Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 19008
Microsoft is currently expected to begin rolling out the Windows 10 19H2 release -- the November 2019 Update -- on November 12.
In the meantime however, it’s busy working on the follow up, due out next May. The latest flight from the 20H1 branch doesn’t have any new features, but Build 19008 does include a number of useful fixes and improvements. These are:
Internet Archive makes its content available offline
The Internet Archive is a massive and incredibly useful resource that offers access to millions of books, games, software, audio and video files, and cached versions of websites via the recently updated Wayback Machine.
To use it, you need an internet connection, but that’s changing thanks to the creation of the new Offline Archive project.
Internet Archive's Wayback Machine gains new ways to fight 'digital extinction'
According to the Internet Archive, the average webpage lasts just three months before being altered or deleted. To prevent this data being lost for good, the team’s Wayback Machine saves a copy of web pages across time, allowing visitors to see how a site has looked at various points in its history.
I’ve found the Wayback Machine to be an invaluable tool on numerous occasions, but it’s now getting even better.
Turn your Raspberry Pi into a PumpkinPi for Halloween
If you need some help getting into the Halloween spirit, and a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks isn’t quite cutting it, perhaps transforming your Raspberry Pi into an illuminated pumpkin will do the trick.
The Pi Hut has created a programmable Halloween board that you plug into your Pi. The Halloween PumpkinPi (see what they did there?) is available in two variations.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 19002 with improved Bluetooth pairing
It won’t be too long now until Microsoft begins to roll out Windows 10 19H2 -- the November 2019 Update -- but in the meantime it’s working hard on the next big feature update due out next May.
The latest flight from the 20H1 Branch released today, Build 19002, has one major improvement, and that concerns Bluetooth.
Internet Archive lets you play 2,500 more classic DOS games in your browser, including The Secret of Monkey Island and Microsoft Flight Simulator
Five years ago, the Internet Archive added 2,400 playable DOS games to its site, including 90s classics like Duke Nukem 3D, Prince of Persia, Championship Manager, The Incredible Machine, Eye of the Beholder (and its sequels), Hexen, Sim City, and Wolfenstein 3D.
Over the years, a number of additional games have been added to the collection, but the Internet Archive has made what it says is its biggest update yet, introducing another 2,500 MS-DOS titles.
Nest Mini comes with an upgraded Google Assistant
Amazon has been putting its voice assistant Alexa into as many devices as it can dream up, leaving Google trailing in its wake. Two years ago, the search giant announced its Amazon Echo Dot competitor, called the Home Mini, and today at its Made by Google ’19 event it debuted that device’s successor.
Nest Mini -- Google is rebranding its home hardware with the Nest name -- comes with an upgraded Google Assistant, and twice the bass. That’s not all though.
Google's Nest Wifi mesh router and extender comes with Google Assistant built-in
I live in a house with very thick walls and floors, so as a result, my Wi-Fi coverage always used to be extremely patchy. I tried various solutions over the years, including a number of range extenders, but eventually I cracked the issue by switching to Google Wifi, a smart networking system that creates a whole home wireless network.
Today, at its Made By Google ’19 event, the search giant unveils the successor to its mesh solution -- Nest Wifi.
Google's Stadia game streaming service launches on November 19
At this year's Game Developers Conference in March, Google took the wraps off Stadia, a new, instant-play cloud-based gaming service.
With Stadia, games are "played" on Google’s servers, and streamed to compatible devices in the home, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, TVs and more. Google claims Stadia servers are capable of providing 4K, 60 frames-per-second performance.
Windows 10 19H2 gets a new name and is ready for testing
Microsoft typically rolls out two feature updates a year for Windows 10, but changed its approach in 2019. Instead of two feature updates -- one in spring and the other in fall -- the software giant has opted to make the second release more of a service pack. It does have some new features, but it’s more about providing "quality enhancements".
This service pack update, codenamed 19H2, has finally been given an official name, and it’s available for testing too.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18999 and adds calling to Your Phone
The Windows Insider program is currently looking for a new leader, but new Windows 10 builds from the 20H1 branch, due out next May, are continuing to roll out on a weekly basis.
Build 18999 makes the ability to move and resize Cortana’s window available to all Insiders, and calling is now available in the Your Phone app.
Big changes ahead for the Windows Insider Program as Dona Sarkar switches roles
Windows Insiders provide feedback on new test builds of Windows 10, and Microsoft has frequently talked up the importance of the community in relation to the development and direction of its newest operating system. In reality, however, Insiders mostly just identify bugs for Microsoft to (maybe) fix.
In recent months there has been a lot of negativity surrounding the quality control of Windows 10, with updates breaking everything from printers to the Start menu.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18995 with new sign-in option and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) updates
Microsoft will begin rolling out the Windows 10 19H2 update very soon, but in the meantime it’s working hard on the next big feature release -- the May 2020 Update, due out next spring.
Fresh from its big hardware event yesterday, the software giant today rolls out a new flight to Fast ring Insiders. Build 18995 introduces a number of new features, including adding Windows Hello PIN sign-in support to Safe mode, and yet more improvements for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
Microsoft's Your Phone app gains new features
Microsoft’s Your Phone app allows you to link your Android or iOS device to your Windows 10 PC, and perform tasks like viewing your phone's photos on your computer, and reading and sending text messages from the comfort of your desktop or laptop.
Today, the software giant rolls out a big update to the app that introduces some additional features that will be of particular interest to owners of a Samsung flagship phone.
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Wayne's Bio
Wayne Williams is BetaNews' managing editor. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for over 20 years now. He’s written for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a fair few of them in his time also. If you like what you read, you can Buy Me a Coffee!
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