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Myerson said Windows 10 will be “a whole new generation” and, as expected, will work across a variety of devices — from phones to gaming consoles.

Microsoft currently has three main systems — Windows 8 for traditional computers and tablets, Windows Phone 8 for cellphones and Xbox for its gaming console. By unifying the underlying systems, software developers will be able to create apps for the various devices more easily. Consumers will also be able to switch devices more easily and avoid having to buy the same apps multiple times.

That doesn’t mean the apps will look the same on the various devices. Developers will still be able to adapt apps for the various screen sizes, but won’t have to start from the beginning for each version.

User interfaces on the various devices may also differ, even as they share underlying technologies. For now, Microsoft plans to keep the current Xbox interface on the game console.

With Windows 10 it’s like a Tesla

Belfiore said the company wants to make the transition to Windows 10 for the millions still using Windows 7 much better than the transition to Windows 8.

“We want all these Windows 7 users to have the sentiment that yesterday they were driving a first-generation Prius, and now with Windows 10 it’s like a Tesla,” he said, according to The Verge.

The next major release will be the company’s chance to regain its footing and show that Microsoft can embrace mobile devices without sacrificing the traditional computing experience.

“It’s one of the most important launches that they will ever have,” said Patrick Moorhead at the research firm Moor Insights and Strategy. “It’s very important they get it right.”

With files from Reuters, Bloomberg

