14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 10 version 1903 (codenamed 19H1) to insiders in the Fast ring.
Windows 10 build 18317 introduces several major changes to the Windows desktop, including separation of search and Cortana.
The decision to make the search feature a standalone tool in Windows 10 basically makes the digital assistant a second-class citizen in the operating system and is very likely to reduce the exposure of Cortana overall.
Another important change in this build concerns the Start menu, which now gets its very own process called StartMenuExperienceHost.exe.
“This has a number of benefits, including simplifying debugging and insulating Start from potential issues impacting other surfaces. This has been running as an experiment for a few weeks now and we’ve seen measurable improvements in the reliability amongst those that have the change, so we’re rolling it out to everyone,” Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider program, explains.
WSL issue
Fonts are also getting new tweaks with support for drag and drop in the Settings app for quick installation, while the Windows Insider Program settings page has been simplified with a more straightforward approach in the main menu.
Microsoft has introduced multiple Windows Console updates, including lots of fixes for the issues reported lately, as well as improved performance in certain scenarios.
As it is the case of all the other builds, there are several other general changes and refinements, as well as many known issues, and you can check the full release notes in the box after the jump.
In terms of bugs coming with this build, there’s one important line that you need to keep in mind, as it affects the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Microsoft explains:
“Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) will likely cause a bugcheck (GSOD) when using certain Linux binaries such as VI and tar. If you require WSL to work, please pause taking flights until the issue is fixed.”
Windows 10 version 1903 is projected to be finalized in March and then released to everyone in April.