Windows 10

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you’ll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.

The preferred method to install/upgrade to Windows 10 is using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.

Windows 10 is designed to deliver updates for the supported lifetime of the device. Two types of updates may be provided: quality updates and feature updates. Quality updates include both security and non-security updates and are typically targeted to be released once a month.

Feature updates also include security and non-security fixes as well as new features to Windows 10 and are typically provided twice a year. Ensuring that your device receives these updates and is kept up-to-date is important for your device security. Windows 10 periodically checks for updates so you don’t have to. When an update is available—and sufficient free disk space is available on your device—it will be automatically installed. So that Windows 10 continues to stay updated, it’s important to ensure your device has sufficient free space. See additional applicable details in the following notes.

General UX improvements

We made a bunch of UX improvements with the last build and you’ll see even more in this build. For example, you’ll notice a new Live Tile animation for Start in addition to in addition to some performance and stability improvements for Live Tiles.

We’ve done work to better support high DPI displays. And we know many Windows Insiders are running multi-mon setups – often with 2 monitors with different DPI. You will start to see some work we’re doing to make sure core UX components in Windows scale correctly on both your monitors so things look nice regardless of DPI.

We’ve also heard loud in clear that many Windows Insiders want to see Aero Glass from Windows 7 make a comeback. We’ve been working out how to satisfy this request, and are trying some things out with this build to see how you like them. We’re running a little A/B test with this build. 50% of you will normal transparency on the Start menu and taskbar while the other 50% will see a blur effect on the Start menu and taskbar (like frosted glass). If Windows Insiders really like the blur effect, we will add it to more areas and even consider making it the default instead of standard transparency. Which one did you get? Send us feedback about it via the Windows Feedback app.

Even more improvements to Continuum

We’re continuing to make Continuum better and invest in a simplified taskbar. Additionally when you close an application in Tablet mode, we take you back to the Start screen instead of the desktop as you would expect when using a tablet. You will see general polish on snapping, and the shared divider between two snapped windows now let’s you adjust the size.

Multi-tasking improvements

We’re continuing to refine and complete our mulit-tasking experience with Windows 10. Check out Alt-Tab, Task-View, and Snap Assist. Snap Assist also now supports the ability to close a window during Snap Assist.

New default Windows sounds

We’ve heard a lot of feedback from people that they want some fresh system sounds for Windows 10. Check them out and let us know what you think.

Visual refresh for Cortana

You will see a visual refresh for Cortana in this build that makes the experience feel more ingrained into the overall Windows experience. Start and Cortana are now more tightly integrated. As you start to search for an app from within Start, Cortana can seamlessly take over and bring back the right result. The new Windows split view control has been added to Cortana’s left rail, offering quick access to key Cortana functionality like the Notebook, Reminders or Feedback on how Cortana’s doing. This split view control helps anchor Cortana to the rest of the Windows UI and provides navigation consistent with many other Windows first party applications.

New experiences in Cortana

We are turning on some new experiences in Cortana powered by Bing Instant Answers. Cortana will aim to answer your question while you’re still typing. Here are a few questions you can try:

• Weather – “Seattle Weather”
• Finance – “MSFT stock”
• Dictionary – “define astounding”
• Calculator – “48*92”
• Flight Status – “UA 238”
• Reference – “how tall is brad pitt”
• Showtimes – “movies near me”
• Tech Help – “memory in my computer”
• Time Zone – “time in London”
• Unit Conversion – “42 ft in meters”
• Chit Chat – “tell me a joke”

We have also added additional proactive scenarios like News categories and Flight Tracking.

Discovering features and apps in Windows 10

We are investing in easy “bite-sized” learning and discovery experiences so that users can get more out of Windows 10. This ranges from tips and tricks on the Lock screen, to helping users discover high quality apps through Start, the Lock screen and Cortana. Be confident that you won’t miss out on new features and enjoy the ease of having high quality apps curated for you. It’s optional, and if anything doesn’t strike your fancy, you can provide feedback directly, such as whether you like an image or an app. These new experiences will be rolling out over time, so you may not see them in your market yet.