Windows phones running Windows 10 Mobile received an update today that brought the operating system up to OS Build 15254.541.
Due to Microsoft winding down their focus on Windows phones, this update didn’t include the addition of any new features or functionality and was instead designed to improve performance, increase security, and fix bugs.
Here’s the official release notes:
- Provides protections against an additional subclass of speculative execution side-channel vulnerability known as Speculative Store Bypass (CVE-2018-3639) for AMD-based computers. These protections aren’t enabled by default. For Windows client (IT pro) guidance, follow the instructions in KB4073119. For Windows Server guidance, follow the instructions in KB4072698. Use these guidance documents to enable mitigations for Speculative Store Bypass (CVE-2018-3639). Additionally, use the mitigations that have already been released for Spectre Variant 2 (CVE-2017-5715) and Meltdown (CVE-2017-5754).
- Security updates to Windows Scripting, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Graphics, Windows Kernel, and Windows Server.
While Windows phones appear to be on the way out, it’s been confirmed that Microsoft is working on a replacement, possibly called a Surface Phone or Surface Mobile, that could take on a new form factor somewhere between a smartphone and a tablet. Patent filings have suggested that it will be foldable and have Surface Pen support. No official reveal of the product has happened yet though.
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