Everything you need to know from Microsoft's Build 2016 event
Microsoft began its annual Build developer conference on Wednesday in San Francisco with an epic(ally long) keynote. While Build is aimed primarily at developers, Microsoft did announce a few new updates for Windows 10 and its HoloLens augmented-reality headset, the Xbox One and more.
There's a lot to unpack from the two-hour long event. Here are the most important announcements from Build 2016 if you didn't tune in.
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Windows 10
Since its release last year, Windows 10 has been a smashing success, at least based on the numbers. There are now 270 million devices running the new operating system. Building on that success, Microsoft showed off an update to the OS called Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which will come with 1,000 new features.
Windows Hello, a feature in Windows 10 that lets you log into your computer with your face or fingerprint, is also spreading to the Microsoft Edge web browser. And developers will be able to build Hello support into their apps and websites, letting users ditch passwords on devices with the right hardware.
As a way to court Linux users, Windows 10 is getting the Bash shell, a Linux command line.
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update goes to developers now, but general users won't get it until summer.
Windows Ink
Bryan Roper, AKA awesome "Fedora Guy," who was a huge hit at Microsoft's Surface Book event last fall, returned for the Build 2016 keynote to talk about Windows Ink's powerful new features for Surface tablets.
In one demo, Roper showed off how it's possible to bring up a digital ruler and draw a straight line right on its edge. In another demo, he drew two points on a map and connected them with a line and the software intelligently detected the distance between them.
Windows Ink will launch as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update this summer.
Universal Windows apps
Slowly, but surely, more Universal Windows Apps (UWA) are coming. Facebook's going to release new universal versions of its Facebook, Messenger and Instagram apps for Windows 10. Because they're universal, developers will only have to build one version of the app and it'll work across all devices (PCs, tablets, and smartphones).
Cortana
To date, Cortana, Microsoft's voice assistant, has answered over 5 billion questions from Windows 10 users, according to Microsoft. That's a lot.
In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Cortana will gain some new capabilities. It'll work on the lock screen, have tighter integration with the Outlook and calendar apps and automatically submit expenses it recognizes within emails, to name a few. Skype is also getting Cortana support, letting you do more things, like book a trip, through third-party bot integration.
Xbox One
Thanks to Windows 10, Xbox One and PC gaming are going to become closer than ever before. With Windows 10, you'll be able to stream Xbox One games directly to a PC. Not only that, but you'll be able to get cross-platform support for services like Steam, which will let users Xbox users chat with PC users.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, announced the ability for all Xbox One owners to turn their consoles into development kits. Now anyone with an Xbox can develop Xbox One games. Previously, you needed an Xbox One developer kit to do so.
HoloLens
HoloLens, Microsoft's holographic/augmented-reality headset announced last year, got a couple of minutes of stage time. Pamela Davis, the dean for Case Western University's school of medicine showed off how medical students can use HoloLens to examine and learn about the human anatomy.
Skype is also coming to HoloLens. But it's not what you think. Skype won't project holographic versions of your body; it'll just be a screen floating in front of you. (Not nearly as cool as the holoportation demo Microsoft showed last week.)
HoloLens ships to developers starting on Wednesday. The developer kits, as previously announced, cost $3,000.
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Topics Apps & Software Microsoft Windows Xbox
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
