Microsoft announced the release of Windows 10, its latest operating system. The news was made more exciting as the software is going to be available to customers via free download for one year starting July 29.

Only "Genuine" Windows devices which are running on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will receive the free update. The company has also confirmed that the upgrade is available to 190 countries.

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Windows 10, dubbed Build 10130, was released by Microsoft Friday. In it is lies a host of new icons and apps, a Cortana digital assistant like the Windows phone and the return of the Start menu, but with some changes.

Once users avail of the free upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft is going to update the upgraded devices throughout the course of its lifetime, and amazingly at no cost.

Excited customers can begin early reservation of their Windows 10 in the next few weeks.

News of the release of Windows 10 ends rumors of the system's availability. It comes as a much welcome replacement to the highly-criticized Windows 8, according to The Telegraph.

With Windows 8 failing in the market, the arrival of Windows 10 calls for much improvement from Microsoft with regard to their operating system. The launch date forces developers of the company to put on the final touches to Windows 10's features and its operating system's interface.

Microsoft announced that the latest version set for release by the end of July will also be their last.  According to the company, upgrades in the future will be rolled out in the same way as OS X for Mac.

"Windows 10 starts to deliver on our vision of more personal computing, defined by trust in how we protect and respect your personal information, mobility of the experience across your devices, and natural interactions with your Windows devices, including speech, touch, ink and holograms," said Executive Vice President Terry Myerson at Microsoft.

Head of Mobile for Microsoft, Joe Belfiore, expressed his enthusiasm for the launch via Twitter.

July 29 is the date! Windows 10 for all! Tell friends & family: RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW to get it on day 1! http://t.co/jGSloJDZkM

— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) June 1, 2015

Windows 10 is unlike its predecessors in that there is no separate operating system for Windows Phone 10. Windows 10 will instead be available to all Microsoft devices. These include devices such as laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets and Xbox games console and HoloLens, a wireless holographic headset from Microsoft.

Windows 10 also allows users to control any devices and appliances at home, but the Windows 10 will reportedly be staggered in all other devices after its launch in PC, the company said at their latest Build developer conference.

There is only one store where the software can be bought, and developers need only to write the software once in any device.

Perhaps the most awaited in release of Windows 10 is the reappearance of the Start Menu. The platform was discarded when Windows 8 introduced the desktop "tiles," as developers hoped for users adopting touchscreen devices.

There is also Continuum, a new feature introduced in Windows 10. Users adept using a mouse and keyboard can now use the classic desktop mode once again. The best part is Windows 10 transforms into touchscreen mode with tablet or smartphones.

The resizable tiles has been retained in 10. Users see the tiles upon first opening the Start Menu, where email, social media and weather notifications are seen.

Internet Explorer has also been discarded in Windows 10, but a new new web browser called Microsoft Edge is introduced. As with Chrome, users can now mark or save webpages for later reading.

Cortana, seen in Windows Phone, is also included as Windows 10's Microsoft's personal assistant.

There remains no further details as to the price of Windows 10 for devices unqualified for the free upgrade, but over the weekend, a leak went out pegging the price of Windows 10 Home at US$109, while Windows 10 Professional is $149, according to PCNet.

For Genuine Windows users wanting to reserve their upgrade to the upcoming Windows 10, reservations are available here. The upgrade plan was announced by Microsoft in January, reported ZDNet.

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