Download the new Windows 10 April update. New game menu design

Greetings, friends. April 9, 2018 Microsoft company, according to preliminary data available at that time, was supposed to officially introduce the next major update, completing the history of insider builds of the Redstone 4 branch. It was supposed to be called Spring Creators Update - spring creative update translated from English. By this date, we have reviewed the main innovations of the update, but it official release it took a couple of weeks. And so, on April 30, this release took place. Functionally, nothing has changed in it; Microsoft has only been improving the stability of the system all this time. The version of Windows 10 has just changed: current version Windows 10 1709 (Fall Creator's Update) was replaced by version 1803, but with the marketing name not Spring Creators Update, as previously assumed, but with the name - April 2018 Update . In this regard, we present an updated version of the review of the next cumulative update of Windows 10. What new products has Microsoft prepared for us in the April 2018 Update?

Fluent Design

Spring update"Tens" continued the process of introducing a new interface style Fluent Design, started in the last update Fall Creators Update. Let me remind you that this is an evolutionary external design style of the operating system with an acrylic effect that replaced Metro UI. The acrylic effect has been slightly improved, it is now more rich, and the interface itself is more interactive.

Fluent Design has already redesigned the Start menu, notification center, and browser Microsoft Edge, applications "Skype", "Mail", "Calendar", etc. In the April 2018 Update, their range was replenished with the standard "Options", the "People" panel, the OneNote, "Voice Recording" applications, etc.

Timeline

Timeline is the brightest new product of the April 2018 Update. This is a feed of recent activity in the form of a timeline and snapshots of programs that we worked with on all authorized with account Microsoft devices. According to Microsoft, this is an extremely useful feature that will allow us to subsequently return to previously interrupted actions - web surfing, working with documents, etc. Timeline is launched by the task view button (or the Win+Tab keys) and is displayed under the currently active windows.

Timeline currently only works with standard Windows functionality 10 – Microsoft Edge browser, some built-in UWP applications, Notepad, products Microsoft Office. In the future, it is planned to expand software support for Timeline, as well as implement the function itself on mobile devices. You can manage it in “Settings” along the path “Privacy” - “Action Log”. Unchecking the action collection option will correspondingly disable the Timeline.

So, friends, if you have something to hide from your loved ones, remember that another system area has appeared in the “Ten” that can compromise you.

Options

Both Fluent Design and some new organization, and new functionality. The spring update transferred to the application some settings that were previously located in the Control Panel, and also replenished the “Settings” with completely new features and options. Settings in separate sections Now there are so many that they had to be organized into thematic categories.

What settings appear in “Options”? Standard autoload, previously implemented only in the manager Windows tasks, got its analogue in “Options”. In the UWP application format, you can remove programs from startup and assign them back using the On/Off switch.

Other system function, which received its analogue in the “Settings” application - sound settings.

Another system feature that was previously found only in the Control Panel, but is now alternatively implemented in the Settings application, is Windows fonts. Moreover, fonts were even given the honor of becoming part of the system’s personalization. Fonts can now be viewed and deleted in personalization settings. And not only that: a direct link from the settings will take you to the Microsoft Store, where you can install more fonts into the system.

TO individual settings We will return to “Parameters” below when considering the new functions of “Ten”.

Microsoft Edge

Staff Microsoft browser Edge traditionally receives a portion of new features in cumulative updates, but this time the new features are ambiguous: some of them are really useful, some are not so much. The browser has learned to automatically insert user data into payment forms, prohibit saving passwords on websites, work with extensions in InPrivate mode and insert remembered passwords. Added an option to mute a tab to the context menu in Edge tabs. The most sensible innovation is the reorganization of the section with bookmarks, reading list, magazine and downloads. Now these sections are located vertically as a separate panel. Much more usable than the flat row of buttons as before.

The browser's reading mode has been slightly improved. The function of reproducing text by voice began to work for it (however, there is still no support for third-party voice engines), the ability to adjust intervals and a function to simplify reading were added. What is the Reading Ease feature? This is a feature as part of the reading mode that can break words into syllables, color nouns lilac, verbs red, adjectives green. Moreover, so far only the breakdown of words into syllables works for the Russian language.

A strange feature, of course. Obviously not a Must Have in the browser staff. Is there really nothing more to add to Microsoft Edge?

Among other innovations:

Improvements for PDF and EPUB reader mode;

Start of support Progressive Web Apps – web application technologies similar to how it is implemented in Google Chrome;

Improvements for touchpad gestures;

Implementation of Web Media Extensions - a package of OGG Vorbis and Theora codecs for media content.

Focusing attention

The Do Not Disturb button in the notification center has become a Focus button in the April 2018 Update. This is new Windows function 10 for fine tuning system and software notifications. They can now be disabled according to priority. The button has two operating modes:

Alerts only – hides all notifications except the alarm;

Only priority is hiding all notifications except the alarm clock and the list of favorite applications.

You can fine-tune “Attention Focus” in “Options”. IN required section settings, by the way, can be accessed via a direct link in the button’s context menu.

In the settings of the function, you can select its automatic activation at a time from 23.00 to 7.00, when duplicating the screen on a second monitor, during games.

Language packs

Language packs will no longer be delivered to the system through the Update Center. In Windows 10, from now on they will be implemented from the Microsoft Store, and the process of downloading them will be many times faster. To download a language pack in “Options” you need to click “Add language”, select desired language, click “Next”.

In the next window, you can immediately assign it to the interface language, and then click “Install”. The package download progress is tracked in the Microsoft Store window.

There is now a separate option to change the interface language.

Setting up two video cards

Before the April 2018 Update, the operation of two video cards was configured using the video driver. Now this feature is implemented in Windows 10 - in the “Settings” application along the path “Display” - “Graphics Settings”. Here, on laptops with integrated graphics and a discrete video card, you can set which device will work with which software. For added UWP applications and desktop programs, we can choose either an energy-saving video card or a high-performance one.

And such system settings will take precedence over the Nvidia or Catalyst Control Center settings.

Fixing blurry fonts

Blur Fix Theme Windows fonts 10 wanders from update to update throughout the existence of the latest version of the system. Let me remind you that the “Ten” introduced a different scaling algorithm from previous versions, the transition to which brought a lot of trouble and dragged on for years. To adapt the new scaling algorithm, a lot of work has already been done by both the creators of Windows 10 and third-party software developers. And in the April 2018 Update we will see another solution for those who still have the system interface or individual programs remains blurry and indistinct. Moreover, Windows 10 itself will offer us this solution.

By clicking “Apply” we will be taken to the “Options” section, where we can activate the option to correct blur.

Fresh update Spring Creators Update got to my desktop too. Microsoft has stepped onto the slippery slope of copying macOS features, making an attempt to create a friendly ecosystem for everyone.

Looks strange. Interesting and promising. Spring Creators Update succeeded.

P.S. I managed without " blue screens"and crashes, but before updating it is worth raising the relevant topics on thematic resources.

Chronicle: history of actions for window menus

The most noticeable change in the Spring Creators Update was the redesigned program menu, called via Win+Tab. Previously, here you could see the tiles of all running applications, and below them - the desktop tiles.

Now Win+Tab displays windows, table tiles, and “Chronicle”: history running files, applications and web pages. History supported for:

• office and text files;
• multimedia files indicating the programs through which they were opened;
• pages opened in the browser (works exactly with Edge for Chromium projects).

If you use a Microsoft account on multiple computers, enable the appropriate permissions in system settings, you can view the general history from each of them.

The maximum depth of the list is limited to a time interval of one month. The number of connected devices is unlimited.

When using third-party applications, some files and tabs are not included in the work history. Microsoft representatives themselves guarantee correct operation Office, Edge, and Windows Store apps only.

Important point: V previous versions system to call the menu you need to hold down Win+Tab. Now a single press is enough. Exit by pressing again or pressing the Esc key.

Sound and video: everything you need

The updated Windows 10 Spring Creators Update received an advanced audio manager. Previously, system settings only controlled the volume levels of inputs and outputs. Now the slider gets every running application or a copy thereof.

Conditionally: when you launch 5 identical audio players, you can adjust the volume of each.

Internet viewer tabs are displayed with a single slider. The exception is Chrome and other browser applications that are launched as a separate process. You can listen Google Music and turn off the sound in the browser so as not to hear advertising.

Another important change affected the work with 3D graphics “out of the box”: now resource-intensive applications can be assigned a specific video accelerator ( Settings -> System -> Display -> Graphics Settings). Previously, for this, as well as for sound routing, it was necessary to use third-party utilities.

The menu contains applications for which, according to Microsoft, you can determine a more powerful video card. If necessary, you can specify a specific EXE file.


Using the settings, the conditional Photoshop will launch on the discrete one, and the desktop will continue to work on the integrated one.

Of course, provided that both cards are Nvidia. Otherwise, the system will completely switch to one card.

A number of programs and certain functions may work worse on a discrete card than on an integrated one. Such tasks include, for example, H.264/265 video decoding.

Updated system utilities and wireless connectivity

The system has finally learned to clear the cache and search for temporary or unnecessary files. Previously, for complete cleaning it was necessary to use third-party cleaning programs.

A similar function existed in the form of the “Disk Cleanup” subsection in the drive properties. Now its functions are performed from one window for the entire system. In addition, the user can remove outdated system files and even past Windows installations, which are known to eat up a huge amount of hard space.

The second advanced feature in system settings is the Startup menu ( “Settings” -> “Applications” -> “Startup”), with which you can disable unnecessary applications, starting with the system. It’s a small thing, but sometimes you had to work hard to turn off unnecessary things.

It will be useful to use the “Focus Attention” mode ( “Options” -> “System” -> “Focus”), which disables all notifications according to a template - system and third-party applications.

It was interesting to try out the sensational function new feature to share files called Near Share. Similar AirDrop from Apple and Files To Go from Google have been in use for a long time.


Although rumors spoke of the possibility of transferring files over Wi-Fi, the function only works via Bluetooth, and only from context menu Edge and Explorer. It turns out that we have exactly the same file exchange, but without a couple of intermediate screens.

The interface itself for pairing 2 devices received a similar acceleration: now it’s enough to transfer external device and place it next to the computer under Windows control 10.

The system will automatically recognize the device and show the request, bypassing the Access Options application. But only for those devices whose manufacturers have provided support. That is, it doesn't work yet.

Multimedia and entertainment options

Microsoft is actively promoting its own 3D editors. Now built-in Windows tools 10 allows you not only to create your own paintings - they now have the ability to add three-dimensional figures, objects from the Remix 3D library, or edit finished photos in 3D through the Photos application.

And this is not the only solution in the spirit of modern realities. The company has finally taken care of users using modern monitors: Only now Windows has received the correct interface optimization for high DPI and support HDR, including for streaming video(first appeared in the Insader Preview build in winter).


For iPhone (albeit Android) users, the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update introduced image viewing in High Efficiency Image File(HEIF) And High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) through the Photos app.

Many years later, Microsoft implemented the ability to install additional languages ​​and, more importantly, fonts in Windows store. Comfortable? Not that word.

Finally, we can mention that the emoji keyboard is now like in a smartphone: it can be called up in any layout, and supports search. Just press Windows + F and start typing the right word how the system will suggest suitable options.

How important is it?

In light of Microsoft's recent announcements that it is no longer focused on Windows, the Spring Creators Update may be the last proper update, despite plans to modernize it.

Not surprising. The colossal work of the team is increasingly expressed in minor updates and visualizations.

The integration of 3D editors, augmented reality applications and other cutting-edge features in reality does not provide any practical benefit. These technologies are far from the masses, and those who need them use other software.

Microsoft has officially released the long-awaited major update for its Windows 10 operating system.

As the developers note, the main goal this update– give users more time to do what they really like: create, play, work.

What's new?

Timeline

One of the innovations last update Windows 10 has a Timeline feature. It allows you to find important information among various devices user for the last 30 days.

For example, if a user was looking for something interesting for him during a trip using an Android smartphone, then he will be able to find the same material from his laptop. Supports data synchronization for Microsoft Edge and Office 365 when authorizing your account Microsoft records on mobile devices on iOS or Android.

Focus Assist

Another interesting innovation is the Focus Assist function, which allows you to turn off incoming notifications from email, social networks and other services in those moments when you need to fully concentrate on work.

You can activate the blocking according to a schedule in the settings or through the notification panel. If necessary, you can add exceptions to the blocking so as not to miss important work events and messages. After disabling the blocking, the user will receive all missed notifications immediately.

Microsoft Edge

Updated Microsoft version Edge is designed to help you focus on important tasks. For this purpose, an icon has been added to block sound playback on the tab. Can also be viewed in full screen mode e-books, PDF files, and Reading View pages to avoid distractions.

For those who often make purchases online, we have added the option safe storage and auto-filling of details. Finally, for those who read a lot, a Grammar Tools button has been added, which allows you to make your writing easier to understand, such as breaking words into syllables or highlighting different parts of speech such as nouns, verbs and adjectives.

Dictation

With the updated Dictation function, the user can take voice notes or dictate texts, and the OS automatically transforms the voice into text. This feature is supported for any application with text input fields. Just press the Win+H key combination and start talking.

Other innovations

The functionality of the virtual assistant Cortana has also been improved, which can now be used to control devices smart home directly from your computer using voice commands.

Additionally, it is reported that there are simplified IT management tools for corporate users, new opportunities for creating photographs, working with 3D and Windows Mixed Reality, and a number of other improvements.

How to update?

The update is scheduled to begin this evening (April 30), at approximately 19:00 Moscow time and Kyiv (10:00 Redmond time). During the first week of April 2018 Update will be available only through Media Creation Tool and Update Assistant, so you will not be able to download the update through Windows Update. 1803 will appear there only starting from May 8th.

Windows 10 updates are sent out in waves. This means that a handful of computers will be able to update immediately, others will update in a day or two, others in a week, and others in a month. This approach is explained by Microsoft's desire to make the update procedure as stable as possible. Developers are studying telemetry information and analyzing the compatibility of the new OS version with various configurations. If a conflict or problem occurs, the update is blocked for certain computer variants. In this way, the company insures itself and its users against unexpected bugs.

If you don't want to wait and are sure that everything will be fine with your computer, then you can update immediately on the first day the update launches.

Option 1: Update Assistant

The simplest way that allows you to install a new Windows version in fact, in a couple of clicks. Download the official Update Assistant application from the link, and then run the installation file. Then you will see that there is one more application in the system - the same Update Assistant has appeared.

A window prompting you to upgrade from the Anniversary Update to the Creators Update. The transition to the April 2018 Update will look the same.

Run it and the application will analyze your computer and make sure it meets the requirements. If the April 2018 Update is already available when you check, the Update Assistant will prompt you to download it. After downloading, the computer will restart and install the downloaded update. In fact, Update Assistant works just as easily as Windows Update.

Option 2: Media Creation Tool

More difficult option, but still a method accessible to 99% of users, regardless of level technical knowledge Windows. Using this tool, the user can update the current operating system in a couple of clicks or create boot disk for a clean installation of Windows or updating it.

1. Download Media Creation Tool from the official Windows 10 website.
2. Run the downloaded utility, agree to the terms license agreement and in the first step, select the option you need. If you only need to update your PC while maintaining all data, select Upgrade this PC now. For creating bootable flash drive or drive select Create installation media.

1. By selecting Update this PC now, your computer will download the update and then reboot to install it.
2. The download should take between fifteen minutes and an hour, depending on the power of your computer and the speed of the drive.

Option 3: win-win

Just wait until your computer downloads the update itself via Windows Update. It's a win-win. The system will download the April 2018 Update when Microsoft determines that your computer meets all the requirements and there are no conflicts during installation. Windows will download all update files in the background (outside of active hours) and notify you when they are ready to install.

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On April 30, Microsoft began distributing the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803). This is the fifth major update to Windows 10, and it brings changes and new functionality to enhance security, privacy, speed and productivity.

In version 1803 you will find features like Timeline, Nearby Sharing, new graphic settings. Windows 10 is gradually adding more Fluent Design elements to the Start menu, taskbar, Settings app, and other places in the system. Users are given more control over their privacy, with the ability to view and delete telemetry data and prevent apps from accessing files. The Settings app has also received quite a few changes, including new section to manage fonts, updated Microsoft Edge browser and much more.

The distribution of such updates is always carried out in stages, so not all computer users will receive it on the first day. On April 30, it became available only to those who are willing to install it manually. Only on May 8 will distribution begin in the update center, where some users will receive it several months later. If you don't want to wait, you can do everything yourself.

How to get the April update through the update center

While it's recommended to wait for a notification that the update is ready to install on your device, you can force Windows Update to install it. Do the following:


After completing these Windows steps 10 will begin installing the update like any other, but it will take a little longer.

How to use Update Assistant

Even if your computer is compatible with this update, it may not be available in the update center for many reasons. If you are sure of full compatibility, you can use it to install Updates Assistant. You can do the following:

1. Double click on the Windows10Upgrade.exe file to launch the installation tool.
2. Click the Update Now button.
3. If your device is compatible, click Next to begin the update.
4. Restart your computer.

After completing these steps, Update Assistant will download setup files to update the system, while user files, programs and settings will be saved.
Once the installation process is complete, you need to follow the steps indicated on the screen.

The entire process takes less than an hour, although it depends on the speed of Internet access and computer configuration.

Installation using Media Creation Tool

Another upgrade or clean install option is to use Media Creation Tool. If version 1803 is already available here, you need to do the following:

After completing these steps, the update installation process will begin. If you encounter problems, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB flash drive or perform a clean Windows installation 10.

Microsoft usually makes update installation files available quickly in this tool, but sometimes you have to wait a few days.

Conclusion

At the transition to new version Windows 10 right out of the box has its advantages, but it's generally recommended to take your time and wait for installation via Update. This will ensure that the update is compatible with your software and hardware, and that there are no bugs in the update. It is for this reason that it is being distributed in stages.

At the end of April, Microsoft will release the first major Windows 10 update of 2018. Next version The operating system received the standard name “April 2018 Update,” although more interesting options were expected (“Windows 10 Version Next” or even “Spring Creators Update”). Unlike (autumn 2017), April 2018 Update improves the interface design and existing functions, so this time there is no talk of major innovations.
Despite minimal changes, this spring Windows 10 will become noticeably nicer, both visually and functionally. The editors of Trashbox tested the final build of the upcoming update and prepared a detailed review for you.

The system updates much faster

Every Windows user knows how the update system works, and what errors it sometimes throws you off balance. After the next major update The OS reboot process takes many tens of minutes. Naturally, you cannot use the computer during this time. For some people, this kind of hardware downtime is unaffordable, which is why Microsoft is reducing update times as much as possible. It was also shortened in the April 2018 Update.

New game menu design

The game menu (Options → Games → Game menu), designed for recording and broadcasting game sessions, received a new design in the April 2018 Update. Now the panel is displayed in a dark or light design (depending on the set color mode of the system or selected manually in the parameters) with the Fluent Design transparency effect. In addition, Microsoft has added the long-awaited clock, links to the Xbox gaming profile and the Mixer.com platform, as well as buttons to enable/disable the microphone and camera. Of course, it has become more convenient for gamers.

The menu is launched using the Win+G key combination when using full-screen mode.

Improved People feature

The function of pinning contacts to the taskbar (Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → People) debuted last fall along with the Fall Creators Update and at that time was practically nothing useful. In the April 2018 Update it was slightly improved.

First of all, you can now drag and drop contact thumbnails and arrange them however you want. Maximum amount pins have increased to 10 people, all of whom can be brought to the taskbar (otherwise they are hidden inside the People panel). On top of that, support for several third-party applications from the Microsoft Store has appeared, in particular Unigram, an unofficial client of the Telegram messenger.

Available apps for the People panel

Fonts and languages ​​in the Microsoft Store

In addition to the extensive catalog of free themes for Windows 10, starting with the release of the April 2018 Update, fonts with language packs also became available in the Microsoft Store. Downloading such content from your home app store may seem a little strange, but it is much easier than searching for and downloading from not always reliable third-party sources.

Fonts in the Microsoft Store

Now the number of additional fonts is just over ten, however, it is safe to say that the number will add zeros in the future. Font management is available at: Settings → Personalization → Fonts. Detailed settings allow you to change font sizes, view them in different styles (regular, black, bold, bold italic, italic) and even contain information about the designer/publisher.

Language packs in the Microsoft Store

There are already more than 120 language packages in the Microsoft Store in addition to the built-in database. They are designed for localization Windows interface in different countries of the world. From there you can also download Russian if you bought a computer with a foreign version of Windows 10. Additional language packs are located along the path: Settings → Time and language → Region and language → Languages.

Other innovations

Traditionally, the April 2018 Update has a number of innovations that are not obvious at first glance. There are quite a few of them in the Windows 10 April update, with most of the new features aimed at improving the usability of the operating system.

• Personalize folders in the Start menu. The list of pinned folders in the Start menu can now be personalized directly from there when you click on right button mouse, previously it was necessary to go to the Settings application (Personalization → Start).

• Windows Security . Page " Windows Defender"(Settings → Updates and security) has been renamed to "Windows Security" with a redesigned structure that brings together all areas of device and operating system protection in one place.

• 3D viewing in Paint 3D. New graphics editor Windows 10 has learned to view objects from any angle and from different angles from the application, this should greatly simplify the creation and editing of 3D models.

• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) update. Windows interaction with the embedded Linux subsystem has been improved, support has appeared Visual Studio Code, remote connections and background tasks.

• What's New in the Xbox App.IN gaming service added control of volume and the desired sound device for team chat, standings for Killer Instinct tournaments, broadcasts in clubs and cooperative streaming with friends through the Mixer.com platform.

• Bluetooth Swift Pair. The function provides the ability to instantly pair with Bluetooth devices in one click; at the moment it only works with the proprietary Microsoft Precision Mouse.

• Sign in to Windows using your smartphone (Windows 10 S only). WITH installed application Authenticator A smartphone can be turned into an authentication tool and use its scanner (fingerprint, face) instead of a traditional password.

• Device and app volume settings. Sound Settings now has a full-fledged sound control panel (Settings → System → Sound → Other sound options → Device and app volume settings) that lets you adjust the volume of apps and the speakers or devices they use.

• Improved eye control. Eye tracking technology (Settings → Accessibility → Interaction → Eye Control) has its own action menu for convenient management of the entire list of functions.

• Dictation. As the name suggests, the feature allows you to take notes or compose a document using your voice ( voice input activated by the combination Win+H when the cursor is in the text field of a program or application).

Release date and how to install now

Testing of the April 2018 Update has been completed, the final build is 17134 (version number 1803). The official release of the update for users around the world will take place on Tuesday, May 8, a little earlier (April 30), Microsoft will also publish ISO images in the Media Creation Tool utility. Given that the rollout will be phased, not everyone will be updated on day one, but there is a proven way to install the latest version of Windows 10 now.

The most impatient can take advantage Windows programs Insider, where RTM builds are available in advance through a special “Release Preview” channel. If you are already a member, log in and wait for the update to become available (Settings → Update & Security → Windows Insider Program), otherwise you need to register on the official website insider.windows.com.

• Automatically through the Update Assistant utility.
• Using installation media through the Media Creation Tool utility.