14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just released Windows 10 build 10041, a new version of the Windows Technical Preview that brings a long list of improvements for Windows insiders.
Coming after build 9926, which was launched in late January, Windows 10 build 10041 is only available for users who are subscribed to the fast ring, and is expected to become available to the slow channel in the coming weeks. At the same time, Redmond is also planning to release new ISOs, but only when the build is launched for the slow ring.
Plenty of new features
The new build comes with improvements for the Start menu and the Start screen, including transparency effects that were previously included in the leaked build 10036. At the same time, you can now drag and drop apps from the All Apps or the most used app list to pin them to Start.
The Task view feature also comes with a number of enhancements, including options to quickly create a new desktop by simply dragging a window to the plus icon on the multiple desktops bar.
There’s also a network fly-out from the taskbar that allows you to quickly access network settings and connect to new wireless networks, while the Photos app can now work with RAW format files created by the majority of cameras out there. New keyboard shortcuts are also available and Microsoft assures us that more will be added in the coming weeks.
The lock screen has also been revamped to come with a new layout, but Microsoft says that it’s only experimenting and the design you can see in build 10041 is not final.
“We often hear feedback around the learning curve when it comes to a big new release. To make things easier, we’re experimenting with the Lock screen as a place to share some ‘did you knows’ as well as tips and tricks to help people learn Windows 10,” the company adds.
Needless to say, build 10041 also fixes a number of bugs from build 9926, including an issue that created a boot selection menu with an option to roll back to a previous Windows installation.
Windows 10 build 10041 is available through the integrated update feature, so go over to Windows Update, click on Preview builds, and hit the “Check” button to start the download process.