Microsoft is known to serve its users with two major Windows 10 updates each year. The first major update, which has been under testing under the codename ’19H1′ for months, has officially been named Windows 10 May 2019 update, which will start rolling out to all towards the end of May.
Note: The screenshots attached below have been captured on a PC running Windows 10 Home Insider Preview build number 18875.1000 with all of the significant features in the update in tow.
One of the biggest user-facing changes in Windows 10 May 2019 update has to be the newly introduced “Light” theme, which is exactly the opposite of what most of the users want. However, it seems there’s a decent number of light theme users out there, whom Microsoft is making happy with a cleaner and fluid interface.
I haven’t really used the light theme on my Windows 10 PC, but in the brief period for which I switched to it, made me realize that Microsoft has done a fairly decent job. It’s looking good with everything from the taskbar, start menu, Action Center, Settings and other UI elements turning to white – of course, with some translucency to it.
Windows 10 May 2019 Update sees Cortana and the Search experience part ways, which may be saddening for some. When you don’t have the small icons mode turned on, you will now see that the taskbar hosts the search box and Cortana icon separately. This means you can now simply tap on the search box and look around your Windows 10 PC with Microsoft’s voice assistant not meddling with your experience.
Microsoft hasn’t changed a whole lot in this department, except for splitting up the two features but I expect to see major changes here in the next update.
This is the one feature that users are certainly going to love in this update. Microsoft is finally fixing the biggest issue with Windows 10 updates, acknowledging all of the user complaints. It is no longer going to force new updates on you, restarting the PC out of nowhere but instead, you will need to “click on the install button” in Settings to trigger the update going forward.
Apart from the light theme, this major Windows 10 update also introduces some minor changes to the Settings interface. Microsoft has only further streamlined and organized. The Settings page will now start showing the status of the Microsoft Account, OneDrive, updates, and a rewards option as well. If you link a smartphone to your Windows 10 PC, this new top banner will also show the ‘Your Phone’ status as well.
While Home users won’t get a taste of the new Sandbox feature in the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, this feature will be welcomed with open arms by Pro and Enterprise users. Sandbox is a feature for power users, as well as privacy enthusiasts who are cautious of what they download off the Internet.
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