A new version of Windows 10 TP is on its way

Oct 21, 2014 09:07 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has already announced that a new version of Windows 10 Technical Preview is on its way, but the company hasn’t provided any other details as to when to expect the release or regarding the features that could be improved as part of the rollout.

And still, lots of details come via unofficial channels, with some people pointing to lots of improvements that could be implemented in the upcoming release.

But according to BuildFeed, one of the services that keeps an eye on new Windows 10 Technical Preview builds, a new version has already been compiled and judging by the full string name, some pretty unexpected features could also be available.

Windows 10 build 9867 is ready for testing, the source revealed, and the name of one of the prepared releases, namely “6.4.9867.0.fbl_cortana.141019-0928,” suggests that Microsoft’s personal assistant Cortana might be available for some.

Cortana released to only a few users

Sources told us that Cortana won’t be available anytime soon in testing versions of Windows 10, so the personal assistant was initially expected to make its first appearance in the very latest builds of the Technical Preview.

And still, it appears that the development worked faster than before and now Cortana would be released to more testers, but still in an alpha stage. Only a few users would get it, most likely Microsoft partners, but at least this is living proof that work on this feature goes really well.

References to Cortana have already been found in the original preview version of Windows 10, but no other specifics were available, so it’s still an enigma for pretty much everyone if Microsoft is ready to demonstrate this feature or not.

New window animations also included

Microsoft is also working to introduce new window animations in the next Windows 10 Technical Preview build, in order to make the operating system a bit more appealing in terms of looks.

Not much is known at this point, but it appears that the Start menu will also get new visual effects, as this continues to be one of the most requested features in the feedback app integrated in Windows 10.

However, more improvements could also be made to the operating system in the next few months, as Redmond continues work on this revamped Windows version and wants to address user feedback in a much more effective manner.

Certain features, such as Internet Explorer 12, might not show up before the launch of the final Windows 10 version.