The next Windows 10 build was released today, but unlike most builds, this one was released to the Windows Insider Fast Ring and Slow Ring at the same time. This makes a strong statement that the OS is nearly finished, and the changes in build 10240 support that.
The Fast Ring and Slow Ring system that Microsoft uses to release project builds of its software was set up as a safety measure for Windows Insiders. The builds released to the Fast Ring are more experimental and may prove to be completely unstable. Those who decide to get the Fast Ring releases typically do so because they want to test the latest changes, and they usually know how to get out of trouble should it arise.
The Slow Ring builds on the other hand, are typically more stable. These traditionally go through a series of tests from Fast Ring users before being passed along, and for that reason they ultimately have fewer defects. This is usually better for users who don't know how to fix major problems that arise, but still want to test some of the latest features that prove to be stable.
By releasing a build to both Rings, Microsoft is making a strong statement that the latest build is stable and will function for everyone. This is reinforced by one of the changes made to this build version: the build number and watermarks have been removed from the desktop. This shows Microsoft is really working on the final touches, polishing the OS before it is sent out to the world.
The major feature of this build is a performance enhancement to Microsoft Edge, formerly known as the Project Spartan browser. Microsoft tested the JavaScript performance of the browser against the competition using several benchmarks and claimed that Edge is now significantly faster than the others. Microsoft claimed:
- On Webkit Sunspider, Edge is 112 percent faster than Chrome
- On Google Octane, Edge is 11 percent faster than Chrome
- On Apple JetStream, Edge is 37 percent faster than Chrome
Although we cannot test these numbers ourselves, it is probably safe to say that the version of Edge inside of Build 10240 has significantly improved over previous builds.
The version of Microsoft Office included with this build also went through a series of changes according to Microsoft, expanding the overall feature set of the software suite.
It should be noted that all updates and builds as of Monday will not be available as separate downloads, but must be updated through the Windows Update system. To get the update, simply wait, and Windows will automatically update at some point as usual, or you can manually check for the update using the Windows Update service.
Microsoft stated that it is getting close to the finished product with this release, and given that July 29 is only two weeks away, that is exactly what we want to hear. Everyone is ready to move to Windows 10 and leave Windows 8/8.1 far behind.
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