Windows 10 May 2021 Update - Here is everything you need to know - Out now

GoodBytes · February 18, 2021

It's that time of the year again, Microsoft will soon release (estimated for a March release), a new version of Windows 10.

Codename 21H1 the new update will feature.... well.... nothing really. Normally, they are new features, but this time, they are absolutely minor.

The update contains mostly just bug fixes. This is the whole list of new things from Microsoft:

Quote

Windows Hello multicamera support to set the default as the external camera when both external and internal Windows Hello cameras are present.

Windows Defender Application Guard performance improvements including optimizing document opening scenario times.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Group Policy Service (GPSVC) updating performance improvement to support remote work scenarios.

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/02/17/introducing-the-next-feature-update-to-windows-10-version-21h1/

The update should be small in size and update quickly.

So, what's the deal? And what's next? Is it all over?

No. Microsoft has been focused almost entirely on its new OS: Windows 10X.

Windows 10X is NOT aimed at replacing Windows 10. It's a new OS on the side of Windows 10. Windows 10X is different in a lot of ways to Windows 10 from the core level, all the way to the user experience. Its initial goals were to be the OS of choice for new form factor devices, like foldable screens devices, dual screen ones, and whatever crazy contraption we make next. This has changed to not only be that, but also be an OS for very powered devices and compete directly with ChromeOS.

Why ChromeOS matter to Microsoft?

As reported earlier, ChromeOS is now the second most used OS after Windows. Microsoft needs to have an answer before it loses first place, as more and more people need are sufficiently meat via their web browser.

Why a special OS? Why not Windows 10 on them?

Windows 10 biggest issue is legacy support. It can't be dropped, else most of your programs and games will not work. Sadly, Microsoft is cursed carrying this legacy on its back, for potentially forever. Windows 10X dropped all legacy support. It only works with new, modern technologies which pushes GPU acceleration and is more light weight and secure (at the expense of flexibility/power). No more explorer.exe, no more Shell32, all legacy, all gone. This end results are expected to deliver an OS that provides a smoother experience on low powered, low cost, laptops/tablets while providing very good battery life.

Windows 10X is expected too only support: PWA and UWP apps only. With the exception of Office and the new Chromium Edge web browser, and that is because work has/being done to those apps to make it possible (details are unknown, but from my own, personal, understanding, it is integrating some UWP elements and some stuff is done on the OS side).

We do know that Win32 support running in a sandboxed environment is something that Microsoft is working on for Windows 10X, but leaks suggests that it won't be a feature coming out on time at release, and based on current, in development, builds of Windows 10X that has this feature, running a Win32 makes the OS load all the legacy stuff, and turn the system to a total crawl fest (basically as if you installed normal Windows 10 on the system). So, definitely a feature for better spec'ed devices, and understandable why Microsoft is not rushing this one.

The focus, at least right now, for Windows 10X is to be a competitor to ChromeOS, so

Ok ok, so what's next for Windows 10?

Ah, this will be exciting. Project name is Sun Valley. A big project, which we don't know officially what it is. From rumors only, it can be summarized as dropping Metro Design from Windows 8, and going full in with Fluent Design. This is supported by leaks from Microsoft showing screenshots in help documentations and marketing materials where things don't match exactly what we have right now. Like one of the more notable change is what Windows 10X already has: rounded corners on windows and on many UI elements. Right now, we have hints of this in the new Edge web browser and in some built-in apps. Of course, as expected, Win32 apps and specially those using a custom GUI framework will probably be left out as there is nothing that can be done unless they are updated to use WinUI 3.0 which basically give UWP GUI elements to Win32 programs. Based on observation on how the Windows dev world works, don't have your hopes up, unless there is massive line of people in front of the software makers with briefcase of money willing to buy a new version of their app just for this feature, and MAYBE, just maybe, it might make it to the lowest of lowest priority in some forgotten backlog of backlogs... it's not Apple world here, unless there is multi-million-dollar business case to be made, it won't be done. Competition is low for many apps, and its users tend to not like change and stick with what they know. Heck, people use a video/music player that looks like Windows Media Player from Windows 98 because that is what they grew up with. Anyways.

Preview of Windows 10X with some, now, old build: