Windows 10 was highly anticipated for a long time and with good reason; It’s a great operating system that’s incredibly intuitive for basic tasks, and has some great updates on older Windows systems. It’s a system that’s translated well to tablets, and there are tons of features you can enjoy when you own one.
In fact, there are so many great features that it can be hard to know about them all without a little guidance. Luckily for you, we’ve done the research, and got some features for you to test on your Windows tablet. Check out 10 of these tips and tricks below!
1. Voice Activated Search
For those times when you need to check a recipe quickly but your hands are messy, or when you’re stocking up on groceries but need to settle a song lyrics debate, Windows 10 voice- Active can do web searches, and even check the weather for you, or show you the news. Simply activate Cortana, Microsoft’s computer assistant, in the Settings screen, and say “Hey, Cortana” to activate it.
In addition to searches, Cortana can set reminders, and let you know when they’ll arrive, so enjoy your computerized secretary completely hands free!
2. Viewing and Using the App Side-by-Side
Want to consult your calendar on your tablet while browsing the web? This might be fine on a desktop, where you can control the size of the window, or even have multiple monitors. But on a tablet, you typically only have one app open that fits the entire window. Not so with tablets with Windows 10.
Tap and hold on the top of the first app, and drag it to the right or left of the screen. Then, open or switch to the other app you want to view, and tap and hold it, placing it on the other side of the screen. Tap the divider between apps to change how big they are, and otherwise, enjoy having Netflix and Microsoft Word open at the same time on one device.
3. Write Instead of Type
Many tablets do not come with an external keyboard, including Windows 10 tablets, and they instead work with a touch keyboard that is part of the tablet screen. For these tablets that come with a stylus, there are more options for writing than just the internal keyboard which lets the stylus be more than a throwback to the days of the Palm Pilot.
In Windows 10, if you bring up your touch keyboard and tap the keyboard icon in the lower left corner, you can actually type on your screen, and predictive text will type what you’re scribbling. To activate this function simply tap the Blank keyboard with pen picture option. Then, with your stylus, or even your finger, you can compose notes if you can’t reach another keyboard, or if you prefer handwritten notes that are easily shared.
4. Share Files Easily
Speaking of sharing files easily, Windows 10 tablets have enhanced the ability to quickly and easily share files and URLs with other, nearby devices. Open the Share interface in your file or webpage with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi active, and you’ll find PCs and other tablets that have Nearby Sharing enabled. Just tap the one you want, and that device will get a notification that they’ve received something from you, which will download quickly.
This sharing functionality also works for phones, and may be the best option for getting photos on your tablet, as tablets and phones can’t use flashdrives. Usually this sharing is fastest over Wi-Fi, but Bluetooth works, and don’t worry; Most of the time, your device knows which one is fastest at the moment, and will use that, so you can easily pass things between devices.
5. Control Your Notifications
If you need a period to get some work done, a Windows 10 tablet is already your friend. Built-in tablet mode lets you ignore other apps (unless you split the screen, as in the first tip), and on top of that, there’s an easy way to disable app notifications.
Hold (or right-click) the Action Center icon, tap “Hide Notifications For” and choose a time of 1, 3, or 8 hours. With your timer set, enjoy a temporary respite from notifications, and take some work seriously. Plus, all your notification settings are in one convenient place. Head under Settings >> System to disable some notifications, or all of them, depending on your preferences. Again, think about how you want to use your device, and make it work for you!
6. Stream to other compatible devices
Your Windows 10 tablet can stream video on its own, but if you want to use a bigger screen, all you need is a compatible device, like a Roku, or Xbox One S. Type “media streaming” in the Windows 10 taskbar, then select the media streaming option and follow the instructions. It can help you stream videos you put on your tablet, such as self-made videos, or stream games or other applications that support compatible devices.
Leave a Reply