Microsoft’s Windows 10 now on 350m devices

. Update on OS available August 2

Microsoft Corp. has announced that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is coming to all Windows 10 devices – for free1 – on August 2.

Windows 10 continues to be the fastest growing version of the operating systems (OS) ever and is now running on more than 350 million devices.

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update, according to the firm, has all-new breakthrough features that bring Windows Ink and Cortana2 to the mainstream; a faster, more accessible and more power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser; advanced security features for consumers and enterprises; new gaming experiences and new tools for the modern classroom.

To help protect businesses from today’s modern threats, Microsoft also announced two new security features for enterprise customers – Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection and Windows Information Protection, formerly referred to as enterprise data protection.

According to the Executive Vice President, Windows and Devices Group, Terry Myerson, “When we introduced Windows 10, our vision was not only to deliver the best and most secure version of the OS ever, it was also to create an experience that would keep getting better. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is a great example of this – and we look forward to building on it even further in the future.”

To celebrate the availability of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft is also making it easy for everyone to enjoy the great new features.

Microsoft claimed that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is full of innovations that help people be more productive, stay safer online – and of course, have fun too.

According to it, for all Windows 10 customers, the Anniversary Update brings new improvements to Windows Hello and Windows Defender.

“With Windows Hello, customers can sign in with enterprise-grade security, password-free, to apps, and access supporting websites with biometric authentication using Microsoft Edge, the first and only browser to natively support biometrics.7

“Windows Defender anti-malware improves with the option to automatically schedule periodic quick scans of your PC; and provide notifications and summaries when scans are complete and if scans find any threats”, the firm stated.

Building on the existing security features in Windows 10, two new security benefits for enterprise customers include: Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, designed to detect, investigate and respond to malicious attacks and informed by the world’s largest array of sensors and expert advanced threat protection, including a team of expert security researchers at Microsoft.

Windows Information Protection, formerly referred to as enterprise data protection, helps protect businesses from accidental data leaks by separating personal and organizational data wherever it goes.

The firm informed that the Windows ink, which is an all-new experience that puts the power of Windows in the tip of a digital pen, enables people to write on a device as they would on paper. Integration with Office and other applications such as Microsoft Edge and Maps bring the power of inking everywhere.

Microsoft also said it has improved on the Cortana, which according to it, is world’s most productive personal digital assistant gets even better with access above the lock screen, more ways to remember with the ability for Cortana to save and recall information, and synchronization across devices2.

The new OS also come with increased power efficiency, extensions and accessibility with Microsoft Edge. Microsoft disclosed that the Anniversary Update includes even more power-saving improvements in Microsoft Edge, using fewer CPU cycles, consuming less memory, and minimizing the impact of background activity and peripheral content like Flash advertisements.