's website.
With each service pack, some programs may no longer work, and Microsoft lists these programs on its website. AssetMatrix reported that about one in ten computers that updated their Windows XP operating system with SP2 were barely able to run the company's programs. Service Pack 2 introduces significant changes to the Tablet PC and Media Center editions and supports 24 new languages. Visual changes have also been made in SP2. The Windows splash screen (where the Windows XP logo appears with three sliding squares below it when you first turn on your computer) has been removed, along with the "©1985–2001" and edition name (e.g. "Home Edition" or "Professional"). The color of the sliding squares has changed from green to blue in the Home edition. Additionally, the wireless network connection icon, which used to show two computers (similar to the LAN connection icon), has been changed to just one computer with a radio wave symbol on the right. While SP2 has been met with positive reviews, there has also been criticism from some experts, with Thomas Green of The Register claiming that SP2 is a "ridiculous" home for Windows security. SP2 has made low-level security improvements, many of which have not been shown to administrators and users, and many bugs are still visible in it, including the activation of many network services and components, allowing incorrect access, high vulnerability of IE and OE (email software) against malicious scripts, and the installation of a filter package that does not have sufficient capacity to exit filtering, among other bugs that have not been fixed.
*Service Pack 3 :
Security Issues :
Windows XP has been criticized for its propensity to attract malware, viruses, Trojans, and worms. In addition, it should be noted that security issues are compounded by the fact that Home Edition users are given an administrator account by default, which gives them unrestricted access to the support aspects of the system. Now, if the administrator account is compromised,and no law can determine the limit of the computer account that is acceptable.
Because of its high market share, Windows has historically been an attractive target for virus writers. Of course, security holes are invisible until they are discovered, and Microsoft has stated that releasing security patch packages allows hackers to find the problem and quickly attack computers that have not yet been fixed. To slow down the spread of malicious programs to vulnerable computers, Microsoft reduced the number of outgoing TCP/IP connections from 65,535 to 10 in SP2.
Since no more outgoing connections can be made at the same time, a large number of incomplete connections are queued. This limit has been objected to by many legitimate software, such as peer-to-peer programs. However, the limit can be increased to the previous value by adding a system file called "tcpip.sys".
*According to TOP Technology magazine *: Not long ago, Microsoft founder Bill Gates admitted in his speech at Concordia College that he was inspired by the idea of creating Windows XP from Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a prominent Iranian mathematician.
*Windows Vista:
Windows Vista is an operating system for personal computers, desktops, laptops, tablets, and home and business media centers. Before its unveiling on June 22, 2005, Windows Vista was codenamed Longhorn. Its development was completed on November 8, 2006. It was released to computer hardware and software manufacturers and commercial parties three months earlier. On January 30, 2007, the operating system was released for purchase and download from the Microsoft website for general release. Windows Vista was released five years after its predecessor, Windows XP, which was a relatively long time between the releases of the two operating systems from Microsoft. Windows Vista is the sixth version of Microsoft Windows.
Windows Vista includes hundreds of new and redesigned features, most of which include an updated graphical user interface (GUI) and a visual style known as Windows Aero. Improved search capabilities, new media creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and a complete redesign of the networking, audio, printing, and video subsystems are among its other features. In addition, Vista aims to increase the level of communication between devices in home networks based on Peer-to-Peer technology, which facilitates the sharing of data between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes the .NET Framework version 3.0, which aims to facilitate the development of applications compared to traditional Windows APIs. Microsoft's primary goal with Windows Vista was to improve the level of security in the Windows operating system. One of the general criticisms that was leveled at Windows XP and its predecessors was the vulnerability of security against malware, viruses, and buffer overflows. Based on this, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates emphasized in early 2002 that security should be built into all aspects of software developed at the company. Microsoft prioritized the security of Windows XP and 2003 until work on Vista was completed.
*Windows 7 :
Windows 7, previously codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna, was the seventh version of the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Windows NT family.
It was released on October 22, 2009. Windows 7 is designed for use on personal computers. It is the seventh generation of Windows operating systems, hence the name Windows 7.
Among the features of this very popular version that are most notable are support for multi-touch capabilities, improvements to Windows Arrow (the user interface introduced in Windows Vista), a redesign of the Windows shell, the taskbar, and a home networking system called HomeGroup. Also, according to Microsoft officials, Windows 7 is an upgraded and optimized version of Windows Vista.
Windows 7 includes a number of new features, including improvements to touch and handwriting recognition, support for Virtual Hard Disk, improved performance on multi-core processors, and improvements to the operating system kernel. It also adds Windows PowerShell and a redesigned calculator with multi-line support and the ability to convert units.
Items added to Control Panel include: ClearType, Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Workspaces Center, Location and Other Sensors, Credential Manager, Biometric Devices, System Icons, and Display. Windows Security Center has been renamed to Windows Action Center.
*Windows: Mobile
Windows Mobile is a compact operating system composed of a set of essential applications for portable devices. Devices that can run Windows Mobile include: pocket computers, smartphones, portable multimedia devices, and on-board computers for cars.
*Windows 8 and 8.1:
Windows 8 is a version of the Windows operating system from Microsoft that was released on August 1, 2012. Windows 8 is designed for use on personal computers, laptops, and tablets.
Windows 8.1 is an operating system from the Windows NT family of Microsoft, which is the next version of Windows 8 and was released shortly after in two versions, 64-bit and 32-bit. Windows 8.1 is available for free for Windows 8 and RT through the Windows Store, and like previous versions of Windows, this version cannot be obtained from Windows Update, meaning that it is not like a service pack. It also repeats the story of the tile-like and full-screen Start menu.
*Windows 10 :
Windows 10 is a series of operating systems developed by Microsoft and released as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It is the successor to Windows 8.1, which was released almost two years later, and was released to manufacturing on July 15, 2015, and was made widely available to the general public on July 29, 2015.[18] Windows 10 was made available for download through the Microsoft Developer Network and Microsoft TechNet, and as a free download for retail users of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 through the Microsoft Store. In addition to additional preview builds of Windows 10, which are available to internal employees, Windows 10 receives new builds continuously and is available to users at no additional cost. Devices in enterprise environments can receive these updates at a slower rate or from long-term support milestones that only provide important updates.
such as security patches over the ten-year long-term support life.
Windows 10 received mostly positive reviews after its initial release. Critics praised Microsoft's decision to offer a desktop-oriented interface consistent with previous versions of Windows—as opposed to the tablet-oriented approach of Windows 8. However, Windows 10's touch-oriented user interface was criticized for being a regression due to the return to the touch-oriented interface of the previous model. Critics also praised Windows 10's improvements in bundled software over Windows 8.1, the integration of Xbox Live as well as the capabilities of the personal assistant Cortana, and the replacement of Internet Explorer with Microsoft Edge. However, the media has criticized changes in the operating system's behavior, including the forced installation of updates, privacy concerns about the data collection performed by the operating system for Microsoft and its partners, and the adware-like tactics used to promote the operating system at release.
Microsoft initially aimed to have Windows 10 installed on over one billion devices within three years of its release, but it finally reached that goal almost five years later on March 16, 2020. As of January 2018, Windows 10 had surpassed Windows 7 as the most popular version of Windows worldwide; and as of May 2020, Windows 10 had surpassed Windows 7 as the most popular version of Windows in China. As of February 2021, it is estimated that 78% of Windows PCs, 59% of all PCs (the rest being older versions of Windows and other operating systems such as macOS and Linux), and 25% of all devices (including mobile phones, tablets, and consoles) use Windows 10.
In December 2013, Mary Jo Foley reported that Microsoft was working on an update for Windows 8, after which the codename Threshold (similar to the codename "Blue" that led to Windows 8.1) was chosen by a vote at Microsoft Hall of Fame. Threshold was not intended to be just an update to Windows; Threshold is actually a "wave" of updates for all Microsoft platforms and services, scheduled for spring 2015. Foley also reported that one of Threshold's goals was to create a single, comprehensive software platform and development tools for Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox One (all using the same Windows core). From these reports, it was inferred that Threshold was a version of Windows that would be released to the public as "Windows 9".
Terry Myerson unveiled an updated version of Windows at the Build conference in April 2014, which included the ability to run Windows Store apps on the desktop and the return of the traditional Start menu. The new Start menu had two columns, with the first column listing Windows 7-style apps and the second column listing Windows 8.1-style live tiles.
*Windows 11 :
Windows 11 is a new version of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system developed by the company. It was officially unveiled on June 24, 2021.
After the release of Windows 10 in 2015, Microsoft officially announced that this version of Windows would be the "last version of Windows". On June 15, 2021, news was published that Windows 11 was being designed. On June 28, 2021, Windows 11 was officially unveiled.
User Interface and Design Windows 11 features an updated graphical user interface (GUI) that follows Microsoft's fluid design guidelines. Transparency, shadows, and rounded corners are common throughout the system. A new Start menu has been designed for this system that eliminates the tiles on the right. Live Tiles are a favorite part of Windows 10 fans, but now in Windows 11 there is no way to edit the Windows Registry to disable the new Start menu and restore the old Start menu, which has disappointed many Windows 11 users. The taskbar is also simple and focused by default. Other system changes include new icons, animations, sounds, and system widgets. Much of the interface and Start menu are inspired by many parts of Windows 10X, which was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Snap Lives is another feature of this version. In this mode, you can open multiple windows side by side on the screen in a column or other modes. Of course, this feature was also available in Windows 10, but in Windows 11, only a new interface is considered for this feature. This feature allows the user to apply their favorite layout to multiple windows that they need on the screen. Another feature is called Snap Groups, which allows you to easily return to previously closed windows.
Widgets:
Windows 11 includes a widget page that can be accessed by clicking the Widgets button on the taskbar. The widgets display news, sports, weather, and MSN Finance. In Windows 11, widgets cannot be dragged or rearranged, and accessing the widgets panel requires logging in with a Microsoft account.
New App Store
Another important change in Windows 11 is its new App Store. In this operating system, the Microsoft Store has been redesigned and hosts a large number of applications, including Android apps such as TikTok and Instagram.
Start Menu
The Start Menu has been significantly redesigned in Windows 11. The Start Menu resembles a transparent glass-like view and has been moved to the middle of the taskbar.
Running Android Apps:
Android is an operating system written on the basis of the Linux kernel, and Microsoft was able to directly install Linux applications with the help of its technology called Hyper-V, and now, by building a shell on this technology, it has been able to bring Android apps to Windows. Now, users can install Android apps as sideloads using the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) application, which has been published in the Microsoft Store, or from the Amazon App Store. This feature is currently in beta and only available to US users, but there are relatively simple ways to get around this limitation. The app currently only supports 2D apps and a limited number of 3D apps, and it can't run Vulkan-based apps or OpenGL 3.1e-based apps, but Google and Microsoft have announced that in the second quarter of 2022, all Android apps will be able to be installed and run on Windows.
This feature requires a higher minimum system than Windows 11, as it is written in collaboration with Intel and Intel Bridge technology, which works faster and smoother with Intel processors.
Written by Amir Mohammad Nasiri
Bachelor's in Computer Software Engineering
Montazeri Technical University of Mashhad
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