Microsoft has started to roll out the latest Insider Preview Build for Windows 10 users in the Fast ring. To be honest getting hold of the latest build is a welcome addition for me, having suffered a fair few bugs with the previous 10547 build.
Here’s what’s new in this build....
Skype messaging, calling and video experience: Skype messaging, calling and video capabilities will come integrated into Windows 10 through the Messaging, Phone and Skype video universal Windows apps. These Windows applications enable quick and easy, free calling and messaging to other Skype users across phones, over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi tablets and to PCs Wi-Fi. With this build, you can preview the integrated capabilities on your PC while an upcoming Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build will have these integrated capabilities for Insiders to test soon on mobile devices.
Tab Preview in Microsoft Edge: In Microsoft Edge, you can now hover over your open tabs and get a preview of what’s on those websites.
Syncing Favourites and Reading list items in Microsoft Edge: In this build, you’ll see a first look at the new syncing feature in Microsoft Edge that lets you sync your Favourites and Reading list items.
Cortana improvements: Cortana is able to intelligently understand your inked notes – setting reminders based on locations, times and numbers that she can understand from your digital annotations.
Microsoft are also rolling out new features in Cortana to help keep track of your leisure time, including movie and event reminders. Cortana will keep track of your bookings for movies and ticketed events through your email confirmations. Two hours prior to the event start time, you’ll get helpful information to be sure you know where to go and get there on time, including an option to book and track an Uber ride directly from Cortana.
More vibrant title bars: In this build you can now enjoy your title bars with a full colour intensity that matches the rest of your theme.
Improved context menus on Start: Microsoft has made some adjustments and improvements to the context menus on Start including new icons for tile adjustments.
New icons: This build has another batch of new icons for devices (such as Device Manager). Registry Editor finally gets a new icon!
Device activation improvements: Microsoft received a lot of feedback from Insiders on making it easier to activate Windows 10 on devices that take advantage of the free upgrade offer to genuine Windows by using existing Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys. If you install this build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview on a PC and it doesn’t automatically activate, you can enter the product key from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 used to activate the prior Windows version on the same device to activate Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Change Product Key. If you do a clean install of Windows 10 by booting off the media, you can also enter the product key from prior Windows versions on qualifying devices during setup.
Managing your default printer: Microsoft has introduced a new mode that makes your default printer the last printer you used. This change helps ensure the best printer is preselected in inbox print dialogs. You can manage this behaviour in Settings > Devices > Printer & Scanners to change this to the previous way Windows handled default printers. The ability to set a default printer by network location has been removed.
Note: As per previous builds the Insider Preview does contain some known issues, please check out the Windows Blog for more details....