Redstone is no longer just a mineral in the Minecraft universe; according to WinBeta, it’s the codename for an upcoming major Windows 10 release that’s due next summer.
As WinBeta reports, Redstone will be the next big WIndows 10 update after the upcoming Threshold 2 release. Redstone will include a number of major new features, though Microsoft is reportedly still determining exactly which features to include in the update.
WinBeta does specify two new features in the works, however. One is an extensions feature for Edge that will let third-party developers add features to the browser, much like they can already do for Firefox and Chrome. Microsoft previously announced that this feature would arrive sometime next year.
The other big addition, WinBeta reports, is a feature similar to Continuity on iOS and OS X that makes it easier to move between devices as you work. With Continuity, you can start a task—such as browsing a webpage—on your computer and continue where you left off on your phone. According to WinBeta, Microsoft’s implementation should work similarly, though the report doesn’t provide exact details on how it will function.
Microsoft will provide developers with tools to build this feature into their apps as well, so it won’t be limited to apps that come with Windows 10, according to the report.
The impact on you: With Windows 10, Microsoft has put a big emphasis on unifying its mobile and desktop efforts, so it makes sense that the company would be looking for ways to further reduce the friction involved in jumping between devices. A Continuity-like feature would be a smart addition on Microsoft’s part, and it would nicely complement Windows 10’s Continuum technology, which provides a more consistent user experience across devices and apps that work on phones, tablets, and PCs.