Hands-on with Windows 10 Preview build 9879

Hands-on with Windows 10 Preview build 9879

Summary: The latest Windows 10 Preview to be delivered is build 9879. Besides bug fixes, it includes some changes by popular demand, a few controversial design decisions, and one space-saving surprise.

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  • What's in Build 9879?

    It looks like Microsoft is serious about this new rapid update cadence for the Windows 10 Technical Preview.

    The first release of the Technical Preview was delivered on October 1. It was followed three weeks later by a major update, build 9860.

    And now, three weeks later, comes build 9879, delivered automatically to any member of the Windows Insiders program who selected the Fast channel in the Preview Builds section of PC Settings.

    Like its predecessors, this is a slightly ragged release, but it's packed with enough new features to be worth exploring.

    Some of the new additions don't lend themselves to depiction in a gallery of screenshots. This build offers some refinements in the animations that accompany windows opening and closing, for example, and it introduces new three-finger gestures for precision touchpads such as those found on the Surface Pro. It also adds support for MKV video files, a format that has never previously been officially supported in Windows.

    In the remainder of this gallery, I call out some of the changes you'll see if you install this build for yourself.

  • Hide the Search and Task View buttons

    The single most popular complaint about earlier preview builds was from users who didn't appreciate the two new icons appearing to the right of the Start button. In this build, you can right-click and choose to show or hide the Search and Task View buttons, restoring the taskbar to its classic configuration.

    Not yet available is any option to configure how Search works, including replacing Bing with Google or another alternative search engine, or to hide the "Trending Now" column.

Topics: Windows 10, Microsoft

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27 comments
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  • re: Storage Sense

    "The new Storage Sense option in PC Settings tries to offer both a visual and data-based representation of how much of the available storage on a device is being used, and which parts of the system are using it."

    Honestly, though - I still prefer an application by the name of SpaceMonger. Used to be developed by a single guy, but he lost interest in maintaining it, and handed it over EdgeRunner, a company that I guess is a subsidiary of Stardock.

    In any case: SpaceMonger uses a 2D representation of your drive which really does a great job of showing you at a glance what's taking up your drive, even when folders are deeply nested, or you have files in unusual locations. I've found it to be far more useful than pretty much any other similar utility.
    CobraA1
  • UI look and feel

    MS has still a ton of work to do to make the UI look and feel consistent across the OS. Not shown here, the ribbon controls look particularly dated/XP'ish.
    rmac_z
    • I'd expect

      UI updates to start happening in the new year with the next round of updates. It's more important they get the engine sorted first then make it look pretty :)
      aesonaus
    • UI always goes last

      right now they have made it clear none of the UI is even remotely finished so you're just re-stating what they have made their official stance. Having said that, don't expect much to really change. What you consider "dated" people consider "perfect" and I think MS realized changing for the sake of changing pleases only a minority and always upsets a majority.
      neonspark
      • Surely after the fiasco of W8 the UI is one of the FIRST things MS...

        Need to address. In my opinion, the very ugly UI in W8 is the immediate turnoff for adoption. In contrast, Apple have put design first. The ribbon control is pervasive amongst Windows apps and there has been a good deal of negativity towards it, particularly as the current implementation doesn't scale too well for touch.

        This isn't change for changes sake, it's change vital to compete with Apple in the months ahead.
        rmac_z
        • I love the Metro UI in the Win8x world

          Opinions vary.
          ahy-nonimous
      • Re: Dated

        Sometimes the avant-garde is dated incorrectly.
        docplaster
  • Thank you

    This is a classic Ed Bott post, simple, informative, right to the point. Thank you Ed.

    I noticed two typos:

    Hide the Search and Task View buttons: Typo- last word "colukmn"
    System compression built in: Typo - first sentence "Sysatem"

    And yes, rmac_z, Windows 10 looks like it has a split personality in terms of UI: Windows XP, 7 and 8.x.
    Tolga BALCI
    • Fixed, thanks

      Distributed proofr3ading FTW! :)
      Ed Bott
  • likely to inspire some outcry from testers

    About 900 votes on User Voice against the OneDrive changes (counting both suggestions) so perhaps a good test of the feedback loop
    mary.branscombe
  • Add me to the list against OneDrive changes

    Will definitely be providing feedback on un-synced OneDrive folders not showing up in File Explorer. I have devices with small drives where I don’t sync anything locally but still want to be able to view what exists in the cloud, click and open as needed. Being able to do that in File Explorer is a lot more convenient than opening up a web browser.
    thekman58
  • OneDrive users screwed in this release

    The change to OneDrive is unbelievably stupid in this release. With the previous OneDrive you could see all files stored in OneDrive within your File Explorer whether they were synced or not. It negates the whole usefulness of unlimited storage if you are forced to select what you want to sync up front. OneDrive may be unlimited by local harddrive is not. I don't care how confusing it may or may not be to see icons that represent files/folders that aren't actually synced to my machine... all they have to do is represent it greyed out or with an overlay that indicates it's not locally stored. This will be the first Windows version I skip in a long time since windows ME if they don't back down from this change to OneDrive. I'd rather stick with Windows 8.1 update than loose the ability to view unsynced OneDrive files in the File Explorer. I don't know how many people I've tried to sell on Windows 8.1 solely on this feature, only to have it ripped out from underneath me. I'm a die hard MS fan but this is just total crap.
    Lopan
    • I gave up on OneDrive a while ago

      When they started requiring that a Microsoft account was used to login to Windows. What was wrong with specifying the account in the app itself?
      lepoete73
  • Hands-on with Windows 10 Preview build 9879

    Thanks. I like what I see in Microsoft Windows 10. Going to tell friends and family to expect to do an upgrade when its released.
    Loverock.Davidson
    • @Loverock.Davidson

      Brown nosing again I see. Its a wonder you can stand the smell.
      5735guy
      • Dude, he's a troll

        Why do you feed him?
        ahy-nonimous
  • I'm not as against it as I am....

    At least now it is clear what is stored locally on my computer AND in the cloud. What is NOT clear is what is in the cloud. These guys baffle me sometimes. I saw this with the Music App, where they just could not get it clear as to how to inform people whether or not things were stored locally or in the cloud. It seems to me to be a very easy answer, and this lack of discoverability really is the largest problem that Microsoft faces IMO.

    Us power users can deal with this stuff, but in order for the millions of average every day folks to deal with things it needs to be more obvious, and more obvious is never a bad thing. Carbonite and OneDrive to a certain degree has a little green checkmark to inform us whether or not our files have been backed up, and what status that backup is in. The OneDrive Metro app actually had a decent; if inconsistent graphic, that would display a cloud AND a computer to let the end user know that a particular file was both synced locally and to the cloud.

    This is what needs to be implemented here. A simple graphic to acknowledge to the user whether or not this file or folder is here OR there, OR in both places. And why not, WHY NOT have a tool tip pop up when you hover over the graphic that explains the location of that file or folder. For some strange reason the thing that pops into my mind at the moment is the Skype app. My MOM still does not know what the video graphic is, and what the microphone graphic is on the Skype app. She is older and should not be expected to know what these things are. How hard would it be to give the end user the option to have text labels under those graphics. Answer: NOT HARD.
    JimmyFal
    • Quickbooks 2015 is doing it right...

      QuickBooks 2015 has a fantastic system in place that put little tips all over the screen to explain new features. It is brilliantly implemented and easy to put away or bring back when needed. This could be called "tutorial mode", or "mom mode" or whatever. Give the end user the ability to display it or not. Microsoft Bob tried; and failed at this kind of thing, Apple succeeds in some aspects of making thing easier, although I question that lately with some of those iOS builds. I think I mostly deal with non-techies every day, and their frustration with lack of discoverability is probably more pronounced, but MS needs to think more like non-techies with this stuff.
      JimmyFal
  • Build 9879 still giving back to the Desktop user what was taken away.....

    .
    5735guy
  • New Insider Hub app

    The Start menu in the new build includes a new Insider Hub app, which provides news snippets from Microsoft about Win 10 builds.
    Speednet