The major updates Redstone 5 and Redstone 4, which were released in 2018 for Windows 10, turned out to be as unsuccessful as possible. Microsoft has ceased to closely monitor the quality of software for electronic devices running Windows 10, and this happens solely because in May 2019, the public will be shown a new OS that will replace the old one.

It’s about Lite OS that is an absolutely new Microsoft OS, on which the organization has spent a lot of effort and time. According to forecasts, immediately after the presentation its test builds will be released, while the final stable version will be launched in the second half of 2019. The latest software will get a lot of various innovations, ranging from a higher speed of work to downloading an updated interface. This new development will replace Windows 10.

All these facts indicate that Windows 10 ceases to exist as it will soon be replaced, and from the moment Lite OS is announced, all attention will be paid only to the new OS, while everyone will quickly forget about Windows 10. It is bad or good – everyone should decide it for himself/herself, but it probably depends on what the new operating system will be, and it will be so good to replace the various versions of Windows that have been released to the market over the past decades.

Let’s remember the most common problems of Windows 10

• Activation errors

After a free upgrade from Windows 7 with SP1 or Windows 8.1, the users report a failed activation of the operating system. The list of errors that the individuals write about: “This product key does not work”, “There was a problem with the network”, “A security error occurred”, “The software licensing service reported that an error occurred while checking the license.”

• “Buggy” Chrome

The Chrome users in Windows 10 have encountered many problems, including slow work, especially when performing demanding tasks like watching a video. Probably, Google will fix bugs in one of the following updates. Some users have been helped by reinstalling Chrome.

• Folder problems

According to some users, there is an area in which Windows 8 is better than Windows 10: an email client. In the new OS, the program does not allow creating subfolders for organizing mail correspondence. For some individuals, this has become a real problem. Unfortunately, there is no way out of the situation: you should wait for the update from Microsoft.

• Unstable Wi-Fi performance

After upgrading to Windows 10, many have stopped working Wi-Fi. The simplest thing you can do is restart your computer. A more reliable solution: turn off the Wi-Fi sharing feature. By default, the network sharing feature is active in the operating system. Disabling the option in the Wi-Fi settings makes the wireless connection more stable.

• Driver problems

Some users managed to encounter this bug with NVIDIA video cards and several monitors. The video card driver contains an error that causes flicker when working with multiple monitors, as well as system failures when using multiple video cards. To fix this problem, you should roll back to the previous version of the driver.

As you can see, we are waiting for big changes, and to be always up to date with all the news, visit the ExamCollection website.

With Windows 10, Microsoft seems to go out of its way to win back the users the company lost with Windows 8 (if you hate the 8, know that you’re not the only one!). Therefore, the new OS will get a bunch for great features – both new and returning (yes, the Start menu is coming back!). Windows 10 will also feature an updated Notifications Center and the Cortana voice assistant  which Windows Phone users are already familiar with. Windows 10 will also enable users to run multiple virtual desktops simultaneously.

To give developers a better idea of what to expect, Microsoft has released a very early built version of the operating system which they call Windows 10 Technical Preview. So if you’re a tech enthusiast who wouldn’t mind spending time playing with Microsoft’s work-in-progress buggy product, you are welcome to download it, test it, and share your feedback, which Microsoft will supposedly take into consideration as they work on the operating system. This is called Microsoft Insider Program, and it’s open to anyone.

Watch this video for a quick Windows 10 preview and learn how you can try it out for yourself:

Here’s a quick recap of Windows 10 features. There are definitely more to come, and, according to Microsoft, even the design isn’t finalized yet. What we’ll get next year should be even more exciting.

Guess who’s back… Good to see you again, Start Menu! Bigger and better than before, Start Menu will feature live tile section, which users can customize according to their liking and app preferences:

More windows for Windows 10. Now everything runs in a window. Apps from the Windows Store now open in the same format as desktop apps, so the windows can be moved around, resized etc.

Snap enhancements: Windows 10 allows up to 4 apps and programs to be snapped on the same screen with a new quadrant layout. Additional screen space can be filled with other apps.

NEW: task view button is being added to the taskbar to allow quick access and switching between the files and apps.

Multiple virtual desktops with Task View. Windows 10 also adds the ability to run multiple desktops on the same PC via a feature called Task View. After opening Task View, all you have to do to open a new desktop is click a black rectangle with a plus sign over it. Once you have more desktops open, they’ll appear as individual tiles at the bottom of your screen, oriented in horizontal fashion. You can also pull apps that are open in one virtual desktop over to other ones, which is called “Snap Assist.

Summing up…

As soon as the presentation was over in San Francisco, users started pointing out the similarities the new operating system has to various Mac OS versions and the Ubuntu. While these comments are fair enough and it seems like while the new Microsoft OS is likely to be ‘the best Windows yet’, it sure won’t be revolutionary or groundbreaking. The pricing and packages information isn’t available yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how much Windows 10 is going to cost us. Stay tunes for updates on Windows 10 as they come out.

What do you think about Microsoft Press publications? While these resources can be useful, many candidates just do not want to pay for them. After all, why purchase a pricey book that is highly likely to be tucked away to a top shelf a few weeks later? And since certification exams are expensive enough as they are, we just don’t want to pay for official publications. But what if we told you that you can get Microsoft press books FOR FREE?

Get free Microsoft eBooks in PDF, ePub and Mobi formats directly from Microsoft Press here.

From technical overviews to drilldowns on special topics, free Microsoft Press ebooks cover the following areas:

• Windows Server
• Windows Azure
• Windows
• App Development
• Microsoft System Center
• Other subjects

These are our top choices:

Microsoft System Center: Network Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Mitch Tulloch with Nader Benmessaoud, CJ Williams, Uma Mahesh Mudigonda
March 2014
This brief book identifies some key usage and deployment scenarios for cloud computing to provide some deep technical background on the Microsoft SDN solution, enabling IT professionals to quickly learn the internals of HNV, how it works from end to end, and where and how it should be used.

Introducing Windows Azure for IT Professionals
Mitch Tulloch with the Windows Azure Team
October 2013
Get a high-level overview of Windows Azure—and get a running start with this flexible cloud platform. Designed for IT professionals, this guide introduces core features and functionality, with technical insights and advice from a Microsoft MVP and members of the Windows Azure team. Topics include Windows Azure solutions, Compute services, Network services, Data services, and App services

Introducing Microsoft System Center 2012 R2
Mitch Tulloch with Symon Perriman and the System Center team
January 2014
Get a high-level overview of System Center 2012 R2—and get a running start transforming your datacenter and cloud-optimizing your business. This guide introduces core features and functionality, with technical advice and under-the-hood insights from a Microsoft MVP and members of the System Center team at Microsoft.

Click here to explore free Microsoft eBooks, and be sure to test your newly acquired knowledge with the latest braindumps from our IT Certification Community.

This exam validates your ability to implement and configure Windows Server 2012 core services, such as Active Directory and the networking services. Passing this exam along with the other two exams confirms that a candidate has the skills and knowledge necessary for implementing, managing, maintaining, and provisioning services and infrastructure in a Windows Server 2012 environment.

• Install and configure servers (15–20%)
• Configure server roles and features (15–20%)
• Configure Hyper-V (15–20%)
• Deploy and configure core network services (15–20%)
• Install and administer Active Directory (15–20%)
• Create and manage Group Policy (15–20%)

In January 2014, Microsoft updated this exam to include content covering Windows Server 2012 R2. While publishing houses and tech writers hurried up to publish new books for The 70-410 Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 exam (there is a tendency to add R2 to this exam after the update), many potential exam candidates were left wondering how significant the update was, and how much different the exam had become.

The truth is, yes, the updates are significant, and ignoring them is a sure way to fail the 70-410 exam. Yet, is you have been using the old exam blueprint to study for the 70-410, here’s what has been added to some exam sections:

Install and configure servers (15–20%)

• Configure servers: Install and configure Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC).
• Configure local storage: Create storage pools by using disk enclosures

Configure server roles and features (17%)

• Configure file and share access: Create and configure Work Folders
• Configure servers for remote management: Manage non-domain joined servers

Configure Hyper-V (15–20%)

• Create and configure virtual machine settings: Create and configure Generation 1 and 2virtual machines; configure and use enhanced session mode
• Create and configure virtual machine storage: Manage checkpoints; configure storage Quality of Service (QoS)
• Create and configure virtual networks: Configure network interface card (NIC) teaming in virtual machines

Install and administer Active Directory (14%)

• Install domain controllers: Deploy Active Directory infrastructure as a service (IaaS) in Windows Azure

This is the summary of the R2 updates to Microsoft 70-410 exam. Is it a lot to master? It may be, but making an effort and mastering these sections will sure be useful as putting this exam on your resume will definitely boost your career potential. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts.

Exams related to HTML5-related exams, 70-481 and 70-482, will be updated next week, on November 18, 2013, as Microsoft announced a few month ago. And the two exams related to C# – 70-484 and 70-485 – will be updated early next month, on 2 December.

Now, let’s look at the exams. Changing next week:

70-481: Essentials of Developing Windows Store Apps Using HTML5 and JavaScript
The exam measures the following skills:

• Designing Windows Store apps (20%)
• Developing Windows Store apps (20%)
• Creating the user interface (21%)
• Program user interaction (20%)
• Managing security and data (19%)

Here, you can find out which parts of the exam have been changed.

70-482: Advanced Windows Store App Development Using HTML5 and JavaScript
Skills measured within the exam:

• Developing Windows Store apps (17%)
• Discovering and interact with devices (13%)
• Program user interaction (18%)
• Enhancing the user interface (18%)
• Managing data and security (18%)
• Preparing for a solution deployment (16%)

Changes in the 70-482 exam are outlined here.

Those of you focusing on the C# related exams still have over 2 weeks to adjust as the following exams will be changed on 2 December:

70-484: Essentials of Developing Windows Store Apps Using C#

Skills measured:

• Designing Windows Store apps (19%)
• Developing Windows Store apps (19%)
• Creating the user interface (21%)
• Program the user interaction (21%)
• Managing security and data (20%)

Here’s what exactly will change in the 70-484 exam.

Last but not least, exam 70-485: Advanced Windows Store App Development Using C#

Skills to be tested:

• Developing Windows Store apps (17%)
• Discovering and interact with devices (16%)
• Program user interaction (17%)
• Enhancing  the user interface (16%)
• Managing data and security (17%)
• Preparing for a solution deployment (17%)

This exam’s upcoming changes are available here.

Well, the changes do not seem to be too big or too bad. When they actually are, Microsoft tend to change the numbers of exams. And in this case, when the numbers are kept the same, the updates are expected to be moderate. Yet, it’s better not to ignore the news – to avoid being too surprised on the exam ;).

While market share of the Windows Phone has been growing steadily in 2013 (making it the third most-used mobile operating system after Android and iOS), the giant made its ultimate claim for leading the mobile world by purchasing Nokia in September.

So now Microsoft’s main task appears to be developing a powerful ecosystem for both phones and tablets, and as they go along, there will sure be a high demand for Windows Phone Developers. Even now, Microsoft’s not going bad: with the integration of SkyDrive, Office Mobile, Office 365, etc, the company is sure on the right track. Yet, there’s still a lot to work on, especially in the area of smaller/cheaper consumer apps, to step up the competition with the leader, Google’s Android.  Not surprisingly, in this situation, the MCPD: Windows Phone Developer certification may look like a good option for you, as there will definitely be a rising demand in Windows Phone app developers. Yet, as it usually happens, things are a little more complex than they may seem, and we’ll try to convince you that you’ll need at least some HTML 5 understanding, up to the point when MCSD: Windows Store Apps certification may be a better long-term goal (as opposed to the outdated MCPD: Windows Phone Developer you may be eying).

Is there anything wrong with MCPD: Windows Phone Developer Certification?

Where do we start? The thing is, this certification is strongly focused on Silverlight. Which is fine, considered that this is what Windows Phone development is now based on. Yet, it may not be so fine once you consider that Microsoft has pretty much dropped Silverlight in 2011. Do note also that the certification includes the 4^th version of Silverlight among its steps, although the platform was updated to Silverlight 5 back in 2011. So why haven’t they updated the certification yet?

Although it will be supported until 2021, you don’t have to be a genius to understand that it won’t last that long: Microsoft has announced it would be moving to HTML 5 instead. Why would Microsoft kill its proprietary technology? Just look a few years back and it’ll be clear.

History Repeats

2 years after his death, Steve Jobs still remains the trendsetter of the tech world. And it’s not his gadgets (and the recent lack of Apple’s innovation) we’re talking about. Do you remember the outrage caused by Apple’s decision not to support Flash on its gadgets? This way, Apple created the AppStore concept we know today: accessing things you need through apps, which, in turn, brings huge monetization potential to the owners.

Looking back, one can now state that the war between Apple and Adobe over Flash had prompted the HTML5 we use today. And in 2011, Microsoft took the course of moving away from the Silverlight towards using HTML5, thus closing the door on its own proprietary technology. The company admitted it would be dropping its efforts to make Silverlight the leading cross-platform runtime for the web and the desktop.

What Exactly is Silverlight?

Microsoft Silverlight enables writing and running rich Internet applications, similar to Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS.

Silverlight is capable of providing video streaming. It has been used for the NBC coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, as well as the 2008 conventions of the US Democratic and Republican parties. Until recently, it has been used by Netflix to enable its instant video streaming, however, the service has announced its switch to HTML5 in the near future.

Truth be told, for years Silverlight had compatibility issues with browsers, and many developers weren’t crazy about its features. Yet, it carried out its mission of a universal platform for delivery of rich online content, with online video streaming being the best and brightest of it. Convenient? Yes! But as a user, would you purchase an app for something you can get without one, just through your browser? We didn’t think so. And neither did Microsoft. So now the company treats its own technology exactly the way Apple treated Adobe’s Flash years ago.

Of course, this platform isn’t something Microsoft can get rid of within a day: the company will support Silverlight 5 until 2021. Although it may still seem far away, it is obvious that HTML5, a quicker and leaner technology, will take its place. And, since Adobe has dropped Flash as a mobile platform for being too energy consuming and too slow, it’s just a matter of time until Microsoft does the same with Silverlight (although it’s not nearly as heavy).

Moreover, Microsoft is now faced with the need to capitalize on its Windows Phone and Nokia investment, and this is something Bill Gates’ company can once again learn from their founder’s lifelong rival, Mr. Steve Jobs: heading towards a lean and consistent appstore-based ecosystem, where desktop and mobile environment are harmonically aligned, and the monetization potential is high. And, with Windows Phone showing the highest growing rates this year, Microsoft seems to finally be on the right track.

So, this article pretty much shows why be believe that while having the MCPD: Windows Phone Developer certification is very useful nowadays (to get the job you want ASAP), you should keep in mind that the technology is very likely to change soon. And, if you already hold a Windows Phone Developer certification, you may seriously want to think of picking up on some of that HTML5 and JavaScript knowledge you will eventually need – on a truly professional level. So, DO consider MCSD: Windows Store Apps to be safer in this ever changing apps world.