Windows 10: Microsoft begins testing Windows 10 20H1, the next big update after 19H2

Microsoft has begun work on Windows 10 20H1 which will be released next year, as opposed to 19H2 which will be pushed out in the second half of 2019. For some reasons, Microsoft has delayed the release of 19H2 preview builds and the company has instead released Windows 10 20H1 Build 18836 in Skip Ahead.

Windows 10 Build 18836 comes from the 20H1 development branch and it only contains the general bug fixes. Microsoft says that the Insiders in Skip Ahead ring will receive 20H1 builds and 19H2 builds will be released to Insiders in the Spring of 2019.

Microsoft will test Windows 10 20H1 builds with Insiders in the Skip Ahead ring and while it is an unusual test, it all indicates that Microsoft needs a longer time to test some upcoming exciting features.

“Some things we are working on in 20H1 require a longer lead time. We will begin releasing 19H2 bits to Insiders later this spring after we get 19H1 nearly finished and ready; once 19H1 is “nearly finished and ready” we’ll also use the Release Preview ring for previews of drivers and quality updates on 19H1,” Microsoft explains.

Microsoft isn’t planning to skip Windows 10 19H2 (October 2019 Update) preview builds. Brandon LeBlanc, in a series of tweets, explained that the preview builds of Windows 10 19H2 will be shipped to Fast Ring Insiders in Spring 2019.

After the release of Windows 10 19H1 (version 1903) in April 2019, Insiders in Fast Ring should start getting 19H2 (version 1909) preview builds and Skip Ahead users will continue to receive 20H1 builds.

“Fast ring still has 19H1 and will for a little while longer. Important not to confuse here – Fast ring is *still* 19H1 right now,” Brandon LeBlanc explains. “We’ll have more details to share once we get closer to pushing 19H1 out the door. Our focus is really still on making 19H1 awesome.

To summarize, Microsoft appears to have the following plan:

• Windows 10 19H1 will be released to the general public in April 2019. Preview builds are available in Fast Ring.
• Windows 10 19H2 will be released in the second half of 2019. Once the 19H1 is ready for the public, 19H2 preview builds will be shipped to Fast Ring
• Windows 10 20H1 preview builds are already available for Skip Ahead ring but the update will be released in early 2020 for general consumers.

It is also worth noting that Windows 10 20H1 and 19H1 builds contain similar improvements. However, it is supposed to change soon as new features will be added to 20H1 preview builds soon.

“Right now 20H1 and 19H1 builds are largely the same and haven’t diverged too much yet in terms of code. It’ll be a little bit before they do. Eventually, 20H1 builds will start seeing a behind-the-scenes changes etc,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc explains.

The post Microsoft begins testing Windows 10 20H1, the next big update after 19H2 appeared first on Windows Latest

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Microsoft Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Available Today

Oh dear they're still pushing that. I STILL don't like the metro tiles and stuff!

 

Microsoft Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Available Today

Microsoft released Windows 10, code named "Threshold 1," a little over two years ago. As of May of this year, there were approximately 500 million Windows 10 devices worldwide. Originally, Microsoft predicted that Windows 10 would be installed on 1 billion devices by mid-2018. When released, Windows 10 gained huge adoption from those running Windows 7 from the "free-upgrade program" which lasted one year.

Since then however, installations have slowly declined and in July of last year, Microsoft admitted that they would miss their projected goal of 1 billion devices. Since its release, Windows 10 has had three major update releases with "Threshold 2," in 2015, "Anniversary Update," in 2016, "Creators Update" in April of this year and today marks the release of Microsoft's fourth major feature update to its operating system, dubbed "Fall Creators Update," version 1709.


Today's update brings about many new features including:

• OneDrive On demand (formerly known as OneDrive Placeholders introduced in WIndows 8.1) a way to keep track of your files stored on OneDrive from any of your devices without having to store them locally.
• 'My People' Hub Integration makes it easier to stay in touch with people right from the taskbar
• Story Remix gives you to the tools and the power to create content from your photos and videos to make memorable stories
• Windows Mixed Reality brings a new generation of augmented reality where the real world meets the digital one.
• Fluent Design System is Microsoft's new design that will take place over the next few years with each feature update. Microsoft intends to make all products and devices one user interface and it begins with the Fall Creators Update.

Furthermore, Microsoft has made changes and brings privacy enhancements with today's update. The Fall Creators Update gives users more control of what information is being collected. Users will be greeted with the Privacy Statement on the setup process to get an idea of what information that entails. Microsoft is also adding two game anti-cheating systems, called TruePlay and Game Monitor, to address the problem of cheating similarly to what VAC (Valve Anti-Cheating) does for Steam.

The Fall Creators Update is available today but will be rolled out in stages as usual. Newer devices most compatible with Windows 10 will receive the update first. The rollout will take several months before everyone is updated. However, if you don't see today's update you can use the Update Assistant Tool to manually update now, here.

Source: Microsoft

 

Microsoft Selects Dolby Audio for Windows 10

it would've been great if microsoft added HEVC decoders, LAV filters along with other codecs with Windows 10, and developing WMP to be better than VLC, KMPlayer and such sorts of media players.

Nevertheless, this is good step for microsoft, by far.