New Windows 10. Exchange passwords from Wi-Fi hotspots

You've probably heard that Windows 10 is officially out today. Creators Update. In this article, we decided to be one step ahead and tell you about the new features for sysadmins in the next Windows 10 update (1703).

Configuration

Windows Configuration Designer

Previously, this component was called Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer, ICD and was used to create provisioning packages. This version has a new name. Windows Configuration Designer. IN previous versions Windows, it can be installed as part of the Windows ADK Assessment and Deployment Kit.

To make it easier to create provisioning packages in the Windows Configuration Designer in Windows 10 version 1703, there are a number of new wizards.

Both desktop and kiosk versions of the wizard have the option to uninstall pre-installed software using the CleanPC Configuration Service Provider.

Bulk connect to Azure Active Directory

New wizards in Windows Configuration Designer allow you to create provisioning packages to attach devices to Azure Active Directory. Bulk connect to Azure Active Directory available in desktop, mobile, kiosk, and Surface Hub wizards.

Windows Spotlight

New group policies and mobile device management (MDM) settings have been added:

Structure of the Start Menu, Start Screen, and Taskbar

You probably know that businesses can change the look of the Start menu, Start screen, and taskbar on computers under Windows control 10 Enterprise and Education editions. In version 1703, these modifications can also be applied to the Pro edition.

Previously, a custom taskbar could only be expanded using group policies or training packages. IN new version support for custom panels was introduced in mobile device management (MDM).

Attack detection

Major improvements in intrusion detection include:

Other improvements

There are also the following improvements:

• encryption of SD cards;
• remote PIN reset for Azure Active Directory accounts;
• archiving of SMS text messages;
• Wi-Fi Direct control;
• Continuum display control;
• individual shutdown of the screen of the monitor or phone in the absence of activity;
• individual definition of screen timeout;
.

It was extremely inconvenient. It seemed that Microsoft was taking the risk of conducting a reckless experiment on us and itself. As it seemed to me then, it turned out quite unsuccessfully. I quickly abandoned the G8, however, like the vast majority of my entourage. It remained to be hoped that the next operating system would eliminate all the shortcomings, and it would be the success of XP.

According to WinBeta.org, in June 2015, Windows 7 held 61% of the global desktop operating system market. Windows 8 accounted for only 13%.

But it's too early to take a swing at the loud glory of the thirteen-year-old "grandfather", although I dare to predict that the youngster will shoot. All the makings are there: fast loading, excellent performance, classic convenience, promising cross-platform and a number of fresh useful features. For six months of testing the "tens" I fell in love with her. I definitely recommend trying Windows 10 right after the release. And in order to make the transition as smooth as possible, I propose to learn about the most catchy innovations of the popular working environment.

Start

Microsoft stopped playing hide-and-seek with users and returned the Start button to its rightful place. Although it was not without deviations from the canons: "live" tiles were added, which caused the size of the menu to increase greatly. On laptops, it can take up - offhand - 70-80% of the screen area. It comes out a lot. But not everything is so bad, because the panel is well configured: unnecessary elements are removed, the necessary ones are dragged and grouped for convenience, and the overall size is adjusted by dragging the mouse (as in normal windows).

But that's not all. Looking into the settings of the operating system, you can stumble upon the "Personalization" section. Among other things, there are several options for the "Start" here.

It turns out that several simple actions you can fit Windows 10 Start as close as possible to the type of “seven”. And everything looks much more modern and stylish.

Settings

Did the Start personalization window seem a bit unusual to you? And all because the Redmonds have radically changed the form of filing most of the system settings. Although the essence remains the same: nine categories include dozens of tabs, which contain hundreds of options, switches and sliders.

At first, it was too unusual and hard for me to wander among the settings, even if they are well structured and wonderfully presented. But this is where the search comes in handy. With its help, finding the required parameters is much faster.

Lost and missing something? The good old "Control Panel" has not gone away. Press Win + X and use the usual way.

By the way, the Win + I combination is responsible for calling the settings. I already mentioned this in an article about Windows 10. An alternative option is to click the icon on the notification panel.

Notification panel

The notification panel accumulates all the service and auxiliary information of your working environment. Here you'll find messages about available updates, scheduled reboots, current issues, and a wealth of data from the Microsoft services you use. A handy thing, whatever one may say.

There are also buttons for quick actions: adjusting the brightness of the display, connecting to wireless devices, turning on Internet silence mode, starting a VPN connection. This is useful.

But back to the hints and reiterate: their benefits are more obvious when using a Microsoft account.

Microsoft Services Integration

During my acquaintance with Windows 10 TP, it seemed to me that in order to work in the system it is necessary to have Microsoft account, and a bunch of login and password must be entered each time the operating system is loaded. I shared it with readers, who pointed out my mistake: you can use and local profiles. The choice is yours. But a registered account is still better. Why? For example, OneDrive is already integrated into the top ten, which makes it much easier to work with the cloud. Undoubtedly, over time, developers will begin to bring the services and platforms that run Windows 10 even closer together. You will hardly notice the transition from a computer to a tablet or mobile phone. Full data synchronization between devices connected to the same profile will even allow you to watch what your friends are playing on their Xbox. In the future, it will be possible to play console games on your PC. Cross-platform multiplayer gaming is just around the corner. To do this, just download free app from the shop.

Universal Applications

Let's make a little analogy. Do you have an Android-smartphone or iPhone, on which you tirelessly download useful things from Google Play or iTunes. So for the "dozens" there is an application store - Store. Moreover, it works in a common ecosystem for both mobile gadgets and computers.

Universal applications are developed for one system - Windows 10. This automatically means that they work on both stationary and portable devices.

You can easily download the Skype app directly from the Store, place a link on the taskbar, and launch the program from there. You do not need to download the distribution kit from the Internet, take a steam bath with the choice of the installation directory or read license agreement- the process will take place as on the phone.

Universal apps open like a normal window that can be dragged around the screen, minimized, closed, and scaled. A little unusual, but ideologically correct. You are downloading the utility from a trusted source, not from a random site on the web. In this case, security is increased.

Safety

Surely your "seven" has some kind of antivirus installed. Maybe it's Microsoft Security Essentials- own free solution corporation that provides basic system protection. In the top ten, by default, there is something fresh called Windows Defender.

But do not be inspired: the same MSE is hiding behind the new sign. And this means that you still have to choose something more reliable from third party developers. Why? Antivirus from Microsoft consistently shows not the best results in the popular AV-TEST test.

Speaking of security, it's worth mentioning the SmartScreen feature, a Windows component that detects suspicious web page characteristics, fake sites, and dubious downloads. Now it works at the system level, although it was not previously selected outside the native Internet Explorer. The latter, by the way, gave way to a more impressive successor.

edge

According to NetMarketShare, June 2015 Internet Explorer was the leader among desktop browsers with an overwhelming share of 54%. To tell the truth, I cannot believe these figures (although other sources have similar statistics) and I do not know who all these garden people are. :) On the other hand, the percentages are falling from month to month and gradually flow to Google, Mozilla and Opera. Microsoft is aware of the trend and is trying to change it with a completely new development - the Edge web browser.

A little earlier, it was known under the code name Project Spartan. Once upon a time I already had my impressions of a perspective web viewer. Gradually, the browser is getting better and better, acquiring new features and increasing performance in various benchmarks. In general, a good thing is planned. Of course, Edge is automatically registered on the "dozens" taskbar.

Taskbar and Desktops

The task feed has got two important elements: search bar and task view button. Let's start with the second.

In the task view mode, you will see all the processes you are running and will be able to distribute them to virtual desktops. This is very, very useful, for example, if you want to distinguish between work and play. Imagine, the boss enters the office, you press an elegant key combination and all running solitaire games are quickly replaced by office programs. The mosquito will not undermine the nose!

The search bar is amazing. She can search for files and documents on your hard drive or find information on the Internet. It also has a built-in Cortana assistant.

Cortana

Cortana- voice assistant from Microsoft a la mobile Google Now or Siri. It is not yet possible to praise or scold the assistant, since it is simply not localized for our region. But the idea is excellent. The assistant will be integrated into the overall ecosystem: it will be able to analyze your mail and remind you of events, put things in order cloud storage, suggest decent catering and inform about the weather, point out traffic jams, give relevant explanations for unfamiliar terms, translate in the browser, and simply make your stay in Windows 10 as comfortable as possible. I believe that sooner or later it will.

Conclusion

And in a few years, Microsoft will completely stop Windows support 7 and 8 will wait a bit and remove the version number, leaving just Windows. The result is inevitable, we will all move to the top ten. Catch the wave right away and move to a fresh OS. She took all the best from her predecessors and became universal. Windows 10 is easy to learn and light on computer resources. What else is needed?

Very soon, Windows 10 will receive another "spring" creative update called Spring Creators Update 1803. The operating system is traditionally updated twice a year - in spring and autumn. Unlike regular updates that fix security issues or fix bugs, the Spring Creators Update will add many new features and freshen up appearance.

You can already download and install the update manually, but it's best to wait for the official release - the launch scheduled for April 10 had to be temporarily postponed until May to make important changes.

Today we will find out what's new in the Windows 10 Spring Update.

New features in Windows 10 Spring Update

A lot of work has been done on the spring version of Windows. The design has been updated, bugs and shortcomings have been fixed, new technologies and functions have been introduced. The list of all innovations is very large, and today we will get acquainted with only a few of them.

Updated look

The first thing that draws attention is that a new look called Fluent Design is changing the operating system more and more. Updated Options, Watch, Task bar and many other elements look fresh and interesting.

User activity timeline in Windows 10

The updated operating system has built in the ability to view previously launched applications, open internet pages and modified files sorted by time. The timeline saves the history of your actions, and now you can quickly resume working with files or return to the page of the site that you visited a month ago. Just click on the icon next to the menu Start or use a combination Win And Tab, and scroll through the activity history until the desired time.

Not everyone liked this innovation. Many people immediately ask themselves how to turn off the user activity scale so that no one can see the history of actions on this computer. To do this is easy enough.

1. Go to Options by clicking on the gear in the menu Start or keys Win And I on keyboard.
2. Find a tab Confidentiality, on the left select Activity log.
3. Turn off Filter activities from accounts.
4. In chapter Collect information about activities in point Let Windows Collect Information also set the switch to the off position.
5. And if you want to delete the already collected activity history, click Clear V Log of cleanup operations.

The Timeline syncs across computers and tablets that use the same user account. Microsoft entry, and with its help you can continue working, for example, with files office computer at home on a laptop.

Quick installation of Windows 10 updates

The installation of updates for Windows will now be carried out to a greater extent in the background, and at this moment you will be able to use the computer without restrictions. According to the assurances of the developers, this will reduce the time of a major update from an hour and a half to thirty minutes in the future.

This is probably one of the most useful innovations. The long wait time and the inability to use the computer at this time repeatedly forced many to turn off the Windows 10 update.

Managing fonts and language packs in Windows 10

You can now download and install new fonts through the Windows App Store. And to view or delete a font, you just need to go to the menu Personalization.

Also in the App Store you can now download the desired language pack, which means that they will now be updated more often. You can set the language in Parameters. Select Time and language, and click on the item Region and language.

Convenient pairing of devices via Bluetooth

A new feature makes it easier to connect a computer via Bluetooth protocol. It is enough to put, for example, a wireless mouse or headphones into pairing mode, and the operating system will automatically detect the device and send a connection request. However, it is worth noting that this function does not work with all Bluetooth devices - new technology while not all manufacturers implement it.

Near Sharing feature for file sharing

Windows 10 had a Do Not Disturb feature that allowed you to temporarily turn off all notifications. Now it has turned into "Focus Assistant". When starting games in full screen mode or displaying the image on another screen, Do Not Disturb mode will automatically turn on. You can also set the function to turn on at a specified time or change the priority of notifications. You can set up this feature in Parameters. Go to menu System and choose .

Finally

This is far from full list all the innovations that await us after spring update. It's great to see Windows 10 growing and evolving, getting better and better. We hope that updated version Windows 10 you will love. Just do not forget to free up a few tens of gigabytes after the update - for this you need

But her release was delayed.

Timeline expands the capabilities of Task View by adding a history of the activities you have previously performed on your computer. Click the "Task View" button on the taskbar or use the Windows key + Tab combination to see the activities you performed "Earlier today" or in previous days. Timeline can show websites opened in Microsoft Edge, articles you've read in the News app, documents you've worked on in Microsoft Word, and places you've viewed in Maps.

The main purpose of this function is to resume activities that were abruptly interrupted or deliberately delayed. Timeline supports synchronization between devices. Thus, you can continue any activity on another PC where your account is used. Personal voice assistant Cortana will offer a list of activities to resume when you switch to another device.

The user can use the scrollbar or search string to navigate through activities. All activities are sorted by day, and daily activities are sorted by hour. you can use context menu to clear activities for a specific hour. You can set up Timeline in Settings > Privacy > Activity Log.

Microsoft plans to integrate this feature into mobile apps so that users can switch between tasks even on different types of devices. However, app developers will need to first implement support for this feature in order for it to work with computers and mobile apps.

Sharing files with nearby devices

Windows 10 (version 1803) has a new file sharing feature called "Near Share" that's similar to Apple's AirDrop.

Viewing diagnostic data

Microsoft is trying to fix the privacy issues in Windows 10 and make things more transparent. To that end, Redstone 4 will feature a new application, the Diagnostic Data Viewer. This program in text form will show the diagnostic information that is sent to Microsoft server. The tool even displays all the information about your device that is stored in the Microsoft cloud.

To enable this feature, go to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & Feedback and turn on the “Diagnostic Data Viewer” option. The page warns that this feature may require up to 1 GB of disk space. After activating the feature, you can follow the link to go to the Windows Store to download the free Diagnostic Data Viewer. This application allows you to view diagnostic data, supports search and filters by different types events.

Microsoft also allows you to delete diagnostic data collected from your device. Just click the "Delete" button in the section Deleting diagnostic data on the Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & Feedback page.

Users who are not administrators will have greater control over the diagnostic data sent to Microsoft. Any user can go to the app Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback and select the amount of data to send "Basic" or "Full". Previously, only administrators could change this setting.

Microsoft has also expanded the online privacy control panel. There's a new Activity Log page that lets you view the information Microsoft collects about PC usage.

Function “ quick pairing” will make it easy to pair Bluetooth devices with Windows 10 computers. Simply translate wireless device Bluetooth in pairing mode next to the computer. Windows 10 will automatically recognize the device and show you a pairing prompt - you no longer need to go to the Settings app to access your Bluetooth settings.

Initially, the new feature will work with Surface Precision mice and devices whose manufacturers have added support for the new feature. Similar technologies are used on other platforms: Fast Pair on Android or AirPods quick pairing from Apple.

Support for Progressive Web Apps in the Windows Store

The Microsoft Edge browser is getting a number of new features that allow you to run Progressive Web Apps ( progressive web Apps, PWAs) in Windows 10. This is new standard web applications that behave like normal desktop applications. Each application has its own window and taskbar shortcut, is capable of working offline, and can send notifications. PWA technology is already supported by Google, Mozilla and Microsoft, and Apple already working on implementing support.

Microsoft will index and offer Progressive Web Apps in Windows Store. They can be installed just like any other Windows 10 app. In the future, you are also expected to be able to install them directly from Microsoft Edge.

Soon we will be able to see in the Windows Store google apps, such as Gmail or Google Calendar. Developers will be able to create applications that can run almost anywhere and the need for training individual versions for different platforms will disappear. As a result, Windows 10 users will be able to get more quality applications.

Update installation process All Windows 10 users will appreciate this change. This means that the installation wait time will be reduced. The online phase of the update installation process will run at a low priority and the performance of the computer will not suffer much. According to Microsoft tests, this innovation has reduced the time of the offline phase of the update (when the system is unavailable) from 82 minutes to 30 minutes.

Installing Windows 10 feature updates just got faster

The focus assistant will automatically turn on under certain device usage scenarios - when mirroring the screen to a projector or when running a DirectX game in full screen mode. The tool supports different notification priorities, so you can allow high priority notifications and temporarily block low priority notifications. By disabling Focus Assist, the user will see a summary of any notifications that have been missed.

To set up the feature, go to the Settings app > System > Focus Assist. On this screen You can prioritize notifications and set the hours when you want Focus Assist to turn on automatically. You can also turn Focus Assist on or off using the notification icon on the right side of the taskbar.

Language packs in the Microsoft Store

Language packs are now delivered through the Microsoft Store. You can install the required language pack directly in the Store or by going to Settings > Time & Language > Region & Language.

Microsoft says the company is using artificial intelligence and machine learning for their translations. Availability language packs in the Store means they can now be updated more frequently.

Display options: Advanced scaling options

Information about screens and monitors is now available in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display options.

Developers are trying to improve the display of old desktop applications on screens with high resolution. To do this, in the section Settings> System> Display> Additional scaling options appeared new option“App scaling fix”. When enabled, Windows will attempt to automatically adjust apps so they don't look blurry. In addition, Windows 10 will automatically detect blurry apps and suggest fixing them.

Additional per-application settings will be available by right-clicking on the .exe executable and selecting Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings.

Rejection of the “Homegroup”

Support for HEIF images

Windows 10 now supports viewing High Efficiency Image File (HEIF) images without the use of third-party software. The graphic format used by the Camera app on mobile iPhone devices. In addition, Google is also adding support for this format to Android.

The first time you try to open a HEIF or HEIC file, the Photos app will open and start installing the required codecs from the Microsoft Store. The images will then open seamlessly in the Photos app, and thumbnails and metadata will be available in Windows Explorer.

Sign in without a password in Windows 10 S mode

Microsoft will now allow you to sign in without entering a password. At first, this feature will only be available on Windows 10 S. To do this, you will need to download the Microsoft Authenticator app and configure the Windows Hello service accordingly.

After that, you will no longer see the password form, either in the Settings app or on the login screen. If you are unable to use your smartphone, you can alternatively enter your PIN code to log in.

New Options and Other Changes

• OneDrive status in the navigation pane. Information about the synchronization status of folders saved to OneDrive now appears in the left navigation pane of Windows Explorer. To enable or disable this feature, select the menu View > Options > View and find the option “Always show availability status”.

• Windows Update Icon. When a warning or alert occurs, the Windows Update service icon will appear in the system tray.
• Windows Update will block hibernation: If your computer is connected to an AC adapter, then windows update will prevent the PC from going to sleep for a maximum of 2 hours if a system update is required. As a result, you are more likely to install updates if you are not using a PC.
• Recovering passwords for local accounts. Users can set security questions for local accounts. You will need to answer the security questions on the authorization screen when you try to regain access to your computer. To set security questions, go to Settings > Accounts> Login options.

• Improved emoji input. Emoji keyboard available on Windows combination+ . or Windows + ; , will not automatically close after selecting an emoticon. You can select multiple emoji characters at once. Click Esc key or the "X" button to close the keyboard. The touch keyboard will also suggest emoji as you type certain words, for example “unicorn” (unicorn).
• Application startup management. You can now configure app startup in the Settings app > Apps > Startup. Previously this option was hidden in the Task Manager.

• Windows Defender settings: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Defender page renamed to “ Windows Security". It now offers quick access to various settings security, including account protection and device security. Read more in the Windows Defender Security Center Improvements overview.

• Categories in privacy settings: Separate categories have appeared in the Settings > Privacy menu in the navigation bar, which now separate Windows privacy settings and application permission settings.
• Quick access to application settings. You can now right-click on an app's tile or start menu shortcut and select More > App Settings to quickly open a settings page where you can adjust app permissions, reset, delete the app or its data. This screen is also available in Settings > Apps > Apps & features by clicking on the app's name and tapping "More options". The new screen also displays the app's version number, startup tasks, and command line alias.
• Scissors and Paint 3D. The Scissors app, which is used to capture screenshots, has a new "Edit in Paint 3D" button.
• Keyboard settings. New page keyboard settings is available in the Settings app > Time & language > Keyboard. On this screen, you can switch between different layouts, adjust autocorrect, sounds, and other advanced options. Some settings have been removed from the Control Panel and are now available in the Settings app.
• Prefer cellular data. You can now choose to prioritize the use of cellular data over Wi-Fi, either permanently or when weak signal wireless network. This setting is available in Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular if your device has the required hardware installed.
• Narrator in safe mode: Windows now allows you to use the text-to-speech feature Narrator even if the system is booted in safe mode.
• Consumption WiFi data and Ethernet. In Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage, you can now set data limits, apply background data limits, and view data usage across Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connections in addition to cellular connections. You can right-click the Data Usage tab on the Settings app screen and select the Pin to Start menu option to see your data usage in a live tile format on the Start menu.
• Selecting a handwriting font. You can choose the font that your handwriting will be converted to. The setting is available in Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink > Change handwriting font.
• Built-in handwriting panel. Now you can easily use handwriting In some text fields, for example in the Settings app. When focus is placed on a field, the handwriting panel will expand.
• Reset game mode settings. You can reset all game mode settings to their default values ​​by going to Settings > Games > Game Mode > Reset Game Mode Settings.
• Simplified installation of Windows Hello. In Sign-in Options under Windows Hello, you can now set up face, fingerprint, or PIN sign-in.
• Auto-hide scrollbars in Windows: Windows automatically hides scrollbars in new UWP apps, but you can now disable this behavior in Settings > Special abilities> Display > Auto-Hide Scrollbars in Windows.
• Enable or disable color filter hotkeys. In Settings > Ease of Access > Color Filters and High Contrast, you can now enable or disable hotkeys. They are disabled by default.
• Viewing and clearing the dictionary: On the Settings > Privacy > Speech, handwriting, and text input page, you can view the custom dictionary or clear it if necessary.
• Disk cleanup in storage settings. The Disk Cleanup tool is now available in Settings > System > Device storage > Free up space now.

• New sound settings options. Many sound customization options such as input and output devices, troubleshooting, etc. are now available in Settings > System > Sound. The new “Application and device volume” page allows you to set individual audio input and output devices for individual applications or for the system as a whole.
• Language hints. When typing with the keyboard, you can now enable language hints. You can use the arrow keys to navigate through the hints, and the space bar to use the selected hint. This feature is disabled by default and only works in English so far.
• Working folders on request: the “Work Folders” feature, which allows companies to share individual folders with employees, has received a new “File Access on Demand” option. When enabled, the Work Folders feature will work like OneDrive in Windows Explorer - all files will be visible, but will only be downloaded when you try to open them.
• Improved eye control: Microsoft added a built-in eye tracking feature with the Fall Creators Update. Simplified scroll and click functions are now implemented and general tasks e.g. pause. This feature requires a special peripheral device to track eye movement.
• Multilingual Text Prediction: when typing with the touch keyboard, you no longer need to manually switch languages. Windows will automatically show the word in one of three commonly used languages. You can change this feature in Settings > Devices > Input > Multilingual Text Prediction.

• Curl and Tar commands. Curl Utilities and Tar for downloading files and extracting .tar archives, which are commonly used in Linux, are now built into Windows and are available in the paths: C:\Windows\System32\curl.exe and C:\Windows\System32\tar.exe.
• Native UNIX sockets. Windows 10 now natively supports UNIX sockets with the new afunix.sys kernel driver. This improvement will make it easier to port the application from Linux or other UNIX systems in Windows.
• Registry process. In Task Manager you will see new process with the name "Register". This is a minimal process designed to store registry data for the Windows kernel. Since the data was previously stored in the kernel anyway, general use system memory remains unchanged. Microsoft says this will allow them to optimize the amount of memory used by the registry in the future.
• Windows Defender application guard. Windows function Defender Application Guard for Microsoft protection Edge, which was introduced with the Fall Creators Update, was originally intended for Windows 10 Enterprise users. One is now available to Windows 10 Pro users, but disabled by default.
• New delivery optimization policies. New policies allow you to control the Delivery Optimization feature used for app updates in Windows Update and the Microsoft Store. For example, administrators can limit bandwidth based on the time of day. These policies are available under Administrative Templates > Windows Components> Delivery Optimization in the Group Policy Editor.
• Windows Hypervisor Platform API. The new API allows third-party applications to create and manage partitions, customize memory layouts, and control virtual processors.
• Custom scripts during update: companies can now configure their computers to run their own scripts during the Windows feature update installation process.
• New scheme Power Options in Windows 10 Pro for Workstations: the new Ultimate Performance policy builds on the already familiar “ High performance” and includes additional optimizations to reduce micro-latencies, as well as advanced power management techniques. The scheme will only be available to desktop computers and may increase energy consumption.
• Productivity apps in Windows 10 Pro for Workstations: in Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, the Start menu will now show specialized applications productivity instead of custom applications and games like Candy Crush.
• Windows AI Platform and other new APIs: Microsoft announced support for new APIs for developers, including Windows platform AI. Developers will now be able to import existing machine learning models from various platforms and run them locally on Windows computers 10.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) improvements

• Native UNIX sockets: The new UNIX sockets work not only for Windows applications, but also for Linux applications in the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
• Support for devices with serial interface for Linux applications. Linux applications running on the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) can now access serial devices (COM ports).
• Background tasks for Linux applications. Linux applications running on the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) can now run in the background. This means that applications like sshd, tmux and screen will now work correctly.
• Permissions improvements for Linux applications. Users can now run applications with elevated (admin) and normal access ( standard user) in one WSL session.
• Support for scheduled tasks for Linux applications. You can now run a Linux application in WSL from scheduled tasks.
• Support remote connections for Linux applications. Users can run WSL while connected using OpenSSH, VPN, PowerShell, or other remote access tool.
• Fast conversion Linux paths on Windows. The Wslpath command allows you to quickly convert Linux paths to Windows.
• Setting launch options. The user can now change some launch settings Linux distributions for the WSL subsystem. Each Linux distribution has its own file in /etc/wsl.conf. You can edit the file to change parameters auto mount and network settings.
• Environment variable exchange: The new WSLENV environment variable is common to Windows and Linux distributions running WSL. You can format variables and they will work correctly on both Windows and Linux.
• Case sensitivity for Windows: new NTFS option can enable case sensitivity in folder. After enabling the option, even Windows applications will treat files in that folder with case sensitivity. This will allow you to work with two files named "example" and "Example" and Windows applications will treat them as different files.

Sets interface for launching applications in tabs is available in Redstone 5

Microsoft has decided to delay the release of the Sets feature in Windows 10 - it has been removed from Redstone 4 test builds and is available in Redstone 5 preview builds.

Sets introduces a new and unique tabbed experience that allows users to combine different apps and sites in one window. For example, a user can open a Word document in one window, search engine Google and a note from OneNote and easily switch between each app or site. The idea is to allow users to conveniently group content from the web with application content.

Cloud Clipboard will be available in Redstone 5

Microsoft originally announced that the cloud clipboard would be part of Timeline. It was expected to appear in the system with the release of the Fall Creators Update. Cloud Clipboard allows you to sync your copied text and data with other devices, which will improve your productivity when working with multiple devices. For example, you can copy a piece of text on a Windows PC using hot key Windows + V and then paste it on the iPhone.

This feature appeared in early versions of Redstone 4, but has since been removed. It looks like Microsoft wants to devote more time to the development of the cloud buffer. We hope to see this feature in the next major update functions.

Found a typo? Press Ctrl+Enter

Having entertained us with their plans for the future in the past few months, in the end, last week Microsoft finally showed Windows 10 (9926), the first fresh build in the last few months. No matter how you look at it, but Windows 10 (9926) becomes the first version of the OS that seriously departs from Windows 8. What's new in Windows 10, you ask, read our article.

If the previous Windows versions 10 was more like Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (9926) took off. There are many new things to look at. There is much more to be experienced. Microsoft is betting on users who are looking for new changes, along with answers to complaints about old OSes. Carefully staged Feedback Microsoft hopes it will help deliver a Windows 10 that will appeal to as many users as possible. Moreover, Microsoft is going to update its OS throughout the life cycle of user devices.

Here are some of the things about Windows 10 (9926) that have caught the attention of users who have already installed the update on their laptops, desktops, and tablets.

tablet mode (table mode)

Microsoft devoted a lot of time at last year's Windows 10 briefing to the new Continuum. Before exit Windows 10 (9926), we've never seen it in action outside of Microsoft's video. Microsoft refers to the switching user interface built into Windows 10 as a continuum. In Windows 8, the company tried to overlay the Start screen on anything and everything. This solution worked great for tablet and hybrid laptop users, but for the most part, PC users didn't like it.

Now Windows 10 selects user interface based on the input method your device has. Tablet Users Surface Pro 3, for example, who disable their keyboards, the system will ask if they would like to switch to Tablet mode. If the answer is yes, the Start screen will appear and take over the navigation of the system. Each application also opens in full screen to leave no borders. When the user plugs in a keyboard, the system will prompt you to exit Tablet Mode. If the answer is yes, each application will be formed separate window inside the worker Windows desktop 10. The Start screen, in turn, will remain in a compact design, which is more like the Start menu from previous versions of Windows.

It is also worth noting that start screen lost some options and settings with Windows 10 (9926). Presumably they will return some time later. Microsoft says it's in the middle of the Start screen revamp.

Action Center

How we used to use operating systems without a centralized place for notifications remains a mystery. Fortunately, Windows 10 is going to answer this question with the Action Center, just like on Windows Phone.

Action Center is opened using a nondescript button on the taskbar in desktop mode, or by swiping right on devices with touch screen. The new Windows 10 sends all notifications for your apps to the Action Center, along with quick access to settings. This is the easiest way for users to get to the main information block systems.

If you've been using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, chances are you've thrown your cursor hard to the right side of the screen to access the Charms sidebar. However, Windows 10 will not have this panel. What else is new in Windows 10? Read more…

Modernized Applications

Microsoft plans to release the new kind apps along with Windows 10, which are called universal apps. Universal apps will work on all Windows 10 devices. We are talking about smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, laptops and even Xbox One. With Windows 10 (9926), we get our first look at some of them. Photos is one such versatile app and borrows the Xbox Music interface for Windows 8.1. The new Xbox app and Calculator are other universal apps that are available today. Some users have reported that there is a universal version OneNote apps for notes, but we could not find it, unfortunately.

In all of these applications, Microsoft got rid of the biggest problem of all Windows 8 users: horizontal scroll. Each option of universal applications is fully available on the screen.

New taskbar andCortana

Windows 10 (9926) includes a color-coded taskbar for the desktop and a Start screen that adapts to user preferences. New features include action buttons Center, Task View, which was on previous versions of Windows 10, Search, as well as a special button that activates Cortana. Cortana is the built-in personal assistant in Windows 10. It is also available in Windows 10 (9926) for the first time. Users can also activate the assistant with the command: "Hey Cortana!" (Hey, Cortana!).

Updated switching between desktops

Task View debuted in more early version Windows 10, it works like Expose on Mac, allowing you to see all your open apps. You can use the screen to quickly switch between different applications or create multiple desktops to separate work. Task View button on the taskbar for keyboard and mouse users, and for touch devices just swipe to the right from the left edge of the screen.

Overall, Windows 10 (9926) adds a lot of new features and changes that users should love. In fact, things are working so well that Microsoft may be able to convince Windows 7 users to upgrade. Microsoft says it plans to fine tuning personal assistant Cortana is set to offer more features and fixes in the coming months. The new Windows 10 is not yet ready in the final assembly, and this will not happen until the end of the year. When the development of a new operating system will end, Microsoft plans to let Windows 7 and Windows 8 users free update during the first year.