Windows 10 Races To 1 Billion Installs With First Major Update, Courts Business Users
We’ve been talking about it for weeks, but it’s finally here. Microsoft has rolled out its first big update to its Windows 10 operating system. The November Update carries build number 10586, the same build that was pushed out to Windows Insiders last week.
Microsoft has made a ton of improvement where it counts the most, starting with boot times. Microsoft’s software engineers were able to optimize the boot process so that PCs on average boot to the desktop 30 percent faster than the same hardware running Windows 7.
Microsoft Edge has received performance improvements across the board along with the usual assortment of security updates. Other Edge enhancements include tab preview, and the ability to sync your favorites and Reading List across multiple devices (i.e. your Windows 10 Mobile smartphone).
There have been various improvements made to Cortana (including newfound availability in Japan, Australia, and Canada and India) and other first-party apps including Skype, Mail, OneNote and Calendar (among other apps).
Microsoft is also ensuring that businesses are inspired to upgrade machines to Windows 10 with the addition to two new free services. Windows Update for Business allows IT departments to have fine control over how updates are delivered to machines within an organization. In addition, Windows Store for Business allows corporations to deploy both Windows Store apps and custom apps that are tailored for their specific operations. As Microsoft explains, “Organizations can choose their preferred distribution method by directly assigning apps, publishing apps to a private store, or connecting with management solutions.”
If that isn’t enough, Windows 10 also has businesses covered with Mobile Device Management, Azure Active Director Join, Credential Guard, Device Guard, Windows Hello and Windows Defender.
The Windows 10 November Update has been a huge undertaking, and Microsoft couldn’t have done it alone. “We’ve talked a lot about our Windows Insider Program, and how that open, collaborative process has been so critical to the choices we’ve made in building Windows 10,” said Windows chief Terry Myerson. “I want to thank the Windows Insiders who have continued to participate and invest their time and energy in the program.”
Windows 10 users can grab the November Update through Windows Update, or if you prefer, you can download the full ISOs here.
Microsoft is hoping to get Windows 10 installed on over a billion PCs within the next few years, and the company is well on its way to reaching that mark (110 million installs as of October 6th). Microsoft is also taking some steps of its own to ensure that laggards still running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are persuaded to upgrade to Windows 10. Starting next year, Microsoft will make it harder for you to avoid upgrading when it switches Windows 10 from an Optional update to a Recommended update.
