Microsoft Makes Five Massive Windows 10 Changes

Windows 10 is changing, dramatically. That was the big takeaway from Build 2016, Microsoft’s annual developer conference this week. And it all begins with a surprising name change…

‘Windows 10 Anniversary Update’ is the somewhat convoluted name Microsoft has now bestowed upon ‘Redstone’, the biggest Windows 10 upgrade to date. It will land this summer on all Windows 10 systems, including phones, tablets and even the Xbox One and (as with all Windows 10 updates) it will be free and mandatory.

Here are the headline features:

1. Major Touch Improvements

Touch support is one of Windows 10’s big selling points and this will improve markedly with the arrival of Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Intelligence is the key theme here with Ink able to recognise user writing to predict required services, calendar entries, reminders and more. Windows Ink will also be more aware of its environment with a demo showing how lines drawn on a map automatically adjust when the map is flipped into 3D.

Windows 10 will get major upgrades with the ‘Anniversary Update’. Image credit: Microsoft

In addition there will be a new Windows Ink Action Center panel, upgraded Office integration (including proofreading improvements), support for virtual rulers and more.

2. Voice Control Overhaul

Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, was one of Windows 10’s tentpole features at launch and with the Anniversary update it will become even more deeply integrated into the operating system. Cortana will appear on the lockscreen for quick actions and be added to core apps like Skype.

Cortana will also get functionality upgrades with Microsoft stressing it wants more natural integration. An example given was automatically adding an appointment to Calendar after reading an email, though it could go a lot further in future with Microsoft pointing out it could make automatic hotel and flight reservations based on email or IM conversations. Exciting, but also a little dangerous.

This summer Cortana will be able to do a lot more and even pre-empt user requests. Image credit: Microsoft

3. Microsoft Edge Comes Of Age

Microsoft Edge was released too quickly. As Microsoft was desperate to crowbar it into Windows 10 the company’s long term Internet Explorer replacement still required a lot of work. Now that’s here.

With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Edge will gain extensions (including support for Chrome extensions), Windows Hello Support for biometric (facial and fingerprint) logins for websites, pinned tabs (finally) and a lot of under the hood changes such as new APIs and web notifications.

Microsoft Edge will soon support extensions and even biometric security. Image credit: Microsoft

One important misnomer to clear up though is Edge willnot be getting native adblocking. An erroneous report on ZDNet misinterpreted a Microsoft presentation slide to make this allegation and it was widely reported. The story is still up, but Microsoft has thoroughly dismissed it saying that while Adblocking will be supported by extensions – just like any other browser – there are no plans for adblocking to be built in.