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Microsoft is coming up on its self-imposed deadline to launch the Fall Creators Update, which has an estimated delivery appointment in September. Given this relatively short time frame, we'd take expected Windows ten Insider builds to be feature-complete by now, and we've covered what some of those features are and what benefits they'll offer. Microsoft, however, seems to have other ideas. The new Build 16251 contains several new features and capabilities debuting for the first time.

First off, there's a new selection to sync Android devices and Windows ten PCs, with back up for Apple tree's iPhone arriving "very, very soon." Here'south how Microsoft describes the process:

Afterward you've linked your phone, only go to your telephone and start browsing the spider web. When you are at a website yous want to view on your PC, only invoke the native share feel on your phone and share the website to the "Go along on PC" option… One time invoked, it will offset ask you to sign in with your Microsoft Account. It is important you apply the same account y'all are using on your PC. Next information technology will ask yous if you want to "Go along now" or "Continue after". If you choose "Continue now", the website will magically open on the linked PC. If you choose to "Go on subsequently", the website will show upwardly nether Action Center for y'all to get to later.

ContinuePC

The three-step procedure for linking an Android device and a Win10 PC.

Next upwardly is the ability for Cortana to brandish results without opening a web browser. I don't use Cortana — I'm not interested in digital assistants, given the kind of data they tin can passively collect and the complete lack of parity between consumers and companies when information technology comes to ToS and EULA terms — merely if y'all use the feature, y'all'll probable find this helpful. In the Fall Creators Update, Cortana tin display many different kinds of information, including motion-picture show times, glory news, stock prices, flight condition, and the weather, without ever opening a browser window. In the effect that she tin't retrieve the information yous're looking for, the option to open a web search is still available.

Cortana

Cortana can also at present restart, turn off, sign off, shutdown, or lock your PC. This is a cracking capability ,and Microsoft notes that in some cases, Cortana will enquire y'all to confirm your conclusion (if, for example, yous inquire her to close the PC off). This characteristic seems ripe for practical jokes from siblings to co-workers.

Next, in that location's what Microsoft is calling an improved Boot Upward Experience. The OS will now allow you to automatically log dorsum into your PC later you reboot information technology via deportment taken on the Start Card or via command line. It'due south an optional feature and it definitely won't piece of work in higher-security environments. The two new command line options are:

shutdown /sg
Shutdown the computer. On the side by side boot, restart whatsoever registered applications.

shutdown /one thousand
Full shutdown and restart the computer. Later on the system is rebooted, restart any registered applications.

PortraitMode

Finally, Windows Continuum — the option to share information betwixt the Os on your Windows Phone and your desktop Bone — is getting an update to piece of work properly in portrait way. Previously, property your phone in portrait way didn't really do anything; all data and information was nevertheless presented in landscape form. You'll yet have to activate portrait fashion yourself, and you lot'll need to unplug and replug your external monitor (if present) when you switch betwixt portrait and mural. Still, the fact that the OS tin exercise this at all is a nice nod to the scattering of Windows 10 Phone users still property onto hope.

There's too a full range of bug updates and fixes bachelor hither. One noteworthy patch defenseless my eye: "We stock-still an upshot resulting in explorer.exe using an unexpectedly loftier amount of CPU in recent flights when certain apps such as Microsoft Border were running." This is something I've periodically seen happen on my own Windows 10 installation if Edge is left running. Hopefully today's update fixes that issue.

GM-TP

I last tidbit: The previously added Game Monitor pick, which appears to be some kind of global anti-cheat software production, has been renamed "TruePlay," merely is not currently agile. While it'southward meant to prevent player cheating, it's not clear if this is a programmer-centric initiative to provide hooks and executable monitoring at the Os level, or if MS sees the characteristic as something they might require to allow Xbox One'due south and PCs to play against each other in multi-role player. There are other options besides, merely the company has been mum on what its plans are.