We're now in the last month before the Windows 10 Creators Update is finalised, for Desktop/tablet and Mobile, which means that 'Redstone 2' is now feature locked and we're down to bug fixes. We saw the extensive changelog in the release of build 15043 for the Fast ring for Windows Insiders, and now that same build has been deemed stable enough for the Slow ring. People whose devices are on the much safer slow ring haven't had a build since last November, this is only the second ever release for such users on the Redstone 2 branch of the OS.

If your Windows phone is on the Insiders 'Slow ring', you might have been forgiven for thinking the ring had been forgotten, but it's just that the Fast ring builds have been somewhat unstable recently, plus we've had Christmas and the holidays, which lost Microsoft the best part of a month. Anyway, I can recommend 15043, whichever ring you're on, it has fixed all of the issues I was having with Redstone 2.

To get the update, as usual, head into Settings/Update and then tap on 'Check for update'. Or wait and you'll be prompted within 24 hours.

The only major known issues with 15043 are 'speech packs', which means that we're down to localisation issues and that the formal release of Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update to production status phones is right on schedule, I'm guessing mid April.

Before then, we'd get at least one more Fast ring update, followed (if the usual pattern holds) by one of those, a candidate for public release, then appearing for the Slow and Release Preview rings (the latter will see Redstone 2 for the first time at that point) around the end of March, i.e. four weeks away.

Exciting times, I love it when the whole platform takes a step upwards. Pity there's no new first party hardware to go with it.

See also my summary of what's new going from Redstone to Redstone 2 (Anniversary Update to Creators Update).

Anyone with an existing phone that's officially deemed Windows 10 Mobile compatible by Microsoft can join in the fun. The full list of phones includes Lumia 430, 435, 532, 535, 540, 635 (1GB RAM version), 640, 640 XL, 730/735, 830, 930, 1520, Icon, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, and the MCJ Madosma Q501. Plus, of course, all the devices which have shipped with Windows 10 Mobile in the last year, of which the Lumia 550, 650, 950, 950 XL, Acer Jade Primo, Alcatel IDOL 4S and HP Elite x3 are the highest profile.

In each case:

1. Upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile (if appropriate) using the Upgrade Advisor.
2. After at least one update cycle you should then be on the Anniversary Update (a.k.a. Redstone). Head into Settings/Update & Security/Windows Insider Programme
3. Join the Insiders programme and choose the 'Slow' level in the pick list.
4. Within a few hours your phone should be seeing the build mentioned above and you'll be running the 'Creators Update' today. Fun, fun, fun....!