14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released a new Windows 10 build to insiders in the Fast ring (not Skip Ahead) as it prepares to finalize the development of the Fall Creators Update (also known as Redstone 3).
Build 16288 comes without a watermark in the lower right-hand corner and is listed as version 1709, which is the version number that the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is going to use when launching for users in the production ring.
Microsoft, however, says this is not the final build, as work on Redstone 3 continues and more fixes are scheduled to go live before the October 17 launch.
“We’re just now beginning the phase of checking in final code to prepare for the final release. So we will have more builds to release to Windows Insiders between now and then. And the desktop watermark may re-appear in these builds,” Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider program, explained.
No new features, just bug fixes
Just as expected, this build does not bring any new features, but only bug fixes and refinements for the operating system, and this makes perfect sense since we’re so close to the RTM build.
For example, build 16288 introduces Windows Shell improvements, like Start menu tweaks to address bugs with the letters used to jump to different locations and not working consistently in the last few builds. There are also input improvements, as well as several Microsoft Edge fixes, including for an issue that caused the tab preview for PDFs to turn black with two white stripes.
You can check the full release notes in the box after the jump, but keep in mind that this is still work in progress and certain bugs might also exist in this build. Microsoft has promised to let everyone know when the final build is compiled, so look forward to the next few weeks for the RTM.