Windows 10 build 10158-10159: Hands-on with UI, new features, login screen, apps (video)

On June 29th, Microsoft released Windows 10 build 10158 to the Fast ring of updates, and suddenly on June 30th, the very next day, the company surprise Insiders with Windows 10 build 10159, which was also released to the Fast ring. However, build 10159 only includes a few changes, build 10158 is the preview with all the significant changes.

Windows 10 build 10158 includes a number of improvements and features over build 10130, which rolled out to testers about a month ago. Now with the release of Windows 10 build 10159, the overall experience should dramatically improve as it’s more stable and polished.

Perhaps the major announcement was to hear that either builds include known issues. In addition, Microsoft has fixed various issues to increase the battery life on Surface Pro 3 and to allow users to successfully upgrade Surface 3 tablets.

Now, we’re just weeks away from the official launch of Windows 10, so if you’re going to keep waiting to install the final release, you can still watch the new video tour I have published on YouTube highlighting all the changes in build 10158 since the last official release, and you can also watch the second video showing off the new login screen design and the new Windows 10 “hero” image that Microsoft is shipping in Windows 10 build 10159.

Here are the additional changes that appeared in Windows 10 build 10159:

Some of the changes in these builds include:

Login screen

• New default wallpaper (build 10159)
• There is a new center design to login (build 10159)

Start menu

• There is a new icons folders in the Start menu
• The 3D flip animation is back
• All apps has a new icon
• You can highlight the letters in “All apps”
• Live Tiles now show the right icon sizes
• Microsoft apps have new icons
• Start menu is more responsive

Taskbar

• The taskbar has new white icons without background tile
• Taskbar and Start menu and flyouts have different color tones
• Apps requiring attention will flash orange
• Loading process when moving files reverts back to the horizontal green animation
• Jumplist has been updated
• There is a new keyboard and arrow buttons have new icons

Cortana

• Left rail takes color for the theme
• Left rail menu has been consolidated
• You can set up Cortana to respond to “Hey Cortana” to everyone or only to you
• Microsoft enable flight tracking
• There is an option to enable or disable Taskbar tidbits
• Cortana’s Notebook is in its final stage with a combined Profile and Settings experience
• There is a new dark theme to match the scheme of the operating system
• Users can now compose and send emails using Cortana

Action Center

• There a number of refinements and improvements
• There are new icons and a third row of Quick Access buttons

Tablet mode

• There are two new button on the bottom-right corner of the screen (“Power” and “All apps”)
• Users can swipe from the left to open “All apps”

Settings app

• New effect moving between pages
• Start has less customization options
• Privacy has a new “Background apps” feature
• Other devices has new options
• Microsoft removes “Let Microsoft try features on this build” option from Windows Update

Desktop

• Microsoft includes the new Windows 10 hero image in the background (build 10159)
• There is an update for the title bar to match the modern UI
• Context menus now show bigger and thicker arrow and check marks
• Desktop context menu has a new “Display settings” and ”Personalize” icons
• There are new icons in the Control Panel

Windows apps

• The Store beta, now it’s simply called “Store”
• The Store now has a new layout for feature apps
• Insider Hub no longer comes installed with Windows 10
• The Phone Companion app now works
• There is a new Microsoft Wi-Fi app
• Photos app has been updated
• Contact Support app now works

Microsoft Edge

• Microsoft officially rebrands its web browser to “Microsoft Edge”
• There are updated icons in the address bar
• Users can choose to use the new dark theme
• Now users can choose to show a “home” button on the address bar
• Microsoft is introducing a password manager and autofill features
• Audio works when minimizing the web browser