Windows 10 to bring 3-D to two-dimensional experiences

The new tools, part of a free "Creators Update" to Windows 10 early next year, promise to make it easy for people to create and share photos, drawing and other images in 3-D.

"By making 3-D for everyone, our digital world starts a new, more human journey," said Megan Saunders, a Microsoft executive in charge of transitioning computing to three dimensions.

Microsoft's Surface sales aren't high enough to rank on either Gartner's or IDC's list of top five personal-computer manufacturers, but they represent an important business for the software company as it showcases the virtues of Windows 10 and related services such as Bing search and Skype chats.

Windows will try to make multiple apps for video calls, email and texts seamless by letting users simply choose the person to send to rather than the app to send with.