14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft yesterday released a brand new tool that allows Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 computers to install Windows 10 Technical Preview automatically via Windows Update, thus making everything faster and easier for those who want to see what's new in the next OS version.
Some users, however, thought that the next Windows 10 preview build would actually be shipped to standard users as well, which kind of makes things worse, especially since these testing tidbits are usually unstable and come with bugs that affect productivity.
Gabriel Aul, head of the Windows Insider group, explained in a series of tweets that the next Windows 10 Technical Preview build would only be shipped to Windows Insiders, so standard/ordinary users would stay on their existing OS version without any update available for their PCs.
Basically, if you are running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 and you deploy the aforementioned tool, you need to be a Windows Insider in order to get the next Windows 10 build. The new release will show up in Windows Update and will install just like it does on existing Technical Preview builds.
Next version coming in January
The so-called Windows 10 January Technical Preview will ship next month, most likely after the January 21 event taking place in Redmond, when Microsoft is expected to share more details on its consumer approach with the new OS version.
At this point, there are no specifics available regarding features that could be part of the JTP, but some people say that Microsoft is working to make more features available to testers, including Continuum.
First presented in late September, Continuum is a new feature integrated into Windows 10 that allows users to switch from the desktop to the Modern UI without closing their apps and continue doing their work with touch-optimized apps.
This tool is only aimed at 2-in-1 devices where removing a keyboard is possible and a touch-capable display is available, so Surface users would clearly be the main target of this release.
Windows 10 scheduled to go live in early fall
According to Microsoft's COO Kevin Turner, Windows 10 is projected to launch in late summer or early fall 2015, so RTM is very likely to take place in mid next year.
Unsurprisingly, Microsoft's Windows 10 roadmap also includes a developer preview build which could be introduced in April at the BUILD 2015 conference, as well as a consumer preview release expected to ship shortly after that.
Full details, however, will be provided to us next month during the Windows 10 consumer event.
@barbbowman WU is just delivery mechanism. This is still a technical preview not a general release. No ordinary users getting auto-updated.
— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) December 23, 2014
