Microsoft has admitted that it has done a bad job of explaining new features to users in its two-year Windows 10 feature updates. That it is now releasing a new iOS-like Tips app to make it easier for users to learn more about the new features in an update.
The new Tips app is intended to help the one billion people who actively use a Windows 10 device, many of whom are unaware of the latest features being tested or highlighted in the Windows Insider program via Microsoft blogs and tech news.
“We know it does not always feel clear what has changed with a major update, or even how you can learn about and try new features and improvements. This means that updates may feel time-consuming without really benefiting you, and we want that change, “said Brandon LeBlanc, a senior program manager at the Windows Insider Program.
The new “post-update experience” is currently being developed for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel on the Windows 10 Preview Build 20190. It follows the release of the Windows 10 with 2020 Update, alias version 2004, which ‘ t contains relatively few feature changes as Microsoft seeks to stabilize its feature updates to satisfy enterprising customers and consumers.
The Tips app will highlight any major changes in the next feature update after this update is installed. People with this preview build will see a new Tips app that shows “some of the latest new features of the latest Insider Preview builds in the Dev Channel”.
Windows 10 Insider users should check the ‘Show me the Windows Welcome Experience’ checkbox in Settings> System> Notifications and Actions. It is currently available to users in the US, UK, Australia, India and Canada.
The latest example of Windows 10 also tweaks the Graphics Settings page to allow users to choose a standard high-performance GPU. On systems with multiple GPUs, users can choose a specific GPU based on the application.
This can be done via Settings> System> Display> Graphics settings, or Settings> Playback> Graphics settings. The next time a user launches a program that requires a high-performance GPU, it’s one that will be used for the task.
Separately, Microsoft improves the available information on optional updates. Microsoft recently made changes to its optional updates, which were released in the third and fourth weeks of each month. These updates are not installed automatically and were referred to as ‘C’ and ‘D’ weekly releases, but are now called ‘Preview’ releases.
Along with the August Patch security update Tuesday, Microsoft updated its Settings page to see more information about these optional updates, which often fix bugs but are not forced on users until the security update rolls out.
Now users can go to Settings> Update and Security> Windows Update> View Optional Updates to see what optional updates are available. This should help them use Device Manager to see if there are update drivers for specific devices, according to Microsoft.
The timing of this new setting feature is no coincidence. Microsoft’s latest optional update for Windows 10 version 2004 includes fixes that partially address compatibility issues with drivers from Nvidia, Intel, and Realtek.
These issues were serious enough for Microsoft to install upgrade blocks on specific devices affected by compatibility issues after they released this version of Windows 10 in May.
Windows Update will keep drivers updated automatically, but the new page can help users install optional driver updates if they have driver issues.
