Slashdot Mirror


Windows 10 October 2018 Update Is Now Available; Features 'Your Phone' Android Messaging App, Dark Theme For File Explorer, and Other Tweaks (techcrunch.com)

Microsoft today announced that the Windows 10 October 2018 update is now available. While the update is fairly minor, it does offer a number of interesting new features. TechCrunch reports: The most interesting of these is probably the new "Your Phone" app, which allows you to text from your PC using an Android phone that also runs Microsoft's mobile companion app. In later iterations, that app will also sync notifications to your desktop, but for now, that's not an option. There also are tools for continuing your workflow as you switch from your phone to PC (or vice versa). These features work for iOS users, too. As far as syncing between devices goes, it's worth noting that the update also will allow you to share your clipboard between PCs.

Since everybody likes a dark mode these days, the Windows 10 File Explorer now also includes a dark theme. There's also a revamped search experience, as well as a new screenshot tool. While the release includes plenty of other tweaks, both in terms of functionality and design, the most anticipated feature, Sets, didn't make it into this release. Sets is probably the biggest change to the overall Windows user experience since the release of Windows 10, so maybe it's no surprise that Microsoft is trying to perfect this. And perfection takes a while.
ZDNet has highlighted many of the "smaller" new features, such as the improved Windows search functionality, battery details for Bluetooth devices, and a built-in Clipboard manager that can sync clips across devices signed into the same Microsoft account.

67 comments

  1. Still not running this spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    N/T

    1. Re: Still not running this spyware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      âoeSent from my Chromebookâ

  2. Perfection takes a while by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks for that, I needed a good laugh. Every single one of these updates is taking Windows further and further away from being a desktop OS.

  3. Re:Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    apple has a dark mode?

  4. Also Raytracing by mentil · · Score: 3, Interesting

    More notably, for people with brand-spanking-new Geforce RTX video cards, this update adds DXR support. That is, DirectX Raytracing, and by extension Nvidia's RTX. Not sure if any games support it yet in public releases though.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    1. Re:Also Raytracing by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Re games support and RTX. https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/...

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:Also Raytracing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So... MS Minesweeper will finally run faster than 30fps without tearing?

    3. Re:Also Raytracing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Vaporware for dumb faggots like this Ahuxley cunt I guess.

  5. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Windows had a dark mode theme decades ago. Not new.

    A multitude of phone apps over the years have allowed people to text from an app on their PC to their phone. I've done this since the time of vendor specific phone adapter cables.

    None of this is new or ripped from Apple.

  6. Re:/sarcasm Awesome priorities there MS by epyT-R · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, I prefer not staring into a fucking lightbulb with light grey text on lighter grey backgrounds which seem common these days. The dark mode also works with most of the win32 widgets, benefiting explorer and classic windows applications as well.

  7. Why not just use the system color theme? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since Windows 1.0, there has been a system-wide color theme. Instead of requiring APPS to implement their own dark and light themes, why not just use the system theme?

    1. Re:Why not just use the system color theme? by epyT-R · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The days of OS imposed consistency died when armies of idiots decided they knew what's best. Today, we call them UX 'designers.'

    2. Re:Why not just use the system color theme? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Since Windows 1.0, there has been a system-wide color theme.

      Since Windows 95 that was over. Remember Winamp? It didn't give two s***s about your system-wide settings, and neither did an entire world of applications afterwards. Real Player, ICQ, probably the most widely used currently: Chrome, or Steam.

    3. Re: Why not just use the system color theme? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But that's on any o platform

  8. Running it... by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've been running it for about a week on an HP G4 Zbook. No major surprises or snafus. My fingerprint reader didn't work immediately post-upgrade, but works now. I assume it grabbed the new driver from Windows update, but haven't followed up to check.

    (I work for Microsoft as a Platforms PFE supporting enterprise customers, and I understand that makes my opinion invalid. They aren't paying me to say this. They aren't paying me to say that either.)

    1. Re:Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You posted about how the update broke your machine and you're concerned people will think you're shilling *for* MS?

      Have we come so far that "Yeah your machine will spontaneously break from time to time and there's fuck-all you can do to prevent it, but if you're lucky it will maybe eventually fix itself" is considered a pro-Windows sentiment?

    2. Re:Running it... by williamyf · · Score: 1

      PFE? Pinple Faced Engineer?

      See "Bastard operator from hell"*

      On a more serious note, Good to know is working without major snafus.

      But it will be a pain in the ass for me the next time I boot the bootcamp partition on my main laptop, or the old emergency/media laptop that is booted once a week.

      I'll try darned hard to schedule the update in a convenient timeframe, if projects permit.

      * I guess it means Professional Field Engineer, but the BOfH reference was ripe for taking...

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    3. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for being the fucking douche. We always need at least one in any Microsoft thread

    4. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for being the fucking douche. We always need at least one in any Microsoft thread

      Douchebaggery and Microsoft naturally go together like that.

      Having said that, I don't exactly understand your reaction. You seem to have a personal interest in this, suggesting strongly that you are in fact ElizabethGreene posting as an AC. The fact is, those familiar with the history of Microsoft understand the harm it's done to the industry especially regarding the expectations of the average user. Those of us who moved away from Windows years and years ago understand this particularly well from the contrast provided by Windows users and the problems they constantly experience that we simply don't.

      Did you know that there are plenty of other systems where you can reasonably expect updates to not break things? If these other systems are *nix clones, these are updates not only of the core OS (as Windows does) but all installed software. That's a much broader update surface yet breakage is extremely rare. Microsoft with all its vast resources and billions of dollars can't do better? The thing is, they likely could if it were a priority so there is an element of willfulness to it.

      The real douches are the ones who think it's normal to just bend over and take it because they are too small-minded to envision any other way. Take that personally and get all upset if you want. It happens to be the FUCKIN TRUTH.

    5. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't care if it's PC or not, women are well known for receiving factual information, taking it personally and getting all upset. It's not a big surprise that "ElizabethGreene" might do this. None at all.

      If women think they have to "be twice as good to get half the respect" it's because they can't seem to keep their egos/emotions out of a matter and focus on facts.

    6. Re:Running it... by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      As a long time BOFH fan I can assure you that Cosmic radiation is the root cause for all of it. :)

    7. Re:Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its still broken. Crashs computer at 83% or completes and windows desktop is missing. Can they not get it right?

      I have to run it to support xollege kids that need a printer. Normal machine for me Linux.

    8. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You obviously don't upgrade Ubuntu every 6 months.

    9. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy fucking shit, you think all these linux distros have smooth upgrades on first day of availability?

      There's way more users and use cases for Windows users than desktop linux. You're fucking clueless.

      Found the fucking poser who knows sweet fuck all about anything. Seriously, you are dumb.

    10. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy fucking shit, you think all these linux distros have smooth upgrades on first day of availability?

      There's way more users and use cases for Windows users than desktop linux. You're fucking clueless.

      Found the fucking poser who knows sweet fuck all about anything. Seriously, you are dumb.

      When I show to work in the morning and my laptop running Linux Mint has updates, I install the updates without worrying about how long it will take and how it might impact my ability to continue working

      When I have to do the same thing but the software is Windows 10 or even Visual Studio, I have to plan to do that shit later because I know that at best it will leave me unable to work until its finished, and at worst it might totally fuck up the OS and I'll have to try rolling back to an older restore point.

      TL;DR: Fuck MS and fuck you.

    11. Re: Running it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You obviously don't upgrade Ubuntu every 6 months.

      I use a rolling release distro, dipshit.

    12. Re:Running it... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Good to hear something is working. However I don't trust any opinion regarding snafus. Unfortunately someone in your company has a history of systematically ignoring problems raised by insiders, even on their own premium hardware.

      Windows 10 has had Targetted Branch disabled on all my devices ever since stories about Windows 10 bugs affecting Surface devices, and more importantly being reported by insiders.

      At this point it's like playing russian roulette if you have a Surface.
      It's more like playing reverse russian roulette where most of the chambers are filled if you have something else too.

      Eagerly awaiting the Semi-Annual release for broad deployment in a few months :-)

    13. Re:Running it... by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      Copy that. If you do see anything, Window Key-F pulls up the Feedback center where you can report it and upvote issues that others have reported. That data really does drive decisions on what gets fixed.

      (Microsoft is still not paying me to say that.)

  9. My God, It's Even Got a KAVANAUGH DICK VIDEO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is too much. I am switching to Linux desktop for sure.

  10. Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by BBF_BBF · · Score: 3, Informative
    I've got to say that I love dark mode for everything... but after using Windows for over 25 years, the dark file manager/explorer theme just doesn't seem right. My mind just can't immediately grok files being displayed on a black background rather than white

    .

    I'll get used to it though. Thanks Microsoft for the choice.

    Next thing you know, Microsoft will add the dark mode to the Control Panel (it just continues to stick around after its deprecation in Windows 8: aka the tablet touch UI fiasco, so scandalous it caused Microsoft to skip a version.)

    I will be pissed if in a future release "dark mode" inverts the colour scheme of the command window to be black text on a white background, though. ;-)

    1. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      so scandalous it caused Microsoft to skip a version.

      That's the version I want! Everyone knows Microsoft releases good then bad then good then bad. Windows 8 was bad, Windows 10 is bad. Where's Windows 9?!?! That's the good one. That's the one I want!

    2. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the contrast is slightly off and font blending is messing with it too. I too find it slightly 'wrong'. That is the best I can tell. Something is just slightly 'wrong'. I still like the direction though.

    3. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gotta wait for Windows 11 now.

    4. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MS will add dark mode to one application per update. Too bad they already had OS wide color schemes for two decades, but that code was scrapped on Win8 where each window started using its own style, navigation logic and color scheme.

    5. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - Thank You, Microsoft by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      According to MS that's not gonna happen.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  11. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In 1995 Apple gave a preview of what was supposed to be Mac System 8. It had a "Hi-Tech" theme that was essentially a dark mode/theme.

    https://archive.org/details/Ma...

    Not saying they are the first, but they also had it decades ago.

    One thing Apple does well with Messages however, is that you can use the WiFi signal on your Mac to send and receive SMS messages without the need of your phone to be nearby, or even on. I haven't seen this for Windows, and I'm not quite sure why they can't do the same thing.

  12. Re:Copying Apple.. by saloomy · · Score: 1

    It was one of the primary changes to "Mojave", the latest iteration of OS X (Mac OS). Every feature listed up there is present in Mac OS.

    I for one do not mind when they copy each other, Android and iOS have been copying features of each other for a decade, and that's been a good thing. Seeing what works elsewhere gives platforms the best of both, and everyone wins. What sucks here is there doesn't seem to be any truly unique features released in Win10 that were not already on Mac OS, so it seems this release is purely a "copy what the other guy is doing" update. That sucks because there are no features Mac OS guys will gain.

  13. Re:Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, a dark side...

  14. Windows 10 (whatever) = NO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Windows 10 does not install on any of my machines. Not because technical reasons but because me ;)

    Next.

  15. Tabs for File Explorer by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    I still want that and a million other posters asks for this for years in the feedback app.

    Anyway I am addicted to type 1 hypervisors which means Hyper-V thanks to Intel crippling my i7 4770K with VT-D IO so I can't run VmWare esphere so I will be sticking with the later version of Windows 10 as Hyper-V seems buggiest with new releases as it is never tests thanks to only Grandma and average Joes testing new releases.

    1. Re:Tabs for File Explorer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I imagine that will effectively be implemented with the 'Sets' feature, whenever they get that finished.

  16. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - but I think its buggy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As far as I know they still haven't fixed the bug where all windows initially draw white. I had a support case open. Microsoft would not fix.

  17. Re:Dark Mode File Explorer - but I think its buggy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As far as I know they still haven't fixed the bug where all windows initially draw white. I had a support case open. Microsoft would not fix.

    Wow. So to Microsoft you might as well be a big-lipped blue-gummed cotton-picking fucking nígger!

  18. Re:Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The only thing I want to know is have they removed the spyware and all advertising and given control of updates back to users?

    If not, then I couldn't care less about Windows 10. They can let me know when they turn it into an actual operating system instead of a marketing platform.

  19. My usual question by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Can I revert to the old look and feel or can I turn that "update" off altogether?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:My usual question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just tried to update for funzies and it broke a lot of stuff. Windows 10's "Reset this PC" functionality works pretty well. I tried to upgrade 3 different times in 3 different ways and all ended up with weird app crashing issues after the upgrade finished. I was able to quickly go back to the previous build with no issues whatsoever each time. I am quite impressed by that at least. I only wish their update worked as well.

    2. Re:My usual question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like Windows 2000? I wish...

  20. Dang, talk about bloat... by 6Yankee · · Score: 1

    ...the length of these Slashdot headlines is getting way out of hand.

  21. Re: Copying Apple.. by Joce640k · · Score: 0

    Who sends SMS messages any more?

    Whatsapp is free, it's end-to-end encrypted, and it has a desktop mode.

    This new feature is just a way for Microsoft to scan your SMS messages.

    --
    No sig today...
  22. Re:Copying Apple.. by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    The only thing I want to know is have they removed the spyware and all advertising and given control of updates back to users?

    Um, no. They've just added another one that lets them read your SMS messages.

    (or did you think this was to make life easier for Android users?)

    --
    No sig today...
  23. Re:Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Microsoft didn't copy Apple this time, they both copied theming ideas from gnome-look.org ;-)

  24. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WhatsApp is also at the whim of Facebook who are planning to add advertising to it. Use Signal not WhatsApp.

  25. Re:/sarcasm Awesome priorities there MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spoken like a true butthurt linux fanboy boomer

  26. What about no spying? Still not? Not interested... by gweihir · · Score: 1

    Unless Win10 gets working prevention of their snooping, it will not make it on my machines.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  27. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hey MS DOS had a dark mode. Take that!

  28. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    and dark forces

  29. Re: Copying Apple.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I do. I'm not part of facebook network, well they probably have a shadow account of me, so i can't use whatsapp.

  30. So by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there any feature that i would actually care about? How about fixing the damn networking; wifi and wired?

  31. Re:/sarcasm Awesome priorities there MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where did BIll Gates touch you?

  32. Re:/sarcasm Awesome priorities there MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So.. defending baseless bitching about Windows now makes you a Linux fanboy?

  33. Give Msoft access to my texts and android apps? No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Forced telemetry, installing unwanted apps, being creepishly involved in my computer/operating system. F. that.

  34. Why won't they let us skin it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why doesn't Windows 10 allow you to do what we used to do with Windows XP - edit all the colours of the window elements? Because some idiot at Microsoft has decided that they know best, and that 'flat' design (i.e. crap design) is 'modern' and therefore wonderful, and nobody is allowed to change it.

    (I know I can use WindowBlinds from Stardock, but I shouldn't have to.)

  35. *Disk Cleanup Option Thinks Downloads Are Dirt by BrendaEM · · Score: 1

    What a stupid, brainless, irresponsible option to put on Disk Cleanup, which traditionally, was for cleaning your system files.

    BTW, that last update was 38GB. Really, does it seem reasonable that an operating system would take up 9 DVD's WTF?

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM