Tech Recap: Windows 10 launch, app Store, new Lumia phones, Windows RT 8.1 Update 3

This week on tech, Microsoft says that Windows 10 won’t have a release-to-manufacturing version and those users already running Windows 10 build 10240 are using the final version, which is the same version manufacturers will be installing on new computers in the coming days and the build Microsoft will roll out to users on July 29th.

However, the company will be releasing new updates to make sure the operating system is ready for the masses, and the software giant is already delivering. Early this week a few new updates rolled out to Insiders, including KB3074674 and KB3074679 (KB3074680) to patch various security wholes and to improve performance, and we’re expecting more updates to release before and after July 29th.

Also this week, Redmond announced new significant changes coming the Windows Store, such as new search algorithm, improved web Store, and better performance. The company also said that Windows Insider members must upgrade to Windows 10 build 10240 to continue accessing the Store.

While we know that Windows RT won’t upgrade to Windows 10, for a while we knew that Microsoft will be releasing an update to bring some of the Windows 10 functionality to ARM operating system. Now, we know that Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 could be arriving as soon as September and it will include a new Start menu similar to the one in Windows 10, but overall the update won’t offer any major changes.

Previously, we heard of Microsoft already working on the next first major update for Windows 10 code-named “Redstone” coming in 2016, now the word on the streets is that the company is readying a new update code-name Threshold wave 2 that should arrive only a few months after the release of Windows 10 and it will focus on optimization and stability.

This week, Windows 10 Mobile build 10166 rolls out to the Slow ring of updates, and new leaked information reveals that Microsoft is working on two new Lumia phones: the Cityman and Talkman, and both phones are said to support Windows Hello and the Continuum feature.

Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 2, and Surface 3 gets new firmware updates. Surface 3 with 4G LTE is now available in the United States. Cortana for Windows 10 will be coming to more countries, including Canada, South America, Japan Australia, and many more regions. Microsoft Garage releases Send, an app that makes email feel more like instant messaging, and Google Drive plug-in arrives to Microsoft Office.

On preparation to the Windows 10 release, Microsoft unveils details on the special events that will be happening around United States.

Finally, this week I showed you how to use the new push to reset functionality in Windows 10 to refresh or remove everything in your computer. All this and more…

Welcome to Pureinfotech: Tech Recap edition. Each weekend I will bring you a compilation of articles of the week, including how-to guides, features, tech news, and more. This is simply a list with a brief description of pieces you might have missed or you might just want to read again.