It's another week, which means another new test build for Windows Insiders. Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 10 build 17682 to Fast ring Insiders, as well as those who have opted in to receive Skip Ahead builds. Included in the latest build are a whole raft of new features, including more improvements for Sets, more options to manage your projection experience, and more.
Here's a look at what's new in build 17682:
What's new
Managing your wireless projection experience
One of the things we've heard from you is that it's hard to know when you're wirelessly projecting and how to disconnect if your session especially if started from file explorer or from an app. In today's build, just like remote desktop you'll see a control banner at the top of your screen when you're in a session. The banner keeps you informed of the state of your connection, allows you to quick disconnect or reconnect to the same sink and allows you to tune the connection based on what you are doing. This tuning is done via the settings gear, which optimizes the screen to screen latency based on one of the three scenarios:
- Game mode minimizes the screen to screen latency to make gaming over a wireless connection possible.
- Video mode increases the screen to screen latency to ensure the video on the big screen plays back smoothly and without glitching.
- Productivity modes strikes a good balance between game mode and video mode where the screen to screen latency is responsive enough that typing feels natural, while ensuring videos don't glitch too often.
By default, all connections start off in productivity mode. Stay tuned to this space as even more functionality is coming to the banner! Can't wait to hear what you think of banner. Let us know via the Feedback Hub!
Microsoft Edge improvements for web developers
Web Authentication preview: Microsoft Edge now includes unprefixed support for the new Web Authentication API (a.k.a. WebAuthN). This evolves our previous support for the WebAuthN specification to enable the updated version of the API by default.
Web Authentication provides an open, scalable, and interoperable solution to facilitate authentication, which replaces passwords with stronger hardware-bound credentials. The implementation in Microsoft Edge allows users to use Windows Hello (via PIN or biometrics) and external authenticators like FIDO2 Security Keys or FIDO U2F Security Keys, to securely authenticate to websites. We'll have more to share about Web Authentication in Microsoft Edge soon!
RSAT is now available on demand!
What does that mean? You no longer have to manually download RSAT every time you upgrade! Just go to "Manage optional features" in Settings (the fastest way there is to search for that) and click "Add a feature" – you'll now see all of the RSAT components listed. Pick the ones you want, and the next time you upgrade Windows will automatically ensure all those components persist the upgrade (just like any of our other on-demand features, like speech resources or OpenSSH). Thanks to everyone who logged feedback asking for this! We'd love for you to try this out on today's build and let us know what you think.
Post-upgrade setup
You may see this window showing after you upgrade. Don't worry – all your stuff is still there! We know some of you bought and setup your devices a long time ago – the features available in Windows have changed since then, so we're giving you an opportunity to go through the setup questions you may have missed to ensure your device has the best setup possible. Click "Let's Go" to go through those setup questions or click "Skip for now" if you want to go straight to your desktop. The conditions for showing this page are cloud programmable and may change over time.
Of course, with every new build comes a slew of general improvements, bug fixes and known issues. For the full rundown, check out Microsofts comprehensive release notes for more. In the meantime, if you're an Inider on the Fast or Skip Ahead rings, you can grab build 17682 via Windows Update now.
RIP Anthem: Incredible potential that was never reached
BioWare has announced that Anthem Next, an overhaul that would have revamped many of Anthem's core gameplay systems, has been cancelled and that Anthem is effectively being left in the dust. Here's why I'm sad to see Anthem fade away.
These Surface Go 2 keyboards cost less than Microsoft's Type Cover
Microsoft's Surface Go Type Covers are solid and stylish keyboards for an equally solid and stylish 2-in-1. But they sure are pricey. Thankfully, many more affordable options are readily available.
Outriders demo lets you play the first couple hours of the game for free
People Can Fly has announced a huge demo for Outriders, its original IP. Not only that, but players can transfer the data over to the full game for free.
These are the best PC sticks for when you're on the move
Instant computer, just add a screen! That’s the general idea of the ultra-portable PC Compute Sticks, but it can be hard to know which one you want. Relax, we’ve got you covered.