Microsoft included many user-requested changes and features in new Windows 10 preview

The new 9926 build of the Windows 10 Technical Preview includes many changes and additions that were requested by users of earlier builds. Those suggestions were collected and evaluated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Insider Program.

Microsoft's Windows team member Gabriel Aul posted a list of just some of those user-suggested changes that made it into the current build:

  • You've asked us to support more languages so we're bringing you more languages: Japanese, Russian, German, French, French (Canada), Korean, Italian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Traditional Chinese, Swedish, Finnish, Turkish, Arabic, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Thai, Vietnamese (Language Interface Pack), Catalan (Language Interface Pack), and Hindi (Language Interface Pack).
  • The new Windows Update UX in the Settings app provides a progress bar for preview build downloads which was a top request for Insiders. When you navigate away after starting the download/install, it will know that the download and install is still in progress when you return (instead of looking like a blank slate. And progress is now determinate, instead of just a spinning circle.
  • We received feedback that ALT+TAB was too jarring (everything on screen changed) and that some people found it confusingly similar to Task View. Some people wondered why Virtual Desktops were not accessible from ALT+TAB. So, we merged the previous ALT+TAB design with the Task View to produce an approach that retained the large thumbnails that people like, but with an overlay that is familiar. Now, it feels far less jarring and while it looks like it belongs to the family of Task View and Snap Assist, it retains its unique strength of being a great keyboard switcher. Finally, this change makes the work we've done with precision touchpads feel better too. Now when you quickly three finger swipe left/right, ALT+TAB feels lighter-weight.
  • We also heard that folks wanted Persian calendars support and you'll find that in this build. The Persian calendar format will appear on your Lock screen, your taskbar clock, and on time stamps on files in File Explorer.
  • Another top request from you was to have the option to pick the default folder when opening File Explorer, and the team responded and added this feature.
  • We saw feedback from Insiders that it was hard to find how to make apps full-screen in the "hamburger-style" menu seen in previous builds so we've added a full-screen button in the title bar. We've also made the title bars for both desktop and modern apps title bars feel more harmonious.
  • Finally, I know that a TON of Insiders were unhappy about the bug where keyboard lights weren't working when Caps lock/Num lock/Scroll lock is toggled. I'm super happy to report that we've fixed that issue in this build. Thank you for being patient with us on that one.

Of course, Microsoft is still taking feedback from Windows Insiders for the current build of Windows 10 and will continue to do so in the weeks and months before the OS is officially launched.

Source: Microsoft

John Callaham