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Microsoft Windows 10: What To Expect

After 19 years as a fixture on hundreds of millions of desktops - Internet Explorer's days appear to be numbered.

Microsoft is preparing to show off its new operating system (OS) later today in Redmond, Washington, alongside a slimmed-down revamp of its web browser called Spartan.

The previous OS - Windows 8 - received a mixed reaction and was widely criticised for dropping the familiar Start menu.

Windows 10 - the company skipped Windows 9 - is designed to address some of the issues and help to make desktop computers work seamlessly with mobile devices.

It will likely be released this year, but a firm date has not yet been announced.

Here's what to expect from Windows 10:

The Return Of The Start Menu

It was dropped from Windows 8 then patched back in after complaints. Expect the familiar Start menu to be on Windows 10 from day one, complete with live tiles and a refreshed look.

A Shape-Shifting Experience

One of the key features demonstrated today is likely to be Continuum - which changes the appearance of the operating system depending on how you're trying to interact with it.

For example if you're using it on a touchscreen you'll see a different interface than if you're connected with a keyboard and mouse.

The Demise Of Internet Explorer

It'll still be around on Windows 10, but this time it's sitting in the shadow of Spartan, a slimmed-down Google Chrome-style offering which simplifies browsing the web.

For years the software has been losing users to the likes of Firefox and Chrome, and Microsoft appears to be taking drastic action to try to halt that decline.

Cortana Comes To The Desktop

Windows Phone's virtual assistant Cortana is to make the leap to the desktop, offering voice-activated assistance at the touch of a button.

Voice recognition is getting smarter by the day, so the ease at which it can be operated will be key. We're likely to get a taste of how well it'll work later.

Connected Gaming

Microsoft has promised "the best operating system ever created for gamers" - it's a vague claim but seems promising.

Some analysts believe it could mean that one day a game could be purchased from a single Microsoft app store to be played on a PC, for example, then picked up later on Microsoft's Xbox One console at the same point.

More Mobile Integration

The mobile version of Windows 10 will be called ... Windows 10.

That's how much Microsoft sees the two strands of its operating system being intertwined. We're likely to see signs of more mobile integration with the desktop demonstrated, but many of the features will be held back for the Mobile World Congress in March.

A New Pricing Strategy

We'll find out how much this will all cost. For years Microsoft has made the bulk of its money from operating system upgrade costs, but some analysts say it could try to reinvent itself by offering the software for free.