Items tagged with windows insiders
One of the few really interesting announcements surrounding the roll-out of Windows 11 was the news that the latest version of Redmond's PC OS would also support apps from the dominant mobile platform, Android. That hype quickly died down as Microsoft admitted that such support wouldn't be available from day one. Some folks suggested it might never come at all. Well, surprise surprise—if you're on the Insider or Beta update track for Windows 11, you can now start downloading and installing Android apps on your Windows device. There's a whole pile of catches, though. First of all, when you think of "download and install Android apps," you probably think of the Google Play Store. However,...
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It's Thursday, which can only mean one thing: it's time for a fresh build of Windows 11 for Windows Insiders. In this case, Microsoft just launched Insider Preview Build 22000.160 for testers on the Dev and Beta channels. As with other recent builds, Microsoft isn't bombarding testers with an abundance of new features. Instead, this release only sees the arrival of a new Clock app with updated visuals and new Focus Sessions. Focus Sessions are available to help you concentrate on your most important work while minimizing distractions. "Research has shown that audio reduces the chance of getting distracted by other things," Microsoft explains. "Focus Sessions supports connecting your Spotify account...
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Microsoft apparently wants Windows 10 users to know that their feedback has shaped Windows as we know it today. The Redmond software and services giant has talked about some of the changes that have happened in the last five years that are the direct result of feedback from Windows users. And this discussion of user feedback-driven features of course comes on the fifth anniversary of the Windows Insiders program. One of the Windows 10 features that is a direct result of feedback is the WIN+(period) keyboard shortcut that pulls up the keyboard to make typing emoji, kaomoji, and symbols easier and faster. OneDrive files on-demand is another feature that is the direct result of user feedback....
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Microsoft has a pretty embarrassing problem on its hands, and it is affecting a number of users in the Windows Insider program. Microsoft has several “rings” that it uses to distribute test builds of Windows 10 to Insiders. Slow, Fast, and Skip Ahead builds escalate in their instability, but offer users a way to test out upcoming features ahead of the general public. However, an error on Microsoft's part caused an internal build of Windows 10 20H1 -- Build 18947 -- to push to all Windows 10 development rings. This error is problematic on multiple fronts. Those on the Slow ring are used to relatively stable test builds, and with this being an internal build, it's definitely more prone...
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It might seem a bit early to some, but Microsoft is already gearing up to get testing ready for the major Windows 10 update that will arrive in the second half of 2019. Predictably, it's called Windows 10 19H2. As you might recall, we are just a few months removed from the disastrous launch of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and the still unnamed Windows 10 19H1 is at least a few months away at this point. But Microsoft is still giving Windows Insiders the opportunity to get in line to get early builds of Windows 10 19H2. Hello #WindowsInsiders, have opened up Skip Ahead again so those Insiders interested in trying out super-early builds from our dev branch. Note opt-in's...
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Microsoft is just now putting the finishing touches on the Windows 10 Creators Update, and it hasn’t even pushed the operating system out to the general public yet — that doesn’t happen until April 11th. However, Microsoft isn’t sitting still just because the Creators Update is ready for public consumption; it’s ready to move on to the next phase in the development of Windows 10. That means that Microsoft is moving on to the “Redstone 3” build of Windows 10, which should be publicly released later this year. Build 16170 has been released to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring, and it brings with it a number of fixes. However, as this is the very first build for the next major Windows 10...
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Walking away from your PC without first logging out leaves you vulnerable to shenanigans from co-workers. Whether it is an innocent prank or interoffice espionage, the end result is annoying at best. Microsoft seems to have realized this and is testing a feature in its newest Windows 10 Insider Preview build (15002) that, when enabled, automatically locks the Windows 10 device.The feature is called Dynamic Lock, though engineers at Microsoft had been referring to it internally as Windows Goodbye. That is because it does the opposite of Windows Hello, a finalized feature in Windows 10 that can automatically log you into the OS using facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or examining your iris....
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Windows Insiders sitting pretty in the Fast ring have a new Windows 10 build to play with and test out, build 11102, but there's something you should know before you rush out and grab it. The new build has a few known issues, including one that could negatively impact your gaming experience in several popular titles.That particular bug is related to the Windows graphics stack and is causing PC games to crash to the desktop in certain instances, such as switching from windowed mode to full screen, when changing the resolution, or even just launching a title. Microsoft said it's witnessed crashes in The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed, and Metal Gear Solid V, while noting that...
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Windows Insiders are a big reason why Microsoft was able to get Windows 10 out the door on time and address numerous issues with the operating system that might have not otherwise been identified by internal testers. With Windows 10 now in the hands of millions of customers, Microsoft is now moving forward with newer builds of the operating system in an effort to provide continual improvements to its best operating system in years. Windows 10 Build 10525 is now available to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring. Some of the changes are rather mundane, like the ability to change the default color for Start, Action Center, the Taskbar, and the Title bar. However, one feature in particular is aimed...
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Come and get it!! The latest build of Windows 10 is now available for Windows Insiders, and we couldn’t be more delighted. After all the flak that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 received from the tech press, businesses, and even everyday consumers, Windows 10 is a definitely a breath of fresh air (the free upgrades are also a nice touch). Despite what we heard yesterday regarding Build 10240 being the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 10, Microsoft isn’t exactly stating that this information is accurate. In fact, Microsoft’s Gabe Aul stated, “Over the past few days we’ve been preparing our release pipelines and processes, and this build is one step closer to what customers will start...
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When Microsoft’s Gabe Aul put up a blog attempting to clarify some of the licensing requirements around Windows 10, all it did was inflame the matter and send the Internet into a tizzy. While most of us that read Aul’s blog posting surmised that Windows Insiders that linked their Microsoft Account (MSA) would receive Windows 10 for free without needing a valid Windows 7 or Windows 8 license, Aul indicates that this isn’t entirely accurate. In an update posted today, Aul explains that there are two ways to get a free upgrade to Windows 10. The first route, which we already knew, is to have a valid Windows 7 or Windows 8 license. When July 29 rolls around, you can use your active license to either...
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We reported last week that Windows 10 Build 10051 for smartphones, the first release to bring the Spartan web browser to mobile users, was causing some issues for Lumia 520, 525, and 526 users. Users encountered problems when attempting to rollback their Windows 10 install to Windows 8.1 using Microsoft’s Windows Phone Recovery Tool (WPRT). Microsoft took prompt action and pulled Build 10051 for the affected Lumia phone users and updated its WPRT to address the problem. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant is taking a further step today by releasing an incremental update, bringing us to Windows 10 Build 10052. Just a single number separates this latest build from the one released 11 days...
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