Check out all the new features of the Windows 10 October 2018 update

Looking to the future: Microsoft has released its next major release of Windows 10. The 1809 version, called Windows Update 10 October 2018, contains a multitude of changes that enhance mobile integration, help correct Edge and enhance security.

In all the news of yesterday on Surface Pro, Surface Studio 2 and the new Surface Headsets (yes, headphones), you may have missed Microsoft's announcement that the next major release of Windows 10 is now available. The Windows 10 October 2018 update is being rolled out on PCs with automatic updates that are enabled as of October 9, but can also be manually installed today.

Your phone application is one of the most important new features. Android users can easily drag photos between a smartphone and a PC. Messaging is also supported when paired with smartphones running Android 7.0 and later. You can view, send and receive text messages from the comfort of a laptop, desktop or tablet running Windows 10.

IPhone users do not have the same support for photo sharing and messaging, but they can send web pages to a paired computer and continue browsing a larger screen. Unfortunately, Microsoft does not have the ability to implement the same seamless experience for iOS devices.

Microsoft implemented the Timeline feature in April to make it easier to view the work history. In the October update, the timeline includes the history of mobile device usage. To enable this feature, Android users must install the Microsoft Launcher application. IPhone users will have to wait a little longer because Microsoft says the feature will be available soon.

While most technology enthusiasts will probably be laughing at the idea of ​​using Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox can learn from many improvements. New grammar tools allow you to highlight different parts of the speech in different colors. A read rule highlights one line at a time to save you the trouble of reading and scrolling large web pages. An offline dictionary is also included so you do not need to open a new tab to search for a definition.

The latest version of Edge also brings a theme support. Even though most other browsers already have it, it should be noted, because Edge can be useful on laptops and tablets to maximize battery life.

Whenever PDF documents are loaded into Edge, blank blank pages are now shorter. Rendering improvements have been made to eliminate the slow loading of PDF files (in fact, we prefer Edge as the default PDF reader if you do not want to install any third-party applications). Plus, hovering over your mouse with the top of a page will bring up a navigation toolbar with the ability to add notes from Edge. The toolbar can optionally be pinned to the top of a document instead of being automatically hidden.

One of the most notable changes is the redesigned setup menu. The three-point button now displays a drop-down menu similar to that of Chrome.

In addition to several other changes to the Edge, Microsoft has decided to phase out the capture tool. A note has been added to the utility to indicate that its features are being consolidated in Snip & Sketch, formerly Screen Sketch.

Using the Windows key + Shift + S shortcut runs the non-interactive Capture tool and copies the selected screen area to the clipboard. On the 1803 build, it is there that the shortcut is stopped. With the October 1809 build update, there is now a prompt for sharing and adding annotations to captures.

Another major change concerns the clipboard itself. Cloud Clipboard now allows you to store multiple items on the clipboard and paste them to any device linked to your account. For now, the maximum size allowed for plain text, HTML, and images in the Cloud Clipboard is limited to 1 MB. The feature can be enabled or disabled under Settings> System> Clipboard.

Although we do not have much time to test it, the Windows search has been upgraded. Previous versions of the search were less than stellar To say the least. Search previews make it easy to find recently used files, folders, and applications.

Quick actions in search previews allow you to jump directly to specific tasks. Options such as creating a meeting in Outlook, launching PowerShell as an administrator, sending instant messages, etc., appear when using the search. . The search will also include calendar events from the Calendar app and will also work with Outlook.com and Office 365 accounts.

The game receives some minor improvements with the changes made to the game bar. A new audio control panel provides access to individual audio channels so you can change settings without having to leave a game. The gamebar is now its own application that can be launched from the desktop, applications, the Start menu or the taskbar.

The game mode is now automatically enabled for all games, but you can always disable it permanently if you wish. Windows Update will be removed during games, so you will never see prompts to restart or install updates during playback. On some systems, Microsoft promises more consistent FPS and perhaps improved performance, although Microsoft's statements are very vague, claiming that it depends on specific games and system configurations.

Security has undergone significant changes. Windows Defender Security Center has been renamed to Windows Security. Controlled access to folders prevents ransomware or destructive malware from modifying personal files. Applications can no longer access common folders such as Documents and Images unless authorized. If necessary, you can add a folder location whitelist in the "Protection against viruses and threats" section of Windows Security. Windows Defender Firewall now also supports Windows processes for Linux processes.

All antivirus products must be run as protected processes for installation and registration to be allowed. Products not yet compliant with this new requirement will not be shown as legitimate antivirus solutions in the Windows Security Center.

You will find a multitude of Fluent application updates and design elements in Windows 10 in the October update. Check all other changes yourself by updating version 1809 via Windows Update or manually downloading and installing from Microsoft.