Five things you need to know about Microsoft's looming Windows 10 Spring Creators Update

The Register ^ | Mar 22, 2018 | Shaun Nichols

[dayglored]

At some point next month, just in time for Spring, Microsoft will start to emit the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update to everyone's PC.

Avid Reg readers will be aware of what's forthcoming for the Redmond operating system. If you're just tuning in, well, see the aforementioned link, and strap in for these highlights. When the OS upgrade is released proper, we'll be on the scene with the full details. In the meantime, here's your need to know:

1. Microsoft reckons the operating system will take, on average, 30 minutes to install, which is much shorter than usual.

2. The OS will feature a thing called Timeline, which presents a summary of what you've been up to over the past 30 days, with on-screen links to apps and documents.

3. You can share files with physically nearby devices using a wireless feature called Nearby Share.

4. Shell and other bits and pieces of the desktop will look nicer. You may be forced to use Edge, though, but at least you can mute the browser's tabs.

5. The Photos app in Windows 10 will be updated to use the High Efficiency Image File Format, a change that promises to improve the quality and compression of pictures.

Exactly when this update – codenamed Red Stone 4, aka version 1803 – will land, and what's actually in it, is anyone's guess right now as Microsoft is being coy about the final change log. The software is largely expected to roll out from April 10, that being the month's Patch Tuesday.

Our advice? Hold off until the initial bugs are ironed out, and the exact feature list is cemented in. Alternatively, grab betas from the Windows Insider stream of updates and play with it to your heart's content. ®

[Windflier]

"You can share files with physically nearby devices using a wireless feature called Nearby Share."

You "can", or you "will"?

I also don't like the idea of being forced to use Microsoft's browser.

[TomGuy]

I bought a Win10 tablet a couple of weeks ago to try to get used to Win10, since it seems inevitable. I still use Win7 Desktop and Laptop for serious computing.

I find the Win10 tablet just as frustrating as the Win10 hard drive I loaded a couple of years ago.

Things/tasks that used to be relatively simple in XP/7 are a nightmare in Win10. And of course, the lack of documentation does not help.

Win10 seems to be a change for the sake of change product. It certainly lacks features for improved productivity. It does have some neat new things, but they are overshadowed by the whole mess called Win10.

I have also been playing around with a Linux Mint Cinnamon laptop. Linux is still rather clunky for actual productivity.

I do hate the time when Win7 and associated programs don’t work anymore. That is what happened to XP. It got so slow and could not keep up with the graphics/video intense web, etc. I see signs of that happening with Win7, as more web pages balk at loading under Win7 and older browsers.

[RedWing9]

I still use Win7 Desktop and Laptop for serious computing.

What is it you can't run on Win10 that is "serious computing"?

[RedWing9]

I don’t just click links, what is Never 10?

[TomGuy]

For real productivity, I can load Word and/or Excel 97 and have a task finished before finding out where the relocated features are in the later (ribbon menu versions) of Word and Excel.

I am still trying to customize the Win10 tablet, so I am not to the point of trying to do much else at this time. Just the customizing is frustrating enough. I am trying to figure out why icons appear and disappear in the system tray, which apparently can no longer be customized, but I haven’t found where they moved the control panel for the system tray. Customization is no longer accessible via right-click.

[dayglored]

> Just the customizing is frustrating enough... Customization is no longer accessible via right-click.

That's probably my biggest gripe with Win10. I don't like change for the sake of change, and the Metro GUI is ugly and its utility sucks IMO, so all I want to do is customize the GUI enough that I can use it efficiently.

Full Disclosure: I liked, and still prefer, the classic Windows look and feel of the Win2K GUI. Fast, efficient, predictable, mostly transparent. I taught the WinXP GUI how to look and work like Win2K's. And I taught Win7's GUI how to look and work like Win2K's. But that became impossible with Win8 and got worse with Win10 because of additional restrictions on customization.

When I have to use a GUI, I want one that works quickly, efficiently, and as much as possible, transparently. Win10's GUI is constantly getting in my way and wasting my time.

Thank God for Classic Shell, at least that keeps me sane enough to resist the inclination to put my fist through my monitor screen.

[TomGuy]

I have not installed Classic Shell yet on the Win10 tablet. I do have it on my Win7 computers.

I read that the creator of CS has discontinued upgrades because Win10 is removing some of the elements that allow CS to work. The author said he hopes someone else picks up the task. I have not heard whether there are any takers.

[dayglored]

> I also don't like the idea of being forced to use Microsoft's browser.

At the moment that restriction only applies to links clicked from within the Microsoft Mail app, which hardly anyone uses. So it presently doesn't affect most users.

However, it's the camel's nose in the tent -- if users let Microsoft get away with this, especially for a BS reason like "Our browser is the most secure", you can bet the rent that additional similar restrictions will follow along in time. And this time they won't be for a little-used app.

It's long been the case that a few system-level Windows functions open Internet Explorer, rather than the user's preferred (default) browser. That's understandable, and IMO it's acceptable for a consistent user experience at the system level.

But that won't fly at the application level where the user has the right to expect their PREFERRED browser, for consistency.

[dayglored]

> All I know is that every time Windows 10 updates, my 8 year old laptop works better and faster.

More power to ya -- clearly, you've got a unicorn. :-) Treasure it!

I only run Windows 10 in VMs, so I can't have an opinion about using it on old hardware.

[Henchster]

Never 10 is the free software I use to keep Windows 10 off my machine. The link is to a PC Magazine page. It is totally safe, and a blessing for those of us that don’t want MS taking over our property and then charging us monthly to use it.

[dayglored]

> I read that the creator of CS has discontinued upgrades because Win10 is removing some of the elements that allow CS to work. The author said he hopes someone else picks up the task. I have not heard whether there are any takers.

Yeah I saw that announcement a little while ago. A shame he decided to drop it, but that's totally understandable. He's more than contributed value to the community already.

I do hope somebody picks it up (I haven't seen indication of that yet).

As to Microsoft blocking it -- well, color me shocked and surprised. Microsoft wants everybody running the exact same software, right down to the details of the GUI.

One more reason to avoid Win10 except when it's required. In Jan 2020 when the Win7 security updates stop, I'll just continue using my Win7 machines for non-internet work, which is what they do these days anyway. I surf the internet with Linux and MacOS; Windows doesn't contribute anything specific of value to my internet experience.

There will always be those applications that are Windows-specific, and I'll run them offline on Win7 (and WinXP if need be). And if some website requires Windows, it will probably be Win10, and I'll use Win10 for that website.

Microsoft appears to have changed their business model from "Provide useful software" to "P!ss off our users". Makes about as much sense as Dick's Sporting Goods p!ssing off their customers by restricting firearm sales.

[minnesota_bound]

You may be forced to use Edge.... NO WAY!
I use Windows 10 at work and I noticed that my programs I want to use like VLC and Irfanview for videos and photos will default back to Microsoft programs.

[dayglored]

> You may be forced to use Edge.... NO WAY! I use Windows 10 at work and I noticed that my programs I want to use like VLC and Irfanview for videos and photos will default back to Microsoft programs.

Welcome to the Brave New World of Windows.

When I saw that Win10 only gave me a dozen or so solid color choices for the desktop background color, and most of those were garish or ugly shades, I knew we are in for a rough ride. This is 2018 -- what's so bloody hard about giving us a color wheel or palette like we had in WinXP? *sigh*

[daniel1212]

I understand that many people denigrate W/10, but i appreciate being able to have it, and with some tweaks i find it to be an improvement over W/7/8, though it needs to put the display options XP had back.

So I would recommend that you first install Classic Shell , and also Right Click Context Menu Extender so you can add things it may take longer to find

Besides more details customization apps like AutoHotKey, the White-Tiger/T-Clock is a nice improvement over the standard Widows clock (including showing show seconds).

"

Thank God for such tools and customization, and those that make them. And that includes Firefox, by far the best browser for power users.

I understand that many people denigrate W/10, but i appreciate being able to have it, and with some tweaks i find it to be an improvement over W/7/8, though it needs to put the display options XP had back.

[daniel1212]

Most likely you have” Restore previous folder windows at logon” checked under Folder Options (in Windows/File explorer or Control Panel with small icons, hit view>Options>View and deselect “Restore previous folder windows at logon”

[daniel1212]

See my last post

[daniel1212]

When I saw that Win10 only gave me a dozen or so solid color choices for the desktop background color, and most of those were garish or ugly shades, I knew we are in for a rough ride. This is 2018 -- what's so bloody hard about giving us a color wheel or palette like we had in WinXP? *sigh*

Winaero Tweaker - can help, thank God. Download https://winaero.com/request.php?1796

[minnesota_bound]

Windows 10 Spring Creators. Now with more spyware!

[minnesota_bound]

Open the hidden Classic color choices.

Right click on the Start button and click on Run or hold the Windows key down then press ‘R’. Next copy and paste this line in and click OK.

control /name Microsoft.Personalization /page pageWallpaper

[dayglored]

Cool, thanks!