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Oculus released some changes to its mobile VR platform this week. The company launched Rooms 1.2, which introduces more things to do with your friends in VR, and Oculus Events, which helps you keep track of public events and schedule multiuser experiences with your friends. Facebook also extended its livestreaming service to Gear VR users.

Oculus introduced Oculus Rooms at Oculus Connect 3 in October and subsequently launched the multi-user feature near the end of last year. Rooms lets you share video and audio content or play a variety of mini-games with a group of friends inside a virtual environment. With Room 1.2, you can watch 360-degree content with a group, too.

The new update introduces the “collective viewing dome,” which is essentially a spheroid monitor that sits in the middle of a shared environment. With the viewing dome, you can watch 360-degree video from Facebook, or you can watch one of the animated VR short films that Oculus offers on its service, such as Invasion! or Henry. The spherical display inverts the video so that you can view it from the outside instead of from within the clip’s scenery. The new version also lets you watch free content on Vimeo.

The search function for Oculus Rooms also received an update. Now, you can use your voice to search for Facebook content to watch with your friends. The voice search feature is an extension of a new voice command feature that Oculus just rolled out today for Oculus Home on Rift and Gear VR. Oculus Speech Recognition lets you navigate menus and search for content in Oculus Home. Eventually, you’ll be able to check your friends’ online status and invite them to join you with a simple voice command.

Oculus also introduced Oculus Events with the latest Gear VR update. Events make it easy for you to schedule things that you wish to do in VR and set up reminders for those events. You can schedule multiplayer sessions with your friends or join public events with anyone. Oculus said it would highlight special events in Oculus Home, and it created an Events tab where you can search for other events. Oculus said that there, you’ll find game tournaments, trivia events, and tech talks, among other things.

Facebook owns Oculus, and the parent company had an announcement today, too. Facebook is preparing to roll out VR Facebook Livestreaming via the Gear VR headset. In the coming weeks, the Gear VR software will receive an update that adds a “Livestream to Facebook” button in the universal menu, which will enable you to share your VR games with your friends over the social media platform.

Facebook said the Gear VR livestreaming option is already available to Gear VR users outside of the U.S. Stateside users must wait for the next Android OS update.

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It wasn’t but a few years ago that pundits were clamoring for the death of the traditional desktop computer. It’s 2017, though, and the PC hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, with AMD’s Ryzen processors finally here and its successor on the way, it’s only a matter of time before the PC space is littered with more powerful – not to mention more affordable – options.

Performing hardware-intensive tasks such as gaming and video editing on a powerful rig with personalized components is like nothing you could experience on a tablet or laptop. Averting dead batteries and upgrade limitations are just two of the many benefits the best PC has to offer. 

PCs have an upgradeability factor that’s virtually unparalleled. If you want to save up for the inevitable GTX 1080 Ti to shove into your computer’s chassis, that’s your prerogative, and it’ll likely garner you that sweet 4K HDR sweet spot in top-end games such as Mass Effect: Andromeda. 

There is a wide range, however, of form factors to choose from when shopping around for a new PC. The minimalism and compact nature of all-in-ones like the HP EliteOne 800 G3 is sure to appeal to those desperate for accessibility. Meanwhile, the traditional desktop PC tower still trucks on alongside tiny computers that go under your TV stand called mini PCs.

Save for our Apple examples, which naturally come loaded with macOS Sierra, and the Chrome OS-equipped Acer Chromebase, you can expect any one of the PCs on this list to support Windows 10 – whether out of the box or with an upgrade.

1. Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

CPU: Intel Core i5 – Core i7 | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 480 – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 | Storage: 1TB HDD – 512GB SSD; 2TB HDD | Communication: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 7.09 x 14.02 x 15.22 inches

Leave it to Dell to contrive a computer that’s not only affordable, but arguably one of the best options for gaming disguised as a regular productivity machine. It may not have “the look,” but the XPS Tower Special Edition is capable of far more than basic number crunching. Featuring anywhere from an Intel Core i5 to Core i7 Skylake processor paired with 8GB of RAM, that would be enough to make the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition sing.

But Dell didn’t stop there. Rather, the computer company managed to squeeze in discrete graphics that, surprisingly for a pre-built machine, doesn’t cost an outrageous wad of cash. Not only that, but register your XPS Tower Special Edition with Dell and they’ll throw in complimentary customer support via the web. If you prefer your PCs with subdued, austere designs over those bedecked with aliens and snakes, this one does it all.

Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

2. Apple iMac with 5K Retina display

CPU: Intel Dual-Core i5 – Quad-Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 6000 | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Storage: 1TB HDD – 3TB SSD | Communication: Wireless: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 196 x 196 x 36mm

The iMac is known for its essentialism. Easy-to-use hardware combined with the famed accessibility of macOS makes for a nigh-perfect computing experience. A built-in screen, speakers and 802.11ac wireless networking are only complemented by the fantastic Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2. All you need is a power cable to get it up and running.

There’s quite a range of iMacs, starting at £899 (around $1,365 or AUS$1,943) for an entry-level 21.9-inch model with a dual-core processor that’s just enough for basic tasks, up to 27-inch iMacs with quad-core processors and even the optional 5K display. If you want a faster, quieter and more reliable storage option, you can opt for a hybrid solid state drive as well.

Even on the low-end model, the IPS display is bright and vivid, with a clever design where the edges of the aluminum chassis are thinner than many standalone monitors. And as standard, the iMac runs macOS, although Apple makes it very easy to install Windows alongside if you want to continue using your existing Windows software.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 5K Retina display

3. Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

CPU: Intel Quad-Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | RAM: 8GB 1867MHz LPDDR3 | Storage: 1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400RPM | Communication: Wireless: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 45cm x 52.8cm x 17.5cm

Boasting a vibrant Retina 4K display that’s packed with color, Apple’s new 21.5-inch iMac is a small bundle of aluminum joy. Its display’s massive, 4,096 x 2,304 pixel-resolution is great for surfing the web in comfort with multiple windows side-by-side in El Capitan’s Split View in addition to image and video editing, watching 4K video content and just about everything else.

As expected from an Apple computer, it’s a typically well-built machine that, in true iMac tradition, barely takes up more space on your desk than a larger laptop. Apple is bundling the 4K iMac with a superb set of accessories, too including the latest versions of its Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2 and its all-new Magic Keyboard.

Just make sure you upgrade the standard spinning hard drive to a 1TB Fusion Drive (or even better, the 256GB SSD) if you want to shell out a bit more cash to eliminate lengthy loading times.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

4. Apple Mac mini

CPU: Intel Dual-Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics 5100 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Storage: 500GB HDD | Communication: Wireless: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 196 x 196 x 36mm

The Mac mini exhibits the luxury of an Apple desktop without the price tag to match. Starting at a mere $499 (£399, AU$779), the Mac mini is barebones yet affordable. Though it ships without the otherwise expected Magic Mouse and Keyboard peripherals, getting to choose your own accessories is, at the very least, liberating.

And, while it hasn’t been updated in quite some time on the hardware front, the Mac Mini’s Haswell-based i5 processor still chugs along nicely. Plus, with Iris Graphics onboard, you’ll get a bit more juice than expected. Combined with 500GB of storage space and 4GB of RAM, the Mac mini is arguably the best starting point for OS X newcomers even if a contemporary makeover is long past due.

With an aluminum shell and simplistic industrial design, the Mac mini represents Apple at its very core. Where it mainly lacks, however, is in performance. Luckily the option for a Fusion Drive, which marries the power of both HDD and SSD technology, somewhat makes up for this inadequacy. A configuration sporting 8GB of RAM is an option too, but if you don’t want to shell out the extra cash, the base model will do just fine.

Read the full review: Apple Mac mini

5. Acer Revo Build

CPU: Intel Celeron N3050 – Core i5 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics – Intel HD Graphics 520 | RAM: 2GB – 8GB | Storage: 32GB SSD – 1TB HDD | Communication: 802.11ac, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 + LE | Dimensions (W x D x H): 5.3 x 5.3 x 2.2 inches

The Acer Revo Build is one of the few desktop computers you can actually take advantage of on the go in addition to with your at-home setup. Featuring upgradeability that’s as easy as stacking Lincoln Logs, the Revo Build is both the perfect media PC and a stellar charging station for your other devices.

Unfortunately, that’s assuming you shell out enough for the most expensive configuration, which comprises an Audio Block for built-in sound output, a 1TB hard drive block and even a graphics block for Ultra HD video. The Revo Build packs in not one, but three USB ports, an SD card slot and even DisplayPort. Plus, if your phone is up to task, you can even utilize wireless charging. 

Read the full review: Acer Revo Build

6. HP Pavilion Wave

CPU: Intel Core i3 – Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 – AMD Radeon R9 M470 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 1TB HDD | Communication: 802.11ac, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.2 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 6.81 x 6.62 x 9.25 inches

The HP Pavilion Wave is the latest in a trend of desktops posing as entirely different hardware. This time it’s a speaker, thanks to a partnership with Bang & Olufsen, and the HP Pavilion Wave succeeds where others have failed. Rather than muddling the audio quality exerted from the Wave’s onboard speaker system. HP and B&O Play have devised a clever cylindrical design that actually improves on sound quality while looking good at the same time.

The HP Pavilion Wave also manages to future-proof itself with Bluetooth 4.2 capabilities, three standard USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort and even a single USB Type-C port.

Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave

7. Lenovo IdeaCentre 710

CPU: Intel Core i5 – Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti – GeForce GTX 960 | RAM: 12GB – 32GB | Storage: 2TB HDD + 128GB SSD – 2TB HDD + 256GB SSD | Communication: Lenovo AC Wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 7.12 x 17.98 x 15.77

When it’s not busy perfecting its ThinkPad formula, Lenovo is hard at work on its bombastic series of entertainment-centric desktops. Stacked with one of the most powerful Skylake processors on the market combined with a discrete GPU of your choosing as well as your preferred hard drive and solid state drive pairing, the Lenovo IdeaCentre 710 is more than enough for 4K video playback and then some.

Although it’s designed more for video editing than twitch-shooting, the IdeaCentre 710 can handle some light- to medium-weight gaming with ease. It might not run the latest Battlefield at the highest settings in 1080p, the IdeaCentre 710 is still far more capable than it has any right to be – and without costing a fortune at that.

Aside from the limited GPU configuration options, the only complaint we have is that for such a high-quality machine, the Lenovo IdeaCentre 710 ships with Windows 10 Home rather than Windows 10 Pro. As a result, you’ll need to upgrade manually if you want the option to defer updates or access your desktop remotely.

8. Acer Chromebase 24

CPU: Intel Celeron – Core i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics – Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Storage: 16GB – 32GB SSD | Communication: 802.11ac, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 7.12 x 17.98 x 15.77

Chromebooks are Google’s reaction to cheap laptops that can barely run Windows 10 but, for whatever reason, still do. As such, there’s no reason the Chromebook operating system, Chrome OS, can’t be applied to all-in-one PCs as well. That’s the logic behind Acer’s Chromebase 24, a powerful performer with some nifty additives.

Being an all-in-one, it bears the same benefits as Apple’s far more expensive iMac – no need for loose cables spread across the floor. The speakers (of which there are two, along with four mics) are built into the display, which itself extends from the computer it contains.

Chrome OS is cleverly designed to work with files stored in the cloud rather than locally, as Google Apps substitutes Microsoft Office. It takes some getting used to, but once you do get into the swing of things, the Acer Chromebook 24 works, and it works well.

9. Intel Compute Stick (Core M)

CPU: Intel Core m3 – Core m5 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Communication: 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 38mm x 12mm x 125mm

When we reviewed the original Intel Compute Stick, we were undeniably disappointed by its lackluster performance and ostensibly unnecessary fan integration. Well over a year later, Intel has addressed both of these complaints with one major change: the switch to the company’s Core M-series processors. 

Whether you’re appeased by the Core m3 or you need the slight bump in power exhibited by the Core m5, the Intel Compute Stick offers a solution. Of course, it’s still not ideal to pack a fan into a tiny dongle, especially when the Core M CPUs were designed with noise elimination in mind. 

But, the Intel Compute Stick still maintains a cost low enough to where it may not matter if it doesn’t run completely silent. Its tiny form factor and powerful (for the price) CPU is enough to tide you over nonetheless.

Read the full review: Intel Compute Stick

10. Asus VivoMini UN45

CPU: Intel Celeron N3000 – Pentium N3700 | Graphics: Intel HD Integrated Graphics | RAM: 2GB – 8GB | Storage: 32GB – 128GB SSD | Communication: 802.11ac, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 | Dimensions (W x D x H): 5.16 x 5.16 x 1.65 inches

Asus is a unique PC maker in that it offers a wide range of computers for a variety of different types of users. You typically won’t find in a mini PC with this many configuration options that no matter which one you opt for, the underlying computer remains the same. 

The VivoMini UN45 may look like one of Asus’ DVD burners, but in reality, it’s a full-fledged desktop that can be used as a companion for watching 4K movies in your home theater or it can even be connected normally to a monitor or a TV. 

Moreover, the UN45 bears an M.2 SSD regardless of which model you opt for, ranging from 32GB to 128GB. However, if you don’t mind the reduction in performance and configure your VivoMini UN45 with an Intel Celeron N3000, you’ll get the liberty of a fanless design that’s completely silent even when the CPU is under full load.

• Find out how HoloLens will change computing forever

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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Chrome 57 rolled out with support for the low-level WebAssembly programming language for the web, CSS Grid Layout to make it easier for web developers to support multiple screen sizes, and a “protected content” toggle.

DRM Toggle Is Back

While Chrome 57 was still in beta, Google deprecated the chrome://plugins page, where users could disable not just the Widevine DRM plugin, but also the company’s own PDF reader and Native Client plugins. Native Client is the company’s sandboxing technology that allows native x86, ARM, and MIPS code to run in the browser.

The removal of the plugins page created a bit of a backlash on the Chromium forums. Users wanted to be able to disable the Widevine plugin, as well as the rest of the plugins, in case they didn’t want to run them for security reasons or if they were causing other technical issues on their systems.

Google seems to have listened to this feedback and it moved the toggles for DRM and the PDF reader plugins to chrome://settings/content. The DRM toggle can be found under “Protected Content,” and the PDF plugin can be disabled under “PDF Documents.”

The company seems to have removed the Native Client toggle, so users shouldn’t be able to disable that plugin anymore. However, with the arrival of WebAssembly, Native Client’s future is uncertain anyway.

WebAssembly

WebAssembly is a low-level programming language with its own portable binary format that developers can target to create games and web applications with near-native performance. WebAssembly is, in a way, an evolution of what Google was trying to do with Native Client, and what Mozilla was trying to do with asm.js, a JavaScript-based Native Client competitor.

The four major browser vendors (Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, and Apple) joined together to design WebAssembly. The vendors announced at the end of last month that the initial version of WebAssembly was complete, and it can now be enabled by default in browsers. Firefox 52 enabled it this week, and now it’s Chrome’s turn. We’ll likely see it enabled soon on Microsoft’s Edge and Apple’s Safari, as well.

CSS Grid Layout

The CSS Grid Layout specification will allow developers to use a two-dimensional grid-based layout system. This will lead to a more responsive interface across a variety of screen sizes.

The elements in the grid can span multiple columns and rows, and regions in the grid can also be named, which should make it easier to understand a website’s layout code.

Media Session API

The new Media Session API for the mobile version of Chrome will allow developers to show rich messages and content about their videos on the user’s lockscreen or in the notifications panel. Users will also be able to use various commands like seeking or skipping when interacting with those notifications.

Chrome 57 brought a set of other smaller features and 36 security fixes as well, so you may want to check for the update on the browser’s About page.

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EK Water Blocks launched a new Monoblock for MSI’s Z270 Gaming motherboards with built-in Mystic Light Sync RGB lighting.

Over the last two years, EK Water Blocks’ business has accelerated at an unusual pace. The water cooling company released product after product with new pump accessories, radiators, a line of AIO coolers, and a steady stream of custom water blocks coming out at a sometimes-weekly basis.

A big part of EKWB’s rapid acceleration stemmed from strategic partnerships with the major motherboard and GPU vendors, including Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI. EKWB worked closely with those three OEMs to create custom full-cover water blocks for their top-shelf graphics cards, and MSI turned to EKWB to create the water block for its factory water cooled GTX 1080 Seahawk EK X.

The close relationship with these companies also gave EKWB the ability to create custom monoblock coolers for their motherboards. EKWB created a line of monoblocks coolers for Gigabyte, Asus and MSI motherboards, and Asus even recruited EKWB to build the hybrid cooling system on the Maximus IX Formula as well as the monoblock for the Maximus IX Extreme.

EKWB’s relationships with hardware manufacturers are well established now, and the company is accustomed to embracing the styling cues of its partners’ products. The hottest trend in PC hardware these days is undoubtedly RGB lighting. It started off with light kits; then it progressed to graphics cards. Now, you can find RGB-lit motherboards, power supplies, case fans, and even RAM kits. Water cooling parts are the latest addition to the RGB lighting ecosystem, and EKWB wasn’t about to be left in the dust. The company recently announced an RGB monoblock for Gigabyte boards, and now the company is offering the EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming Monoblock RGB, which features an embedded MSI Mystic Light-compatible RGB light strip.

As with all EK Water Block parts, the EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming Monoblock RGB features EKWB’s award winning EK-Supremacy EVO cooling engine that offers high flow rates for compatibility with low powered pumps. The block is designed to cool the CPU and power regulation MOSFETs and makes direct contact with both components.

EKWB often offers multiple versions of water blocks, but it has only one for the EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming Monoblock RGB. The base of the block is made of nickel-plated electrolytic copper, and the top is constructed of clear acrylic glass. Many EKWB water blocks feature small holes to insert LED lights, but the RBG block doesn’t include these. The left side of the block features a small RGB LED strip under a black cover. The lights illuminate the entire acrylic top, and the nickel-plated surface reflects the color outwards. EKWB said the light strip includes a universal 4-pin LED header, which you can plug into an MSI Mystic Light RGB header if your motherboard supports it. You can also plug it into any other light controller with a 4-pin lead.

In general, monoblocks are designed for specific motherboards. Sometimes a block will support multiple boards from the same family, such as the EK-FC Asus X99 monoblock, which supports four of Asus’ X99 boards. The EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming Monoblock RGB is somewhat rare in that it supports a gaggle of MSI motherboards, including the MSI Z270 Gaming Pro, Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon, Z270 Krait Gaming, Z270 SLI, Z270 SLI Plus, Z270 Tomahawk, and the Z270 Tomahawk Arctic. That’s more than half of MSI’s Z270 lineup, and EKWB already has the Z270 Xpower Gaming Titanium covered.

If you’re interested in picking up an EK-FB MSI Z270 Gaming Monoblock RGB, you can order one now for $136.99 from the EK Webshop. EKWB’s partner reseller network should also have stock of the new block.

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Gigabyte was out in force at Pax East, showcasing its gaming chops with Aorus-branded desktops and laptops. However, the PCs weren’t the only tasty technological treat Gigabyte displayed: The company quietly revealed an Aorus external graphics dock with a GTX 1070 inside.

The new Aorus GTX 1070 Thunderbolt External Graphics Box runs over a single Thunderbolt 3 connection, and it’s a complete departure from the Gigabyte GPU dock we saw last year at CES. Gone is the tall, upright, handled, awkward chassis; it’s been replaced with a small, sleek, and impressively light case. The new External Graphics Box will also ship with a Gigabyte GTX 1070 mini GPU already inside, and the dock itself is only slightly larger than the graphics card.

Furthermore, the weak 250W power supply from the previous iteration has been replaced with a more powerful 450W PSU, which is plenty of juice for even the most top-end graphics cards (assuming they can fit inside the tiny dock). The new dock also features two USB 3.0 ports and RGB LED lighting.

Pricing and availability for the Aorus GTX 1070 External Graphics Box is unknown, as this new device hasn’t seen the light of day until now. However, judging by the fact that it was running a demo in complete working order, it may not be long until we see it hit the market.

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Because the fossil fuel industry is quickly losing public support amid reports of global warming, the industry must embrace clean energy in a more substantial way, the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell said this week.

Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said his company plans to increase spending on renewable energy to $1 billion a year by 2020, according to reports. And he said  government policies should include a carbon tax, which will help to cut back on the most harmful pollutants.

A carbon tax creates a fee based on the production or use of fossil fuels related to the amount of carbon dioxide they produce. The more carbon dioxide used, the higher the tax.

“If we’re not very careful, with all the good intentions and advocacy that we have, we may, as a sector and society, not make the progress that is needed,” van Beurden said curing the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Thursday.

Shell, a $265 billion company, is one of the world’s largest oil companies on a list that includes the largest, Saudi Aramco, which had $478 billion in revenue last year. In January, Bloomberg reported Saudi Aramco plans to boost its renewable energy investments to $5 billion, including the acquisition of renewable energy companies.

In November, 10 of the world’s largest oil companies, including Saudi Aramco and Shell, joined forces to bolster efforts to fight global warming by creating a $1 billion investment fund to develop low-emission technologies.

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After more than 365 days, this make-or-break version of Microsoft’s veteran Windows operating system is off to a strong start. And, the way in which new features and improvements keep arriving means that the Anniversary Update is a notable improvement over what shipped in July 2015.

We’re a long way from Windows 8 now, and Microsoft seems to have got the hang of mixing the traditional keyboard-and-mouse driven desktop environment with touch features for the growing number of tablets and 2-in-1 PCs.

This release is a milestone for the ‘Windows as a Service‘ process that Microsoft is using to develop Windows 10. Last year’s November Update polished the release version of Windows 10, while this release continues that process, concentrating on the daily features you likely use the most, including some useful refinements to the Start screen and Action Center interface. But it also introduces some brand new features like the Ink Workspace.

The Edge browser has matured quickly and gets support for extensions, and the key UWP apps like Mail, Groove and Skype have also improved significantly. Cortana is gaining more features and Windows Hello is more reliable, as well as ready for apps and websites that support the new FIDO 2 specification that is bidding to replace passwords with biometrics. Improved browser security is a major plus.

Performance is improved from the already impressive speed of the release version of Windows 10 – booting your PC is a second or so faster on SSD-based systems, and battery life has improved on laptops (especially if you’re using the Edge browser, but the new Battery Saver option that appears when you click or tap the battery icon also maximizes battery life).

On the other hand, those uncertain about Windows 10 won’t find solace in the fact that Anniversary Update only lets you roll back within 10 days to save on disk space, or the fact that, like any new release, there are problems (including some systems with SSDs freezing, and the well-documented problems with webcams that won’t be fixed until another update arrives in September).

Latest news

The Windows 10 Creators Update is right around the corner, what with Microsoft officially stating that it’s only “a matter of weeks” away, and anonymous sources telling MSPowerUser that it’s set to arrive on April 11. 

What’s more, those affordable Windows 10 VR headsets Microsoft has been raving about since last October are finally tipped to reach developers by the end of the month – or at least Acer’s contribution is. At GDC 2017, Microsoft confirmed that the Acer “Mixed Reality Development Edition” is slated for shipment beginning in March.

Now, with the next major update still basically a month away, let’s take a look at how Windows 10 has progressed up to this point.

Windows is more than just an OS

Microsoft believes the future of Windows is as a platform for all. Like Android, the strength of Windows is in the thousands of companies that develop for it and use it in their products – on multiple devices.

That’s why Windows 10 is no longer just an operating system for 32 and 64-bit PCs. It also runs on ARM chips as Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones (and, eventually, Microsoft promises, smaller tablets). That’s thanks to the OneCore foundation of Windows.

Like Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 before it, Windows 10 is built on the Windows NT kernel, but much more of Windows is now shared between the different devices, and apps built for the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) will run not only on PCs, but on Windows 10 phones, Windows 10 for IoT devices, HoloLens headsets and Xbox One as well.

Note that we’ve published a distinct Windows 10 Mobile review here, for those of you who want the full lowdown on the OS from a smartphone standpoint.

First reviewed: July 2015

Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this review

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