Update - 17/6/2020
Microsoft slipped in a new feature to the OS. The feature is called "SegmentHeap", a new feature for Win32 heap APIs software to help them less memory on the system.
So far, Microsoft has implemented it its new Chromium based Edge web browser, which the company claims has help them make their version of the web browser reduce up to 27% in memory consumption over the standard Win32 Heap.
Google, who liked the idea, has also announced that they too will implement the usage of segment heap, and to expect their web browser to get it in the near future.
Google said:
Source: https://www.windowslatest.com/2020/06/18/google-chrome-will-finally-use-less-memory-on-windows-10/
Original
It is that time of the year again, Microsoft will soon (delay until mid or end of May) release a new version of Windows 10 called April 2020 Update, codename 20H1. Sporting the version number 2004, this update like the previous one does not focus on new features per se, but unlike the last one which virtually had nothing, this one does have some things of interest.
But before we start, there is something I forgot in the last update of Windows (1903). Microsoft has added a new toggle in the Graphics Settings in the Settings panel for variable refresh rate supported GPU and Displays (AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-SYNC and VESA DisplayPort Adaptive Sync).
This toggle does not enable/disable Variables Refresh Rate (VRR), it enhances it if you have enabled for some DirectX 11 games (running in full screen) that doesn’t support VRR natively. This feature is disabled by default.
If you do not find the toggle under Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings, then your system configuration is not compatible.
Apologies for missing this.
Ok let us start with this new update:
What's new?
Task Manager
Windows Task Manager has 2 little changes:
On supported systems (not mine) you can see your GPU temperature.
Picture from the Interwebs:
And lastly, Task Manager can now identify your drive type. If you have an SSD, it will now show “SSD”.
(now that's the picture from my potato
Windows Subsystem for Linux – 2 (WSL 2)
Microsoft releases a second version of its WSL platform which features:
A new architecture with a new “specially tuned” (but still open source, link - https://github.com/microsoft/WSL2-Linux-Kernel) Linux kernel, which bring massive file system performance, and brings full system call compatibility, fixes a number of issues that WSL1 had (for example, now you can run and make docker images within WSL2 as would normally in your Linux distro of choice, or inability to connect via localhost to a WSL running server) and improved memory management.
If you would like to read more about it: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-about
Personally, I have been using it daily at work, and I have yet to fall onto a single issue. But that is just my experience. Impressive stuff.
Some notes:
If you are using WSL1, then you won’t magically be using WSL2 once you upgrade, but an upgrade command line call can be done to switch your WSL1 environment to WSL2 (and yes, you can have both as well), and you can convert it back down if you want later too.
WSL2 does use some of the core Hyper-V components which may block some VMs from working.
Due to its new architecture, one thing you may notice, is that if your use a VPN under Windows, under Linux, it won’t have access to the same private network, so you need to setup a VPN access in there as well… maybe there is a way to not have to do this, but I haven’t found it personally.
The other things that is new, is that if you have WSL enabled, you’ll have Linux item in File Explorer. This is really a network path to the files of your WSL environment(s), as you can see bellow.
(Ignore the “Ubuntu” item, that is something I have added myself before this feature came)
DirectX 12
Already covered under DirectX 12 Ultimate news reveal, but essentially it adds new features to DirectX12 with most notable: DirectX Raytracing Tier 1.1, DirectX Mesh Shader, DirectX Sampler Feedback (Texture Streaming, Texture-Space Shading)
WDDM 2.7
Windows Display Driver Model or (WDDM) has been updated to version 2.7 bringing new abilities for GPU drivers. For those who don't know, WDDM is the graphic driver architecture for GPUs running under Windows 10. Introduced back in Vista with the decoupling of the driver from the OS kernel allowing the driver to crash and restart without having a BSOD, among few improvements like Hybrid Sleep support and multi-threading (you can run and display multiple GPU demanding application without driver trickeries, an many times failing. This was also important for Vista who had a GPU rendered interface with Aero). Windows 7 with version 1.1 really pushed things forward with a lot new abilities and improvements, and improvements kept coming with Windows 8 and with Windows 10 reaching version 2.0 at release, and had continues releases up now.
The big goal of WDDM with 1.0 was that GPU performance quickly out paste the ones from the CPU, and developers who needs the GPU needed solution to offload the most they can from the CPU to the GPU. basically, attempt to reduce as much as possible from passing through the CPU as they are getting way to slow to keep up with the GPU.
To cut to the chase,
WDDM 2.7 is what allows DirectX 12 Ultimate to offer its new features which I am going to repeat a bit myself here.
HLSL Shader Model 6.5 (which brings: DXR 1.1, Sampler Feedback feature, Mesh and Amplification, a new wave intrinsic support.
D3D12 Video Protected Resource Support
Support for resource interops in DirectX 12 and Direct3D 9
And, Improved memory allocation control for DirectX 12
There is yet any architectural documentation on WDDM 2.7 released by Microsoft giving more of the details on the inner working changes.
That said, there is another improvement for compatible systems which I think many here will enjoy:
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
And for multi-screen users:
Something you should be noticing (if you have compatible hardware and drivers with this version of Win10): Reduces stuttering when an app window is moved to another monitor which has a different refresh rate than the primary monitor.
Dictation Mode
Hit Win+H while selecting any text box or text area. A small panel will open allowing you to speech to text. The following languages are supported: English (United States), English (Canada), English (UK), English (Australia), English (India), French (France), French (Canada), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Portuguese (Brazil), and Chinese (Simplified, China). Language detection is based on keyboard language selected.
Login
A new option was added to Windows 10 which is to remove password entering as added choice to login your system. Meaning you can use Windows Hello facial recognition/Fingerprint, or PIN or key/card or picture password, but not password to login into your system, adding some security to your system.
Cloud Reset
You can now re-install Windows over the cloud. Bringing a feature that Mac users enjoyed for many years, which is the ability to re-install your device from Windows by automatically get the latest version of the OS from Microsoft servers and perform a system reset/re-install. This allows you to skip the step of preparing a USB flash drive and get Media Creation Tool for a re-install.
To do this, simply do: Start > Update & Security > Recovery. The under “Reset this PC”, pick “Get started”, then pick “Remove everything”. Then you will see the option “Cloud download”.
Search
Depending on your region, Windows search shows now quick web searches (obviously powered by Bing).
But more interestingly is the last button to the right of the image in the Search panel. When you press this button, it allows you to quickly take a screenshot of an area of your screen and image web search based on it. So if you have a picture of backpack, or computer case or whatever you see on a video or web but can’t identify what it is, well, you can hit that button, select area, and do an image web search and try to find it or similar product.
Search Indexer
Microsoft has improved Search Indexer by adding some logic to it of when it should kick-in. If you are playing a game or you are on Battery Saver mode, it will no longer kick-in, and if it has started before either, it will stop automatically. In addition, it monitors itself to auto throttle itself to avoid taking your whole CPU and/or disk. While it will obviously take more time to complete its task, it allows you to enjoy your system. In addition, Windows Search will be less taking on developers, because it will now auto ignore things like repositories data folders (.git, .hg, .svn, .Nuget, etc).
New Kaomoji's
Kaomoji has been added to the emoji/symbols panel (Win+[.]) in the last version of Windows 10
In this version, Microsoft has added a few more:
ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪
ლ(╹◡╹ლ)
(⊙_◎)
( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
ಠ_ರೃ
(∩^o^)⊃━☆
/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
Virtual Desktop Renaming
You can now name/rename your Virtual Desktop environment. Simply click on the title of the Virtual Desktop (default name: “Desktop #”, where “#” is a number), and you enter a name.
Windows Sandbox
You may have remembered Windows Sandbox? No? That’s ok, it now features the ability to configure the default working environment.
Documentation here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-kernel-internals/windows-sandbox-config-files/ba-p/354902
Game Bar:
Well that got announced already, so I’ll go super quick:
It now supports widgets. An SDK has been released for devs to make their own panels in the Game Bar. You now have: Xsplit, Spotify Remote, and Razer Cortex as widgets.
Windows Defender
Windows Defender now features: Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) blocking. Based on a reputation score, apps will be blocked. Option can be enabled or disabled under Windows Defender panel > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection
Cortana
Oh, you thaught we would not have an update on it? Ha! Cortana is now separated from Windows Search, and it is now its own app. It, (20 years late) support conversations, but lost a lot of “consumer” focused abilities and has been refocused on text-based interaction over voice. It can still do the basic stuff like set a timer, add a to-do item to your Microsoft To Do list, if you wonder, but finished media control features and such.
Microsoft is refocusing Cortana technology into an AI system for various applications like Office. An example of this feature is in Power Point, you have a feature to automatically generate your layouts for all your slides in a click from all your text content and images you put in already. I tried it for a meeting presentation, and I was really impressed. It did a near excellent job, and only had to retouch some little things here and there, saving me A LOT of time. Great for students.
Smaller stuff:
File Explorer Search History in file search box, with file name highlight as you type.
File Explorer search box now includes OneDrive support so now you can find files in there without being explicitly in One Drive folder.
Update network panel under Settings panel for wireless and LTE modem, with additional options, reducing the need to get to the old Control Panel.
Language settings section under Settings panel got improved making it easier to use.
You can now login using your PIN under Safe Mode.
Cursor speed now added into Settings panel.
Easy access to disable or enable restarting of applications when you restart your system. The option has now been moved under: Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options under “Restart app” section.
Series of improvement in Tablet Modes, like spacing between items increased to make it touch experience a bit better.
Built-in IP Camera Support.
Improved Bluetooth quick connect on supported hardware.
“Download” folder has now been excluded from Disk Cleanup.
Got eye tracking accessibility system? You can now drag items with your eyes.
Ability to make the text cursor indicator be highlighted by 2 colored points at on each side to make it easier to find (Settings > Ease of Access > Text Cursor)
Ability to uninstall Notepad (available for download from the Store)
Notes:
Please notes that I excluded the build-in apps of Windows unless it is specific to this version as normally Windows built-in apps are updated through the Windows Store and you may already have new features/changes already, such as the newly released icons for some of these apps. Another example is Your Phone, allowing your do and answer calls of your phone on your PC. I invite you to check them out yourself, and discover.
What's After?
We don't know what is coming out after. However, Microsoft did release a video celebrating passing the Windows 10, 1 Billion user target, and in it, if you pay close attention, you can see what would indicate some new GUI changes.
What was Before?
How to get it?
The update is being delivered via Windows Update in waves, like in the past. This allows Microsoft to block update delivery the moment it detects an issue with a particular configuration. However, as always, if you don't want to wait, you can get via Media Creation Tool.
Simply download the latest version of Media Creation Tool from Microsoft website, and in the wizard pick that you want to upgrade.
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