Windows 10 Creators Update: 3D, game streaming and People

With the next big Windows 10 update, Microsoft will be focusing on three key aspects that they want to tackle. The biggest of which seems like a big gamble for the software giant, but only time will tell if they’ve placed their chips on the right thing.

Let’s get into the Windows 10 Creators Update.

3D for Everyone

The first aspect that Microsoft wants to focus on is bringing 3D to everyone. They really placed a big emphasis onto the development of both virtual and augmented reality to achieve something Microsoft is calling the 2D to 3D journey.

As a result, Microsoft will be introducing new programs for everyone that are built right into Windows 10. The first of which is a massive update to one of the most beloved apps on Windows: Paint. Now, it’s called Paint 3D and it allows you to…well, paint in 3D.

One example Microsoft demonstrated on stage was by using a smartphone to scan an object in the real world, create a 3D image of it and drop it into Paint 3D. On a side note, it’s interesting that they used an HP Elite X3 smartphone for the demo rather than one of Microsoft’s own flagship devices, but I digress.

What happened next was this 3D image of the real-world object was dropped into Paint 3D and used to create a fancy collage. They’ve also introduced a new website called Remix 3D which Microsoft is calling a community for people to share, discover and be inspired by 3D. It’s sort of like Pintrest for 3D images that you can pick, drop and share it. Microsoft even shared the 3D images to Facebook.

Besides that, you can also doodle in Paint 3D and turn your 2D drawings into 3D.

But, Paint isn’t the only app getting some 3D love as Microsoft also demonstrated PowerPoint in 3D where fancy new 3D images were used to illustrated a particular slide making it easier to find the right image for your presentation.

Going beyond software, Microsoft also announced a collaboration with their hardware tech firm partners that include HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS and Acer to produce affordable Microsoft VR headsets that start from as low as USD299 (around RM1.242)

Gaming

Besides 3D, Microsoft also brought on a brand new set of tools to benefit gamers, specifically gamers who want to stream their content. The software giant announced that livestreaming service Beam would be built into Windows 10 with the Creators Update to allow for easy streaming and interacting with fans. It looks like Microsoft is really going after Twitch.tv with this new update.

Besides that, you can also create your own private tournaments through Xbox Live Custom Tournaments. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing on PC or on an Xbox, you’ll be able to participate too.

People

This is perhaps the most vague and, to me at least, most peculiar update to Windows 10. With the Creators Update, Windows 10 will basically put your favourite contacts into your taskbar so you can easily interact with them right from the desktop. You can drag files to them to share, click on them to chat from either Skype, Mail, etc. and there’s even an option to nudge with emojis (or 3D art) that Microsoft calls “Shoulder Taps”.

Windows 10 will also filter important mail from your favourite contacts so you don’t miss anything important from the people you care about.

Right now, we don’t know exactly when this update will roll out, only that Microsoft says it will happen in Spring of 2016. But, the good news is that every Windows 10 device will get it and get it for free. If you’re enrolled in the Windows Insiders beta program, you should be able to download an early build sometime this week.

Thoughts?