14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just released a new Windows 10 build for insiders in the Fast ring, as it started testing several new features that are supposed to be part of the final version of the Creators Update rolling out in the spring.
Currently exclusively available on PCs, Windows 10 build 14986 is one of the biggest releases so far and integrates plenty of new Cortana features.
First and foremost, starting with this new build, the personal assistant finally supports voice commands to turn off the computer or change volume level. You can ask Cortana to restart, lock, or simply put the system to sleep without even touching the PC.
Furthermore, there are several new supported voice commands for music playback, and Cortana now comes with natural language compatibility for iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio. The personal assistant will work both on the lock screen and when the PC is locked, Microsoft says. So starting with this build, you can ask Cortana to play a specific artist, track, title, or genre on a certain app.
“What’s Playing” voice command is also supported, and the personal assistant can now tell you the name of the song you’re listening to.
New Edge extensions
There’s also music recognition support for Chinese (Simplified), full-screen support when idle, as well as Cortana sign-in using Azure Active Directory identity.
This new build also includes improved Windows Game Bar full-screen support, with Microsoft adding 19 additional games that support this feature, including Fallout 4, Civilization V, Mafia 2, Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Mad Max.
Windows Ink, which is one of Microsoft’s top focuses these days, got its own share of improvements, so it now comes with options to resume previous screen sketches, finer control over ruler rotation, and updated Ink flyout visuals.
There’s also a brand new Windows Defender dashboard (which we’ve seen before at Microsoft’s hardware event in October), as well as Narrator improvements and… brand new Microsoft Edge extensions! Ebates, Intel TrueKey, and Read & Write are all new in Windows 10 build 14986 and can be installed from the Store just like all the other extensions.
Just like it happens with all the other PC builds released as part of the Windows Insider program, there are also several other improvements and known issues, and you can check them out in the box below.