14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just shipped the very first Windows 10 Redstone 3 build to insiders in the Fast ring, and this marks the beginning of another chapter for the company’s operating system, only a couple of days after shipping the Creators Update as a manual download.
Redstone 3 is the next big thing for Windows 10 and build 16170 is the one that officially marks the beginning of development, even though other builds were previously spotted as well.
Just as expected, work on Redstone 3 will advance slowly at first and no big changes would be implemented in the first builds, with Microsoft trying to improve OneCore and pave the way for bigger updates, such as an UI overhaul as part of the internally codenamed Project NEON.
No big changes at first
Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider program, explains today that this is indeed the plan, as the new development branch is now in its early days for the next chapter of Windows 10.
“You won’t see many big noticeable changes or new features in new builds just yet. That’s because right now, we’re focused on making some refinements to OneCore and doing some code refactoring and other engineering work that is necessary to make sure OneCore is optimally structured for teams to start checking in code. This also means more bugs and other issues that could be slightly more painful to live with,” she said.
The first Windows 10 Redstone 3 builds are also likely to be buggier, so insiders are recommended to reconsider their settings, especially if they want to remain part of the preview program. The Fast ring will bring more issues at first, so switching to the Slow ring could be a good idea right now.
Redstone 3 is projected to launch in the fall, though it’s too early to discuss the release date at this point. Unfortunately, development of Redstone 3 starts with the focus again on PCs, so mobile devices are more or less left behind one more time. There’s still no word on a mobile build just yet, but if everything goes well, the first Redstone 3 build for Windows 10 Mobile should ship next week.