Major updates for Windows 10, unlike previous versions of this OS, no longer have “boring” notations like Service Pack 1 - each of them gets its own name. So, the first update, to version 1511, was called November Update (for the month in which it saw the light), the second update, 1607, was called the Anniversary Update (after the anniversary of the release of Windows 10). And now it's time for the next, third update. Here, Microsoft moved away from the practice of binding to anniversaries (or perhaps it was just not the right day of the calendar), and version 1703 was called Creators Update (“update for designers” in the Russian version) - because this update focuses on creating content and gaming capabilities of the system.
How to get?
From April 11, Windows 10 Creators Update should be available as a regular update through Windows Update for all Windows users. If it does not load automatically, you can install it manually: as of April 5 proprietary utility Windows 10 Update Assistant (“Upgrade Assistant to Windows 10”) available on (downloads the first link, Update now) allowed you to upgrade to version 1703. Depending on the Internet connection and the specific PC configuration, the update process may take an hour and even more, so before you start it is better to make sure that you will not need a computer in the near future. Another option is to install latest version Windows 10 "clean", from scratch. To do this, you need to download the Media Creation Tool utility (available on the same official page, but by the second link, Download tool now) and with its help either update the current system or create a bootable media for install windows 10 on another pc.
Start menu
Microsoft continues to "finish" a new version of the Start menu: now application tiles can be combined into folders (to do this, drag one tile over the other) —it looks like a tile, inside which small icons are drawn that are in it. However, while this function seems somewhat raw - it is impossible to assign the name of such a folder, and opening it at first causes bewilderment (all applications contained in the folder “fall out” into the tape under it as a whole block of tiles).
Further, if in this menu you use tiles only, and the list installed applications you are not interested, you can now hide it using the appropriate option in the "Parameters" ("Personalization" - "Start"). As a result, the menu will look much more compact, and the list of applications can always be called up using the corresponding button in the upper left corner.
Considering that the desired program You can still find, just starting to type its name, such a compact version of the main menu is quite right to life.
Microsoft edge
The company continues to develop its browser, gradually adding new functionality to it (for example, in the summer of 2016, in the Anniversary Update, Edge has already received support for third-party extensions). In Creators Update Microsoft edge It became possible to save all the tabs of the current session (two buttons in the upper left corner): in addition to its main task (deferred reading for future tabs), this function can also be used to restore order in the tab bar, if you are used to keep several dozen sites at a time. It is worth noting that the tabs saved in the sidebar are not kept in memory - when you call such a session, all sites are loaded with a new one.
In addition, another tool appeared for working with tabs - a preview thumbnail of open sites (called by the down arrow button to the right of the button for opening a new tab).
From imperceptible at first glance improvements, a new version Edge boasts support for online payments based on the Web Payments API, streaming movies in Netflix in 4K, reading e-books in the EPUB format, support for the Brotli compression algorithm and disabled Flash by default.
Cortana
Virtual Assistant Cortana also received her portion of improvements. For example, now it “manages” the initial setup of the system after installation, it may remind you what you have been working on recently (not only on the current device, but also on others where you went under the same account), and also is able to independently create reminders based on the sent mail. However, in our realities, all this is only of theoretical interest - Cortana is still not available in our country.
Windows update
In Windows Update, you can now pause the installation of updates for up to 35 days (in all versions of the OS, except for Home). For Windows 10 Home users, the time period has been increased, during which they can prohibit Windows from restarting to install updates - from 12 to 18 hours a day.
One of the main innovations of Windows Update is the transition to the new unified update platform Unified Update Platform, which allows you to reduce the size of downloaded files by downloading only those changes that were implemented after previous updates. Also, Creators Update now has the ability to specify the current Ethernet connection as a limit connection - in the case of traffic restrictions, this will prevent automatic downloading of updates.
"Night light"
"Night" themes, facilitating the perception of the screen in the dark, on mobile devices have existed for quite some time, both at the system level and at the level of individual applications. For Windows users available third-party utility , changing the color temperature of the image on the screen depending on time. And now Microsoft has introduced its own version of this solution - the Night Light option. It allows you to reduce the proportion of blue, making the picture more "warm" and pleasing to the eyes in the dark. It is quickly turned on using the switch in the "Notification Center", and you can adjust the behavior of the "Night Light" in the "Parameters" (section "Screen"): here you can adjust the degree of "warmth" of the image and set the working hours.
With manual activation, it turns on instantly; when turned on according to the schedule, the “warming” process stretches for two minutes, which facilitates acclimatization to a new style. It's still too fast compared to f.lux, but in general, the appearance of such a mode in Windows 10 is welcome.
Game Mode
One of the biggest innovations in Creators Update is, of course, the “game mode”. It is activated in the game menu, called up using the Win + G hotkeys (here, in the settings, you must enable the option "Use game mode for this game"). After that, Windows will limit the consumption of system resources for running background processes and provide the released "power" to the game. Best of all, this should affect games from the Windows Store running on the Universal Windows Platform, however, in regular games like Steam, this option will also work. You should not expect any noticeable increase in fps, of course, but you can hope for a more “smooth”, without stuttering, performance, and a bit faster loading. For a couple of days of its use in World of Warcraft and The Witcher 3, no special changes were noticed, but in other, more resource-intensive games, the effect of the game mode may still be more noticeable.
Also in the game menu there is the possibility of streaming the game process, with the imposition of video from a webcam and voice from a microphone on it. It uses the streaming service Beam, which was recently bought by Microsoft, and with its help all your friends on Xbox Live can follow your broadcasts. Of course, on Windows-based computers, this function is unlikely to be able to move towards the same Twitch or YouTube, but at the same time as Windows 10, it also starts on Xbox One, so with its task of creating its own simple and convenient streaming in the Microsoft eco-system - she will cope.
System applications
Their portion of the changes received and system applications. So, familiar Paint got a more modern "universal" version ... and turned into a 3D editor. There is even a community in which you can share your creations; In addition, 3D shapes created in Paint can be used as holograms on HoloLens devices. But in general, to be honest, it looks more like a substantiation of the name Creators Update, than an application really demanded by the wide user masses. Fortunately, the good old Paint has not gone anywhere (and it has not changed at all) - so now there are two graphic editors in the system.
In the Mail client, the Inbox folder is now represented as two subfolders, Focused (for important correspondence) and Other (the name speaks for itself). Mail decides what and where to put it, so it’s very likely that the user will soon want to disable this option and see all the letters in the old way, in one folder - fortunately, there is such an opportunity.
Groove Music and Movies & TV audio and video players received an easy update of the interface style and a number of other cosmetic improvements (such as the “frame-in-frame” view mode in the latter) - however, in our conditions they are a very conditional value. In the regional Windows Store there is no corresponding media content, and as ordinary local audio and video players, they are clearly inferior to the whole mass of analogs.
In the "Options" menu, some settings were moved to more suitable sections, in addition, there was a separate sub-item on troubleshooting ("Update and Security" - "Troubleshooting"). It contains the most common problems and offers wizards to find and eliminate them.
Privacy and Security
The issue of protection of personal data in Windows 10 at one time raised a wave of disturbances on the Internet - mainly due to the fact that the operating system did it implicitly and did not provide simple and obvious ways to control this process. In Creators Update, already at the initial configuration stage, the user is taken to the page for selecting privacy options with a detailed description of the information collected and the ability to turn it off.
Windows Defender got a new interface with a somewhat strange name - “Windows Defender Security Center”. This application combines the built-in antivirus and firewall parameters under one “roof”, plus it can also manage family access settings and respond to system health reports (for example, update outdated or incorrectly working drivers).
Results
In Windows 10 Creators Update there are still many other, minor and not so much, innovations and improvements (taking a screenshot of the selected area by Win + Shift + S, smoother resizing of windows, improved display of a number of system utilities on high pixel density monitors, quick access to VPN settings, drawing on the touch screen over pictures in the Photos application, displaying universal applications in the compact overlay mode, etc., etc.). In general, the update turned out to be quite large-scale and contains many really useful changes - the only thing that is somewhat surprising is the lack of improvement in the tablet use mode.
March 29, 2017 6:17 am
Users around the world on April 11 will begin to receive a free update of Windows 10 Creators Update. About the update and news Surface * tells Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president, Windows and Devices Group.
Outstanding inventors, architects, teachers, entrepreneurs, developers and students create new ideas that move the world forward. Today, creativity is valued as never before, and this is what brought us to the peak of a new wave of research, discovery and success.
We designed Windows 10 in order to awaken the creativity in each of us. This means that everyone can dream of more, whether creating their own business, developing a lesson plan, inventing a new product, developing games or streaming, even building a whole new world in Minecraft or a mixed reality. We want Windows to become the platform where you like to create and play, because there are tools that will help you leave your mark on this world.
Windows update 10 Creators Update will be available from April 11
Today I am pleased to present our last update Windows 10 Creators Update, which users will start receiving from April 11th. Creators Update is designed to unleash your potential and inspire creativity, allowing everyone to use 3D and mixed reality technologies, enabling every gamer to become a streamer. In addition to the creative tools in the update, new features Microsoft Edge, additional features for managing security and privacy, and much, much more.
Perhaps you are already using Windows 10 or are just planning to purchase a new device on Windows 10; Here are just some of the new features that will be available to you in Windows 10 Creators Update.
3D for all and mixed reality
New Paint application 3D in the creators Update allows you to easily create 3D-objects, change colors, add textures, convert 2Dobjects in 3d.
Our creativity is often limited to the two-dimensional space of the canvas, but we live in a multidimensional world. 3D technology helps translate ideas and express yourself, learn faster, because it is much better suited to the world in which we live. It is expected that by 2020 the volume of the 3D industry will grow by 62%, and therefore we want to give everyone the opportunity to touch the world of 3D, creating and sharing volume objects using Creators Update.
Windows has long been a platform for creativity. Paint Editor is one of the most popular creative tools, used by more than 100 million people every month. In the new Paint 3D application in Creators Update, you can easily create 3D objects from scratch, change colors, add textures, convert 2D objects to 3D. In the Remix3D community you will find ready-made 3D objects, the online library is constantly updated. You can also share your creations with others.
Windows 10 Creators Update offers various immersive technologies from 3D to mixed reality, blurring the line between the physical and virtual worlds. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo created the world's first mixed-reality Windows Mixed Reality devices. These new devices are equipped with built-in sensors that provide six degrees of freedom in all directions. They are easy to put on and allow you to move freely, without having to install external tracking elements or sensors on the wall. The interface of the devices will be available new applications and features of Windows Mixed Reality with the effect of immersion, which developers create using recently received.
Watch, participate, communicate and interact in real time thanks to Beam
Built-in technology of broadcasting games in Windows 10. Now you can easily translate the gameplay of the game using the Game Panel (Game Bar) - just click Windows + Gthen Broadcast and start the broadcast in the Beam - no additional accounts are needed.
We are doing everything to make the Xbox the best platform for games and creativity on devices with Windows 10 and Xbox One. To do this, we combine players on Xbox and PC gamers using Xbox Live, as well as programs such as Xbox Play Anywhere, which makes it possible to buy the game once and play it on both Xbox One and on a Windows 10 PC.
With Creators Update, we will give users more opportunities to play, interact, share experiences and enjoy games on Windows 10 and Xbox One. With the help of Beam, we invite creative individuals to stream game streams and interact with the community in real time (the delay in broadcasting the Beam is less than one second) and without the need to purchase additional software or hardware. Thanks to the Beam, you will not only watch your favorite game broadcasts, but also be able to communicate, participate in the process and interact with streamers and the community in a completely new way.
Game windows mode 10 will provide the best limitless gaming experience on a Windows 10 PC thanks to the allocation of more resources for games. As soon as you turn on Game Mode, you can apply it in any game. Learn more about similar updates and new features.
Microsoft Edge Become faster and safer with new features for Internet surfing and entertainment.
Save your tabs for quick access; Microsoft Edge - by default, has become an app for reading books in the Windows Store.
Users spend a lot of time online, so we made Microsoft Edge the best browser for Windows 10. People choose Microsoft Edge because it is safer and faster than Chrome, and at the same time it is more energy efficient to use battery power. There are a lot of security threats on the Internet today. Microsoft Edge blocks 9% more phishing sites and 13% more malware than Chrome **, helping to protect your personal data and information; Speed is very important on the web, and according to Google’s own testing, Microsoft Edge is faster than Chrome ***. Finally, Microsoft Edge uses the battery more economically, which means you can broadcast video in it for an hour and a half longer than in Chrome ****.
But that's not all. In Creators Update, we added new features, including improved tab management capabilities, to help you find, structure, and open saved tabs without having to leave the current page. Find your favorite books in the Windows Store and read in Microsoft Edge on all your Windows 10 devices. In addition, this is the only browser in which you can watch Netflix movies and TV shows in 4K Ultra HD ***** resolution.
From better sleep to managing the duration of sessions for children
Sometimes small details admire the most. In Windows 10 Creators Update, we added many inspiring features and functions based on the requests of our users.
Night mode night light, reducing the amount of blue light emitted by the screen allows you to sleep better. When working late in the evening, thanks to the Night mode, your brain will be better prepared to fall asleep. Smartphone users love this feature, and now it will appear on Windows 10 with Creators Update.
View modemini view allows you to place a small window on top of current processes, so that you can, for example, watch your favorite series in parallel, communicate via Skype, or control the playback of music, regardless of what you are working on at the moment.
With Windows 10 Creators Update, parents who are familiar with the feature screen time session limitsin Windows 10, will be able to use the analog and on the Xbox One. This feature will allow you to control the amount of time your child spends at the computer and console, helping you if, for example, the youngest family member has spent enough time today playing Forza Horizon 3. With the function of limiting the duration of screen time sessions, rate for each child, and the Xbox or PC with Windows 10 will automatically disconnect them from the game after a time. On Windows 10, you can even receive reports with information about how much your child spends weekly games. To set up session limits, go to account.microsoft.com/family, log in using a parent account, then select “Screen Time” for your child’s account.
The security of your data is very important not only for you, but also for us and Creators Update, it has become very simple, both in Windows 10 and in other Microsoft services, thanks to the new interface that allows you to select the appropriate options for you. The new Microsoft Privacy Control Panel gives you the ability to track and manage your activity data in various Microsoft services.
Distributing Creators Update through the Center windows updates will begin on April 11th. It will be installed gradually and in order of priority, so that all users have access to new features in.
Surface Book * and Surface Studio * are available in new markets.
Surface Studio * will turn your desktop into a creative studio. This is a new class of devices that transforms from a desktop computer to a powerful digital “canvas” and opens up more natural possibilities for creativity with the effect of immersion on the thinnest display ever created.
With the introduction of Surface Studio *, Surface Dial * and Surface Book * with the Performance Base docking station last, we began to receive great reviews on how these devices change the way ideas come to life. Surface Studio impressed users, providing completely new opportunities for creativity right on the desktop. In Surface Book with Performance Base you will find an unbeatable combination of performance, long term battery service and mobility. , developers, designers and photographers tell us about how Surface devices not only help them do the job, but also solve problems in a new way. Surface devices meet modern requirements for the organization of the office, so we invest in cooperation with companies such as Steelcase, helping businesses unleash the creative abilities of their employees. Surface and Windows 10 allow people to fully realize their creative potential, and we are happy to provide this opportunity to more people around the world.
Creators Updatefor Surface Hub *
Last but definitely not less important news: Surface Hub * users worldwide will get Windows 10 Creators Update for Surface Hub *. In the update there will be some of the most popular features with which Surface Hub will become an even more powerful device for collaboration. The update includes an improved start screen that allows the user to log in to their Office 365 and OneDrive account, as well as new management tools designed to simplify scaling during deployment. Improved applications such as Skype for businessso you can stay connected, and Whiteboard will allow Surface Hub * devices to interact in real time. Detailed information about the improved functionality of Surface Hub * in the Creators Update we will report before April 11.
The original publication was published on the Windows Blog site.
* DevicesSurface Book, Surface Studio, Surface Dial, Surface Hub currently not available on the Russian market
***** Exclusive copyright privilege (DRMPrivilege) allows broadcasting in 4K resolution in Microsoft Edge and Netflix application on Windows 10 on compatible Windows PCs.
Updated April 1, 2017 4:53 am
Today, the Windows 10 operating system will become available to millions of users around the world. The Top Ten seems to be the most carefully thought-out version of the Microsoft OS in recent years. There are a lot of arguments in favor of the update: free of charge, improved interface, Edge browser with support for advanced web technologies, universal applications. However, Windows 10, like any new product, has weak points. What threatens a hasty update, found Vesti.Hi-tech.
Non-disabled auto updates. In Windows 10, the company refused to release Service Packs and security patches that are released strictly on schedule. "Ten", unlike Windows 7 and Vista, will regularly check, download and install updates and drivers automatically. This change was one of the controversial - because many users want to have full control over their system and everything that changes in it.
First, the installation of Windows 10 updates will take place without the knowledge of the users - the license agreement obliges them to do this. " Software periodically checks for system and application updates, downloads and installs them for you ... By accepting this agreement, you agree to receive automatic updates without additional notice, "the document says. After downloading and installing the update, Windows 10 users will be prompted to restart the computer (automatically or manually).
Secondly, it is impossible to refuse to automatically download updates or select only some of them, as before. New rules apply only to the "home" edition of the operating system (Windows 10 Home). Users of the business version of the "dozens" (Windows 10 Pro), albeit with some restrictions, will still be able to postpone downloading updates for an indefinite time.
You need to understand - updates are installed automatically in order to ensure that the user's device is as secure as possible. The user can "roll back" only 1 release back, again, in order to ensure security. As for the transition from the old versions of Windows, then within a month after installing Windows 10, the user can return to previous version The OS that was originally installed on its device, provided that this OS is Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.
Limited free. Windows 10 is the first Microsoft operating system to be available to users completely free of charge. True, provided that you - the owner of the device with a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. You cannot upgrade directly to the "dozens" from Vista, Windows XP or an older version of the OS. In addition, the PC must have the latest version supported by it. windows version. This may be Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows 8.1 Update.
According to the official Microsoft website, users upgraded from Windows 7 / 8.1 will receive a similar "Windows 10 edition". For example, Windows 10 Home, Professional or Windows 7 will be installed on a PC with a "seven" (for Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium). Ultimate - Windows 10 Pro. So for the transition from the "home" Windows 7 to the business version, obviously, will have to pay extra.
No media player in Windows Media Center (WMC). The WMC media player is missing from Windows 10. The application that serves to play music, photos, and streaming television was not included in the new OS "because of the decline in popularity," explained Microsoft. Nevertheless, many users have long been accustomed to WMC, which debuted back in 2002, with the release of Windows XP.
Basically, the player was used to play DVD movies and watch TV shows recorded on the computer in the living room. The company did not turn on the WMC alternative in Windows 10 (to watch a DVD, you will have to install a third-party application), but promised to "provide another option for using this feature in the future."
In Windows 10, a new application is included called Music and Video, designed to play any multimedia content. Music files in lossless compression formats (FLAC, etc.) are supported, as well as video in the .mkv container.
From windows 10 also classic elements like desktop gadgets, Solitaire games and Minesweeper will disappear (their place will be taken by new versions). Moreover, users will be forced to play solitaire with advertising. You can get rid of it and get bonus features only for money ($ 1.49 per month / $ 9.99 per year). Microsoft followed the same strategy in Windows 8 / 8.1, but the game was not bundled with the operating system, but was available as an additional download.
At any operating system errors and vulnerabilities may be present at the time of exitthat were not detected during beta testing. For this reason, some cautious users will probably want to wait a month or two until Microsoft fixes the most obvious bugs. Yes, 5 million volunteers, who tested the OS technical beta, did everything to catch the mistakes. But now, Windows 10 will probably install many more people, so it’s quite likely that some shortcomings will pop up - after all, not a single software product will come out without it, much less such a complex OS. For too long, however, it is better not to wait - from July 29, 2016, the transition to the "top ten" will be paid for all users.
A few days before the release of Windows 10, for example, it turned out that devices with a new "axis" work up to 10% less. True, the problem was revealed on non-final assemblies of the OS; it’s too early to talk about the presence of a problem in the final version. Accelerated discharging was detected on some PCs equipped with Intel chips. The company has already recognized the flaw and began to work on optimizing the drivers. So if you want to install the "top ten" on July 29, you should be ready to install service packs on the same day.
Announcing Windows 10, Microsoft called Cortana's “smart” assistant one of the most important functions of the “dozens”. It allows you to control the system using voice commands (launch applications, play music, search for files, etc.), like Siri on i-devices. However, by the time Windows 10 is released, the secretary will be available only in a small number of countries, namely in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, China, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Unlike the same Siri, Cortana does not yet speak Russian, and it is not known when she will learn it.. The delay is due to the high degree of integration of the "assistant" into the operating system and Microsoft services.
Microsoft has strengthened the security of Windows 10, providing support for biometric passwords. “Top Ten” can be configured to log in only when scanning a fingerprint, eye shell, or face recognition. These features, however, will work with compatible hardware.. In order for Windows 10 to recognize the host, it will need an infrared camera in a laptop or PC, and for scanning a fingerprint, an appropriate sensor.
No matter how active the marketing campaign is, Microsoft cannot convince all users to switch to Windows 10. Some people are guided by the principle of “do not fix, if not broken,” and are quite happy with the old OS versions: they can return the classic Start menu by setting third party program (for example, Classic Shell), do not plan to use the Cortana helper and do not play games (therefore, the presence of DirectX 12 in the "top ten" is not an argument for them).
There is no need to switch to the “top ten” right now in particular. windows users 7, the most popular OS in the world. Despite the fact that the main support of the "seven" expired in January, it will continue to receive free security updates for another five years - until January 14, 2020. With the elimination of vulnerabilities, other improvements can be obtained by paying for extended support. As for Windows 8, then this version of Microsoft will support until 2023.
As an argument against the transition to Windows 10 in social networks and blogs also called the laborious update process, since the creation backups All files and system configuration, in the case of installation on a computer with an obsolete "iron", may take several hours. Moreover, it is absolutely necessary to test applications for compatibility with the "ten". Not all developers took part in the Microsoft beta testing program. so after installation new system it may be that your favorite program is incompatible with it, and "rollback" the update is no longer possible.
However, not everything is so bad.
Windows 10
