Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has launched a new build of the Windows 10 technical preview with build number 10041. The build comes with new features and has a more polished user interface, giving users a taste of what’s to come in the final version of Windows 10, set to launch this summer.

The new build highlights the visual overhaul of Windows Explorer, with icons looking more flatter and colorful. The settings section has also been retooled, and now features toggles that are similar to what will be seen on Windows 10 for phones.

One of the major highlights of build 10041 is the inclusion of Cortana in more territories, with users in China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK now able to access the personal assistant. The Virtual Desktops feature, which is essentially the able to run multi-window setups, is also getting new functionality, with users now having the ability to moving a specific window to its own Virtual Desktop in a single step.

The taskbar is also being tweaked, with network settings getting its own dedicated fly-out section for easy access. The Photos app, which has Live Tile functionality, will be able to pull images from OneDrive in preview mode, and has also gained the ability to handle images in the RAW file format. The feedback hub has also been tweaked and will now let users share feedback on feature requests as well as suggestions more easily.

While not ready yet, Microsoft has announced that Project Spartan will be launching in the next update. The browser will be the default way to surf the web on Windows 10 as Microsoft finally called the curtains on Internet Explorer. Project Spartan will come with a new rendering engine, come with support for extensions and  a brand new user interface with a reading mode.

Head of the Windows Insider program Gabriel Aul has mentioned that new builds will be available to customers once every month leading up to the launch of Windows 10, with Fast ring members having the ability to get updates even faster.

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Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced Windows 10 last month, with the Technical Preview now available to download in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors for users looking to try out the latest that Microsoft has to offer. The Redmond giant mentioned during the announcement that the preview was just an initial build, with several features to be added before the retail version hits the market sometime next year. Nevertheless, there is enough new stuff in the OS to tinker with.

A look at what’s new

Start Menu

One of the biggest changes in Windows 10 is the reintroduction of the Start menu. After significant backlash surrounding the removal of the Start button with Windows 8, Microsoft is now slowly switch back to a familiar Windows 7-esque interface with Windows 10, layering a few bits of Modern UI for added effect. So while the Start menu is back in Windows 10, it features a very different look to what you’re used to seeing in Windows 7, thanks to the presence of Live Tiles.

On the left of the menu, you get the frequently used list of programs, while the right side features Live Tiles that can act as either notifications or shortcuts to launch programs. You can not only resize the Live Tiles and move them around, but also change the size of the Start menu itself. Another new addition is universal change, which works much like what search used to in Windows 7, but with the ability to query results on the web.

Task View

Task View is Microsoft’s version of virtual desktop mode, a feature that has been present in other operating systems for a while now. With Task View, you get an Expose-like view of all the desktops you created, and can also organize windows into various desktops for easier multitasking through a snap feature. Task View can be accessed by the button on the taskbar or by using the Windows + TAB shortcut.

With Task View, you can create various desktops and cluster them together to switch between views. For instance, you can create a desktop with a Word document and an Excel spreadsheet, and another one that displays your music client and a browser. Activating Task View shows a list of all available desktops at the bottom of your display, and you can see the actual apps that are open within the desktop by hovering over the desktop.

Snap Assist

Microsoft introduced Snap mode in Windows 8, and the feature gets a few tweaks in Windows 10. Now every app can be dynamically resized, and can also be made to snap to the left or right of your screen by clicking on the Windows key and the left or right arrow key. The number of apps that can be snapped to your screen has also been increased to four.

Search

Along with offering a search bar on the Start menu, Microsoft is also including a search button on the taskbar. The goal with the search button is to easily find documents and files that you’ve recently worked on.

Other changes

A significant change is the move away from the Start screen in Windows 10, with all Modern apps now featured in the desktop mode as individual windows.

A feature that got a lot of demo time during Microsoft’s announcement has been a stalwart of Windows, and one that has been relatively unchanged from as far back as Windows 98. With Windows 10, you’ll get a new command prompt that allows you to paste directly using the Ctrl + V key combination.  That was the only feature that was demoed, and there’s not knowing what other changes will make their way to the terminal before the debut of the OS.

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