14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is very close to completing the work on another major Windows 10 feature update, as the final build of version 2004, also known as May 2020 Update, has recently been shipped to users enrolled in the Release Preview ring of the Windows Insider program.
The Release Preview ring is typically updated when new feature updates are ready for rollout, as Microsoft only ships builds that are nearly production-ready to this channel.
Microsoft has also confirmed recently that this latest RP ring update could be the final build of Windows 10 version 2004 that it ships to insiders:
“We are now getting the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (20H1) ready for release and releasing Build 19041.207 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. We believe that Build 19041.207 is the final build and we will continue to improve the overall experience of the May 2020 Update on customers’ PCs as part of our normal servicing cadence.”
I’ve been running Windows 10 version 2004 build 19041.207, the one that’s said to be the RTM, for nearly a week now, and here are the three big things that I noticed.
First and foremost, there are lots of new features to try out in this feature update. I’ve been part of the Fast ring from the very beginning, so these aren’t new to me, but I’m pretty sure those who haven’t tried out preview builds of version 2004 will be impressed.
For example, the new version comes with the second-generation Windows Subsystem for Linux, Windows Search refinements, including search suggestions as you type in File Explorer, configuration files for Windows Sandbox, GPU temperature in Task Manager, Bluetooth improvements, and so many refinements to the Settings screen.
I don’t really have a favorite, but what’s worth mentioning is that Windows 10 version 2004 feels like a clear evolution of the Windows 10 experience, and these new features are more than welcome on the OS. They will all contribute to a welcome refresh for Windows 10, and users who want a modern experience from one end of the another should be pleased with this new release.
Second of all, Windows 10 version 2004 feels a very polished release, as everything appears to be running quite smoothly. Every time I think about a Windows 10 flop, I go back to reminding everyone how disappointing everything has been with the October 2019 Update, the one that Microsoft shipped and then pulled only a few days later after discovering a bug potentially causing the removal of user files.
While there’s no guarantee such a bug doesn’t exist in version 2004, everything is very responsive and I really can’t complain of things like performance hiccups or anything like that.
And third of all, the May 2020 Update is living proof that Microsoft has learned from its own mistakes and is listening to users to further polish its OS.
The new optional update experience that will be offered in Windows 10 version 2004 gives users the power to update their drivers from a dedicated screen in Windows Update. Previously, doing this came down to a rather inconvenient method that involved the Device Manager, so things are getting a lot more straightforward now in version 2004.
Microsoft has always promised to build Windows 10 based on user feedback, and the new May 2020 Update is living proof this is happening. Maybe it’s not yet taking place exactly how users expect, but the good news is that this new feature update makes Windows 10 overall significantly better from one end to another.