The next big feature update for Windows 10 is arriving imminently.
The next big feature update for Windows 10 is on its way.
After a brief hiccup, Windows 10 version 1803, the April 2018 Update, is ready to begin rolling out to the first wave of PCs. (For details, see "Microsoft's Windows 10 April 2018 Update arrives on Monday.")[1]
This is the fifth feature update since the initial public release of Windows 10 in mid-2015. And, as with each previous update, your choice now is to decide when you want to install what is essentially a full upgrade to Windows 10. (If you'd rather delay the update while you prepare for it, see this article: Windows 10 April 2018 Update: Act fast to delay this big upgrade[2].)
In this post (adapted from a gallery first published several weeks ago[3]), I highlight some of the features you can expect to see in version 1803.
A few architectural improvements will be of interest to enterprises, including changes in how the update gets installed. You'll also see some major changes in the design of Windows interface elements using so-called fluent design.
Less abrupt updates
One of the most common complaints about earlier feature updates is that the update arrives unexpectedly and commandeers the system for an hour or more, usually at a time when the PC's owner is unprepared for it.
This update addresses that complaint in two ways.
First, there are additional options to warn that the update is about to be installed, with options to schedule the installation for a convenient time.
Second, most of the update takes place in the background, which means that the visible part will