14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially introduced the new so-called Unified Update Platform (UUP), which is the company’s latest attempt to make Windows 10 updates smaller and faster on both PCs and smartphones.
In essence, UUP is a new technology that makes it possible for Windows 10 devices to download only the changes that have been implemented since the previous update, which should significantly improve the delivery of large OS updates, as is the case of the upcoming Creators Update due in early 2017. These differential updates thus make it possible to receive only the latest improvements and not a full OS build.
UUP will be available on PCs and smartphones powered by Windows 10, but not on Xbox One consoles, as Microsoft is not shipping updates via Windows Updates here.
The company explains that download size can be decreased by as much as 35 percent, which is definitely a big achievement and comes in handy especially for users with slow Internet or limited bandwidth.
Faster checking for updates
Microsoft says that it’s also working on making checking for updates more efficient by changing how the system works on Windows 10 devices.
“We are reducing the update data sent to client devices as well as the amount of processing we are doing on devices, this especially important for devices built on the Mobile OS. Using UUP, when your device checks for updates, the Windows Update service will evaluate which updates are needed by a given device,” the company explained.
“The Windows Update service then returns these updates to the device for download and install. Because more processing is being done by the service, this will lead to faster checks for update operations.”
The new UUP is currently available for testing on mobile devices for Windows insiders and makes its debut with Windows 10 build 14959, but all users should be able to see it at work in the upcoming Creators Update due in the spring. Obviously, the system is expected to receive several improvements in the coming months before the Creators Update goes live, and insiders will be the first to try them out.