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Microsoft: No more Windows 10 upgrades for some Atom-based PCs
Everyone knows that technology goes obsolete quickly, but Microsoft and Intel are taking that tenet too far for some folks. Owners of three- to four-year-old "Clover Trail" Atom-based PCs like the HP Envy X2 laptop noticed that they were unable to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 Creators Update. Instead, they were greeted with a message saying "Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC," and told to "uninstall this app now."
Windows 10 will remind you to install the latest major update
Are you still running the original version of Windows 10? Microsoft is about to offer a not-so-subtle hint that it's time to move on. The software giant has revealed that it will start sending notifications to users who are still using Windows 10 version 1507, warning them that the operating system is deemed "end of service" and will no longer receive monthly security patches. You'll see a convenient button to upgrade to the latest release (at present, the Creators Update) if you're part of this group.
Windows 10 Timeline remembers everything you did on your PC
One of the more intriguing features Microsoft will include in this fall's Windows 10 Creators Update is Timeline. As the name suggests, it's a way for you to move backwards in time and see things you were working on in the past and resume what you were doing. Microsoft described it as a visual timeline of everything you were doing on your computer, and you can jump back into files, applications and websites where you left off.
Windows 10's upgraded mapping helps you plan elaborate routes
You likely know that Microsoft packed a lot of improvements into the Windows 10 Creators Update, but there are still a few surprises left... particularly if you use Windows' built-in navigation app to get from A to B. Microsoft has detailed Creators' numerous Maps upgrades, many of which revolve around planning trickier routes. For one, you can create multi-stop routes. That's nothing new if you use Google Maps, but it's a big deal any time you use Microsoft's default tools.
Windows 10's biannual update schedule starts in September
Now that the Windows 10 Creators update has officially arrived, Microsoft is looking forward to the next major updates in its release schedule. Although we already new Microsoft would bring another major release in September of this year, Redmond is also committing to a new twice-per-year feature release schedule for 2018 and beyond.
Only a handful of Windows phones will get the latest update
Virtually every Windows 10 PC can get the Creators Update, but phone owners won't be so fortunate. Microsoft has revealed that only some Windows 10 Mobile devices will receive the Creators Update when it's ready. The company's own Lumia devices are covered, naturally (from the Lumia 550 and above), but it's slim pickings beyond that -- the Alcatel Idol 4S, HP Elite X3 and VAIO Phone Biz are some of the few third-party examples that qualify. If you ask Microsoft, it's all about setting performance expectations.
The Windows 10 Creators Update is now live
After much beta testing and new feature additions, Microsoft's Windows 10 Creators Update is finally rolling out today. You can read more about all the new stuff in our preview, but if you want to get it as soon as possible, you have two options. You can either wait for it to hit your machine, which could take months, or use the Update Assistant and get it now. Just beware that with the latter option, you'll want to pay rapt attention to the privacy screen -- otherwise, it will reset your carefully chosen settings to the default ones.
Windows 10 can set up a PC using your voice
Windows installations have come a long way over a few decades. It used to be that you had to hand-hold the system, but it's increasingly automatic -- you can even nuke an existing install with relative ease. And now, you don't even need to touch the keyboard for certain manually-guided steps. As The Verge has noticed, the Windows 10 Creators Update brings Microsoft's Cortana assistant into the setup process. You can tell Windows to connect to your WiFi network, choose keyboard options and sign into your Microsoft Account with little to no typing.
Early adopters can grab the Windows 10 Creators Update now
We've already explained a lot of the new features coming in the Windows 10 Creators update, but maybe you don't want to wait until April 11th. Starting today, the new Game Mode, Paint 3D and friendlier auto-update scheduling are easily obtainable before it's released through Windows Update. Just download Microsoft's Update Assistant located here, and it will begin the process of downloading and installing Windows 10's newest major addition.
Windows 10 will push some updates over limited data plans
Windows 10's Creators Update should generally be more considerate when delivering updates, but you might not be the biggest fan if you have limited internet service. Microsoft has confirmed that the new version of Windows will automatically download updates "required to keep Windows running smoothly" even when you're on a metered connection. What does that mean, exactly? A spokesperson tells Supersite Windows that the operating system will avoid pushing "large" patches and will focus on "critical fixes," but it's not clear where the threshold will be.
Creators Update includes a few features for Windows Defender ATP
Microsoft's built-in security suite for Windows isn't getting left out of the upcoming Creators Update for Windows 10. The new Windows Defender ATP features start with memory and kernel sensors to detect nefarious activity going on in those parts of your machine. It's something a post on the Microsoft Secure Blog says the company has been doing to defend against zero-day attacks on Windows already.
Microsoft reduced Windows update sizes by 35 percent
Fans of Windows and snappy downloads will be relieved to learn that Microsoft's Unified Update Platform, which has been rolling out to Windows Insiders since November, will be available to all retail users starting with the release of the Creators Update coming later this spring. In addition to those very handy snooze and schedule features, the UUP significantly shrinks the size of future updates by saving users the trouble of downloading an entire build of their operating system.
Windows 10 fix will prevent updates from wrecking your day
Horror stories abound on the internet about forced Windows 10 updates screwing up presentations and other crucial work, so Microsoft is finally doing something about it. Rather than just installing updates whenever it wants, the next big Windows 10 release, the Creators Update, will let you "snooze" the update for three days or pick your own restart date.
Indie devs can publish on Xbox without Microsoft's help
It wasn't too long ago that Microsoft released an update that turned every Xbox One into a software development kit. Now, hobbyist developers will have a platform for publishing their wares on the console. It's called the Xbox Live Creator's Program.
Xbox One update will ditch the console's signature Snap mode
The Xbox One's Snap mode was a major selling point on launch -- it was supposed to turn your console into a multitasking powerhouse that lets you play a game while watching TV or tracking achievements. It's a resource hog, however, and Microsoft now believes that it's time for a change. The company's Mike Ybarra has revealed that Snap is disappearing in order to boost performance. It'll improve multitasking, memory demands and "overall speed," he says. It'll also clear resources for "bigger things," although Ybarra offers no clues as to what that means.
Microsoft is making Windows 10 security easier
It's easy to mock bad passwords and phishing scam victims, but PC security is hard to grok for the average user. That's why Microsoft is introducing the Windows Defender Security Center as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update coming in April. Within a central hub, you'll be able to see settings for threat protection, performance and more at a glance. The other aim with the new hub, says Microsoft, is to ensure that "you are protected by default and continuously protected."
Xbox One gets its first taste of Creators Update features
You don't have to wait long to try some of the big Xbox One upgrades that Microsoft has been promising lately. The company is trotting out an Xbox Insider preview update that includes a few of the bigger improvements that will come alongside the Creators Update. Most notably, you'll get a faster and decidedly more intuitive interface. The new home screen is both speedier and will promote the "most valuable content" in your games. You'll have quicker access to the game hub, groups and achievements, too. A refreshed Guide, meanwhile, includes a new home page based on common tasks (such as recent games and pinned apps) and fast access to background music controls.
Windows 10 is about to get a high-performance Game Mode
Microsoft made a big fuss out of the Windows 10 Creators Update's gaming features, and it's nearly ready to start delivering on them... including some that have remained mysterious. The company has revealed that it'll start trotting out a largely unknown Windows 10 Game Mode as part of Insider previews "this week." The improvement won't be fully functional until later releases, but Microsoft has at last shed some light on what it is: it'll fine-tune your PC to speed up gaming performance. This mode should help both legacy Windows games (Win32) and modern titles (UWP), so you won't have to be picky about what you're playing to notice a difference. You should "soon" hear a lot more about how it works, Microsoft says.
Windows 10 Creators Update will add tab previews and a night mode
Windows 10's Creators Update will have its fair share of pleasant surprises, apparently. Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider preview that stuffs in quite a few new features, some of which you might just use every day. For one, its Edge browser now includes tab previews. This isn't a novel concept (hi, Opera), but it'll be immensely helpful if you have loads of tabs open and don't want to play a guessing game. Also, Microsoft's Flash crackdown is in full effect: Edge now blocks untrusted Flash content as a matter of course, and you'll have to click to play it.
Microsoft will put Cortana in your smart home
Microsoft doesn't just want its Cortana in your phone or on your desk -- it wants the voice assistant to be a mainstay in your smart home. As part of a WinHEC presentation, the company's May Ji has revealed that Windows 10 Creator Update will bring Cortana to Windows 10 IoT Core devices with screens. Combined with longer-ranged voice detection (key to Microsoft's Home Hub plans), you wouldn't have to be anywhere near a PC to use the digital helper -- you could ask your thermostat about the weather, or add an appointment to your calendar through your fridge. Those concepts aren't new, of course, but Cortana can sync with your phone and Windows PC on a level that isn't possible with most smart home devices.
