Articles about Microsoft

If you’re a Fast ring Insider, you’ll be aware that new builds of the next Windows 10 feature update -- 1809, aka Redstone 5 -- are coming thick and fast these days, as Microsoft works hard to get it finished in time for its Fall release.

Three days ago, the software giant rolled out Build 17744, and today we get Build 17746.

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When Windows 95 debuted all those years ago, it was revolutionary. It introduced many of the features we still use today, including a desktop, taskbar and Start button.

Consumers lapped it up, and it sold some seven million copies in the first five weeks, buoyed by the multimillion-dollar hype. Microsoft spent an estimated $300 million promoting the OS, which included some $12 million for the rights to use the opening chords of the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up" as its theme tune.

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Microsoft continues to roll out new releases for the next big feature update of its operating system -- Windows 10 Update 1809 (aka Redstone 5). We’re getting them at a rate of two a week now.

As you’d expect, Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17744, coming to the Fast ring now, doesn’t offer any new features, just improvements and fixes.

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Microsoft’s plan with Windows 10 was to hit a billion devices within a couple of years, but that all hinged on the OS being a hit on PC, tablet, and mobile. Sadly, Windows 10 Mobile was a costly flop, and ultimately led to Microsoft’s exit from the mobile market.

It’s been rumored for a while that the tech giant might be planning a return to the space with a folding Surface Phone, but it’s going to need more than the right hardware -- the operating system will have to appeal to users of Android and iOS, and give them a reason to switch. Windows XP Mobile -- 2018 Edition is just such an OS.

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Microsoft might have pulled its new Your Phone app for non-Insiders, but it’s still available for those on the Fast ring, and this new build, the second this week, introduces a new way to get it.

If you’re not familiar, Your Phone app lets Android users view their photos on a Windows 10 PC. An iOS version is in the works.

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If you’re not a Windows Insider, or even if you are, you might be more than a little confused by the different builds that Microsoft is now rolling out with some regularity.

Two days ago, the software giant released Windows 10 Redstone 5 Build 17738 to those on the Fast ring, and today it delivers Build 18219 for those on Skip Ahead, which is the feature update after the next feature, which it’s currently referring to as 19H1 and which will be released next spring.

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Yesterday, Microsoft rolled out its new Your Phone app for Windows 10. Previously only available for Windows Insiders, the app allows Android users to access their photos on a Windows 10 PC.

If you’ve been wanting to try out the app, we’ve some bad news for you. You’ll once again need to be an Insider to use it.

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Previously only available to OneDrive for Business users, Microsoft is now rolling out OneDrive folder protection to everyone.

Also referred to as "known folder move" -- and rather copying the Backup and sync app from Google -- OneDrive folder protection makes it possible to back up your important files and folders to the cloud. Here's how to get started.

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Two weeks ago, Windows Insiders got the chance to test out a new app called Your Phone. This app, for iOS and Android, lets users sync content directly from their phones to a Windows 10 PC.

If you’ve wanted to try out the app, but you’re not an Insider, we’ve some great news for you. Starting today, Your Phone is available to all, although it currently only works with Android devices.

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Microsoft is hard at work polishing the next big feature update for Windows 10, out in the fall. It released two new Redstone 5 builds last week -- Build 17733 (with Dark Theme for File Explorer) and Build 17735.

Today, the software giant pushes out Build 17738 to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring.

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Windows has been capable of displaying animated wallpaper for years, and when done right the effect is nothing less than stunning.

RainWallpaper, from Deviant Art, lets you browse a large collection of live wallpapers, sorted into categories like Featured, Landscape, Animi, Game, Space, HiTech, Pet and Animal, and Plants. You can download and apply any that take your fancy, or make your own in seconds.

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In addition to rolling out a new Windows 10 Redstone 5 build to Insiders on the Fast ring today, Microsoft has also pushed out a new Redstone 6 build (the feature update that follows the next one, and isn’t set to arrive until next spring) to those on the Skip Ahead ring.

Build 18214, on the 19H1 branch, catches up with where Redstone 5 is, and gives those bleeding edge users access to the new Your Phone app for Android and iOS.

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New Windows 10 Redstone 5 builds are coming thick and fast and now as Microsoft works hard to get the future feature update ready for release in the fall.

The software giant rolled out Build 17733, with a Dark Theme for File Explorer, just two days ago, and now Build 17735 arrives close behind.

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Two-hundred-and-ninety-five in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.

Microsoft plans to launch a dark theme for File Explorer in the next Windows 10 version. If you are worried about privacy, check out Wayne's review of Blackbird which is a tweaking tool for Windows 10.

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We’re edging closer to the launch of the next big Windows 10 feature update, codenamed Redstone 5, and Microsoft is hard at work tidying things up, and rolling out new builds for Insiders to test.

The latest build to hit the Fast ring is Build 17733, which -- among other changes -- delivers the Dark Theme for File Explorer that was begun in Build 17666.

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