Microsoft Delivers Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 14342

On Monday night, Microsoft announced a new Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build. As you might expect, this build includes some new features and fixes, but it also introduces a new versioning scheme and supports more handset models than previous builds.

First, let’s talk versioning. Microsoft says the build number here is 14342, which of course corresponds to the PC build that it released last week. Normally, this build would appear as version 10.0.14342.1001 in Settings, but it appears Microsoft is changing things up–it’s not clear—so it will instead appear as version 10.0.0.1001. As in “version 10.0, build 1001,” I guess.

OK, new phones are supported now too.

“We are excited to announce that we have added 3 new devices to the list of devices capable of receiving updates from our Development Branch as part of the Windows Insider Program,” Microsoft’s Gabe Aul noted. These new devices are the Lumia Icon, BLU Win HD LTE 150e, and BLU Win JR 130e.

So that’s good news. As for new features, there are just a few, and they will look familiar to anyone using the PC build:

Swipe navigation in Microsoft Edge. As requested, Microsoft has brought swipe gestures for navigate back and forward to Edge. This was previously a feature of Mobile IE in earlier Windows Phone OSes. Now, you can now swipe anywhere on the page to go back to the previous web page.

Infrastructure for apps for websites. You can’t really do anything with this now, but Microsoft has added the underlying capability to redirect certain web sites to open with an app instead. You will see a new page in Settings, System called Apps for Websites that will eventually let you manage this feature.

Feedback Hub improvements. When you create new feedback, the Feedback Hub will now suggest categories and sub-categories based on the title and description you entered.

In addition to these new features, build 14342, or 1001, or whatever it is, includes a number of fixes, all of which are documented in Microsoft’s blog post. There are a few known issues as well, including some issues with dual SIM devices.

Oh, and Wi-Fi Sense is gone now, too, just as it is on the PC side of the fence. Same BS reason.