Microsoft released Windows Insider Build 14383 of Windows 10 for desktop PCs and phones on Thursday, saying it’s beginning to check in final code for the Anniversary Update of Windows 10. The build largely focuses on squashing bugs before the software ships to hardware makers and consumers on August 2.
One significant update is cosmetic: the desktop “watermark” that includes the version number has been removed, stamping the build with a look and feel of final code.
“It’s feeling like ship season around here and we can’t wait to see what you think of this build,” Dona Sarkar, the Microsoft software engineer in charge of the Insider Program at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post.
Why this matters: Microsoft hasn’t said how many public Insider builds remain until Micosoft signs off on the AU code and ships it to hardware partners. In part, Sarkar has said via Twitter, that’s up to Insiders. It’s possible Insiders will get to vote on whether a particular build is stable enough to be considered shipping code. What we know, though, is that Microsoft is getting down to the wire. It’s also important to note that Microsoft’s Windows Partner Conference takes place next week in Toronto, and Microsoft would almost certainly like to announce shipping code by then.
The final stretch
Microsoft said earlier this month the company would ship the Anniversary Update on August 2. To prepare, Microsoft has been busy seeding Insider beta builds to testers. Microsoft has also set a series of “quests” for Insiders to pursue, largely standardized tasks that Microsoft is using to help squash bugs.
The new build doesn’t have much in the way of feature improvements. The most significant of note is a change in the keyboard shortcut for invoking Cortana. In listening mode, users will now need to type Shift + Win +C (as opposed to just Win + C) to invoke Cortana. Other fixes to the PC build include properly linking to the Store to get Edge updates, improvements to the way Bluetooth mice interact with Windows, and a fix for a memory leak that plagued Edge with the LastPass password manager installed.
Microsoft also fixed several bugs in the mobile build, including one that consumed inordinate amounts of battery when a user flicked on the phone display to look at the Glance screen. Another bug failed to acknowledge the proximity sensor on the phone, leading to cases of butt-dialing and other unexpected key presses when the phone was in a pocket. A bug where mute wouldn’t work on other devices was also fixed.
A full list of bugs and features are in Microsoft’s blog post.
