Windows 10 news recap: New build, new features and 7,000 new improvements

Zac Bowden

Windows 10

It’s been a hectic week here at WinBeta, with a brand new Windows 10 Technical Preview build being pushed out to the public, we’ve been on our toes digging deep regarding what new tidbits are included with build 9860. This weeks Windows 10 news has pretty much been focused entirely on features included in the new build, so let’s get started and round up everything we’ve talked about this week!

Starting off at the beginning of the week, Microsoft issued a new Technical Preview build for Windows Insiders. The build included a few new features and additions, most of which had been rumored to be making an appearance in the operating system weeks beforehand. The build number is 9860 and was compiled on October 8th, which isn’t long ago considering new builds are compiled daily.

Moving right along, it was revealed that the new Technical Preview build included an app which allowed 3rd-party developers to design their own lock screens. Much like Windows Phone 8.1, Microsoft is working to make it possible for developers to design lock screens which match up with their apps, which is good news for users who love customization.

Further more, it looks like more Windows Phone features are being ported over to the desktop as Data Sense and Battery Saver (both features originally debuted with Windows Phone 8.1) made an appearance in the PC settings app with build 9860. Both features are in their early stages of development right now, meaning they don’t exactly work they way each feature was intended to work.

The new build also included new (unfinished) animations, and a new network window. The animations play when minimizing, maximizing, opening and closing windows. The network window is somewhat a step backwards from what was already included in Windows 8.1, but that’s because what Microsoft is working on isn’t finished yet, meaning we’re not seeing the full picture.

Windows 10

Of course, the new Technical Preview build also includes a Notification Center, something which was leaked a couple months ago. It was odd not seeing the Notification Center in the Technical Preview 9841 build, considering the feature has been ready for months now. Still, it’s good to finally see it available.

Microsoft also revealed this week that this new build of Windows 10 includes over 7,000 different improvements. That’s an amazing amount considering build 9860 is only 19 builds newer than the original Technical Preview. Microsoft has been working very hard on delivering on feedback which has been submitted by Windows Insiders.

The company also talked about new security features coming in Windows 10, which make for an even more secure operating system. It looks like Windows 10 is shaping up to be the most secure version of Windows to date, which is definitely a good thing.

And finally, Microsoft revealed how Windows Insiders are using the new Windows 10 Technical Preview with a handy coloful pie chart. Unsurprisingly, a massive 41% of testers are using Windows 10 on their desktop, whereas tablets only account for 2%. Considering this is still pre-release software and that Windows 10 (as of right now) is focused on the desktop, this isn’t really shocking.

So there you have it, a week filled with Windows 10 news. Stick around at WinBeta for even more Windows 10 coverage the second it happens.