Microsoft
A technician adjusts a spotlight at the exhibition stand of Microsoft in preparation for the CeBIT computer fair in the northern German town of Hanover March 12, 2007. Reuters/Christian Charisus

As the Microsoft Windows 10 release date nears a number of its exciting features are being revealed. Bugs and fixes for these issues are surfacing as well.

For this week, three key developments came into light. Two likely involve upcoming features of the redesigned and cross-platform operating system while one concerns a serious problem encountered by Windows-powered phone users.

Virtual desktops improvements

Touted as one of the Windows 10 banner features, Virtual Desktops extends the accessibility of operating system features without the need for a second or third monitor. The feature, according to Mark Hachman of PC World simulates the functions of additional screens by providing a panoramic view of active application windows and giving quick access to these open windows.

But organising Virtual Desktops is not an easy task as seen in the earlier Windows 10 development builds. Good thing Microsoft software engineers thought of incorporating a classic Windows feature with Virtual Desktops – drag and drop.

With drag and drop now part of the OS, presumably through its final cut, organising, adjusting and reconfiguring multiple ‘desktops’ in a single PC monitor was instantly made better, Hachman said. To preview a virtual screen, users can simply hover on a specific icon and a screenshot will zoom up.

Microsoft plans further tweaks on Virtual Desktops and the company encourages the active involvement of Windows fans. Crowdsourcing will effectively dictate the final form of the service, the report noted.

Windows 10 build 10061 mystery

Reports came out that Windows 10 build 10061 is being pushed for users to download. This is especially true for Windows Insiders users already on build 10056. Nothing too mysterious on this, according to Zac Bowden of WinBeta.org, as he explained that the download prompt pops out as a matter of procedure.

Build 10061 is actually next step for Windows Insiders that installed leaked Windows 10 versions on their machines. That reads: unofficial channel and therefore insignificant for the majority of Insiders users out there.

“The build it's trying to download is something you'll most likely never be able to get hold of, unless Microsoft make an exception or lower the flight risk of said build,” Bowden wrote. And the clearance or exception will only be provided to Microsoft-trusted parties – a company employee for example, the report said.

Bricked Windows phones

Windows phone users are advised not to install the Technical Preview of the mobile OS, which Microsoft had actually pulled from its servers. Doing so will likely lead to problems, in many cases as serious as ending up with a bricked device or near-dead phone, Brad Chacos of PC World said in a report.

“We are seeing some reports of failures on Lumia 520/525/526 devices when trying to roll back to Windows Phone 8.1 using the Windows Phone Recovery Tool. We are pausing build availability for these devices temporarily while we investigate the issue and work with customers who have reported problems,” Chacos quoted a Microsoft technical support representative as saying.

Windows 10 on its release date is a unified platform, meaning Microsoft has designed the OS to look and function the same way on mobile devices and conventional computers. Reports suggest that the software will come in three instalments – the first will drop in July then in October 2015. Another major upgrade is planned in early 2016 under the codename Redstone.

To report problems or leave feedback on this article, email: r.pineda@ibtimes.com.au.

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