Windows 10 fall creators update October 17. Updated Microsoft Edge
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (Redstone 3) will be released on October 17, 2017. Let's look at the new features, major improvements and changes that users can expect
With update Windows 10 Fall Creators Update(version 1709) there are new features and improvements coming that will make Windows 10 better in many ways. The official release date for the update is October 17, 2017.
In this article we have collected all the new system features that were announced at the Build 2017 developer conference. The overview also adds new features that appeared in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview builds.
OneDrive Files On Demand feature
Microsoft has announced a new feature of the OneDrive cloud service called “ Files on request" This feature allows you to store displayed files on a cloud server and access them without synchronizing with your local machine. This opportunity was present in Windows 8.1, and Windows users 10 often asked for her return. A similar feature should soon appear in Dropbox and Google Drive.
It is noteworthy that the new feature will work with the Desktop and Documents folders, and not just the OneDrive folder.
When you try to open a file that is stored on your computer, Windows will download it and then launch it. This feature will be implemented in the operating system kernel and will work with any application, even the command line.
If an application tries to access a file stored in the cloud storage and tries to download it, the user will receive a corresponding notification. You can hide the notification or block file downloading. You can also block future attempts to download files for a specific application. You can manage blocked apps in Settings > Privacy > App-Requested Downloads.
New visual language Fluent Design
Microsoft is developing a new visual language called “Fluent Design”. The new design will focus on 5 main principles: light, depth, material, scale and movement. This is the final implementation of the Project Neon visual language, which was developed by Microsoft at Lately. Fluent Design not only represents updated design systems, and new model interactions.
Particular attention will be paid to the use of touch input devices, in particular the stylus, to navigate throughout operating system. It will make it easier to type queries using the stylus in the Edge browser, scroll through content by moving the stylus, and select text elements. Microsoft positions Microsoft Edge as “the best browser with ink support.” You can now annotate PDF documents in Edge using your stylus.
Fluent Design will be implemented not only in the system shell interface, but also in almost all built-in applications.
As part of the implementation of the new visual language Fluent Design, the Start menu has been seriously redesigned. The menu now uses new design Acrylic, if transparency is enabled in the settings. The menu size can be changed not only horizontally, but also diagonally. In addition, it is easier to grab the border of the frame for resizing. The transition to “Tablet Mode” has become smoother.
The Action Center also received UI improvements. Notifications are now more clearly separated and therefore more readable. The action center and toast notifications also use the modern Acrylic design.
Handwriting and stylus input
Taking into account the general concept of the Fluent Design System, the developers decided to improve stylus support in Windows to make it easier to navigate throughout the operating system using this tool. We've improved handwriting-to-typewriting in Microsoft Edge, added the ability to scroll through content using the stylus, and made text selection faster. The stylus scrolling feature is currently only available in UWP apps, but Microsoft plans to bring it to desktop (Win32) apps as well.
Microsoft is trying to make Microsoft Edge “ best browser to use the stylus." Users can now add comments to PDF documents also using a stylus.
Handwriting panel available on touch Windows keyboard 10 has received numerous improvements. When you fill out the panel and then lift the stylus away from the screen, the text you type will automatically move to the left side, so you'll always have plenty of space to write.
The text you write will always be shown in the panel, and you can later select it for editing. You can write the correct letters over the recognized word if the panel does not correctly detect your handwriting. Changes can also be made using gestures. You can strike out words using the strikethrough gesture to delete them, and use the join and split gestures to connect words or add a space between them, respectively.
The handwriting panel now provides easy access to emoticons and special symbols - for this, two new buttons were added to the panel. By default, the panel is now placed next to the elements in which you write. Finger handwriting is also disabled, but you can always turn this option back on. This measure was taken to prevent accidental dragging of the panel with your finger when using the stylus.
Now it won't be easy to lose your stylus. You can go to the Settings app > Update & security > Find my stylus and use the “Where's my stylus?” feature. Windows 10 will show the coordinates of your computer or tablet's location when you last used a stylus, making it easier to find your input device.
Windows My People - advanced work with contacts
Microsoft originally planned to introduce the Windows My People feature in Windows 10 Creators Update. However, the developers took more time to implement this functionality, and now it is expected in the Fall Creators Update.
Task Manager will show GPU information
Task Manager now allows you to view graphics resource consumption, as well as CPU, memory, disk, and network resources. Simply open Task Manager and go to the Performance tab.
The "GPU" function shows video memory consumption and the activity of different engines: 3D graphics, copying, encoding and decoding of video information are available. On the Details tab of Task Manager, you can see how many resources GPU consumes every process on the system.
New touch keyboard
Windows 10 will get a new touch keyboard. It is built on the Microsoft WordFlow keyboard for Windows Phone. The keyboard will also get smart features from SwiftKey, a popular keyboard for iPhone and Android. Recall that SwiftKey was acquired by Microsoft in 2016.
The most noticeable improvement will be support for continuous swipe input. You simply touch one touch key and move your finger to other keys that correspond to the letters of the word. When you lift your finger from the screen, the keyboard will automatically recognize the word and add a space. This technology is used on many popular smartphone keyboards, including SwiftKey and Google Keyboard.
Predictive input technology will also be improved, which automatically suggests phrases, and work with emoticons will be improved - you will no longer have to go to other pages to find the desired emoji, just scroll. The keyboard will be optimized for one-handed typing and will feature a new settings menu that can be accessed by tapping the icon in the top right corner of the keyboard.
With the Fall Creators Update, you'll be able to use dictation to enter text. Just press the microphone button on your keyboard or use the Windows + H shortcut and start speaking phrases. The dictation feature will support voice commands, such as “delete last three words” or “go to end of paragraph.”
The new touch keyboard is part of CShell's new design concept, which features responsive interfaces that can be used on any device, be it smartphones, tablets or computers.
[Simplified] Windows Story Remix is a user-friendly video editor with lots of smart features
Microsoft has announced a new application, “Windows Story Remix,” which allows you to edit videos, add soundtracks and text captions. You can shoot video on your Android phone, iPhone or Windows Phone and send them to the application. Several people can take part in the creation of a video - Story Remix will automatically create a story from several video materials.
Story Remix also works with photos, allowing you to search for people in images, search for “dogs” in photos, and perform other advanced searches using machine learning technology. When creating a video, you can select an individual as the hero of the video, and Story Remix will automatically create a new video starring that person.
Microsoft has focused on interesting smart features, but you can still edit videos with the usual tools, change filters, add captions, add animation effects, delete clips, rearrange video clips and select different audio tracks. Automatic and manual functions work in tandem with each other. Add a new soundtrack and Story Remix will automatically rearrange the footage to match the beats of the song.
The Windows Story Remix app supports importing 3D models from the Remix 3D community, also used for Paint 3D. You can freely integrate animated 3D models into your videos. Microsoft will release an API that will allow developers to integrate the Remix 3D community into their applications.
Microsoft announced this at a presentation. In fact, instead of the new Windows Story Remix app, a new Remix feature will be added to the Photos app, which will have more limited opportunities than expected. However, Microsoft may continue to add features over time.
Spotify and iTunes will be available in the Windows Store
Microsoft recently announced Windows 10 S, a special edition of Windows 10 for education that will only allow app installation from the Store. Windows applications. For another $50, you can upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro and get the ability to install desktop apps (Win32).
At Build 2017, Microsoft announced that Spotify and iTunes will be available for download in the Windows App Store. Thus, users will be able to fully purchase multimedia content and manage their iPhone and iPad devices. iTunes will use the Project Centennial platform, which allows you to turn regular desktop programs into UWP applications. Microsoft hopes other developers will also use this technology to port their products.
Microsoft Edge improvements
Microsoft is putting a lot of effort into improving Microsoft Edge. With the Fall Creators Update, the company promises smoother opening and closing of browser tabs without any lag. Microsoft also plans to introduce additional animation effects as part of the transition to Fluent Design throughout the operating system.
Microsoft Edge now lets you bookmark multiple web pages at once. Right-click on a tab and you will see the “Add Tabs to Favorites” option. In this case, all web pages open in the current browser window will be added to Favorites.
Edge has received several small improvements. You can now right-click a site in your Favorites list to edit its URL. Additionally, we've added the ability to import data from Chrome and add the ability to close web pages even if they display a JavaScript dialog. Edge can now read any PDF document out loud.
Microsoft Edge is getting a full-screen experience. Press F11 or click the full screen mode icon in the main browser menu to activate this mode. As such, Redmond has decided to replace the old Shift + Windows + Enter shortcut for bringing up full screen mode in Edge.
The browser now allows you to pin websites to the taskbar, a feature that was previously supported Internet Explorer. In Edge, click Settings > Pin Page to Taskbar to add a site icon to a free area of the taskbar. Pinned sites will open in Edge, but you can also pin sites from using Google Chrome.
Built into Edge PDF viewer also received various improvements. In addition to the ability to add notes with a stylus, users can now fill out interactive forms, save and print them. When viewing long documents in Edge, you can use the table of contents feature. You can also rotate documents and adjust the layout for the best viewing experience. IN PDF files Cortana search now works, and you can use an expanded color picker to highlight text.
The EPUB eBook viewer integrated into Microsoft Edge allows you to add annotations to EPUB books. You can use 4 colors to highlight text, and strikethrough and annotation tools are also available. . You can also now select text, run Cortana search on it, and draw on it. e-book. Your document reading progress and annotations will sync across computers with your Microsoft account.
Cortana has gotten smarter
A new Cortana section has been added to the Settings app. Previously, settings were available in the voice assistant's own interface.
Cortana now requests access to your image library and can automatically recognize event concert posters, prompting you to create an event reminder.
Stylus owners can use the new Lasso tool to highlight events on the screen - Cortana will recognize the date and offer to create a notification.
Power Throttling
Microsoft began experimenting with the Power Throttling feature back in the insider versions of the Creators Update, but the new feature did not make it into the final release. It looks like Microsoft will only add it to the Fall Creators Update.
This feature allows Windows to automatically put the processor into a power-efficient mode while performing background tasks. This measure will save battery power and extend the autonomy of the portable device. Windows will automatically identify applications that run in background, such as audio players and other important tasks, and will not reduce the resources allocated for them. Microsoft says the new feature will reduce CPU consumption by 11 percent when the PC is in heavy use.
You can control this function from the battery management slider, which opens by clicking on the battery icon in the system tray. In Power Saving Mode and Balanced Mode, Power Throttling will be enabled. In Maximum Performance mode, the function is disabled.
You can also disable this feature for individual apps by going to Settings > System > Battery. Simply select the application and set the “Managed by Windows” option to “Off” and uncheck the “Reduce background application activity” checkbox.
According to Microsoft, this feature only works with processors that support Intel technology Speed Shift technology is the 6th generation of processors Intel Core(Skylake) and newer processors. Microsoft plans to expand processor support during the development of the Fall Creators Update.
Windows Mixed Reality Controllers
Microsoft announced motion controllers for Windows Mixed Reality headsets, support for which appeared with the release of the Creators Update. The helmet does not need a separate sensor - the sensors are built into the device itself. You can buy a set of helmet and controller for $399. Acer will be the first manufacturer to ship this kit, but other manufacturers are sure to follow suit.
While Microsoft has primarily focused on HoloLens, the less expensive Windows Mixed Reality headsets look more attractive given the fact that they can work with a wider range of computers.
Protection against ransomware, exploits and other security improvements
The latest Windows feature update will add new security features.
New feature "Controlled Access to folders" in Security Center Windows Defender allows you to protect folders from unauthorized changes by applications. If an unknown application tries to change files in these folders, the user will receive a warning. This feature allows you to protect your data from ransomware and other malicious applications.
To enable this feature, go to Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & Threat Protection > Controlled Folder Access. Set the switch to the "On" position. and select the "Protected folders" and "Allow application access to protected folders" links to configure the function.
Microsoft has also integrated exploit protection features into Windows, borrowed from the specialized EMET tool. These features will be enabled by default and will protect your computer from various types exploits.
To find this feature, go to Windows Defender Security Center > App & Browser Control > Exploit Protection. You can select Exploit Protection Settings to configure advanced settings.
Microsoft renamed “ Windows Firewall” in “Windows Defender Firewall”. This did not affect the operation of the security component in any way.
The old SMBv1 protocol, which was used to organize the WannaCry ransomware attack, has been removed from the system. The Server Message Block protocol is used for file and printer sharing. local networks. Windows will now retain the more current SMBv2 and SMBv3 specifications. This measure will protect computers from future attacks on outdated software using exploits.
Microsoft has removed certificates issued by WoSign and StartCom from Windows 10. These Chinese certificate authorities do not meet basic security standards. This measure will protect against fraud using certificates issued with violations.
Windows Defender Application Guard, unfortunately, is only available for enterprise editions of Windows. When an employee browses a website that the organization doesn't trust, Guard uses Hyper-V virtualization technology to create a new instance of the operating system. Windows systems at the hardware level, running a website in Microsoft Edge in a separate copies of Windows. Even if the browser has been completely hacked, the underlying Windows operating system will still be safe.
Installing Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora from the App Store
Microsoft decided to simplify installing Ubuntu, transferring the operating system to the WIndows Application Store. The same Ubuntu Bash environment, which can now be installed on Windows 10, will be available in the Store.
Fedora and openSUSE will also appear in the Windows Store, which means the process of setting up various Linux environments will be simplified.
Advanced privacy options
Microsoft has decided to expand the privacy options of Windows 10, continuing the work begun in the Creators Update.
When you set up a new system, you will see a privacy statement from Microsoft with information about what data is collected from your computer. During the installation process, you can also click the “More details” link to view Additional information about the meaning of certain privacy settings.
In addition, applications from Windows Store will issue an access request to various computer resources, such as the camera, microphone, contacts and calendar. Previously, you would only be prompted when trying to access your location data.
Enterprise editions of Windows 10 users can limit diagnostic data collection to the minimum required according to Windows Analytics.
Linking a smartphone to a computer
A new “Phone” section will appear in the Settings application, which will help you configure the connection between your computer and your mobile device. This feature will allow for deeper integration in the future, but this moment Supports the ability to send links from your smartphone to your computer for further viewing.
Other functions
- New font: Windows 10 now includes the Bahnschrift font, which is the standard font used on road signs in Germany and most of Europe. By default, it is disabled in the interface, but is available in Windows.
- Advanced resources for UWP games: Games built on the UWP platform can use up to 6 processor cores, 5 gigabytes of memory and all available graphics resources. Microsoft has been constantly improving the initially very limited UWP platform since the release of Windows 10.
- New gaming features: New sections have been added to the Settings app: Settings > Games > TruePlay and Settings > Games > Xbox Network to help protect against cheats and troubleshoot problems with the Xbox Live network. TruePlay anti-cheat technology is disabled by default.
- Mixed reality portal: The new Mixed Reality Portal app provides an augmented reality interface. Using a regular webcam, we can position virtual 3D objects in the real world. You can create 3D objects using the Paint 3D app and then place them in a mixed reality portal. Previously the application was called “Portal 3D”.
- Process groups in Task Manager: In Task Manager, related processes are grouped together. For example, when you run Edge browser, you will see all associated processes under the main Microsoft Edge process.
- Built-in eye control: Users of supported Tobii 4C eye trackers can now use them to control their mouse and keyboard using software built into Windows 10. Previously, this required third-party software. This feature is in beta and is available in Settings > Accessibility > More Settings > Eye Control.
- Support for third-party antiviruses. To satisfy antivirus software vendor requirements, including Kaspersky Lab, Microsoft has implemented a large number of changes. Now third-party developers will have more time to prepare their products for Windows 10 updates. If you have a third-party antivirus installed, it will be able to display its own notifications about the need to update, instead of Windows alerts. When a third-party antivirus license expires, the user will receive a warning with three possible actions- update your subscription, choose a different antivirus or switch to Windows Defender.
- New panel with emoticons: Use Windows + . or Windows + ; to open a new emoji panel in any application. When pressing hot keys, the cursor must be positioned on the text field. To select the desired emoticon, you can use the mouse or arrow keys, and Tab, Enter and Esc work to navigate the interface.
- No more need to go out account to solve the application blurring problem: If some apps become blurry after changing the screen resolution, then you can simply close them and relaunch. No more need to log out and log in again.
- Delivery Optimization Improvements: On the Enable Delivery Optimization page (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced settings > Delivery Optimization), two new links have appeared: Advanced settings and Activity Monitor. Activity Monitor shows your current network usage to download updates from the Windows Store.
- Ninja cat icon: As the Windows Insider program settings icon in Settings > Update & Security > Program preliminary assessment Windows now uses a ninja cat icon.
- Remote Desktop Options: new page Settings > System > Remote Desktop allows you to configure Remote Desktop and replaces the old Control Panel feature.
- File system improvements for the Linux subsystem: Users can manually mount Windows drives, using file system DrvFs in Windows environment 10 Bash. This feature allows you to make portable drives and network locations accessible.
- WSL no longer requires developer mode to be enabled: When using Windows Linux Subsystem (WSL), you no longer need to enable Developer Mode because the feature works stably.
- Restoring the state of virtual machines in Hyper-V: The Hyper-V virtual machine tool now supports virtual machine rollback. Hyper-V now automatically creates snapshots of virtual machines. If you make a mistake or want to undo the changes, you can revert the virtual machine to the previous state at the time the snapshot was taken.
- Sharing Hyper-V virtual machines: Windows has added a new virtual machine sharing feature that makes it easier to shrink and move a virtual machine to another computer. You will find a new icon on the toolbar of the machine management window. The new feature will allow you to compress virtual machines to a file in .vmcz format. Double-clicking on this file on another computer will start the virtual machine import procedure.
- Virtual battery support in Hyper-V: Hyper-V now allows you to use a virtual battery in virtual machines to see the laptop's battery life in a virtual environment.
- Insider Program Windows Server : Users of Windows Server systems can now join Windows program Insider to obtain test builds of the system. The WSL subsystem will also be added to Windows Server.
- Command line support for UWP apps: You can launch UWP apps from the command line and apply various options to them.
- New colors on the command line: Command line and other Windows console applications have received a new color scheme, optimized for clearer display on modern monitors. By default, the new color scheme will only be active on new installations of Windows 10. You can switch between different color themes using Microsoft's ColorTool app.
- Windows 10 Pro for Workstations: a new version Windows 10, called Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, will be available with the Fall Creators Update. The version is designed for high-performance hardware on high-performance PC workstations. Windows 10 Pro for Workstations supports non-volatile memory NVDIMM-N, file ReFS system, SMB Direct for faster file transfer over the network, server Intel processors Xeon and AMD Opteron, a large amount of RAM and a large number of installed processors.
In addition, the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will receive numerous minor improvements and bug fixes. In particular, the operation of the “Night Light” function will be corrected, and support for screens with high resolution and corrected wireless connections Miracast.
The innovations of which we discussed in the previous article on the site, Microsoft began to implement right on the day of its official release - October 17, 2017, from 8 pm Moscow time. However, not everyone will see it in the Update Center yet. It will be distributed in stages, and the first to receive it will be owners of more than modern computers. Moreover, in automatic mode, unless, of course, updates were disabled or delayed. In general, guys, in the best case scenario, you don’t need to do anything to get the Fall Creators Update. But, alas, the best scenario will not take place in every case. Like, for example, in this one.
This computer was included in the priority list for delivery of the update on the very first day of its release, but the Fall Creators Update (also known as build 1709) did not want to be installed. What should I do to still get the update? And in a case such as this, and when a PC or laptop is not among the priority devices.
Microsoft takes the position that there is no need to rush to update, and if it does not appear in the first days, then you just need to wait your turn until everything appears in the Update Center. But we will not adhere to this position and will implement the Fall Creators Update at all costs. And below we will look at 3 ways to do this.
Note: friends, in my tested cases the update was relatively successful. Among the bugs, the only bug was Alice flying off ( voice assistant from Yandex). I solved this problem by reinstalling the program. However, as practice shows, as a result of implementing crude updates, you can encounter much more serious problems. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you create a point or backup copy for the possibility of system rollback.
Method number 1. Update centre
So, the easiest way is to go to the Update Center and run the scan.
If this does not happen, but the system attempts to download build 1709, remember what we did with the Update Center - did we change the terms of delivery of updates? Let's look at the additional parameters.
And we check that the default values are set.
As a result of downloading the Fall Creators Update components, we will see a system notification in the tray that will contain options for our further actions.
Among these options is the ability to postpone the process of directly implementing the update for a specific day or for an indefinite time with a reminder. To immediately begin implementing the update, click, respectively, “Restart now”.
And wait for the computer to update.
If the build 1709 component package is not yet available in the Update Center, follow any of the instructions below.
Method number 2. MediaCreationTool utility
If problems occur with Update, Windows 10 can always be updated using the MediaCreationTool utility. Download it from the Microsoft website:
https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10
Let's launch. We agree with the license and select the first update item.
For some time we will observe the progress of the operation in such a full-screen window.
And then the system, as in the previous case, will enter the pre-boot mode for installing updates with an indication of progress. Then it will start up updated.
Method No. 3. System ISO image
Friends, both the first and second methods have one drawback. After such an update, the “ESD” folder appears on the disk (C:\) - a folder for storing temporary files Windows installations, which can weigh several GB. After a while, it usually empties itself and does not pile up the total disk space (C:\) with its weight. However, the fact that before implementing updates into the system, components were downloaded to a folder on the disk (C:\) to carry out this process may not please owners of SSD drives who are sensitive to the resource usage of the media. For those there is alternative way implementation of the Fall Creators Update, it does not perform unnecessary data overwriting. This method is in many ways similar to the previous one, but allows users to choose the storage path for the Windows distribution and specify the HDD partition for these purposes. Below we will download an ISO image with the latest Windows 10 distribution and update the system using it.
The next major update to Windows 10 Fall Creators Update has been released. There are few noticeable innovations in it; for example, only some of the built-in applications are designed in the style. But, if you want to get this update now, then there are several options for this.
Four ways to get the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
The first method is Windows 10 Update
The easiest thing is to wait for the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to arrive via the standard path. To check open "Options" ("Win+I" or “Start” - “Settings”), go to section "Update and Security", open "Update centre" and click on the button "Checking for updates". If the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update has already arrived, the system will download and install it. During the process, the computer will reboot several times. Microsoft uses to distribute updates new system Unified Update Platform, thanks to which the size installation files reduced by approximately 35%.
The second method is “Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant”
Go to page "Download Microsoft Software", press "Update Now" and download Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant. Launch it and click on the button "Update Now". The utility will check your computer's compatibility with the update and, if everything is in order, the update will be downloaded and installed.
The third method is MediaCreationTool
Download from the same page MediaCreationTool, run, then accept license agreement and select the option "Upgrade this PC now". Choose to keep your personal files and applications and follow the instructions. You can also choose to install the update without saving files and applications to make a clean installation.
The fourth method - Windows Insider
Join Windows Insider program, then open "Options", go to section "Update and Security", further in "Windows Insider Program" and press the button "Begin". You will then be offered the latest test Windows assembly 10, which is currently released and distributed as the Fall Creators Update. In the future, you can quit this Windows Insider program and stop receiving test builds.
Microsoft has announced that it will release the next major update for Windows 10, called the Fall Creators Update, on October 17th. The company has been testing it for most of the last year.
The update includes a number of innovations and changes, the largest of which is support Windows platforms Mixed Reality, designed for VR headsets from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Some of these devices will go on sale simultaneously with the release of the Fall Creators Update, some later, but before the end of the year.
The Redmond giant was forced to postpone some of the innovations until the beginning of next year. This, for example, concerns the Timeline feature, which will allow Windows 10 users to switch between various devices, including between smartphones running iOS and Android. The developers will also delay the release of a universal clipboard designed for copying data from a computer to mobile devices and vice versa.
In Windows 10, with the release of the autumn update, the People feature will appear, which will allow you to pin your favorite contacts to the taskbar. Microsoft will also add a feature called OneDrive Files On-Demand. With it, users will not need to constantly synchronize files from the company's cloud storage companies or upload entire folders: all elements will be visible initially, and the necessary content can be downloaded.
In October, Microsoft will begin implementing a new user interface for the operating system - Fluent Design. The update, in particular, will make the design of built-in applications more sophisticated.
One of the most notable changes that does not claim to be global is the quick selection of emoji function, which is activated by the “Win+” key combination. or “Win+;”. Microsoft will also add beta eye-tracking software and a number of major improvements to styluses.
The company will significantly improve standard application Photos, allowing you to create Instagram-style stories through it - with pictures, videos, music and three-dimensional objects. Microsoft will also improve Game Mode and will add new elements of protection against viruses and vulnerabilities in Windows Defender.
At the moment, the developers are putting the final touches on the update, and Windows Insider program subscribers are testing the latest builds for bugs. Work to “polish” the Fall Creators Update program code and correct errors discovered by testers should be completed by the end of September, and insiders will be the first to try out the update. Microsoft is now moving on to work on the next major update to the operating system, codenamed Redstone 4.
Starting October 17, Windows 10 users around the world will receive the second annual update. Dubbed the Fall Creators Update (codenamed "Redstone 3"), the latest version of the desktop platform continues the concept of developing people's creative abilities and is aimed primarily at creating content. Of course, by tradition, the list of innovations does not end there - the Fall Creators Update also has many interesting new features for ordinary users.
In detail Windows review With the 10 Fall Creators Update, we look at what Microsoft has been working on since the spring, what the improvements are to the OS, how things are going with the new Fluent Design, and what creative opportunities are now open.
Fluent Design
With the Fall Creators Update Update Microsoft is gradually moving Windows 10 to a new design language - Fluent Design. It was presented in May at the annual Build 2017 conference and showed how the operating system will transform in the coming years.
Fluent Design is based on a series of layers that together will turn Windows 10 into a modern, stylish and user-friendly experience - Light, Depth, Motion, Material and Scale. At the moment, not even most of them have been implemented in the Fall Creators Update, so there is no talk of a complete redesign yet. For example, now instead of the usual translucency in applications, the Start menu and Action Center, a new graphic blur effect “acrylic” is used.
According to Microsoft, the company plans to switch to Fluent Design in stages, so the Fall Creators Update is a test run. Windows 10 is expected to undergo a complete design overhaul with the release of its next major update (Redstone 4) in early 2018.
Contacts in the taskbar
A new system for quickly managing contacts through the taskbar, known as "My People", was supposed to appear in the Creators Update in April. For unknown reasons, Microsoft was unable to implement it on time, so it was postponed until the Fall Creators Update.
People in the Taskbar is a new way to communicate that Windows 10 users will get fast access to the necessary contacts. With just one click, you can interact with your friends, colleagues, family and share content with them. The feature allows you to pin up to 3 contacts to the taskbar and uses services such as Skype and Outlook Mail. To transfer content, you can simply drag files or images onto the contact icon without having to open separate applications.
The new function of pinning people to the taskbar is really very convenient and you will have to useful to users Microsoft ecosystem. However, without support third party applications it's practically meaningless. Skype and Outlook Mail are the only services that My People currently supports in the Fall Creators Update. If Twitter or Facebook don't appear - one of the most popular social networks in the world, the function will probably remain uninteresting for users. There is definitely a prospect, so it will be very sad.
Windows Mixed Reality
The Mixed Reality Portal app (Windows Mixed Reality) was originally released in the Creators Update, but it wasn't ready to use without the right hardware. With the release of the Fall Creators Update, Microsoft launched the first mixed reality headsets from manufacturers Acer, Asus, HP, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung.
Now computers with Windows 10 can work in mixed reality mode - you just need to connect the accessory and launch special application. The technology allows you to view 3D models from the Remix 3D community in VR mode and 360-degree video, as well as use universal Windows applications with mixed reality elements. It is worth noting that for stable operation of the function, a powerful computer at the level is required.
To enable mixed reality, Windows 10 Fall Creators Update comes pre-installed with the Mixed Reality Portal and Mixed Reality Viewer apps.
Story Remix Editor
After updating to the Fall Creators Update, Windows 10 comes with a new photo and video editor - Story Remix. It is part of the standard universal Photos application in the operating system, so make additional settings not necessary.
Without much effort, Story Remix creates interesting albums and videos by applying filters, text, unusual animations, music and special effects. This is not a full-fledged video editor like Apple iMovie, but it’s quite basic tool with a minimum set of functions - for simple content. Some of the special effects are only available to Office subscribers. Office package 365. However, regular users get access to most of the effects featured in Story Remix.
It is noteworthy that Story Remix works automatically. You don't need to save changes when creating an album or video - the editor will do it for you. When everything is ready, you can send your work to your friends. At the same time, Story Remix suggests how to do this in the most suitable way for you:
- File size S: loads very quickly, best for emails and small screens.
- File size M: Best suited for transmission over the Internet.
- File size L: Very long to load, best suited for large screens.
Updated Microsoft Edge
Microsoft's proprietary browser for Windows 10 has become faster and more functional. The Fall Creators Update for Edge brings several new features: pinning favorite sites to the taskbar, support for full-screen browsing, and an updated PDF viewer with the ability to add annotations while reading files.
Smaller additions include an updated design with Fluent Design elements, the ability to transfer cookies from Chrome to Edge, editing URLs in the favorites list, changing website permissions, now built-in Microsoft Translator and, of course, noticeable improvements in performance.
Anti-cheat TruePlay
One of the under-the-radar new features of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is the built-in anti-cheat system for games. The innovation was called TruePlay and was tested in the operating system under the Windows Insider program since July 2017.
TruePlay is similar to antivirus software Valve (VAC), which the popular game developer uses on Steam. The system works in the background, tracking certain data changes in games (automatic aiming, looking through walls, in-game currency increases, unusual content purchases, etc.). When cheats are detected, TruePlay displays a warning to the user asking them to disable the intractable software, and sends a report to the developers with the relevant information.
In gaming Windows settings 10, TruePlay is disabled by default, but Microsoft is starting to make the API available to developers. Developers will be able to use TruePlay in their games on the Microsoft Store, so for now this restriction is only limited to games on the Universal Windows App Platform (UWP).
It is possible that the TruePlay system will subsequently move from Windows 10 to the platform Xbox One. But if it only applies to UWP games, then this is not a threat for those who like to use cheats. Worth playing For real gamers, there simply isn't one in the Microsoft Store.
Minor innovations
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update traditionally includes minor innovations - things that are less noticeable to the user when using the OS. Some of them have been waiting for a long time.- New Notification Center design with interactive features.
- Windows Sonic technology for improved sound and headphone experience.
- Access to local and cloud files on request in OneDrive.
- Task Manager graphics system(GPU) displaying the current load and the amount of video memory used.
- Sync your Android phone or iPhone (notifications, messages, websites, and continue on PC) through the Cortana app.
- New emoticons and dialog box for Emoji.
- Updated touch and pen capabilities.
- Currency converter in the Calculator application.
- Recover PIN and password from lock screen.
- Beta version of Eye Control technology.
- New Get Help app for solving problems and providing feedback.
- New logo Microsoft Store content store.
