Big Windows 10 update in November. Simplified update process

At the end of October or beginning of November, the next update will be released for operating system Windows 10 - November 2019 Update (formerly known as Windows 19H2). This time it is not a major update aimed at introducing modern technologies and new features, but rather a small cumulative update that focuses on performance optimizations, improvements to current functionality, and bug fixes. Final Windows specifications 10 November 2019 Update - version 1909, build number 18363.418.

Increased autonomy and energy efficiency

Create a calendar event from the taskbar

If you often work with standard application“Calendar”, then a pleasant innovation awaits you in Windows 10 November 2019 Update. You can now quickly create an event/reminder directly from the calendar popup built into your taskbar. Simply select the desired date in the lower right corner of the taskbar and specify the time period, a short description, as well as the calendar type (main, work or other) and location of your choice.

Improved notification settings

• Notification settings under Settings → System → Notifications & Actions now defaults to sorting notification senders based on which apps sent notifications recently, rather than by sender's name. This makes it easier to find and configure applications that send notifications more often than others.
• Notification cards now have a button with quick access to notification settings and disabling all notifications from the application.
• IN top part notification center, a “Manage notifications” button has been added, which opens home page See Notifications & Actions in the Settings app.
• On the notification settings page for separate application Helpful images are now provided to demonstrate what is meant by "banner" and "notification center". Microsoft notes that thanks to this, the settings have become visually more accessible and understandable.

Search OneDrive using Windows Explorer

Third-party voice assistants on the lock screen

Activation is carried out using the appropriate voice command.

Other innovations

• Calls feature in the Your Phone app to make and receive phone calls on your computer (requires pairing with a compatible Android smartphone).
• The Start menu navigation bar now automatically expands when you hover over it for easy selection the desired section.
• Added additional features debugging for new Intel processors(relevant only for equipment manufacturers).
• Added the ability for organizations to supplement the Windows 10 S mode policy with a policy that allows traditional Win32 apps (for desktop computers) from Microsoft Intune.
• Security Tool Activated Windows Defender Credential Guard for ARM64 devices for additional protection against credential theft corporate clients implementing ARM64-based devices in their organizations.
• Narrator and other tools special features can now find out where the FN key is on keyboards and what state it is in (locked or unlocked).

How to install now

For those who want to get the Windows 10 November 2019 Update now, there are a few things you need to do: simple actions. The final build is available within the Program preliminary assessment Windows (Settings → Update & Security → Windows Insider Program → Get Insider Preview Builds → Release Preview Program).

An account is required to participate in the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft entry or Azure Active Directory. After confirming that you have received the preview builds, you need to restart your computer and check for updates in the Settings application (Update & Security section).

", which provides a predictable schedule for the release of new releases and the end of support for outdated versions of the operating system.

Everything sounds good in theory. However, in reality, Microsoft is constantly changing, shifting or postponing support and update periods for Windows 10. For example, last year the company extended support for the Enterprise and Education editions to 30 months. More recently, Redmond stated that Windows users 10 will now be able to independently decide when to download and install feature updates.

Windows Corporate Vice President Michael Fortin wrote on his official blog on April 4:

The new "Download and Install Now" feature provides users with a separate control tool to initiate the feature update installation process on suitable devices, with no known compatibility issues.

This option appeared for Windows 10 versions, and. Now consumers also need to keep an eye on the update schedule, which Windows release 10 in 2015 was of more interest to organizations and system administrators.

To keep up with the Windows 10 update schedule and keep your system up to date, remember these dates.

May 21, 2019

November 12, 2019

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 1803 Home, Pro and Pro Workstation editions.

This date is of interest because it will clearly demonstrate that Microsoft started count the support period from the launch of the feature update, and not from the expected March or September release date.

Microsoft sets the end of support date to Patch Tuesday (the second Tuesday of the month) after the 18-month or 30-month feature update release dates. For example, Microsoft began shipping version 1803 on April 30, 2018, and the 18-month period will be October 30, 2019. However, support will end only on the following Patch Tuesday – November 12, 2019.

December 16, 2019

Around this date, Microsoft will announce that version 1909 has been sufficiently tested by consumers and is ready for widespread deployment in organizations. The September update will begin shipping to Windows 10 Pro, Pro Workstation, and Enterprise through Windows Update for Business (WUfB).

January 14, 2020

On this day, Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 for consumers and set deadlines for organizations to migrate to Windows 10.

Lagging companies will be able to receive extended support - Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for workstations running Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise. ESU sales started on April 1, 2019. The first year of support is the cheapest at $25 or $50 for a single device. Every year, the cost will double. In the third year, organizations will need to shell out $100 and $200 per device (Windows 10 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Enterprise licensees are eligible for the lower of the two prices).

The paid extended support strategy was what was expected from Microsoft. It is estimated that after January 14, 2020, Windows 7 will remain installed on a huge number of devices - up to 35% of PCs worldwide according to the latest Computerworld estimates.

March 10, 2020

November 10, 2020

Microsoft will supply Latest updates security for Windows 10 Enterprise 1803 and Windows 10 Education 1803 (April 2018 Update), ending the 30-month support period for these versions.

December 8, 2020

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 1903 Home, Pro and Pro Workstation editions.

This version of Windows 10 will be released around May 21, 2019, and the 18-month period will be on November 21, 2020. Support will end on the next Patch Tuesday – December 8, 2020.

The very day that many have definitely been waiting for a long time has come. Today, November 12, 2019, the American corporation Microsoft fulfilled the long-time dream of many people, because a few hours ago it distributed a major update for Windows 10, and it is called the November 2019 Update. This is a major update that brings with it a number of significant innovations, but its main innovation is an increase in operating speed, which was achieved by optimizing the code of the entire OS. All users of licensed Windows 10 can install this update without any difficulty. It is available for download from the official website of the developers, as well as through the update center within the operating system. The update weighs about 3 GB.

If we talk about the main innovations that the major November 2019 Update brings with it, it is the management of third-party voice assistants with various functions and capabilities of the Windows 10 operating system. In the calendar, you can now create various reminders within the taskbar without having to launch the application every time. If you hover your mouse over the familiar Start menu, an expanded options bar will appear, allowing you to get additional information about each icon of a program. From now on, after installing this major update, all users can search for information in the OneDrive cloud storage.

By implementing the ability to search in cloud storage, this is now no different from regular hard drive, because in a few seconds you can find the files of interest through a search. The battery life of laptops and tablets increases after installing the November 2019 Update, because this major update contains important innovations, complemented by improved energy saving algorithms. Of course, these are not all the innovations in the major update for Windows 10, but many of the main ones that it can please everyone who installs it. On top of everything else, Microsoft is announcing fixes for various previously discovered bugs and shortcomings, all of which have been fully addressed to ensure the best user experience possible.

The Windows 10 November 2019 Update is now available for everyone to download, but in some cases you may experience problems downloading it because Microsoft server faced an extremely heavy load, as always in such cases. The publication AKKet.com recommends not installing this major update in the coming days, as it is more likely that some significant flaws will be found in it, even such that the entire OS will not be able to work correctly. However, if you have nothing to lose, then you can safely install a major update for Windows 10 now, especially since it has been fully translated into all world languages ​​in which this operating system is available.

Includes the latest fixes.

Feature upgrade to Windows 10 version 1909 will be the most compact in size and fastest update Windows functions 10 all time. It is more reminiscent of classic service Windows packages(Service Pack) – users of the May 2019 Update will only have a small package for activating new functions “enablement package” (). Therefore, the update process itself will take no more than 10 minutes.

All the new features and improvements in Windows 10, version 1909

Simplified update process

Microsoft spokesman John Cable explained that the update will be a "set of features to improve performance, quality, and enterprise tools." In other words, you can expect bug fixes, performance optimizations, and several new business features in Windows 10 (version 1909).

If you're tired of the big Windows 10 updates that come out every six months, then the 19H2 update is the perfect upgrade for you. Installing 19H2 will be similar to installing standard cumulative updates, such as security patches released on Patch Tuesday. The update package to version 1909 will be small in size and have a fast update process. You won't even need to restart your computer or remove old Windows installations.

Computers running the May 2019 Update (also known as 19H1) will receive a small patch via Windows Update this fall (September or October) that will quickly update the system to 19H2.

Without a doubt, Microsoft wants to avoid a repeat of the situation with last year's problematic October 2018 Update on the eve of completion life cycle Windows 7, which will happen on January 14, 2020.

Performance Improvements

The update will receive a large number of performance optimizations. The autonomy of some devices will improve, CPU resource allocation prediction will be optimized, and handwriting latency will be reduced.

Microsoft says it has "made general improvements that affect the battery life and power efficiency of PCs with certain processors."

This update includes scheduling improvements for PCs with multi-core processors. Microsoft describes the changes as follows: “A CPU can have multiple “preferred” cores (logical processors of the highest available scheduling class). To improve performance and reliability, a rotation policy has been implemented that distributes work more evenly among these preferred cores.”

Finally, on PCs with ink capabilities, latency is reduced for a more responsive drawing experience. Windows 10 will allow OEMs to "reduce inking latency based on device hardware capabilities." Prior to 19H2, Windows 10 systems with inking devices "had a latency selected by the operating system for typical configuration equipment." It sounds unthinkable - Microsoft should have made these changes much earlier.

Support for alternative voice assistants

IN current versions Windows 10 can only run Cortana on the lock screen. Microsoft appears to be giving up on Cortana as a consumer product. In 19H2, Cortana will give way to other voice assistants on the lock screen - users will be able to use alternative assistants, for example Amazon Alexa and Yandex Alice.

This is a small feature that will work automatically once Amazon supports it in Alexa. You will be able to talk to your voice assistant and get answers right on the Windows 10 lock screen.

As Microsoft notes, “This change allows third-party digital assistants to enable voice interaction on top of the lock screen.”

Creating Taskbar Events

If you're a heavy user of the Calendar app on Windows 10, then Microsoft has some nice improvements in store for you. Now you can quickly create calendar events right from the taskbar. To create a new event, simply select a date and start typing a description of the event in the text field. You can specify the task name, time and location.

Previously, the Calendar app showed scheduled events in a pop-up window on the taskbar, but the events themselves only had to be created in the app itself. In version 1909, any events created in the pop-up window will also appear in the Calendar app in Windows 10.

Microsoft has paid attention to notification management in Windows 10. When setting alerts, small images are now shown that give a visual representation of what "notification banners" and "notification center notifications" look like.

Windows 10 will allow you to disable sound signal upon receipt of notification. This option will be available in Settings > System > Notifications and actions. Previously, users could also mute notification sounds, but this had to be done for each app that showed notifications.

The Settings > System > Notifications & Actions page will default to sorting by time the message was received rather than by title. This setting will make it easier to find the apps that send the most alerts.

Moreover, in Windows 10 (version 1909), you will be able to customize notifications directly from the notification itself. Notification banners and notifications in the Action Center will now have options to turn off notifications. A Manage Notifications button will appear at the top of Notification Center, which will take you directly to the Notifications & Actions page to set up alerts.

Universal search in Explorer

Search functionality has been enhanced in Windows Explorer. Now, when you type a query into the search bar, a drop-down menu appears with a list of suggested files, which also includes files in the OneDrive cloud storage, and not just on your local machine.

If you need to drill down deeper into unindexed disk locations, you can press Enter and navigate to traditional search results.

Other minor changes

• Added the ability for Narrator and other accessibility tools to recognize the location of the FN key on the keyboard and read its active state (locked or unlocked).

Improvements for enterprise users

Microsoft announced improvements to business functions, but this moment There are very few changes.

• Windows containers require a version match between the host and container. This condition limits the use of scenarios with mixed version containers. Windows 10 (version 1909) will include 5 hotfixes to resolve this problem. Host systems will now be able to run lower-level containers at the top level for process isolation.
• Key-rolling or key-rotation features for secure password rollback on MDM-managed AAD devices will help prevent users from accidentally revealing the password when users manually unlock the BitLocker drive.
• Added new debugging capabilities for Intel processors. These changes are intended for OEM use only.
• Added Windows Defender Credential Guard protection for ARM64 devices to provide additional protection against credential theft for enterprises using ARM64 devices in their infrastructure.
• Added the ability for organizations to supplement the Windows 10 S mode policy with a policy that allows traditional Win32 (desktop) apps from Microsoft Intune.

The next big update "20H1" for Windows 10 has been completed as we already know, but Microsoft plans to test the update for a few more months before rolling it out to the general public.

In November 2019, Microsoft said that Windows 10 20H1 would be known as version 2004 and would be released around the same time. Windows 10 version 2004 is much larger than the November 2019 Update released for Windows 10 in November 2019 and also has several useful improvements.

In this article, we have discussed all the new features and major improvements in Windows 10 20H1.

What's new in Windows 10 20H1 (version 2004)

It feels like a very smooth update with a bunch of useful improvements.

New Cortana experience

The new Cortana experience will be supported by the Windows Store app. In other words, Cortana is no longer tied to Windows 10 releases and can finally be updated from the app store.

Cortana's new design allows you to interact with your digital assistant using both text and voice. It comes with new speech and language models, making it faster than ever before.

Cortana also allows users to open apps, manage reminders, manage Microsoft tasks, alarms, and also works with traditional "Hey Cortana" features.

Finally, Cortana lets you switch between light and dark screen modes. As we noted above, Cortana will be controlled Microsoft application Store, so you can expect even more improvements in the coming months.

Reinstalling Windows is now easier than ever

With this feature, you can reset your computer as if you just booted it up for the first time. Or you can also use it to clean your Windows system, restore settings, uninstall applications and fix the problem you are having.

Microsoft continues to improve the Reset This PC feature. Cloud Download is the latest addition.

When you click the Reset this PC button in the Settings app, Windows 10 creates a new copy of Windows by collecting files, but this can take more than 45 minutes and may not always fix a damaged OS.

Microsoft says Cloud Download is a more reliable way to reinstall Windows, and you can do it in a few clicks.

In Windows 10 20H1, this feature is available in the Settings -> Update & Security -> Recovery -> Get Started menu.

Windows Subsystem for Linux 2

WSL 2 introduces the true Linux kernel and provides the same user interface as WSL 1 with enhanced controls, including much faster file system performance.

Windows Search Experience

The May 2019 Update fixed the unreliable experience with Windows Search using the Enhanced Indexer, but users were still experiencing system performance issues.

Microsoft says the Windows 10 20H1 update includes a new algorithm that is capable of detecting peak disk and CPU usage times so it can stop the indexer.

For example, the indexer stops when power saving mode is enabled or when CPU exceeds 80% and disk utilization reaches 70%. When the indexer is stopped, Windows Search stops using your disk and processor, and this greatly improves system stability.

Microsoft also plans to speed up Windows search, excluding shared folders developer or files found in certain programs.

Task Manager

Another function has been introduced that allows you to control the temperature GPU. If you have a dedicated graphics card, you can see the GPU temperature in the Performance tab of Task Manager.

Disk Cleanup

Microsoft is removing the Downloads folder from both the Disk Cleanup utility and the Windows 10 Storage Settings app. The option is being removed after some users said they accidentally deleted all the files in their Downloads folder.

Application restart control

To disable this feature, go to Settings -> Accounts–> Login options. Applications like Google Chrome and Spotify will not open automatically when Windows startup 10.

This feature now includes both UWP apps (Apps from the Microsoft Store) and traditional desktop apps.

Conclusion

According to Microsoft's typical release schedule, the Windows 10 20H1 update (version 2004) will begin rolling out to mainstream users in April or May 2020.