As we get closer to the final release of Windows 10, Microsoft today, June 29th, is making available a new preview of its operating system to the Fast ring of updates. This time is the turn of Windows 10 build 10158 and Microsoft details that the new build is packed with significant improvements to stability and new refinements to the user interface.

Perhaps the most important piece of information is that the company is announcing that it has successfully find resolutions for all the known issues in Windows 10 build 10158. “We don’t have any significant known issues for this build worth noting in the blog post but we are servicing several issues so make sure you check Windows Update for those.”

In addition, build 10158 includes several fixes that improve the battery life with Surface Pro 3, and it also fixes the issue that was preventing Surface 3 from upgrading on previous builds.

Now here are some of the changes announced by Microsoft in build 10158:

Microsoft Edge

In Windows 10158, the software maker is officially branding its web browser “Microsoft Edge”. However, the company warns that because of the software ID change, the upgrade will delete any favorites, cookies, history, and Reading list items you have save on “Project Spartan”. (So make sure to export all of these items before upgrading, if you want to keep them.)

  • Copy your favorites from

  • Save them to:

  • After upgrading to the next build open Microsoft Edge, choose Settings, and you’ll see an option to import favorites from another browser. Choose Internet Explorer to import the favorites you saved in your %userprofile% directory into Microsoft Edge.

While we have seen some of this changes in previous leak builds of Windows 10, Microsoft Edge also include a number of new features and improvements, including:

  • One of the top pieces of feedback we’ve heard from Windows Insiders is that many of you really wanted a “home” button for Microsoft Edge. In this build, we’ve provided an option for you to add it via Settings > Advanced Settings and turn on “Show the home button”.
  • Microsoft has added the ability for you to import favorites/bookmarks from other browsers into Microsoft Edge.
  • There are new options for changing what you see when you first start Microsoft Edge.
  • There are new customizations for the New Tab page. You can choose to either see top sites and suggested content – or just top sites.
  • The company has added password and form-fill support. Microsoft Edge now lets you manage your passwords for your favorite websites.
  • Audio from Microsoft Edge plays while the app is minimized or in the background – another top request from Windows Insiders.
  • You can drag and drop tabs to a new window.
  • Another top request: we now have a dark theme!

User interface improvements

Windows Insiders will see a number of changes in the UI. In Continuum (Tablet mode), Microsoft explains that includes many bug fixes, and there are new animations, and improved support for Windows 8.x apps and classic desktop apps to work better in Tablet mode. Additionally, when using the Start menu, users can swipe up on the left side to open “All apps”, and when opening “All apps”, you can click a letter to quickly go to apps under that letter.

On the taskbar, when it needs your attention will flash orange. And when you’re downloading or moving files, the progress animation changes back to the green and back to the horizontal animation.

Cortana

In Windows 10 build 10158, the software maker has consolidated the left rail and Cortana’s Notebook is in its final stage with a combined Profile and Settings experience. As we have seen previously, Cortana now has a dark theme to match the operating system design. And tracking flights has also been enabled, so the assistant can alert you of any changes.

Microsoft says that now you can use Cortana to compose and send emails. “Just say everything at once such as who you want to email (you can send to multiple people), the subject of the e-mail, and what you want your email to say and that’s it. For example – you would say something like “Email Gabe Aul Super Awesome Window Feedback…” and then what you want the message to say. You can even make corrections with your voice. Note – this feature requires an Internet connection and works for U.S. (English) right now.”

Photos app

In build 10158, there is an updated Photos app that you can update from the Store. The new update brings general performance and reliability improvements, and other changes, such as support for GIFs.

Microsoft also added an “Open with” button in the photo viewer. “While viewing a photo, click the “…” icon at the top right and choose “Open with”.”

Snipping tool app

“You can now set up to a 5-second delay to capture pop-up menus.”

Insider Hub app

As Microsoft explained in the past, the Insider Hub app is no longer included starting with Windows 10158, but you can get it back using these steps:

  • Go to Settings, System, Apps & features.
  • Click Manage optional features then Add a feature.
  • Select the Insider Hub entry (the list is in alphabetical order) and click Install.

As you can see there are quite a few changes since the last official release. Windows Insiders will begin receiving the new update immediately via Windows Update, as long as they are signed in using a Microsoft Account and their PCs are configured to update through the Fast ring (no ISO files are available for download until Microsoft pushes this or another build to the Slow ring). Windows 10 build 10158 is may be one of the last builds Windows Insiders will receive as we are getting very close to the July 29th, official release.

Source Microsoft