Microsoft announces that Windows 10 build 10565 for PCs begins to roll out today, October 12th, via the Fast Ring of updates. The new build includes a number of improvements and enhancements over build 10547, which the software maker released a few weeks back.
The new build for PCs includes an early build of the new Messaging app, Microsoft Edge gets tab preview, and now users can sync Favorites and Realist items between devices. Cortana gets smarter to understand handwriting on notes, there are also improvements on the desktop user interface, and a bunch of new fixes, and Microsoft makes a little easier to activate the operating system.
What’s new in Windows 10 build 10565
Messaging: As we have seen in previous leak of the operating system, build 10565 includes the first public preview of the Messaging, Phone, and Skype video universal Windows apps, which integrates Skype messaging, video and calling to Windows 10.
The new apps allow you to connect with other people using Skype for free over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi.
Microsoft also says that the functionalities will be available for Windows 10 Mobile “soon.” In addition, with the new messaging feature, you can reply to texts using Quick Reply from the Action Center when you see new incoming notifications. It’s an early build, as such bugs and things not working correctly are expected, and more features will be available in future updates.
Microsoft Edge: Windows 10 build 10565 doesn’t include support for an extension on Edge, but as expected, now Insiders can hover over an open tab to get a preview of a particular website.
In this new build, Microsoft is also enabling the feature to allow users to sync Favorites and Reading list items. The company warns that these new features are still a work in progress.
Cortana: Microsoft’s digital assistant is getting smarter. The new update allows Cortana to understand your handwriting – “setting reminders based on locations, times and numbers that she can understand from your digital annotations.”
The assistant can also keep you inform of movie and event reminders. In the new update, Microsoft is improving Cortana to track your booking for movies and ticketed events through your email notifications. Even more impressive, two hours prior the event, you’ll get helpful information to such directions and option to get a ride using Uber directly from Cortana.
User interface: The title bar on the desktop appears darker, and you can adjust the color by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors. “Colored title bars will appear only if “Show color on Start, Taskbar, Action Center, and Title bars” is enabled.”
The software maker also is making process improving the context menus on Start. You now will see new context menus when you right-click a Live Tile or an app on the left side.
There are new icons for the Registry, elements on Device Manager, and some new ones in Control Panel.
Windows 10 activation: While the software giant has made activation somewhat easier in Windows 10, users installing build 10565 will see a major change. According to the company, now it’s even easier to activate Windows 10. Starting with build 10565, if your device doesn’t activate, you can simply enter your Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key that is used to activate the previous version of the operating system in the same device. This also means that you can clean up Windows 10 from bootable media and use the product key “from prior Windows versions on qualifying devices during setup.”
If you need to activate Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Activation and select Change Product Key.
Default printing: Windows 10 build 10565 introduces a new mode that makes your default printer the last printer you used. “This change helps ensure the best printer is preselected in inbox print dialogs.”
You can change the default behavior by going to Settings > Devices > Printer & Scanners.
Here’s the list of things the company fixed with build 10565
- Microsoft fixed the issue where clicking on the system icons in the notification area quickly results in Windows Shell blocking the launch of fly-outs like Audio, Networking, etc.
- Microsoft has made adjustments to many of the context menus to make them smaller for using them with a mouse.
- You should no longer see a warning message in the Settings app > Update & Security > Windows Update regarding changed ring settings for preview builds unless you actually change your ring settings.
- Background audio playback works again when apps like Groove are minimized.
- You can now pin contacts to the Start menu from the People app.
- Certain apps won’t appear twice anymore when pinned to the taskbar.
- Hiding desktop icons via the context menu on the desktop now works.
- Windows Store apps should now be updating automatically.
Windows 10 build 10565 is available for download immediately through the Fast Ring of updates. The update will download automatically if you have configured the settings correctly, the Windows Update advanced options, but you can always go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update and check for new updates.
This new build also includes a few known issues that you should be aware of, including blue screen during install, Xbox app large amount of memory usage, search box issue, and more.
Source Microsoft
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].