New Windows 10 Insider build today expected to roll out to everyone next week

Windows 10 build 10586 has been released to Fast ring users of the Insider Preview program today. There's not a lot new in this build, largely bug fixes. However, it's important nonetheless, and this build is believed to have been signed off as good enough for widespread use. As such, unless some critical last-minute bug is discovered, it should roll out to all Windows 10 users on Patch Tuesday next week as the Windows 10 Fall Update.

For people still using the RTM build 10240, the update will bring a handful of visible changes: tab previews (but no extensions) in the Edge browser, colored title bars, greater consistency to the appearance of icons and menus, and additional live tile layout options in the Start menu.

The update also includes a set of new apps that tie into Skype: a Messaging app for instant messaging and a Skype Video app for video calls. These apps have a particular significance, because they're also present in Windows 10 Mobile, where they provide core telephony and SMS/MMS features in addition to Skype connectivity.

The update also fixes some significant bugs found in the current mainstream build, such as the Start menu failing to be useful when large numbers of applications are installed.

When the Fall Update is released, Microsoft should be making it possible to install the updated build directly. This means that new ISOs will be released, allowing it to be installed directly onto clean systems. Upgrades from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will also go directly to the Fall Update; they won't need to upgrade to build 10240 and then update subsequently. Upgraders who want to perform clean installs will also have an easier experience: with the Fall Update, it will be possible to use a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 license key to activate Windows 10. This avoids an awkward issue that exists currently, wherein people qualifying for the free upgrade, but wanting to perform a clean install, have to install Windows 10 twice: once as an upgrade from 7, 8, or 8.1, and then a second time as a clean install.