Windows 10 is coming this summer, Microsoft has announced.
The company's next major version of Windows, which skips a version number (the last major version was Windows 8), will be available in 190 countries and in 111 languages, Microsoft's Executive Vice President of Operating Systems Terry Myerson wrote in a blog post.
This announcement means Microsoft actually sped up its release schedule for Windows 10. When the new OS was first unveiled in Sept. 2014, the release was pegged for "late 2015."
Windows 10 is likely Microsoft's most important release in years, with a long list of new features and a "free" price tag for owners of Windows 7 and 8. It also brings a brand new browser, codenamed Project Spartan, sparking the rumors that Microsoft plans to kill off its existing browser, Internet Explorer. However, Microsoft confirmed to Mashable that IE will remain available for enterprises and customers who require legacy browser support.
Speaking at the Windows Hardware Engineering Community (WinHEC) summit in Shenzhen, China Tuesday, Myerson highlighted the other free version of Windows Microsoft is launching this summer -- a special variant for the "Internet of Things" devices, which includes ATMs and ultrasound machines.
Myerson also shared some interesting news concerning Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi -- a select group of Xiaomi Mi 4 users will be able to download and install the Windows 10 Technical Preview. Xiaomi Mi 4 is an Android device, but the partnership indicates that we might see Windows-based Xiaomi devices in the future.