14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 build 9888 was leaked earlier today and now we have the very first screenshots confirming that this new version is real and can be installed on all computers out there.
First and foremost, it's worth noting that Windows 10 build 9888 is not an official release and the version that's currently available for download is not intended for users, as it was initially shipped to a Microsoft partner.
And still, it works really well and doesn't seem to come with too many bugs, which could be an indication that Microsoft has recently completed its development and might plan to ship it to all users in early 2015, when the next update for Windows 10 TP is expected to be released.
What's new in build 9888
The first thing you might notice after installing Windows 10 build 9888 is the new look of the Start menu, as it no longer changes its color based on the existing OS theme but remains blue, just like the built-in PC settings screen available in the Modern UI.
Speaking of the PC settings screen, it now has its very own search box that triggers the search charm and allows you to look for configuration settings on your computer, but also for more information online. As you can see in the photo gallery after the article, the search box doesn't seem to be too polished, and some visual tweaks might still be needed to make it look a bit more appealing.
At the same time, Microsoft also implemented unified context menus which can now be seen when right-clicking the taskbar. The rest of the operating system still comes with the classic context menus, but this early step is living proof that the company is working to tweak this particular feature everywhere across the OS.
Windows 10 build 9888 also comes with new animations when maximizing windows on the desktop, and everything now seems to run more smoothly and visual effects are better integrated into the operating system.
Last but not least, this is the very first Technical Preview release that makes the jump to kernel version 10 and all future releases will adopt the same version, according to sources.
Obviously, this change could indeed cause some software compatibility issues on computers running it, but Microsoft has already started work with developers to make sure that everything will run smoothly when the stable version of Windows 10 comes out. According to sources, this should happen in mid-2015, after reaching RTM stage in spring.
