Windows Technical Preview  

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  1. 1. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being worst, 5 being best. What do you think of Windows 10 from the leaks so far?

    • 5.Great, best OS ever
      156
    • 4. Pretty Good, needs a lot of minor tweaks
      409
    • 3. OK, Needs a few major improvements, some minor ones
      168
    • 2. Fine, Needs a lot of major improvements
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    • 1.Poor, Needs too many improvements, all hope is lost, never going to use it
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  2. 2. Based on the recent leaks by Neowin and Winfuture.de, my next OS upgrade will be?

    • Windows 10
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    • Windows 8
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    • Windows 7
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    • Sticking with XP
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    • OSX Yosemite
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    • Linux
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    • Sticking with OSX Mavericks
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  3. 3. Should Microsoft give away Windows 10 for free?

    • Yes for Windows 8.1 Users
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    • Yes for Windows 7 and above users
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    • Yes for Vista and above users
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    • Yes for XP and above users
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    • Yes for all Windows users
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    • No
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I use my computer to play dvds all the time.  :s

 

So if I use a third party player like VLC will that work? Or will windows not even detect the dvd?

I also play DVD's all the time on my machine...once a file association is made, ie for WMP or VLC, it will play. I also have an external drive with a library of movies. I usually play the movies right off the drive or for new ones, I use the optical. (Same with saved video)...Cheers...

Um, that pretty much directly contradicts itself.

By this time, Microsoft would have RTM'd a stable build. However, they are still in the preview stage. I'm just saying their planned release seems too soon.

What is the exact metric of "it should be done by now"?

 

I think they are getting cut off by the internal RTM deadline, though.

In previous major Windows releases, they would RTM at least 3 months before.

By this time, Microsoft would have RTM'd a stable build. However, they are still in the preview stage. I'm just saying their planned release seems too soon.

In previous major Windows releases, they would RTM at least 3 months before.

 

Have they actually set an official release date? I thought the best we had so far was "summer".

This is also a different type of beta path for MS. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they removed some other expected features in the next 2 months. Like it or not, this is adjusting to the realities of the current marketplace. It no longer makes as much sense to do large single distributions and more of a constantly updated system.

 

We've seen this across the board, from Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, the browsers, DLC in games, Kickstarter, Steam GreenLight, etc etc. Even phone OS number rolls over now instead of being a distributed package.

I use my computer to play dvds all the time.  :s

 

So if I use a third party player like VLC will that work? Or will windows not even detect the dvd?

 

Any 3rd party player can play DVDs fine, what MS did is take it out from their own native players, so WMP won't do DVDs and so on.  They did this because lots of OEMs, HP, Dell and so on, like to ship their own crapware be it AV and even media players.  I bought my mom a new HP laptop back in January, it comes preloaded with PowerDVD and some other apps from the same company.   MS doesn't want to keep paying for the DVD licensing for every install of windows when they see only a small % actually use it, so they'll make it a optional download that you'll pay for it seems.

  • Like 2

Any 3rd party player can play DVDs fine, what MS did is take it out from their own native players, so WMP won't do DVDs and so on.  They did this because lots of OEMs, HP, Dell and so on, like to ship their own crapware be it AV and even media players.  I bought my mom a new HP laptop back in January, it comes preloaded with PowerDVD and some other apps from the same company.   MS doesn't want to keep paying for the DVD licensing for every install of windows when they see only a small % actually use it, so they'll make it a optional download that you'll pay for it seems.

 

Good to know. I never used wmp for my media player anyways so I guess nothing changes for me.

There is no official date given by MS, the end of July "date" is still a rumored one.  Regardless, MS will keep updating Windows 10 after that, we already know about Redstone next year.  But there's talk of another update later this year, in the fall, probably when the mobile OS ships so that they're both once again in sync.

 

It doesn't matter though, what we get in the summer just needs to be stable, have good performance, and good compatibility.  If a feature doesn't make it in and they push it out later in the year or next year it's fine really.

There is no official date given by MS, the end of July "date" is still a rumored one.  Regardless, MS will keep updating Windows 10 after that, we already know about Redstone next year.  But there's talk of another update later this year, in the fall, probably when the mobile OS ships so that they're both once again in sync.

 

It doesn't matter though, what we get in the summer just needs to be stable, have good performance, and good compatibility.  If a feature doesn't make it in and they push it out later in the year or next year it's fine really.

End of July seems impossible, but remember RTM does not mean final.

End of July seems impossible, but remember RTM does not mean final.

 

I know, but it's going to have to be stable so OEMs can start loading it on their systems.  At this point I don't think we should expect anything new to pop up till after RTM/GA as far as new features go.  What we see in these 101xx builds is what we're going to get on the desktop and x86 tablets, just with more polish. 

 

After that I expect to get new features either in the rumored fall/winter 2015 update or in the first big update in 2016 which is part of Redstone.  Features like the interactive tiles that they've said are coming and so on.

Bah. I just think you're resistent to change and unwilling to adapt to paradigms which are newer and therefore obviously superior :o

 

Come on Dot. Get with the future and stop holding computing back ;)

whoa. just....whoa.

I'm really still confused that DVD playback hasn't been a native Windows feature, like, 10 years ago. I don't even have an optical drive anymore.

 

umm, you always had to buy the DVD addon for the codec. 

 

after that the codec and license was included with MCE. which meant it also worked in media player if you had MCE installed. 

By this time, Microsoft would have RTM'd a stable build. However, they are still in the preview stage. I'm just saying their planned release seems too soon.

In previous major Windows releases, they would RTM at least 3 months before.

 

But microsoft isn't doing slow rollouts of huge builds every few years anymore. they're changing to a rapid release of near rolling releases. so we'll see new "major" releases every 6 months or so probably. 

I smell a leak 10108. Winbeta and Brad both have it ;)

 

New settings  UI:

 

wv8vnk.png

 

new?

umm, you always had to buy the DVD addon for the codec. 

 

after that the codec and license was included with MCE. which meant it also worked in media player if you had MCE installed. 

 

But microsoft isn't doing slow rollouts of huge builds every few years anymore. they're changing to a rapid release of near rolling releases. so we'll see new "major" releases every 6 months or so probably. 

 

new?

buttons are now centered in the window, all one color (grey)

umm, you always had to buy the DVD addon for the codec. 

 

after that the codec and license was included with MCE. which meant it also worked in media player if you had MCE installed. 

 

But microsoft isn't doing slow rollouts of huge builds every few years anymore. they're changing to a rapid release of near rolling releases. so we'll see new "major" releases every 6 months or so probably. 

 

new?

 

 

 

 

This does not belong here. It's irrelevant. Where's a mod? This thread is getting out of control. I am not a mod, but dang.

But microsoft isn't doing slow rollouts of huge builds every few years anymore. they're changing to a rapid release of near rolling releases. so we'll see new "major" releases every 6 months or so probably.

Rapid release shouldn't mean development snapshots, especially for Microsoft. They should have stopped putting things in flux by now and just gone into quality control so it is ready.

Rapid release shouldn't mean development snapshots, especially for Microsoft. They should have stopped putting things in flux by now and just gone into quality control so it is ready.

 

Good way to think about it .

Even if , most of sure , I'll go back to Windows 8 .

P.S : Does Windows 8 have that '' GWX '' as Windows 8.1 and 7 SP1 got ?

I smell a leak 10108. Winbeta and Brad both have it ;)

 

New settings  UI:

 

wv8vnk.png

 

Looks ok in this mode but when maximized, its just a massive waste of space.

A personal opinion, can't they add something near 'Updates & Security' to complete the second row? :s Its killing me.

I think 'System' has way too many submenus than the rest. Maybe separating all the App settings from 'System' and adding it under a separate button would solve (like 'Search and Apps' in current Windows 8).

  • Like 2

Looks ok in this mode but when maximized, its just a massive waste of space.

A personal opinion, can't they add something near 'Updates & Security' to complete the second row? :s Its killing me.

I think 'System' has way too many submenus than the rest. Maybe separating all the App settings from 'System' and adding it under a separate button would solve (like 'Search and Apps' in current Windows 8).

 

Heh .. this is what I call "polishing a turd".

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • 007 First Light review: Satisfying spy adventure that James Bond needed by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe I have fond memories of classic James Bond games from the Electronic Arts era. Using high-tech gadgets, sneaking into parties, and dispatching bad guys were wildly exciting activities for my younger self. In recent years, Bond games have entirely disappeared, alongside the super spy genre. Fast forward to 2020, imagine my surprise when IO Interactive announced it had secured the Bond IP to make a game. Considering the studio’s Hitman history, this project is one I keenly kept an eye on. Six years later, 007 First Light is finally here, and after spending time inside this globe-trotting adventure, I can safely say that my excitement for this developer’s take on this universe was not unfounded. IO has taken lessons it has learned from Hitman and combined them with what I would expect from a directed cinematic experience like James Bond. I have refrained from mentioning major plot points to save you from story spoilers in this review. This is an original story that doesn’t tie into any movies, so there isn’t an expectation of knowing the backstory or the decades of movies either. Bond, James Bond When 007 First Light begins, Bond is just Bond. There isn’t a spy angle, fancy gadgets, or even a secret mission. The introductory mission is framed to show how James Bond handled himself and how he does not care about the odds when it comes to saving lives. It’s a gorgeous level as well, showing off an island scattered with cliffs in the middle of a storm. Looking back, this is probably the best-looking level in the game, with IO showing off all its abilities with its custom engine, Glacier. But my favorite ended up being the follow-up to this level. Once the United Kingdom's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, recruits our daring youngster into its super-spy “00” program, training begins. However, instead of treading through the same tutorial missions where the game teaches you to run and jump and drive, IO opted for a montage, and it’s amazing. The scenes cut between Bond practicing and improving his marksmanship, parkour, hand-to-hand combat, and driving as weeks go by in his training. What impressed me here was the lack of any loading screens or stutters as scenes instantly switched to different locations entirely, as if I was watching a movie. This creativity is a trend I noticed in most levels, where there is some sort of gameplay or choreography mechanic being introduced to keep things interesting. Soon, the rest of the cast is introduced, bringing other agents that our favorite secret agent will be working with, the scientists and engineers that build MI6’s spy gadgets, as well as higher-ranking officers that either appreciate or (at best) tolerate Bond’s rebellious attitude. It’s a tight cast, all with incredibly good voice acting and personalities that quickly grew on me. The casting for Bond himself is also an excellent one. From showing his iconic soft spot for women to the condescending smiles that get a rise out of enemies, I had no issues getting immersed into this universe as this new face of James Bond. The missions take place in a wide range of locations as MI6 sends Bond to tackle dangers that are growing everywhere from the UK to Africa. These aren’t unrelated adventures where MI6 is sending secret agents, which is an angle I would love to see in another game, but a part of a bigger conspiracy affecting the entire world. Some of the twists and turns were all too predictable, and the character that Lenny Kravitz played made me cringe a little too much. But all in all, I enjoyed the campaign’s storyline that sets the stage for this new agent joining the illustrious “00” program. Plenty of Possibilities The third-person style of IO Interactive fits this role quite well. Bond is presented as a master at hand-to-hand combat as well as firearms, while also having a knack for being stealthy when required. Most sections of missions have a lot of freedom. This means I could beat up every goon and security guard on the way to an objective, slip past them without sounding a single alarm, or do a mix of both. My sessions usually end up with the third option because I tend to be impatient about waiting for a patrol to move. Drawing from its Hitman genes, the developer almost always gives multiple routes for going through missions. Levels can be massive, sometimes sporting hundreds of NPCs going their own ways and having conversations. If my objective is to break into a security room on the third floor, I could look around for roof access, eavesdrop on conversations to find out where someone lost a key, create a distraction and pickpocket a guard for a keycard, sneak in through the vents, or simply kick down the offending door. I enjoyed the variety on offer, especially because the same solutions didn’t usually show up in different missions. Before heading out into a secret MI6 escapade, the gadget specialist of the branch walks Bond through the organization's latest and greatest achievements. This can be cool little devices like a laser built into the watch, a phone that fires poison darts, or a camera that emits a powerful shockwave. The choice of what can be taken into the mission is up to the player. I could usually find fresh routes or get out of tough situations with a punch or two, so I never had the feeling of missing out by not choosing the right equipment. It’s still a fun practice. Choosing the armaments before a mission enhanced the super spy feeling quite a bit. As I mentioned, stealth comes in as a very viable option for most of the missions, letting Bond sneak past foes or knock them out silently. While it is satisfying to clear entire areas of goons and walk away without any alarms, the way of accomplishing this could have been done better. Bond can lure enemies, sneak up and knock them out, or use a gadget to disorient them before dealing a nasty blow. Bodies cannot be moved or hidden afterward either. It’s a very simple system, which I wish were more exciting to pull off. Perhaps more stealth-orientated gadgets, distraction options, or multi-takedowns could have helped here, I think. Getting caught while attempting to be in stealth does not mean a game over. Other than getting into a fist fight, an interesting twist of 007 First Light is the bluffing option. 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These usually end up with high-octane chases or driving sections, offering the chance to witness chaining explosions, hails of gunfire, and scripted parkour scenes that remind me of Mission Impossible movies more than Bond. Elements like seeing James Bond jump out of a plane without a parachute or drive through buildings in London inside a trash truck were fantastic and always left me at a high point when finishing a mission. The classic James Bond theme is sprinkled in here too, which only happens a handful of times in the game, but at just the right moments. Visuals and Performance Compared to Unreal Engine 5 games we are seeing nowadays, 007 First Light isn’t flexing a huge amount of realism when it comes to graphics. The models, textures, and effects all feel a little dated, with the starting mission that I mentioned being the most visually striking. However, the complete lack of stutters, the hundreds of NPCs that can be on screen without a single hitch, massive sandbox levels, and smooth transitions between them all play a part in making this an immensely immersive and complex experience. The in-engine cutscenes are gorgeous as well, offering an upgraded visual style and model detail over the gameplay sections. Animations are one aspect that jumps out at me about any new game, and First Light has nailed what a third-person action game should feel like. Walking, sneaking, and running all have a heaviness to them that I appreciate. Whenever Bond moves past a wall or a ledge, his arms reach out to lightly hold those structures until he moves away. NPCs actually react to my character and move out of the way. Even during melee combat or takedown animations, the fists impacting a body or a head hitting a wall all have that same weight. Even the more frivolous animations, like catching a gun in midair or chucking an empty one at a goon (yes, you can do that), are satisfying to pull off. Of course, the in-engine cutscene animations are remarkably well done too, with facial animations and the upgraded model details improving my engagement with the characters. I have an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB paired with an eight-core Ryzen 7 3700X and 32GB of RAM, with the game running at 1440p resolution. Deciding to completely max out all the graphics options gave me a range of frame rates between 60 and 100 depending on the scene and level. While I did try to enable AMD FSR, which bumped up the frame rates by a good 20% at Quality mode, IO Interactive’s implementation of the technology wasn’t that great. Every corner and edge in levels began shimmering, and I was also seeing smearing issues in fast-moving sections. 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Traveling around the world chasing conspiracies, using high-tech gadgets disguised as everyday accessories, and improvising on the spot to fool foes all give a fantastic feeling of being a super spy. For an origin story, IO Interactive has done a great job at introducing the character and his motives for doing what he does. The satisfying combat animation and fantastic voice acting are definitely high points, with the License to Kill moments being my favorite. Not being able to move bodies and the simplistic stealth of mechanics does hurt its presentation a little. The NPC logic and intelligence is easy to manipulate and trick, repeating the same actions over and over again if I keep making distractions. The lack of an FOV slider was also a pain (quite literally) at times, and the FSR implementation is quite poor. These are things I hope the studio will improve upon with updates. Even with its faults, IO Interactive and James Bond are a match made in heaven. The studio knows how to make a main character that oozes charm and competency while also leaning heavily into its Hitman experience to make gigantic levels with what looks like hundreds of NPCs roaming around. Being an origin story, IO’s Bond has a way to go before he becomes the highly effective agent we see in the movie world. I am hoping the studio will continue this series alongside its Hitman ventures going forward, just so we get to experience the journey for longer. 007 First Light is available on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox PC), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 for $69.99. This review was conducted on the PC version of the game provided by IO Interactive.
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    • Indeed - drives me mad - usually because Refresh is hidden in the full menu.
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