More Windows 10 Changes Unveiled

Microsoft has started public testing on the next major update for Windows 10. Many of the new features are for the Edge browser, but tweaks to security and usability are also on the way.

The changes are now available to members of the Windows Insider program that allows users to act as guinea pigs and try out new features and fixes, albeit with the risk that not everything will always work perfectly. It appears the new features will be rolled out to the general in the spring as part of a major update.

Initially it appeared that update, codenamed "Creators Update" or "Creative Update" would be more about high-tech devices such as touch screens and features, such as 3D image creating. However, the new features that have been revealed appear more practical for home users.

Edge Gets Tab Screen Previews

Microsoft Edge is getting a potentially useful change with the addition of an extended toolbar at the top of the screen. Rather than just showing a list of tabs with their titles and a tiny icon (known as a "favicon"), there will now be a thumbnail graphic for each showing what the entire page looks like, somewhat like a contents section at the front of a magazine. (Source: theverge.com)

Edge is also getting some features that are common in rival browsers. Users can save their list of open tabs so that they can close the entire browser (or even shut down the computer) and then reopen the tabs automatically upon restarting. Edge will also block Flash content by default unless it's from a trusted source; users can still click on the relevant page section to activate the content.

Blue Light Toned Down At Night

One tweak for Windows 10 as a whole is a new option for blue light reduction. If selected, the option will automatically reduce the blue levels at nighttime, something medical research suggests will make it easier to get to sleep soon after using a PC. The hours the feature operates will adjust automatically to fit sunrise and sunset levels in the user's location. (Source: venturebeat.com)

There will also be an overhaul of Windows Defender, the main built-in security tool on Windows 10. The changes should make it easier to use, with more control over exactly what the tool scans for and in how much detail.

What's Your Opinion?

Do the changes interest you? Do you use your computer after dark and if so, would reducing blue light be welcome? Have you explored or altered settings in Windows Defender or trusted it to run without supervision?