Microsoft unveils Windows 10 and brings back Start Menu

^{The Windows 10 Start Menu}

However, the resizable tiles still feature in Windows 10, appearing when users open the Start Menu and signalling new emails and social media messages as well as weather information. This can be customised by users.

David Johnson, an analyst at Forrester Research, told the BBC: "It's extremely important for Microsoft to get Windows 10 right. The Start Menu is perhaps the most important thing that will make the desktop experience familiar to business users, and will help it reduce resistance to its installation. It is critically important."

Microsft hope that the compromise between a Start menu and a tiled display will entice people to use the program on tablets and mobile phones as well as desktop PCs.

"Windows 10 will run on the broadest amount of devices. A tailored experience for each device," Mr Myerson added.

A new "task view" button means users can quickly switch between apps and desktops, multiple versions of which can be run at the same time.

A new Snap assist UI lets users divide their screen into quarters, so they can work across four programs at the same time.

Microsoft's also revealed that Windows 10 will feature a single app store, available across all devices.

"There will be one way to write a universal application, one store, one way for apps to be discovered purchased and updated across all of these devices," Mr Myerson added.

Joe Belfiore, corporate vice-president of operating systems, admitted that Microsoft had made sime errors in Windows 8 as the company tried to adapt to a growing popularity for touchscreen devices.

"Windows 8's focus on touch, the large start screen, the notion of apps running full-screen as they do on tablet devices...that was to salute the idea that this would be more productive," he said. "But we didn't get it right. With Windows 10, we think we got it right."

As a result a lot of potential users shunned the product. According t oresearch firm NetMarketshare, just 13.4pc of desktop PCs run Windows 8, while 51.2pc have Windows 7 installed and 23.9pc run Windows XP, which no longer supported by Microsoft.

Windows 10 is due to be released next year.

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