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Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 18219 to Skip Ahead Insiders - here's what's new

It's a new week, which means that it's time for a new Windows 10 build in the Skip Ahead subset of the Fast ring. Today's Windows 10 Insider Preview is build 18219, and it's a preview of next spring's feature update, codenamed 19H1.

Right now, 19H1 is limited to the Skip Ahead ring since the Fast ring is still testing out Redstone 5. However, Redstone 5 should be finalized in about a month, and then 19H1 will start rolling out to a broader base of Insiders.

There haven't been a lot of new features just yet. Today's build focuses on some improvements to Narrator:

  • Reliability: We have made improvements in Narrator reliability.

  • Scan Mode: Reading and navigating while in Scan Mode has been improved. Selecting text in Scan Mode has also been improved. Selecting forward in Edge has some known issues that we are actively investigating.

  • QuickStart: The link in settings to relaunch the QuickStart should now reliably be working and will launch from the very first Welcome page. The QuickStart should also more reliably take focus when Narrator is launched, which means Narrator should start reading it automatically.

  • Providing Feedback: The keystroke to provide feedback has changed. The new keystroke is Narrator + Alt + F. This will work both in the Standard and Legacy layouts.

  • Note: The Legacy layout also allows you to use Narrator + E to send us feedback.

  • Move Next, Move Previous, and Change View: When changing Narrator’s view to either characters, words, lines or paragraphs the Read Current Item command will read the text of that specific view type more reliably.

  • Keyboard command changes: The keystroke to Move to beginning of text has changed to Narrator + B (was Narrator + Control + B), Move to end of text has changed to Narrator + E (was Narrator + Control + E).

  • Braille: Improved usage of Braille commanding when using the Narrator key from the braille display.

While Fast ring builds are showing up more frequently due to the development cycle winding down, Skip Ahead now seems to be on the old, more predictable release schedule. If everything goes to plan, and it often doesn't, there's one build per week, and Mondays and Tuesdays are for testing. Then, a new build arrives for Insiders on Wednesday or Thursday.

Unfortunately, there's limited space in Skip Ahead, and if you're not already in it, it's too late. You'll have to wait for 19H1 in the Fast ring.

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