Welcome to the Microsoft Windows 10 Event thread.

What's this about?

Microsoft will be unveiling a more consumer orientated look at Windows 10, the stuff everyday users will interact with. This is a big event for them, possibly the biggest in the companies history.

Ok, what can I expect to see?

There are confirmations, rumours and pipe dreams coming left right and center. Among the more obvious additions in attendance will be Microsofts new Spartan web browser, said to be lighter, less bloated and a Chrome/Firefox competitor, which will support add ons. Will they ditch IE? Who knows, I've heard that IE will still exist for business/government users but Spartan will be the main choice browser and a fresh start to get away from all that IE negativity.

PC gaming IS going to be there, but we're not entirely sure in what capacity. Everything from cross buy and cross platform play with Xbox to Microsoft creating a true competitor to Steam has been mentioned. The former is more likely. Along with this, Mary Jo Foley and Tom Warren both Windows Insiders both possibly expect Microsoft to debut their VR. This has come totally out of the blue, I'm not sure I put much stock in this.

Start Menu and general Desktop applications, MS will be showing off Windows 10 desktop which includes Cortana integration and the Start menu, gone is the clasutrophobic Metro screen and isolated apps, Win 10 is the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8 coming together.

Windows Phone. MS should show how Windows 10 will work on phones, and there have been rumblings of new hardware. It's been a while since we've seen a flagship phone from Microsoft, we're overdue. But could also be new Surface hardware which shows Continuum off rather nicely (Continuum is a 2 in 1 desktop interface that auto switchs between touch and desktop for Surface tablets and touch laptops).

That all sounds great! Where can I watch/follow?

Watch the press conference LIVE here - http://news.microsoft.com/windows10story/

IGN LiveBLOG - http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/01/20/microsoft-windows-10-event-liveblog

CNET LiveBLOG - http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/microsoft-windows-10-next-chapter-live-blog/

Arstechnica LiveBLOG - http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/01/liveblog-windows-10-the-next-chapter-event-on-january-21st/

The Verge LiveBLOG - http://live.theverge.com/microsoft-windows-9-event-live-blog/

Did Windows 9 just slip under the radar or something?

7 8 9

They wanted to start a fresh

lazy programmers dev'd to search for "Win 9" instead of Win 95 and 98 so forced MS to skip.

One of those is true, not sure which.

Excellent, thanks Seece!

Can't wait for this event. Windows 8 isn't exactly everything I was hoping for let's say, but Windows 10 seems to be fixing a lot of those issues. Seeing it properly will be brilliant!

I heard it would interfere with programs. Something to do with Windows 95 and 98.

There's a whole host of reasons, they claim it's because the update to Windows 9 would have been too little and not do it justice, but I believe it was to do with sloppy programming back in the 90's, so the code wouldn't work properly.

I think this is going to force me to get a Surface or Windows phone.

Judging by the poll so far, most people share my interest in learning about PC/XBox gaming component. I really want to see what they have planned, and what that will mean for the future of their console.

Virtual reality in combination with kinect

OP Updated