Can You Play Forza Horizon 2 Xbox 360 On Xbox One

What I meant by features was things to do with the games engine, like the air particle simulations and all that. If you've read the coverage on IGN you'll know what I'm talking about. The One has more RAM, therefor they can stream more assets. Yes, GTA V and those others have big maps on 360, but the power of the new gen systems will enable devs to make bigger ones. And from what I played of AC4 and GTA5, the 360 was struggling with the big worlds they had.

Can You Play Forza Horizon 2 On Xbox One AC4 runs way better on my PS4 then it did on 360 or PS3, and GTA5 has tons of slow down and pop-in. And even just going by the E3 trailer for GTA5, the next gen version already has a much more believable world with more animals, pedestrians, traffic, foliage, and a vastly improved draw distance and lighting effects and such. As for fucking up the handling on either version, I think that's the last thing we need worry about.

They are using the Forza 5 engine on One, and that has the best handling cars in the whole series, and arguably the best handling in any sim style racer ever. And on 360, the Horizon 1 engine handles quite nicely too. And yes, the console specs can have an effect on the handling of the cars, a more powerful system can do more simulations simultaneously which means it will be a more accurate experience. If that makes it more enjoyable depends on each individual person I suppose.

I also don't think they are focusing primarily on graphics for the One version, because while it looks beautiful, it doesn't look as good as Drive Club graphically. Yeah I know, that's closed circuit based and this is open world, but it sounds like the environments for DC are pretty huge. Horizon 2 looks like a much better racing game though, because it seems like they are focusing on making everything about it great. I have Horizon 2 pre-ordered already, and Drive Club I'm going to try the PS+ version first. And lets admit it, if both versions of Horizon 2 play great, sound great and have lots of fun content and the main difference was graphics, that would mean the One version is superior.

Gameplay and fun may be the most important things, but having great graphics never hurts either lol. As a festival of speed, Forza Horizon 2 succeeds in almost every way. With such a strong offering of cars and events, and a gorgeous environment that feels more like a holiday destination than a game location, there's strength and beauty in Playground Games' second lap. On top, there's a stronger multiplayer offering, complete with whole Road Trip events to share with your friends, which take advantage of the game's spaciousness, the day/night cycle and dynamic weather additions. Add in the ability to start clubs and race socially and you have some real longevity here .

One of my top 2 favorites of seven xbox one race games I play. Great graphics and scenery, very good car steering response. About ten times superior to the xbox 360 version in graphics and steering response. The graphics are very close to as good, although it's an earlier game by 2 or 3 years. It's relaxed fun, while offering just enough challenge to keep your interest. Some racing games aren't much fun to play by yourself thanks to the unrealistic AI drivers you have to race against.

Luckily, Forza Horizon 2 uses the power of the cloud to create Drivatars – AI driver profiles – based on the racing styles of actual players. As you cruise the roads and terrain of Horizon 2, you'll encounter AI versions of your actual Xbox Live friends and other players. Just yesterday, I raced against WPCentral's newest staff member, Jonathan. The original Forza Motorsport launched on the original Xbox in 2005, but really took off with the release of Forza Motorsport 2 for the Xbox 360 in 2007. The entire series was positioned as Xbox's flagship racing franchise. PlayStation had the hugely popular Gran Turismo racing game series, Microsoft offered Forza as competition.

Today, the Forza series is one of the most successful racing video games and a showcase for the entire genre. Forza Horizon 2 is just one, but still important chapter in how this came to be. Among new features in the game are "Bucket Lists", three groups of timed challenges for the player to complete, similar to the 1000 Club in Forza Horizon. These challenges are continuously updated to provide new challenges throughout the map. Car Meets are an online mode where players can meet up online and compare their cars, similar to "Forzavista" mode in Forza Motorsport 5.

Players are also able to interact with each other in Car Meets, including sharing tuning setups and liveries. In the online version of the game, races such as circuits, sprints, and cross country are playable against other players, along with other game types such as Infected and King. Forza Horizon 2 is a racing video game, featuring an open world environment. The player participates in the Horizon Festival, a fictional racing competition set within Southern France and Northern Italy.

The game has approximately three times more drivable area than that of its predecessor Forza Horizon, with events set in Provence, Liguria and Côte d'Azur, among other regions. Players can explore the region, taking part in races and special events in order to advance through the game. Events can take place at day or night, and a dynamic weather system was added for the first time in a Forza-series game.

GenreRacingModeSingle-player, multiplayerForza Horizon 2 is a 2014 racing video game developed for Microsoft's Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles. It is the sequel to 2012's Forza Horizon and the seventh instalment in the Forza series. The Xbox One version of the game was developed by Playground Games, the team behind the original Forza Horizon, while Sumo Digital developed the version for Xbox 360, with Forza series developer Turn 10 Studios supporting both builds.

The Xbox 360 version is also the final Forza game released for the platform. The game received positive reviews from critics and a sequel, Forza Horizon 3, was released on 27 September 2016. This 'Forza Horizon 2' for Xbox One game appeals to not only a casual gamer but also the true racing enthusiast with vibrant graphics and brilliant racing gameplay. An open world racing setup gives you full control over where you race along with when and how fast you can go.

Inspect your chosen car inside and out to make sure it fits your specifications before you join the race. Gameplay options are nearly unlimited with different car customization and track choices. Choose from more than 200 sports cars, roadsters, and off-road vehicles such as ATVs to get a truly unique racing experience. 'Forza Horizon2' for Xbox One is set in Southern Europe, offering a variety of roads, country landscapes, and forests to serve as dynamic racecourses full of fun obstacles and beautiful scenery. Forza Horizon 2 is the second game in the series to be developed principally by a studio other than Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios. Playground Games, the lead developer for Forza Horizon, focused on the Xbox One version, using the graphics engine from Forza Motorsport 5 as their starting point.

While the engine is capable of displaying content 1080p and 60 frames-per-second, the game was locked at 1080p and 30 frames-per-second, which was deemed necessary because of the game's open-world nature. According to creative director Ralph Fulton, "one of the big technical challenges that we had to face was making sure that we could stream in a world that is next-gen beautiful, but fast enough to keep up with the fastest car." To order this game please select one of the editions from the Xbox Store.

A world of beauty and freedom awaits in Forza Horizon 2! Explore a beautiful open world with dynamic day, night and spectacular weather effects in stunning 1080p. Drive 200+ cars in epic road trips through a massive, wide-open world of freedom.

Action-packed driving gameplay rewards you for showing off your style as well as your skill. Instantly connect with friends online with no lobbies and no waiting. Forza Horizon 2 uses the same outstanding graphics engine as Forza 5, pumping out 1080p graphics and ridiculously detailed cars. The frame rate has been halved though, in order to accommodate the open world setting.

This is the single most beautiful Xbox One game I have played so far. The only graphical complaint I could make is the occasional pop-in of roadside foliage when driving at high speeds. The standalone expansion of the game based on The Fast and the Furious franchise, Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious, added nitrous oxide boosts to the Forza series. Unlike other racing games however, nitrous can only be used during most of the game's events, and only replenishes at the very start of said events. Turn 10 has promised "hundreds of cars" including the new Lamborghini Huracán along with the introduction of weather system technology that will most certainly add a new twist to the Forza world. Finally, Turn 10 will roll out a retuned version of the Drivatar system that pits you against your online friends…even when they aren't online.

Of course, we can also expect an incredible online gameplay experience that, in my opinion, is the best reason to buy the first Forza Horizon if you don't have it already. Plus, if you have Xbox One, you can play Forza Horizon 2 with yours truly - gamertag QuickMirada. While the details are limited, the ForzaMotorsport website has officially announced that Forza Horizon 2 is on its way and it will hit stores sometime this fall. Most shockingly, Horizon 2 will be available for both Xbox One and Xbox 360, with two different developers working on the project with Turn 10. Development for Forza Horizon 2 for Xbox One will be handled by Turn 10 and Playground Games and the game will be built around the same graphics engine as Forza 5. On the other hand, the Xbox 360 version will be handled by Turn 10 and Sumo Digital and that version will be based on the original Forza Horizon engine.

As you can see in the image above, the Lamborghini Huracán will serve as the cover car and this cover will be the same for both versions. Earning XP has also changed, this time referring to a much more fleshed out skill-based system that rewards you with driver points for drifting, near misses, drafting, getting big air and more. As you go you'll increase your overall level, add perks to an arbitrary progress tree and spin the Wheelspin, a random lucky dip available whenever you level up. This nets random rewards like credits or perhaps even a free ride. If there's one flaw in the system it's that the game makes progression feel slower with how it dishes out cars, even if you're technically leveling up faster by earning kudos points.

Alan Walsh Alan is the co-founder and co-owner of FullThrottle Media. As someone who enjoys spending all his free time playing video games, he keeps the website updated with new and relevant content, including news stories, reviews and opinion pieces for the games he likes writing about the most. Trees and buildings tend to have the most noticeable pop-in as the game swaps the assets for higher-quality models as you approach them. It's extremely noticeable when driving at high speeds – which you will be, it's Forza Horizon 2 at the end of the day.

Combined with the overall jaggedness of Forza Horizon 2's assets when displayed in their current form, it results in something that feels like an unpolished visual experience. On 27 August 2014, Microsoft announced that a demo version of the game would be made available on Xbox One on 16 September 2014. On the day of the demo release, Microsoft confirmed that the game had been declared gold, indicating it was being prepared for duplication and release. The standard "10th Anniversary Edition" of the Xbox One version was given to Xbox Live Gold members for free throughout August 2018 as part of Microsoft's Games with Gold program. Forza Horizon 2 and its downloadable content were digitally delisted on 1 October 2018. Those who already own it can still download and play the game and its DLC.

There is a good chance that if you are reading this, you are at least familiar with the open world racing game Forza Horizon. It came out a couple years ago for Xbox 360 and unlike the previous Forza Motorsport titles; it took place in a fictional open world setting as opposed to a well known race track. Before Horizon hit, the open world racing game had long been dominated by the Need for Speed series – but Forza Horizon changed all of that. That distinction is important in Horizon 2, because so much of the fun comes outside of races. The structure of the campaign is similar to the first game, but a couple of changes have shifted the way you progress.

You still work through a mishmash of different events to progress to the next wristband level, but this time you travel between hub areas that add their own new events into the mix. To ascend to the next level you go on a Road Trip – a lengthy drive from one area to the next, through day and night, rain or shine. Given the hardware, it was a good effort – but if you've only experienced Forza Horizon 2 on the Xbox 360, then you without a doubt need to experience the masterpiece that is the Xbox One version developed by Playground Games. One of the last first party exclusives for Xbox 360, Forza Horizon was a landmark title - a successful collaboration between franchise founders Turn 10 and UK-based start-up Playground Games.

The open world concept was Playground's idea, and the background streaming tech necessary to create a seamless, vast racing experience came from the Leamington-based studio. It was the beginning of a collaboration that would go on to benefit both studios across a range of racing releases. Forza Horizon 2 includes more than 700 events, with the addition of barrier-less cross country races that allow up to 12 players to participate.

Driving challenges will be featured in "Bucket Lists." Each challenge can be triggered by entering a vehicle that is unique to the event. These vehicles are placed throughout the setting of the game. Similar to Rivals Mode, new Bucket Lists will be continuously released or updated post-launch.

Forza Horizon 2 has a number of these incredibly high moments. Even when it dips into the valley of its "standard" gameplay, you'll occasionally get that exhilaration from a close race. It helps that you have so many different kinds of cars as well as race types .

Just like in Forza Motorsport 5, your Drivatar is an A.I. Version of you that will race against your friends even when you are offline. I have no idea how accurate the artificial drivers are to the real thing, but just seeing my buddy's name above a car that keeps trying to shove me off the road is enough to get my competitive juices flowing. Forza Motorsport series has been one of the most critically acclaimed series for the Xbox consoles. Largely a racing simulator series, with Forza Horizon, the game series went ahead with an open world approach. The latest in the line of the Forza series is Forza Motorsport 2.

Whilst impressive in 2014, Forza Horizon 2 runs in a native 1080p resolution at 30fps. The assets, environments, and car models are of the highest quality in Forza Horizon 2 – but they lack that shine and crispness when compared to Forza Horizon 3, which runs in native 4K resolution on Microsoft's latest console. This Xbox One game has all the fun for a boy or girl to enjoy if they love cars. From the beginning where it opens up with a race to the small details in each and every car, everyone will love to check out Forza Horizons 2.

Forza has other products out there that are top notch and this one is too. The graphics are phenomenal, when gameplay begins, it takes you to a car that you can inspect both the outside as well as the inside before jumping in and racing a race. It takes a little bit of time to get down the steering but after you figure that out, be prepared to have fun.

With almost unlimited type of gameplay, this game is becoming very close to my sons' favorite game. Not long before launch - when most people had already bought the game - Turn 10 quickly announced that FH2-360 would receive no DLC. All these people who have just bought this game have been told that it would receive no post-launch support. The car list also included a lot of cars that were from FH1 and FM4 and not FM5 and the Xbox One version. It was nice because some of those cars have never reappeared in the series and it seemed like a 'best of' Forza, but bad because they were filling the car list with cars from older games.

Is Windows 10 S Better Than Windows 10

On May 2, 2017, Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 S , a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 which was designed primarily for devices in the education market , such as the Surface Laptop that Microsoft also unveiled at this time. The OS restricts software installation to applications obtained from Microsoft Store; the device may be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for a fee to enable unrestricted software installation. As a time-limited promotion, Microsoft stated that this upgrade would be free on the Surface Laptop until March 31, 2018. Windows 10 S also contains a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the Windows Intune for Education platform. Windows 10 received generally positive reviews upon its original release. There are Windows 10 and Chrome OS laptops with touch screens, and both benefit greatly from them, in differing ways.

Windows 10 has tablet mode, which removes your taskbar icons and puts all apps in full-screen mode, leaving you with a minimalist workspace that removes a lot of desktop distractions. And with the new universal apps in the Windows app store, you'll be able to run most of your favorite programs in both desktop and tablet modes. Windows 10S allows users to experience a faster and more secure version of Windows, but this includes limitations.

While using Windows 10S, users can only install and use applications that are downloaded through the Microsoft Store. Additionally, Microsoft Edge is always set as the default browser, though other browsers are available for download through the Microsoft Store. While Microsoft recommends that users still use a security program while running in Windows 10S, the only compatible security program is Windows Defender Security Center. Many additional pieces of hardware, including printers, mice, and keyboards, work with Windows 10S, but some are incompatible with the system.

Windows 10S is available for Windows Enterprise and Windows Education mode. The upgrade offer was marketed and initiated using the "Get Windows 10" application, which was first downloaded and installed via Windows Update in March 2015. Registry keys and group policies could be used to partially disable the GWX mechanism, but the installation of patches to the GWX software via Windows Update could reset these keys back to defaults, and thus reactivate the software. Third-party programs were also created to assist users in applying measures to disable GWX.

This edition is designed for "special-purpose devices" that perform a fixed function . For this reason, it excludes Cortana, Microsoft Store, and all bundled Universal Windows Platform apps . A new iteration of the Start menu is used on the Windows 10 desktop, with a list of places and other options on the left side, and tiles representing applications on the right. The menu can be resized, and expanded into a full-screen display, which is the default option in Tablet mode. A new virtual desktop system was added by a feature known as Task View, which displays all open windows and allows users to switch between them, or switch between multiple workspaces.

Universal apps, which previously could be used only in full screen mode, can now be used in self-contained windows similarly to other programs. Program windows can now be snapped to quadrants of the screen by dragging them to the corner. When a window is snapped to one side of the screen, Task View appears and the user is prompted to choose a second window to fill the unused side of the screen (called "Snap Assist").

What Does Windows 11 Do Better Than Windows 10 The new Start menu takes after Windows 7's design by using only a portion of the screen and including a Windows 7-style application listing in the first column. Myerson said that these changes would occur in a future update, but did not elaborate. Windows Phone 8.1 would share nearly 90% of the common Windows Runtime APIs with Windows 8.1 on PCs. Our mission with Windows is to build a platform that inspires creativity in each of us. With Windows, not only do we want to build a platform that inspires creativity in each of us – we also want customers to have choice around the best Windows for their needs. Back in May, we introduced a new set of educational products and services, including the introduction of Windows 10 S.

Windows 10 S is the next step of our Windows journey by offering customers a familiar Windows 10 experience, streamlined for security and performance. In March 2016, some users also alleged that their Windows 7 and 8.1 devices had automatically begun upgrading to Windows 10 without their consent. In June 2016, the GWX dialog's behavior changed to make closing the window imply a consent to a scheduled upgrade. It was concluded that these users may have unknowingly clicked the "Accept" prompt without full knowledge that this would begin the upgrade. Extended support until January 13, 2032The original release of Windows 10 receives mainstream support for five years after its original release, followed by five years of extended support, but this is subject to conditions.

Microsoft stated that these devices would no longer receive feature updates, but would still receive security updates through January 2023. Microsoft will continue to support at least one standard Windows 10 release until October 14, 2025. Device Guard is designed to protect against zero-day exploits, and runs inside a hypervisor so that its operation remains separated from the operating system itself. Instead of Group Policy, it's managed the way smartphones and tablets are, using MDM tools and cloud identities. Other critics argued that Microsoft should not have triggered any downloading of Windows 10 installation files without user consent. Both the Windows versions come with support for Microsoft Passport, device encryption, side-loading of business apps, and mobile device management.

Along with that, both versions can be easily upgraded to Windows 10 Education Edition. Microsoft has said the new OS will include performance improvements, including faster logins with Windows Hello, faster web browsing and faster wake from sleep mode. Windows Hello is a biometrics-based technology that lets Windows 10 users authenticate secure access to their devices, apps and networks with iris scans, facial recognition or fingerprints.

Without doubt, Windows 8's initial insistence on imposing the tiled Start screen on devices that didn't even have a touchscreen ruined any chance of the operating system ever getting widespread business adoption. Windows 10 in S mode is a specific configuration of Windows 10 Pro designed for added security and performance. Windows 10 in S mode uses Microsoft Edge as its browser and uses apps from the Windows Store only to enhance performance and security. Some accessories and apps compatible with Windows 10 might not work , and performance might vary, even if you switch to Windows 10 Pro configuration .

For more information, go to Microsoft webpage Windows 10 in S Mode FAQ . Mac users have had one for several years, and it offers the advantages of automatic updating and a single source for finding programs you need. Acceptance to the Windows Store also means an app has been vetted by Microsoft for security. You can even install apps to external memory—something tablet users can appreciate. 10 heavily emphasizes freemium services, and contains various advertising facilities.

Some outlets have considered these to be a hidden "cost" of the free upgrade offer. Feature updates prior to version 1909 are distributed solely as an in-place upgrade installation, requiring the download of a complete operating system package (approximately 3.5 GB in size for 64-bit systems). Unlike previous builds, version 1909 is designed primarily as an update rollup version of 1903, focusing primarily on minor feature additions and enhancements. For upgrades to 1909 from 1903, a new delivery method is used where its changes were delivered as part of the monthly cumulative update, but are left in a dormant state until the 1909 update "enablement" patch is installed.

The full upgrade process is still used for those using builds prior to 1903. The Anniversary Update added Windows Subsystem for Linux , which allows the installation of a user space environment from a supported Linux distribution that runs natively on Windows. The subsystem translates Linux system calls to those of the Windows NT kernel . The environment can execute the Bash shell and 64-bit command-line programs (WSL 2 also supports 32-bit Linux programs and graphics, assuming supporting software installed, and GPUs support for other uses). Windows applications cannot be executed from the Linux environment, and vice versa. Linux distributions for Windows Subsystem for Linux are obtained through Microsoft Store.

The feature initially supported an Ubuntu-based environment; Microsoft announced in May 2017 that it would add Fedora and OpenSUSE environment options as well. Windows Update for Business will make sure that Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users are always up to date when it comes to security features. Windows 10 Pro also supports the "Current Branch for Business" upgrade schedule, which brings Windows updates to the enterprise market after it is tested 90 days in the consumer market making sure it is sufficiently stable on release. Windows 10 S doesn't have better performance than Windows 10 out of the box. Fast-forward to a year post-installation, though, and the story might be a bit different. As most of us know, without proper maintenance, Windows slows down over time as downloaded programs fill our startup queue, registry, and services.

Windows 10 S sidesteps this issue because Windows Store apps cannot add themselves to the startup folder and so cannot begin automatically eating up your resources upon login. Thus, a year after installation, Windows 10 S should start-up just as quickly as the day it was installed. You can achieve the same thing with Windows 10 vanilla, but you can't be installing programs without maintenance. Windows 8 was arguably a failure, and we can see very few reasons why you might want to use it over Windows 10.

The start menu is far less jarring, providing modern tools and layouts sprinkled with enough familiarity that users won't feel alienated. There's a host of new security and productivity features, with more being added all the time, and the migration to Windows 10 is far smoother than anything experienced in the past. Windows 10 presents almost no learning curve for longtime Windows users, while managing to incorporate many of the advances of Windows 8—faster startup, tablet capability, better notifications, and an app store. Its windowing prowess remains unmatched, letting you easily show the desktop and snap windows to the sides and corner quadrants of the screen. Windows 10 has become the most popular operating system for desktop computers, with more than 1.3 billion active PCs running it. Despite focusing on the new Windows 11 release—now rolling out—Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 with servicing updates.

The OS continues to offer unique capabilities like touch input, a voice-based virtual assistant, face login, Windows Defender security, and mixed reality tools. Still-important but more mundane features include an improved screenshot tool, better window arrangement, and unified notifications. The OS has reached a point of polish and functionality to earn it a PCMag Editors' Choice award. As of the May 2019 update, the minimum disk space requirement has been increased to 32 GB.

In addition, on new installations, Windows permanently reserves up to 7 GB of disk space in order to ensure proper installation of future feature updates. The Windows Runtime app ecosystem was revised into the Universal Windows Platform . These universal apps are made to run across multiple platforms and device classes, including smartphones, tablets, Xbox One consoles, and other devices compatible with Windows 10. On September 30, 2014, Microsoft officially announced that Threshold would be unveiled during a media event as Windows 10. Myerson said that Windows 10 would be Microsoft's "most comprehensive platform ever", providing a single, unified platform for desktop and laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, and all-in-one devices. Despite these concessions, Myerson noted that the touch-optimized interface would evolve as well on 10.

Streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar Windows experience'. The way this is done is by only allowing apps found on the Microsoft Store to be installed on the device. While this can be fine if you only use Microsoft 365, Edge, and a handful of apps from the store, you'll soon run into issues if you want to use any other software. According to Microsoft the Windows 10S is streamlined for simplicity, security and speed. Windows 10S will boot 15 seconds faster than a comparable machine running Windows 10 Pro with the same profile and apps installed.

It will also receive the same updates at the same time as other versions of Windows 10. In Windows 10 S mode, you'll find the familiar Windows start menu, have Cortana as your digital assistant with speech recognition and you can download your Windows apps in the Windows Store in all versions. Digital drawing with Windows Ink and using face recognition to log in via Windows Hello is possible with 10 S, Home and Pro, provided your laptop supports this. The only web browser you can use in Windows 10 in S mode is Microsoft Edge.

The apps for Chrome and Firefox are not available in the Windows Store . Searching for things on the internet is also slightly different than you're probably used to. The default search engine in Edge's start menu or address bar is Bing.

To use Google, you have to to the Google website itself, so you have to take a small detour. Assigned Access is another Pro feature that you won't find on the Home edition. It lets you set up a kiosk computer with access to certain apps and environments only. The user cannot access anything beyond what is assigned on the PC. Basically, the user won't be able to interact with the start menu, taskbar, Windows settings, or anything that you have disabled. As familiar as Windows 11 might be, there's still a lot that's changed.

The programs you know are all still available and supported, but they'll be joined by Android apps, running as windowed programs on the desktop (though not right away — Microsoft's still fine-tuning that feature). Your favorite multitasking functions get upgraded with new Snap Layouts, and virtual desktops are getting better with more flexibility and features. Apple has posed a threat to the Windows ecosystem by introducing Mac computers that run its own Arm-based M1 chips, which boast more impressive battery life than Intel-based PCs. Microsoft and other PC makers have come out with Arm-based Windows 10 computers, but software compatibility issues have made the machines hard for reviewers to recommend. Windows 10 S gives schools the familiar, robust and productive experiences they count on from Windows –in an experience streamlined for security and superior performance in the classroom, built to work with Microsoft Education.

By exclusively using Microsoft-verified apps in the Windows Store and ensuring that you browse safely with Microsoft Edge, Windows 10 S keeps devices running fast and secure every day of the school year. There are third-party productivity options for Chrome OS, including Zoho and Polaris, but most of those programs require an internet connection as well. Google Drive, however, works offline, and we really like the real-time collaborative editing and number of useful add-ons. In the newest version of Chrome OS, the Start-like button sits in the bottom-left corner. When pressed, the launcher pop-up features a Google search bar and a list of your most recently opened apps. Depending on if your Chromebook supports Touch or not, scrolling down may Google Now info cards, which give you information like local weather, suggested articles based on your search activity, and calendar updates.

Chromebooks with support for the Play Store and Android apps have dropped the Google Now card interface. One reason for this is Continuum, which automatically adapts the Windows 10 interface to suit the mode it's being used in on hybrid devices. Microsoft has also been commendably wary of forcing businesses to install the same rolling updates to Windows 10 that are now mandatory for consumers, who can no longer opt out of Windows Updates.

Windows 10 Pro users, meanwhile, can defer updates, giving new features a few months to bed down on consumer systems before they're applied to a business machine. Windows 10S offers a secure way to avoid any potential viruses on the internet, but it also greatly limits your ability to use the internet. Many other security programs for your computer can help protect it, and there are strategies that can be used to avoid potential viruses on the internet.

In addition, this sort of security protection only protects against viruses. Many companies that have apps in the Microsoft Store may store your data or other information to the same extent as someone who was not on Windows S Mode. There is also nothing intrinsically safer about Microsoft Edge as a browser, and opening things with Firefox or Chrome will not endanger your computer. Whether you're using your voice with Cortana, gesturing on a touch screen, writing with a digital pen, building a 3D model, or playing a AAA PC game, Windows 10 offers a wealth of choices.

The platform offers the most form factors, too, from the tiny Raspberry Pi to massive gaming PCs to the large Surface Studio to the giant Surface Hub. Add to those completely new Windows devices like HoloLens and Mixed Reality headsets. Earlier Windows 10 features still deserve attention, including Clipboard History , a powerful screenshot tool, Timeline, Focus Assist, Game mode, Dark mode, Nearby Sharing, parental controls, and an updated News app. The Your Phone app syncs photos, SMS messages, and even voice calls fromAndroid phones and LTE-equipped laptops. These upgrades join Windows Hello face login and other Windows exclusives.

Even with all its forward-looking features, the OS remains familiar to longtime Windows users. For intrigued Apple users, I've compiled a list of15 Windows tips for Mac users. In October 2015, Windows 10 began to appear as an "Optional" update on the Windows Update interface, but pre-selected for installation on some systems. A Microsoft spokesperson said that this was a mistake, and that the download would no longer be pre-selected by default.