Windows 10 review

Getting niftier with the October 2020 Update

Windows 10
Windows 10 is more secure, reliable and efficient than ever.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Microsoft is still keen to get developers to build new mobile-style apps for Windows 10 that are more secure, don't get to do things that affect performance and battery life, can be uninstalled with a single click, and can potentially run on multiple devices. The hope is that developers will design their apps for the Universal Windows Platform, and they'll work across PCs, Windows 10 on smartphones, and Xbox as well – basically on every screen size.

There are tools to assist developers with converting Android and iOS apps, and even desktop PC apps. Businesses can deploy apps from their own versions of the Windows Store. This is all handled from the Business Store Portal, which will handles software license, centralized payment info and more.

Universal Apps and the new Windows Store

Universal apps are the latest version of what Microsoft was calling Metro, Modern and Store apps in Windows 8. Apps written for Windows 8 will still run. However, with the Charms bar and the touch gestures for opening app controls gone, Microsoft has crammed the commands for any apps that haven't been rewritten for Windows 10 in a rather awkward menu bar of apps. Apps that have been rewritten tend to use the hamburger menu, which gets frustrating to use on a desktop PC where there is plenty of space on-screen for navigation but the hamburger menu still hides the options.

Windows 10 has built a solid library of apps – alongside everyday apps like Amazon and VLC, Microsoft has started shipping Xbox One Play Anywhere games through the Windows 10 Store. Don’t get us wrong; the Store is smaller than iOS and Android equivalents, but it’s getting there.

Windows 10

The Store looks better than ever, full of top picks, featured apps, lists and collections.

Additionally, several redesigns later, the Store looks better than ever, full of top picks, featured apps, lists and collections. It feels like there are almost as many ways to look through the apps as there are interesting apps to look for.

Windows 10

The Photos app included with the Anniversary Update shows you all your pictures.

Built-in Windows 10 apps

The operating system's built-in apps are still improving, and the Windows 10 October Update adds some extras.

Windows 10

The Photo app also boasts some convenient editing tools.

The News app brings a curated News experience natively to Windows 10 and is customizable based on your interests. This is just as big as the Photos app included with the Anniversary Update that shows you all the pictures on your PC and in your OneDrive account and boasts some convenient editing tools. And, while the Mail and Calendar apps don't match Outlook – either the desktop or the smartphone versions, they're perfectly functional and competent apps.

Windows 10

Mail and Calendar apps are perfectly functional and competent apps.

Windows 10

Mail and Calendar apps don't match Outlook.

Sport and News stay useful however, even if they still feel a little superfluous. They start quickly, but you may use them most as live tiles in the Start menu. Diehard sports fans may not get enough information from the Sport app, but News is a decent aggregator of stories (the page covering local news sources is especially good). 

The Money app comes in handy if you track shares or want to follow the market. The Reader app, on the other hand, it's no longer installed by default. However, it is still available for download at the store, if you require it.

Maps just keeps getting better and better. Since the Anniversary Update, you can see multiple maps and locations on different tabs, view traffic, accidents and traffic cameras – and even draw routes on a map with your finger or a pen, then measure the distance or get directions (which is far easier than right clicking and dragging pushpins to get the route you want).

Windows 10

Groove has a thumbnail media player control that pops up when you hover over the Groove icon.

Groove has come on leaps and bounds since earlier versions of the app. It finally has a thumbnail media player control that pops up when you hover over the Groove icon in the task bar when there's music playing. Since the Anniversary Update, we particularly like the Your Groove playlists that automatically create various playlists of your tracks – including long tracks, tracks that are getting played a lot on the Groove service, tracks you haven't listened to in a while, tracks to help you cope with Monday mornings. They change frequently, but you can save them for later access.

Windows 10

Groove has come on leaps and bounds since earlier versions of the app.

Unfortunately, you can't create your own smart playlists – something even the Zune Player had and Windows Media Player can do (let alone iTunes). Even so, Groove is certainly worth trying for playing your music, if not for managing it.

Another app that's dramatically improved is Skype Preview, which is automatically installed in Anniversary Update and replaces the separate Skype Video and Messaging apps (but you can keep the desktop Skype app too).

Windows 10

Skype Preview has dramatically improved.

If you tried an earlier version of this, don't despair; it now has an excellent set of features, not to mention is fast and responsive. It also has the dialler that was missing in early versions, alongside video calls and chat (both of which can be one to one or group conversations).

It's very well integrated into Windows 10 – you can reply to chat messages straight from the Action Center notification, and you don't need to have the app running to receive calls. You can also try out Skype bots; the Foursquare and IFTTT bots look interesting, but they are all still fairly basic.

Images Credit: Microsoft

Contributor

Dan (Twitter, Google+) is TechRadar's Former Deputy Editor and is now in charge at our sister site T3.com. Covering all things computing, internet and mobile he's a seasoned regular at major tech shows such as CES, IFA and Mobile World Congress. Dan has also been a tech expert for many outlets including BBC Radio 4, 5Live and the World Service, The Sun and ITV News.

Read more
Windows 11 forced onto old hardware
Windows 11 is still my favorite OS, ads and all
A finger touching a screen showing the Windows 11 logo
5 reasons why I’m finally upgrading to Windows 11 in January
A Microsoft Surface Pro 11 on a desk
Microsoft in 2024: year in review
AOC Agon Pro AG276FK gaming monitor tilted slightly to the side, showing the Windows desktop screen
Windows 11 users get ready for more ‘recommendations’ from Microsoft – but I’m relieved to say these suggestions might actually be useful
Angry woman using a laptop
Microsoft makes another tweak to Windows 11’s taskbar – but it’s probably not the change you were hoping for
A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk
Microsoft changes Windows 11’s Start menu for the better (gasp) while introducing nifty new file sharing options
Latest in Windows
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
I’ll admit, Microsoft’s new Windows 11 update surprised me with its usefulness, providing accessibility fixes, a gamepad keyboard layout, and PC spec cards
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices on a table.
Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC
girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed
Windows 11 24H2 seems to be a massive fail – so Microsoft apparently working on 25H2 fills me with hope... and fear
A woman sitting in a chair looking at a Windows 11 laptop
It looks like Microsoft might have thought better about banishing Copilot AI shortcut from Windows 11
Using Zipped files and folders in Windows 11
Windows 11 should soon be faster at extracting files from compressed ZIPs – and it’s about time, frankly
Xbox Wireless Controller
Microsoft is adding a powerful new feature for using Xbox controllers with Windows 11
Latest in Reviews
The Kiwi design K4 Boost Battery strap being worn by Hamish
I test VR headsets for a living, and this affordable headstrap is the first Meta Quest 3 accessory you should buy
Both Kiwi design G4 Pro Performance Controller Grips
I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong
The Kiwi design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap
Want to upgrade your VR headset? Look no further than my new favorite Meta Quest 3 headstrap
WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR main image
I tested the WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR - read how I rated this Endpoint Protection for small business
The RIG M2 Streamstar.
I wanted to love the new RIG M2 Streamstar, but this pricey gaming microphone fails to deliver
Bambu Lab H2D Vs X1C
I've been reviewing the hotly anticipated Bambu Lab H2D for a month, and it's the most versatile machine I've ever used