Microsoft just released Windows 10 Insider build 17074, and with it another long Windows Insider Blog post listing a lot of new features and changes. Let’s take a look:
Microsoft has revamped Windows Internationalization in this release, you can now get Language Packs from the Microsoft Store, or from the Region & Language section of the Settings app. Translations for the language packs are now also taking advantage of AI and Machine Learning, along with user feedback “to release better translations more frequently.”
New improvements to Microsoft Edge include a revamped Hub view, with an easier to read navigation view that can be collapsed to save space. Edge now also has Autofill cards on web forms. In future builds, you’ll simply be able to choose a preferred credit card and the info (minus the CVV info, which is never saved) will be filled in.
The reading and books experience has been revamped as well, bringing a new “more powerful” experience to EPUB, PDF, and pages in Reading view. Grammar Tools for EPUB books have found their way into the reading view, and there’s now a new Full-screen experience. There have been some general improvements, and an improved Library experience. The audio narrated experience for EPUB books has also been improved.
The Favorites Bar in Edge will now automatically show on Start and New tab pages, and then automatically hide as you navigate. You’ll be able to never save passwords on a site by site basis.
In Private browsing can now make use of Autofill passwords and use Extensions.
Edge DevTools can now dock vertically (woohoo!). Microsoft has plans “to improve the UI and flow of DevTools content when docked vertically.”
We already told you about Quiet hours, but here’s a little more detail:
- Quiet Hours will automatically turn on when you are duplicating your display. Never get interrupted during presentations again!
- Quiet Hours will turn on automatically when you are playing a full screen exclusive DirectX game.
- You can set the schedule that works for you so that Quiet Hours are always on when you want them. Go to Settings > Quiet Hours to configure your schedule.
- Customize your own priority list so that your important people and apps always breakthrough when Quiet Hours are on. People pinned to your task bar with always break through!
- See a summary of what you missed while you were in Quiet Hours.
- If you’re using Cortana, you can also have Quiet Hours turn on while you’re at home.
The Start menu will now show links to your Documents and Pictures folders by default, making it easier especially for first time Windows 10 users to find their files. The new Near Share feature now has some important reliability fixes.
A number of changes and updates have been made to Windows Settings, including Disk Cleanup being moved into Storage Settings, and a number of design tweaks to the new Sound Settings page. You can now select and copy your device name from the About Settings page, and manage app execution aliases from the App & Features Settings page.
Build 17074 brings handwriting directly into text panels in Settings, making it much easier to input handwritten text. The build now also includes Hindi handwriting recognition.
Microsoft has also made a number of improvements to XAML, ones that will show up in the next Insider SDK. These include improvements to Fluent Design Reveal in a light theme, an improved NavigationView, and Border Reveal has been removed in ListView and TreeView. Finally, a 2px margin has been added between AppBarButtons.
One more thing:
Important note about the Camera app
Some Insiders may have noticed changes in the Windows Camera app. You will get a more personalized behavior, like remembering the last camera and scene used. Handling two cameras simultaneously and more resolution options are available too. We also made some core architecture changes to the product to remove a lot of complex handling for unsupported devices and functionality that is now duplicated in core Windows operating system functionality. These changes will help us to innovate, fix bugs, and deliver new features. We think that this set of changes will long term yield a much higher quality Camera experience for all users!
Like all of you, we’ll be digging into this long list of new stuff in Windows 10 Insider build 17074, and will have lots more soon.
