Windows 10 '20H1' changelog emerging

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Windows 10 is wider than just Windows 10 Mobile, of course, with the latter falling behind its Desktop counterpart by several branches now. Many readers also use Windows on laptops, towers, and 2-in-1s though, so I thought a linked glimpse of what's coming (over and above '19H2', rolling out in a few months) would be of interest. Zac Bowden (at WC) is the man with his finger on the pulse of Windows, in this case...

From Zac's breakdown:

Windows Shell

  • File Explorer has a new search UI and is now powered by a new "Windows Search" system.
  • The touch keyboard now features 39 additional languages powered by SwiftKey technologies.
  • Input Method Editor (IME) has improvements for Japanese as well as Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
  • Dictation now supports 12 additional languages.
  • The Wi-Fi list has been updated with a tweaked UI and better iconography.
  • Windows Ink Workspace is now smaller and provides direct access to Microsoft Whiteboard and Snip & Sketch.
  • A brand new Cortana experience is present, which features a new conversational UI, light or dark mode, and more.

Apps

  • Disk type is now visible within Task Manager.
  • Settings has a new account header along the top on the homepage.
  • There are now new download throttling options for Windows Update in Settings.
  • The languages area in Settings has been redesigned to easier see the current state of language settings at a glance.

Accessibility Improvements

  • Narrator is now more efficient when reading tables. Header information is not repeated when navigating within the same row or column. Entering and exiting tables is also less verbose.
  • There's a new command in Narrator to give a webpage summary that gives information about hyperlinks, landmarks, and headings.
  • Windows Magnifier has a new ability to keep the text cursor in the center of the screen making it easier and smoother to type.
  • Narrator can now tell you the title of the page that is being linked to by pressing Caps + Ctrl + D.

As you can tell, this branch update contains many small tweaks rather than big changes in how Windows works. To an extent this has been true for Windows 10 for the last few years, I'd argue. Having been playing around with some old Windows XP and 7 netnooks, trying to update them to the present day (and failing), the only way to appreciate the myriad of improvements in Windows year on year is to go back and use the OS from five or even ten years ago - you'll be appalled. 

Yes, there's always work to do - I'd point Microsoft towards the appalling touch-friendliness in 'classic' applications like Windows Explorer, which drives me mad on my Surface Pro on a daily basis!

Source / Credit: WC