Software
Windows 10 October 2020 Update is now available with a fresh Start menu and more.
Microsoft is launching its Windows 10 October 2020 upgrade to more than a billion customers today. Much as last year, this second update to Windows 10 in 2020 is more of a support pack than a big upgrade. Microsoft has, however, made some interesting tweaks, including a refreshed Start menu, some Alt Tab changes, and a new chromium-powered Microsoft Edge bundling.
The largest visual improvement, of all, is the revised Start menu. Microsoft's latest concept destroys the solid color behind the app icons and now applies a translucent backdrop to the tiles. The end effect is a Start menu that is functionally the same, but it's a lot easier to search to find your applications.Microsoft's second big improvement is how the Alt Tab operates. Traditionally, you use the Alt Tab to run through web applications that are open in Windows, but now the list contains all open tabs in Microsoft Edge. Microsoft, however, enables Windows 10 users to go back to the traditional Alt-Tab experience.
The last significant addition applies to PC games. Microsoft has never made it easy to set up and manage Windows refresh rate displays, which means that many forget to install 144Hz or higher modes on their displays. You can also switch to higher refresh speeds directly in the Windows 10 Configuration panel (Settings > System > Display, Advanced Monitor Settings). It's safer than jumping to the legacy gui hidden in the settings or trying to control it from the AMD or Nvidia software.
Microsoft's other Windows 10 updates for this October 2020 update are much smaller.
Notifications also have app icons at the top to make them easier to navigate and recognise, the taskbar has been deactivated for new Windows 10 users, and tablet mode can no longer show notification if you are using a 2-in-1 laptop.
Although the Windows 10 October 2020 update is available today, there's a risk that you may not be able to install it just yet. Microsoft usually takes a step-by - step approach to its Windows roll-outs, and this one arrives in the midst of a pandemic where everyone depends more than ever on laptops and PCs.
We're taking a calculated searcher-based roll-out approach to the October 2020 update, says John Cable, Microsoft's head of Windows Service and Distribution. We're throttling with availability over the coming weeks to ensure a consistent download experience so that you can't get the update right away.
In addition, certain devices may have a compatibility problem for which a security hold is in place, so we will not provide an update until we are sure that you will have a good update experience.
If your computer is immediately supported, you can check the Windows 10 October 2020 update settings in the Windows Update section (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update). Otherwise, the next update is scheduled to appear in the coming weeks.
