Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17025 for PC

RS4 Windows 10 Insider Preview 17025.1000

Apparently a bigger update than the ones before … took me some time to get in installed (and it restarted at a time that I didn’t expect, I got on my feet to get me some coffee and when I returned the restart screen was welcoming me back forcing me to wait at least 15 minutes before I was able to continue my work).

Anyway … it is a Preview Build released to Fast Ring and the Skip Ahead subscribers. These builds will be from the rs_prerelease for RS4 (Redstone 4) and it was announced that from now on Fast Ring and Skip Ahead will get builds at the same time. My guess is that over time the Fast Ring will merge into Skip Ahead and Skip Ahead will go away (to maybe return before moving over to RS5 – if they will continue using the naming Redstone paradigm)

This build is also the first one with somewhat more visible changes, especially in the Settings area. No need to copy all the changes here, they are all collected in the official release post:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/25/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17025-pc

 

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17017 for PC

RS4 Windows 10 Insider Preview 17017.1000

While we were at the Dutch TechDays 2017 event (see our short video impression here) Microsoft also released a new Insider Preview Build 17017.1000 to the Fast Ring and to the Skip Ahead Ring. Apparently these two rings are now slowly merging into the general ‘new’ Fast Ring.

According to comments on the Insiders blog the teams are now about to start checking in new code into these rings shortly so although there still is not much new to these builds they are preparing to provide you new stuff soon.

In this build there are a couple of new things though. There are the new Cortana Collections, Simplifying actions between Cortana and Action Center and third, new Startup Settings.

The Insiders blog discusses all three items, so no need to repeat that here just go to their blog:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/13/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17017-pc 

Window 10 Fall Creators Update RTM: 16299.15

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16299

Yesterday, the day of the Windows Developer Day, the Windows Insiders Blog came with a small but important update:

UPDATE 10/10: As part of final preparations for the general availability of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update on Oct. 17th, we have begun releasing Build 16299.15 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. If you are in the Release Preview ring and don’t see this build offered yet – be patient as it will be rolling out over the course of the next few days to everyone in the Release Preview ring.

This, almost certain, means that we are done with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and this (version 16299.15) will be the final release version to be released next week October 17th. The Release Preview ring is considered to be the most secure ‘preview’ ring for people who want to get bits early but don’t want to take the risks of breaking things that come with other less secure build flights such as the Fast or Slow Ring.

So there you have it … Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is cooked and done if you ask me.

They also released the Windows 10 SDK at the Windows Developer Day yesterday (10/10), another sign that things are ready. The SDK usually locks down way before locking down Windows itself, because software developers need a solid base to build their Fall Creators Update versions on, still they released it yesterday. A special day with lots of Ten numbers, waiting for next week with both Ten and Seventeen in the name. But what’s in a name?

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17004 for PC (Skip Ahead)

RS4 Windows 10 Insider Preview 17004.1000

Finally another build for Redstone 4, aka Windows 10 vNext, –following Fall Creators Update to be released in about two weeks from now- aka Skip Ahead, gets an update. For the first time the build number shifted from 16… to 17… something happening with each shift to a new version. The first Creators Update was numbered 15….

The blogpost mentions the watermark, bottom right, was removed, but my build contains the renewed “rs_prerelease” watermark:

image

Not much new in this release again, but there are some notable features if you look carefully. The Fluent UI slowly emerges into the UI, subtle lighting in the start menu can be noticed:

RS4 Start Menu

For the most part there are the issues fixed for Redstone 3, Fall Creators Update, that will be incorporated from the other flight into the Redstone 4 flight. So don’t expect too much from the update … yet.

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16299 for PC

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16299

It’s been a couple of days ago already since the previous Preview Build came around. But today, while the complete Insiders Team is at #msignite they announced the release of Windows 10 Insiders Preview Build 16299:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/09/26/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16299-pc

Only on the Fast Ring of Redstone 3 (Fall Creators Update) and not on Skip Ahead (Redstone 4).

Just some bug fixes, the list is getting shorter and shorter ….

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16296 for PC

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16296

Darn …. these Windows Insiders Program dudes go faster than light!

I just blogged about the 16294 build that I personally missed. Posted the blog, checked the Windows Insiders Program and guess what? Another build!

Yes …. you heard it right … another build …

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16296 for PC

Fast ring only, Redstone 3 … not the Skip Ahead, Redstone 4.

The important notice still stands from the previous (16294) build:

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will be unable to install *new*/additional language packs on this build. Pre-existing language packs (language packs you’ve installed previously) will carry over and work just fine.

So let’s see if there is another build while I’m publishing this blog update Smile

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16294 for PC

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16294

Just a quick update .. I personally missed it because I’m on the Skip Ahead flight and this one is only available on the Fast Ring, not the Slow Ring or the Skip Ahead Ring:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/09/20/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16294-pc

For us … the Dutch people, it was an important build though because they fixed an issue specifically with Dutch builds:

“We fixed an issue on Dutch builds where explorer could go into a crash loop if an app-requested downloads notification popped up from OneDrive.”

Still not much more … only a couple of bug fixes. There is however an IMPORTANT NOTE added at September 21st:

“You will be unable to install *new*/additional language packs on this build. Pre-existing language packs (language packs you’ve installed previously) will carry over and work just fine.”

We are getting closer and closer to the final release. Hardly a prediction anymore.

I haven’t heard anything about it, but would Ignite be an opportunity for release? Sadly, I won’t be there to watch it live … but the keynote is streamed live so I’ll be at the monitor Monday afternoon.

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16291 for PC

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16291

Another day, another Insiders Build for the PC in the Fast Ring of the Redstone 3 (Fall Creators Update) flight. Not for Skip Ahead (Redstone 4) this time. This is still a stabilizing build to get ready for release soon.

Not much new, couple of fixes, but still a new thingy in this build: Resume from phones to PC with Cortana. If you started reading your articles or news on your iPhone or Android with the Cortana app you can continue reading on your PC.

Sadly enough … -after all these years- still no Dutch Cortana here so nothing to see for us Dutchies again Sad smile (wouldn’t you wish some features were completed first and deployed globally, like Cortana, instead of building new features? … oh well, the burden of a non English nation …)

Anyway … here is the official announcement:
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/09/19/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16291-pc/#BgOMUi6wo341l4cO.97

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16362 for PC (Skip Ahead)

RS4 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16362.1000

Just when I posted the blog about Insider Preview Build 16288 yesterday I received Insider Preview Build 16362 on my Skip Ahead machine and had to reboot for a relatively long boot process.

As you know there are two flights these days, one Redstone 3 (Fall Creators Update) flight and one Redstone 4 (Skip Ahead) flight. The Redstone 3 flight is now almost ready and on Build 16288 but Redstone 4 is just starting and as of today on Build 16362:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/09/13/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16362-pc-skip-ahead

As they mention: “Because we are just beginning development for RS4, Insiders shouldn’t expect to see a lot of big changes or new features just yet. Our focus remains getting the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update ready for release!”

There are some improvements, like the improved boot experience where the boot process is able to use your settings to show information according to your personal settings (this is an Opt-out option, so you can disable it) and Narrator improvements among a long list of smaller fixes.

If you don’t have Skip Ahead, you still need to wait until they open up the program again (to be expected just after the Fall Creators Update is released). All others … enjoy your new Build!

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16288 for PC

RS3 Windows 10 Insider Preview 16288

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UPDATE:
Insider Preview Build 16288 for PC is now pushed to the slow ring. This usually indates that the version is becoming more stable to be trusted for a larger audience to be installed. We are getting closer to the final build …. but this isn’t the one according to Dona!
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It’s been a (relative) long time between this Insider Preview and the previous Insider Preview … The Windows 10 Insider Previews cadence just before the last one was really high, maybe more that 3 a week. With almost 11 days between this one and the previous one if feels like it took for ages to get this out.

One of the changes in this 16288 build (Redstone 3, not available on Skip Ahead – the Skip Next is already on 16353, see https://maartenvanstam.wordpress.com/2017/09/02/redstone-4-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16353-for-pc-skip-ahead/) is that the watermark is gone. There used to be a version number in the lower right-hand corner with preview versions but that is history now.

So is this the final build? Well no …. the version is branded Version 1709 and we are living in September 2017 but it is not ready yet, at least that is what Dona Sarkar mentioned in the official announcement:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/09/12/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-16288-pc-build-15250-mobile

Even the desktop watermark might return within time …