Windows 10 Preview Build Shows Off Upcoming Features, Including Redesigned Action Center

Microsoft has released a new Windows 10 Preview build for PC and Mobile, and the updates bring a lot of changes with it. The latest Windows Insider Preview build for PCs is numbered 16215, and it introduces a new notification centre, the ability to pin websites to the taskbar, overhauled handwriting panel, and more emoji support. This is the test version, and the stable build will arrive in fall with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Furthermore, Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 15222 has also been released for Insider members in the Fast ring.

With this update, Microsoft is bringing changes to the Start and Action Center with what it’s calling a Fluent Design. The Start menu can be now resized to your preference, and not have just one default vertical option as seen now. Action Center has been redesigned based on the Fluent Design System with a new Blue colour scheme and graphic tweaks.

The update also brings the ability to pin websites from Microsoft Edge to the taskbar. This can be done by selecting ‘Pin this page to the taskbar’ from the settings menu in Microsoft Edge. This build also introduces a new full screen experience in Microsoft Edge by simply pressing F11, and you can exit full screen mode by pressing F11 again.

The build has also improved Windows 10's stylus support by adding more editing tools, introducing new gestures, emojis, and even automatic handwriting detection. There’s also a new ‘find my pen’ option that will show where you were with your device when you last used the pen.

There’s also a new Emoji Panel that you can activate while in a text box. Just press Win + period (.) or Win + semicolon (;) while focus is in a text box and the Emoji Panel will pop up for you to quickly scroll through and pick the emoji you want. Microsoft notes that currently this emoji experience is only available when English (United States) is the active language of your keyboard. Additionally, the touch keyboard gets enhanced text prediction, and a one-handed keyboard support as well.

You can read about all the other handwriting improvements and overall new features here. If you want to experience all these features right away, become a Windows 10 insider member right away, else if you don’t want to suffer bugs, then wait it out till fall. As for the Windows 10 Mobile preview build, the company is mostly detailing fixes. Improvements include the Time & Language settings' UX page.