A Quirky Look at Windows 10 Creator’s Edition

In August we got the Anniversary Edition of Windows 10 and on Tuesday, 4/11/2017, Microsoft released the Creator’s Edition.  The most interesting feature of this new Windows 10 Edition is improvements to the handling of Critical Windows Updates.  Microsoft, to their credit, continues to improve the security of the Windows platform, especially in Windows 10.  It is a good release to go to.  Make sure your device drivers are all up to date.

The edition is found as the Build number in Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> System Information. The Anniversary Edition (also called version “1607” for some reason) is Build 14393 and the Creator’s Edition is Build 15063.

If you care about PCI/DSS or HIPAA compliance, you’ll need to be at one of these levels.  If you’ve got something older, well, you’re probably already infected and not reading this.

Some features:

1) Revamped “Paint” program to include 3D graphics; way better than the old 1D “Paint” program.

2) Game Beaming; Can’t be more direct than sending it to your TV via your XBox console, Why not use Troposcatter or bounce it off the Ionosphere and a couple of satellites?

3) Edge browser enhancements to include a jump list like the Opera browser. Not sure if it is “Jump” like, off a bridge, or jump as in Tom Cruse/Katie Holmes, or both.

4) Dolby Atmos (don’t know what it is but it sure sounds cool; if not a little “foggy”)

5) New Windows Defender Security Center; something has to protect the Defender.

6) Revamped Skype interface; mind’s blank (probably wiped from accidentally viewing the old Skype interface?).

7) Night Light (Blue-light reduction during night-time hours), This is supposed to help you sleep better. NEWSFLASH: It’s 1:15AM. It’s not working.

8) Cortana ToDo/Nag List; Great, now I have two people telling me to take out the garbage.

9) Windows Update Controls (can delay updates by up to three days for business clients) so you don’t return from lunch to find your computer loading up your “New Version of Windows.”

10) Map App can do distance calculations by drawing a line on your touchscreen monitor. This is useful when the old map legend/ruler just won’t do, or if you just like to run around in circles.

Yet Microsoft has really been improving security with each release since the old Windows 7, so when this comes to a Windows 10 PC near you, it is a good idea to upgrade.

It took me 1 hour, 49 minutes to do one of my Windows 10 boxes. That’s from clicking on the “Upgrade Assistant” to getting my desktop back. Speed is not an option.