New Windows Insider Build Adds a Few Minor Improvements

Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider Program Dev build, which you’ll recall is not matched to any specific Windows version. But unlike most recent Dev builds, there are a few minor improvements and changes.

They are:

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News and interests comes to more markets. The poorly named “news and interests experience on the taskbar” is now available in “a broader set of international languages and markets.” Previously, it was only available in United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and India. It’s not clear what those languages and markets are; we just know it’s not available in China.

Microsoft Edge replaces Microsoft Edge Legacy. No surprise here, but I suppose the big news is that Legacy Edge is finally gone for good.

Input Method Editor (IME) improvements. Microsoft is redesigning its IME to be more modern, with an optimized font size and quicker access to emoji. Irritatingly, the Insider Program is also A/B testing this change because it hates doing the right thing.

Beyond that, there are several fixes, including this fun one: The display product version is now “Dev” since the Dev channel isn’t matched to any coming Windows 10 version. It is most decidedly not “Windows 10 vNext,” for example. (That would be the Beta channel, normally.)

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Conversation 18 comments

  • Shel Dyck

    12 February, 2021 - 3:38 pm

    <p>perhaps some day Beta will be about vnext rather than 20H2, at which point I'd switch from Dev.</p>

  • dftf

    12 February, 2021 - 3:46 pm

    <p>Yeah, it's pretty confusing thesedays: someone in the forums said his main PC was running the latest stable 20H2 update; yet his test PC, in the Dev program, has the latest February 2021 update, but WINVER reports it as "Version 2004".</p><p><br></p><p>Why can't they just be simple and have three channels: "Next Up", "Beta" and "Alpha". "Next Up" would always be one version ahead; "Beta" would be on the next major version, and "Alpha" two-major versions ahead.</p><p><br></p><p>Examples:</p><p>At present (using 20H2): Stable = 20H2; "Next Up" = 21H1; "Beta" = 21H1; "Alpha" = 22H1</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Once 21H1 goes stable: Stable = 21H1; "Next Up" = 21H2; "Beta" = 22H1; "Alpha" = 23H1</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Once 21H2 goes stable: Stable = 21H2; "Next Up" = 22H1; "Beta" = 22H1; "Alpha" = 23H1</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Once 22H1 goes stable: Stable = 22H1; "Next Up" = 21H2; "Beta" = 23H1; "Alpha" = 24H1</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Beta" and "Alpha" channels only update to the major ("H1") releases; "Next Up" also test the minor ("H2") versions</span></p>

    • flaxcon

      13 February, 2021 - 8:28 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#613047">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p>If they did that and something slipped from 22H1 they would have to listen to people whine about it for months.</p>

  • simont

    Premium Member
    12 February, 2021 - 5:22 pm

    <p>Small typo: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">we just </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">no</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> it’s" which I assume should be: "we just know it's</span></p><p><br></p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      13 February, 2021 - 12:23 pm

      Thanks!

  • winner

    12 February, 2021 - 5:58 pm

    <p>How's that Control Panel/Settings consolidation coming? How about the updating of the Win 98 dialog boxes?</p><p>Oh, wait. </p><p>Microsoft is prioritizing "News and Interests…."</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      12 February, 2021 - 10:53 pm

      <p><a href="https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/247206/new-windows-insider-build-adds-a-few-minor-improvements#613064&quot; target="_blank"><em>In reply to Winner:</em></a></p><p>It comes as a surprise to you that MSFT prioritizes eyewash and annoyanceware over functionality, does it?</p>

    • navarac

      14 February, 2021 - 4:50 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#613064">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>They need to prioritise consistency. Not all this other nonsense. Who wants News &amp; Interests on business desktops? Or 3d crap? etc etc etc</p>

      • Greg Green

        14 February, 2021 - 10:25 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#613169">In reply to navarac:</a></em></blockquote><p>That’s the interesting part. Strategically MS seems to have abandoned the consumer (except for gaming) and is working for businesses, yet the Windows division doesn’t seem to realize this. It’s like they think they're still a phone os that requires regular updates and consumer widgets.</p>

        • navarac

          14 February, 2021 - 1:16 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#613251">In reply to Greg Green:</a></em></blockquote><p>True. I cannot see a business wanting News and Interests – just something to help an employee waste even more time.</p>

  • Matthew Santacroce (InnoTechLLC)

    12 February, 2021 - 6:40 pm

    <p>I thought they were going to stop this stupid A/B testing strategy…. </p>

    • navarac

      14 February, 2021 - 4:46 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#613067">In reply to Matthew_Santacroce_InnoTechLLC:</a></em></blockquote><p>Main reason I quit insiders, and this was before the "non-specific build" Dev builds.. I was wasting my time downloading builds that didn't have the new stuff in. Either have Dev builds or don't. "Placebos" are stupid in this context.</p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    12 February, 2021 - 8:16 pm

    <p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><em>we just </em></strong><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">no</em><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><em> it’s not available in China.</em></strong></p><p>This made it through Grammarly without a warning, did it?</p>

  • jumpingjackflash5

    12 February, 2021 - 11:40 pm

    <p>I've got the feeling that Windows is going nowhere. Maybe it will be just a runtime to run Windows apps, mainly legacy ones. No real new operating system features, no performance improvements done by architecture evolution. No optimization for mobile and battery life (such as even Windows 8.1 was). As others write years of overall inconsistency and Fluent UI remained a promise only. That is pretty sad. I am still running it, but …. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      13 February, 2021 - 2:59 pm

      <p><a href="https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/247206/new-windows-insider-build-adds-a-few-minor-improvements#613085&quot; target="_blank"><em>In reply to jumpingjackflash5:</em></a></p><blockquote>Maybe it will be just a runtime to run Windows apps</blockquote><p>What else would a Windows OS be?</p><p>Who uses Windows in order to revel in how Windows itself works?</p><p>Would it be so bad if MSFT improved things under the hood but made few if any UI changes?</p>

    • reefer2

      14 February, 2021 - 12:48 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#613085">In reply to jumpingjackflash5:</a></em></blockquote><p>It isnt just a feeeling, its for business, nobody else.</p>

    • navarac

      14 February, 2021 - 4:48 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#613085">In reply to jumpingjackflash5:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm only running Windows for gaming now. Switched to Linux 18 months ago on all other machines including a Surface Pro.</p>

      • reefer2

        15 February, 2021 - 12:04 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#613168">In reply to navarac:</a></em></blockquote><p>Same här but only +++ titles. Coming year when Apple completes its Silicon transition, mac here i come, +++ be damed. So tired of Microsoft totally ignoring us consumers. Since, well 95-98-XP era. </p>

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