Microsoft’s decision to cease support for the Windows 10 operating system could result in the disposal of approximately 240 million personal computers (PCs), potentially contributing to a significant increase in landfill waste, according to a report by Canalys Research. <o:p></o:p>

The electronic waste generated from these PCs is estimated to weigh around 480 million kilograms, equivalent to the weight of 320,000 cars.<o:p></o:p>

While many PCs could remain functional for years beyond the end of OS support, Canalys Research has raised concerns about the potential low demand for devices lacking security updates. Microsoft plans to offer security updates for Windows 10 devices until October 2028, with an undisclosed annual cost. <o:p></o:p>

However, if the pricing structure follows past trends, transitioning to newer PCs may become more cost-effective, leading to a higher number of older PCs being discarded.<o:p></o:p>

Microsoft aims to discontinue support for Windows 10 by October 2025, prompting a potential surge in electronic waste. <o:p></o:p>

The upcoming generation, Windows 11, expected to introduce advanced artificial intelligence technology to PCs, could potentially revitalise the stagnant PC market. Despite inquiries, Microsoft has not responded to requests for comments on the environmental impact of disposing of Windows 11-incompatible devices.<o:p></o:p>

Canalys Research emphasises the importance of recycling hard drives from personal computers and data storage servers. These recycled hard drives can provide materials for electric vehicle motors and renewable power generation. <o:p></o:p>

Noveon Magnetics Chief Commercial Officer Peter Afiuny highlighted the positive impact of repurposing end-of-life computers, turning them into magnets that power sustainable technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines.<o:p></o:p>

Afiuny noted that hard drives are often discarded prematurely, contributing to an excess of rare earth magnetic material waste. In contrast, battery recycling firm Redwood Materials emphasised the near-infinite recyclability of batteries, recovering essential metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. This recycling process helps address environmental concerns by reducing the environmental impact of discarded batteries.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Microsoft’s decision to cease support for the Windows 10 operating system could result in the disposal of approximately 240 million personal computers (PCs), potentially contributing to a significant increase in landfill waste, according to a report by Canalys Research.

Microsoft’s decision to cease support for the Windows 10 operating system could result in the disposal of approximately 240 million personal computers (PCs), potentially contributing to a significant increase in landfill waste, according to a report by Canalys Research. The electronic waste generated from these PCs is estimated to weigh around 480 million kilograms, equivalent to the weight of 320,000 cars. While many PCs could remain functional for years beyond the end of OS support, Canalys Research has raised concerns about the potential low demand for devices lacking security updates. Microsoft plans to offer security updates for Windows 10 devices until October 2028, with an undisclosed annual cost. However, if the pricing structure follows past trends, transitioning to newer PCs may become more cost-effective, leading to a higher number of older PCs being discarded. Microsoft aims to discontinue support for Windows 10 by October 2025, prompting a potential surge in electronic waste. The upcoming generation, Windows 11, expected to introduce advanced artificial intelligence technology to PCs, could potentially revitalise the stagnant PC market. Despite inquiries, Microsoft has not responded to requests for comments on the environmental impact of disposing of Windows 11-incompatible devices. Canalys Research emphasises the importance of recycling hard drives from personal computers and data storage servers. These recycled hard drives can provide materials for electric vehicle motors and renewable power generation. Noveon Magnetics Chief Commercial Officer Peter Afiuny highlighted the positive impact of repurposing end-of-life computers, turning them into magnets that power sustainable technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines. Afiuny noted that hard drives are often discarded prematurely, contributing to an excess of rare earth magnetic material waste. In contrast, battery recycling firm Redwood Materials emphasised the near-infinite recyclability of batteries, recovering essential metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. This recycling process helps address environmental concerns by reducing the environmental impact of discarded batteries. (With inputs from Reuters)

Microsoft's Windows 10 end-of-support plan may lead to massive PC disposal

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide.

New pre-installed Windows 11 devices have begun rolling out from partners including ASUS, HP, and Lenovo with more coming soon from partners like Acer and Dell.

"With Windows 11, we reimagined the entire user experience to bring you closer to what you love, empower you to produce, and inspire you to create. Windows 11 will provide users a sense of calm and openness while keeping everything that they do secure. We are pleased to bring the new Windows 11 to India," said Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India. He was quoted by IANS.

The company says Windows 11 features powerful new experiences whether users are working on a school project, collaborating on a presentation for work, building a new app or creating your next big idea.

The OS comes with redesigned Taskbar icons and Start menu It also adds rounded corners for all program windows and built-in Teams chat.

Windows 11 also includes support for DirectStorage, a feature first introduced on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles.

Introduced in July, Windows 11 comes with a sleeker look and layouts for snapping applications to the screen, more detailed widgets, a revamped Microsoft Store, and support for Android apps.

Microsoft has already revealed basic requirements for running Windows 11 on a PC. It will need a processor that has two or more cores and a clock speed of 1GHz or higher along with 4GB RAM and at least 64GB storage.

The firm recently announced Windows 11 will officially support Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Intel Core 7820HQ.

(With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide.

Microsoft on Tuesday started rolling out its new operating system Windows 11. The OS is now available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs as well as on new PCs that come pre-installed with windows 11 worldwide. New pre-installed Windows 11 devices have begun rolling out from partners including ASUS, HP, and Lenovo with more coming soon from partners like Acer and Dell. "With Windows 11, we reimagined the entire user experience to bring you closer to what you love, empower you to produce, and inspire you to create. Windows 11 will provide users a sense of calm and openness while keeping everything that they do secure. We are pleased to bring the new Windows 11 to India," said Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India. He was quoted by IANS. The company says Windows 11 features powerful new experiences whether users are working on a school project, collaborating on a presentation for work, building a new app or creating your next big idea. The OS comes with redesigned Taskbar icons and Start menu It also adds rounded corners for all program windows and built-in Teams chat. Windows 11 also includes support for DirectStorage, a feature first introduced on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. Introduced in July, Windows 11 comes with a sleeker look and layouts for snapping applications to the screen, more detailed widgets, a revamped Microsoft Store, and support for Android apps. Microsoft has already revealed basic requirements for running Windows 11 on a PC. It will need a processor that has two or more cores and a clock speed of 1GHz or higher along with 4GB RAM and at least 64GB storage. The firm recently announced Windows 11 will officially support Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Intel Core 7820HQ. (With inputs from agencies)

Microsoft starts rolling out Windows 11 to PCs across the world

Microsoft on Thursday unveiled the next generation of Windows operating system, Windows 11. With this change, Windows aims at giving its user a 'fresh perspective'.

Microsoft on Thursday unveiled the next generation of Windows operating system, Windows 11. With this change, Windows aims at giving its user a 'fresh perspective'. As per the official website, the new Windows provide a 'calm and creative' space where one can pursue passions through a fresh experience. "From a rejuvenated Start menu to new ways to connect to your favourite people, news, games, and content—Windows 11 is the place to think, express, and create in a natural way," stated the website. Maximising productivity The new version helps in being productive as the user can access all the apps and multitask with ease using tools like Snap layouts, Desktops, and a new, more intuitive redocking experience. New ways to connect There are also various new ways to socialise and connect using Microsoft teams. "Call or chat for free—no matter what device they’re on," read the website. Enhanced gaming Windows 11 gives a new gaming experience with graphic capabilities that rival reality. One can discover the next favourite game with Xbox Game Pass, which basically gives you access to over 100 high-quality games. The membership for the same is sold separately. The design is very much similar to macOS, but that is where the similarities end. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that Windows 11 is an 'open platform' where everybody is allowed to do whatever they want with their apps. He is referring to third-party payments solutions that will bolster developer’s businesses on Windows 11. When will it be available? Windows 11 will be available to download during the holiday season this year, which is somewhere around November. The rollout will move further into 2022. This way, there is going to be enough time for people to upgrade the platform. How to upgrade? The user needs to go to Settings on their PC or laptop that runs Windows 10. Navigate to Update and Security, and then click on Windows Update. Check for Updates by clicking on this button. If available, the user will see the update that says Feature update to Windows 11. Click Download and install. What will be the price? Windows 11 will be available as a 'free upgrade' to Windows 10 users. This means that the Windows 10 users will gain access to Windows 11 without having to pay anything extra. However, for fresh installations, Windows 11 may cost you.

Windows 11 is now official. Here is all you need to know

Windows operating system&nbsp;turned&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;into a household name and helped the company&nbsp;dominate&nbsp;personal computers for years,&nbsp;which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers.

Now, Windows is getting a revamp, likely to be named Windows 11.

It comes after the company&nbsp;named Chief Executive Satya Nadella as chair of its board, strengthening his grip on a pioneering US technology company he rejuvenated for a new age.

Microsoft&nbsp;built its empire on software such as Windows and Office,&nbsp;licensed to computer makers or sold in packages for installation on machines in homes or workplaces.

Under Nadella,&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;has put more focus on renting software and services hosted at data centres in the computing cloud, bulking up its Azure platform.

The era of the personal computer was rocked by the rise of smartphones and tablets but saw a revival of sorts during the pandemic as people geared up homes for remote work, school, and play.

Upgrading to a new Windows OS is always filled with questions, like which version of Windows is for me? How much does it cost? Should I even bother upgrading at all?

Here is a brief summary of the various versions of Windows:

Windows 10 S&nbsp;

Windows 10 S&nbsp;is a streamlined version of Microsoft&nbsp;Corp's popular operating system, geared toward low-cost laptops for students&nbsp;as it tried&nbsp;to take share from Google’s Chrome OS-run computers.&nbsp;The company said the Surface laptop integrated with Windows 10 S is priced from $999&nbsp;

It is compatible on mobiles and desktops, has a simple login app that allows schools to create logs on any devices in a few moments.

Windows 10

Windows 10 fixed&nbsp;most of the issues with Windows 8 and improves on Windows 7, Microsoft’s most popular OS in recent years.

It was equipped with 'Cortana', a digital assistant similar to Apple Inc's Siri and Google Inc's Now.

The launch was seen as critical for the company, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8, an ambitious redesign that confused many users by ditching the start button menu and introducing a new layout.

Windows 8

Windows 8 was designed as a flexible new system that would work equally well on desktops PCs and touchscreen tablets, but it ended up alienating many traditional users, while the company’s Surface tablet has not won over many Apple Inc iPad users.

More worryingly for Microsoft, the number of people actually using Windows 8 is persistently low. While many businesses technically have purchased Windows 8 licenses, few have installed the system on office machines.

Windows 7

It had user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all the open windows from a single application by hovering over the program’s icon.

Another new feature, called “Jump Lists,” provided&nbsp;updated lists of recently worked-on documents or often visited Web sites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser.

The company also adopted a ‘simple is better’ philosophy, looking to remove complexity from an operating system that incorporated 50 million lines of programming code in Vista.

Vista

When Vista was released, it was clear that most users were going to need a new system to handle the OS.&nbsp;

Any Windows user knows you have to watch out for viruses, spyware, and worms, but Vista’s security features were widely panned for being annoying.&nbsp;

Windows Vista was so heavily criticized due to poor compatibility with devices and slow start speeds that it became the target of an effective marketing campaign by rival Apple Inc.

Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001,&nbsp;addressed many issues of its predecessor, and added a number of other improvements as well.&nbsp;The name "XP" is short for "eXPerience", highlighting the enhanced user experience.

Windows XP was the first Windows NT kernel-based OS designed for both the business and general consumer markets, and are much more stable than the Windows 9x line of OS'&nbsp;due to the improved codebase (heavily based on Windows 2000). It was also the first version of Windows to implement product activation to prevent piracy.

Windows 2000

Also known as&nbsp;Windows 2k,&nbsp;Windows 2000&nbsp;is an operating system first released by&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;in February&nbsp;2000.

Code-named&nbsp;Janus&nbsp;during development, Windows 2000 is based on the&nbsp;Windows NT&nbsp;kernel and is sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 contains over 29 million lines of code, mainly written in C++ with over 8 million of those lines written for drivers. Windows 2000 is by far one of the largest commercial projects ever built.

Windows 98

It&nbsp;the second major release in the&nbsp;Windows 9x&nbsp;line of operating systems. It heavily relied&nbsp;on the HTML language.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most of the improvements are cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience, but there are a handful of features that enhance system functionality and capabilities. These include improved&nbsp;USB&nbsp;support and accessibility, as well as support for hardware advancements such as DVD players. It was the first Windows operating system to adopt the&nbsp;Windows Driver Model.&nbsp;

Windows 95

Windows 95 integrated Microsoft's formerly separate&nbsp;MS-DOS&nbsp;and&nbsp;Windows&nbsp;products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor,&nbsp;Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its relatively simplified "plug-n-play" features. There were also major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly 16-bit architecture to a pre-emptively multitasked 32-bit architecture.

Windows 1.0 (1985)

Upon its debut, this operating system aimed at the general public had a new graphic interface that was relatively easy to use. It was the first foundation stone in the immense Windows edifice to come.

Although it was complicated to use because it operated via command lines, MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) revolutionized computing as it was integrated into the first personal computers on the market manufactured by IBM. The system just needed to be made more accessible. And that's how Windows was born.

Initially known as Interface Manager, this new operating system was in the end called Windows, a name which describes the computing boxes which are fundamental to it. The project was announced in 1983, but it was two years before it became a reality.

Windows operating system turned Microsoft into a household name and helped the company dominate personal computers for years, which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers.

Windows operating system turned Microsoft into a household name and helped the company dominate personal computers for years, which market trackers say powers nearly three-quarters of the world's desktop computers. Now, Windows is getting a revamp, likely to be named Windows 11. It comes after the company named Chief Executive Satya Nadella as chair of its board, strengthening his grip on a pioneering US technology company he rejuvenated for a new age. Microsoft built its empire on software such as Windows and Office, licensed to computer makers or sold in packages for installation on machines in homes or workplaces. Under Nadella, Microsoft has put more focus on renting software and services hosted at data centres in the computing cloud, bulking up its Azure platform. The era of the personal computer was rocked by the rise of smartphones and tablets but saw a revival of sorts during the pandemic as people geared up homes for remote work, school, and play. Upgrading to a new Windows OS is always filled with questions, like which version of Windows is for me? How much does it cost? Should I even bother upgrading at all? Here is a brief summary of the various versions of Windows: Windows 10 S Windows 10 S is a streamlined version of Microsoft Corp's popular operating system, geared toward low-cost laptops for students as it tried to take share from Google’s Chrome OS-run computers. The company said the Surface laptop integrated with Windows 10 S is priced from $999 It is compatible on mobiles and desktops, has a simple login app that allows schools to create logs on any devices in a few moments. Windows 10 Windows 10 fixed most of the issues with Windows 8 and improves on Windows 7, Microsoft’s most popular OS in recent years. It was equipped with 'Cortana', a digital assistant similar to Apple Inc's Siri and Google Inc's Now. The launch was seen as critical for the company, particularly after the poor response to Windows 8, an ambitious redesign that confused many users by ditching the start button menu and introducing a new layout. Windows 8 Windows 8 was designed as a flexible new system that would work equally well on desktops PCs and touchscreen tablets, but it ended up alienating many traditional users, while the company’s Surface tablet has not won over many Apple Inc iPad users. More worryingly for Microsoft, the number of people actually using Windows 8 is persistently low. While many businesses technically have purchased Windows 8 licenses, few have installed the system on office machines. Windows 7 It had user-friendly features, such as a new taskbar that previews all the open windows from a single application by hovering over the program’s icon. Another new feature, called “Jump Lists,” provided updated lists of recently worked-on documents or often visited Web sites without first having to open Microsoft Word or an Internet browser. The company also adopted a ‘simple is better’ philosophy, looking to remove complexity from an operating system that incorporated 50 million lines of programming code in Vista. Vista When Vista was released, it was clear that most users were going to need a new system to handle the OS. Any Windows user knows you have to watch out for viruses, spyware, and worms, but Vista’s security features were widely panned for being annoying. Windows Vista was so heavily criticized due to poor compatibility with devices and slow start speeds that it became the target of an effective marketing campaign by rival Apple Inc. Windows XP Microsoft Windows XP was introduced in 2001, addressed many issues of its predecessor, and added a number of other improvements as well. The name "XP" is short for "eXPerience", highlighting the enhanced user experience. Windows XP was the first Windows NT kernel-based OS designed for both the business and general consumer markets, and are much more stable than the Windows 9x line of OS' due to the improved codebase (heavily based on Windows 2000). It was also the first version of Windows to implement product activation to prevent piracy. Windows 2000 Also known as Windows 2k, Windows 2000 is an operating system first released by Microsoft in February 2000. Code-named Janus during development, Windows 2000 is based on the Windows NT kernel and is sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 contains over 29 million lines of code, mainly written in C++ with over 8 million of those lines written for drivers. Windows 2000 is by far one of the largest commercial projects ever built. Windows 98 It the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It heavily relied on the HTML language. Most of the improvements are cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience, but there are a handful of features that enhance system functionality and capabilities. These include improved USB support and accessibility, as well as support for hardware advancements such as DVD players. It was the first Windows operating system to adopt the Windows Driver Model. Windows 95 Windows 95 integrated Microsoft's formerly separate MS-DOS and Windows products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor, Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its relatively simplified "plug-n-play" features. There were also major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly 16-bit architecture to a pre-emptively multitasked 32-bit architecture. Windows 1.0 (1985) Upon its debut, this operating system aimed at the general public had a new graphic interface that was relatively easy to use. It was the first foundation stone in the immense Windows edifice to come. Although it was complicated to use because it operated via command lines, MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) revolutionized computing as it was integrated into the first personal computers on the market manufactured by IBM. The system just needed to be made more accessible. And that's how Windows was born. Initially known as Interface Manager, this new operating system was in the end called Windows, a name which describes the computing boxes which are fundamental to it. The project was announced in 1983, but it was two years before it became a reality.

As Microsoft announces new Windows OS, let us take a look at previous versions of Windows

In&nbsp;the first major revamp since 2015,&nbsp;Microsoft Corp has announced that it is all set to unveil the ''next-generation operating system'' in a virtual event on Thursday.

The National Security Agency had&nbsp;discovered a major security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system that could let hackers intercept seemingly secure communications.&nbsp;But rather than exploit the flaw for its own intelligence needs, the NSA tipped off Microsoft so that it can fix the system for everyone.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-google-is-facing-anti-trust-lawsuits-globally-393509/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The software that turned Microsoft into a household name and dominated personal computers for years has been overtaken in popularity by devices using Apple and Google software, but it is still core to Microsoft's strength in the corporate market.

And the upgraded operating system may also appeal to individuals, who have helped drive sales of PCs sharply higher over the past year due to work-from-home practices adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysts expect the successor to Windows 10 to be called Windows 11 and to contain updates for business users that could make it easier to use with dual-monitor setups. It may also hold updates for PC gamers, another important customer base for Microsoft, including an Xbox app.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/in-focus-big-tech-firms-facing-antitrust-investigations-across-world-393413" hreflang="en">In focus: Big Tech firms facing antitrust investigations across world</a>

Microsoft may also give more details at Thursday's online launch event on its plans for a revamped Windows Store.

In 2015,&nbsp;a developer evangelist speaking at a technical session during a company event dropped an eyebrow-raising statement. “Windows 10 is the last version of Windows,” he said.

However, it appears the company changed its mind after enduring huge losses due to the coronavirus pandemic which adversely affected Microsoft's&nbsp;revenue from Windows licenses and its Surface devices.

About a third of Microsoft’s revenue comes from its&nbsp;personal computing division, which houses the company’s Windows operating system, its line of Surface laptops and tablets, its Xbox gaming hardware and software and its Bing search service.

The company recently cut commissions on games sold through the store to 12 per cent, lower than the 15 per cent&nbsp;it takes on regular apps, and has been a vocal critic of Apple Inc's App Store, which charges 30 per cent&nbsp;commissions and requires developers to use Apple's in-app payments systems.

Windows-powered Microsoft's rise in the 1990s as PCs became a fixture among businesses and consumers. But the operating system took a back seat to Apple's iOS and Alphabet Inc's Google as mobile phones displaced PCs as the primary computing device for billions of users.

Windows remains one of the biggest platforms in the technology world, with Microsoft's personal computing segment, which includes Windows revenue from businesses and consumers, accounting for $48.2 billion of its $143 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year.

Windows 10, the most recent version, has 1.3 billion users, nearly as many as Apple's total installed device base of 1.65 billion users but less than half of Alphabet's 3 billion Android users.

Among PCs and laptops, Windows lost some market share in 2020 to Google's Chromebooks as schools opted for cheaper devices for online learning but still retained greater than 80 per cent&nbsp;market share, according to data firm IDC.

(With inputs from agencies)

In the first major revamp since 2015, Microsoft Corp has announced that it is all set to unveil the ''next-generation operating system'' in a virtual event on Thursday.

In the first major revamp since 2015, Microsoft Corp has announced that it is all set to unveil the ''next-generation operating system'' in a virtual event on Thursday. The National Security Agency had discovered a major security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system that could let hackers intercept seemingly secure communications. But rather than exploit the flaw for its own intelligence needs, the NSA tipped off Microsoft so that it can fix the system for everyone. The software that turned Microsoft into a household name and dominated personal computers for years has been overtaken in popularity by devices using Apple and Google software, but it is still core to Microsoft's strength in the corporate market. And the upgraded operating system may also appeal to individuals, who have helped drive sales of PCs sharply higher over the past year due to work-from-home practices adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts expect the successor to Windows 10 to be called Windows 11 and to contain updates for business users that could make it easier to use with dual-monitor setups. It may also hold updates for PC gamers, another important customer base for Microsoft, including an Xbox app. Also read| In focus: Big Tech firms facing antitrust investigations across world Microsoft may also give more details at Thursday's online launch event on its plans for a revamped Windows Store. In 2015, a developer evangelist speaking at a technical session during a company event dropped an eyebrow-raising statement. “Windows 10 is the last version of Windows,” he said. However, it appears the company changed its mind after enduring huge losses due to the coronavirus pandemic which adversely affected Microsoft's revenue from Windows licenses and its Surface devices. About a third of Microsoft’s revenue comes from its personal computing division, which houses the company’s Windows operating system, its line of Surface laptops and tablets, its Xbox gaming hardware and software and its Bing search service. The company recently cut commissions on games sold through the store to 12 per cent, lower than the 15 per cent it takes on regular apps, and has been a vocal critic of Apple Inc's App Store, which charges 30 per cent commissions and requires developers to use Apple's in-app payments systems. Windows-powered Microsoft's rise in the 1990s as PCs became a fixture among businesses and consumers. But the operating system took a back seat to Apple's iOS and Alphabet Inc's Google as mobile phones displaced PCs as the primary computing device for billions of users. Windows remains one of the biggest platforms in the technology world, with Microsoft's personal computing segment, which includes Windows revenue from businesses and consumers, accounting for $48.2 billion of its $143 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year. Windows 10, the most recent version, has 1.3 billion users, nearly as many as Apple's total installed device base of 1.65 billion users but less than half of Alphabet's 3 billion Android users. Among PCs and laptops, Windows lost some market share in 2020 to Google's Chromebooks as schools opted for cheaper devices for online learning but still retained greater than 80 per cent market share, according to data firm IDC. (With inputs from agencies)

Windows 11: Microsoft's first 'next generation' operating system in six years

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