Articles on TechRepublic - Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 3:43 PM
Windows 10 November 2019 Update: Version 1909 is available now--here's what's
new
Windows 10 Version 1909 is now available as an optional feature update.
Electing to install it will add several subtle quality-of-life features and
improve your user experience.
GOCMEN, Getty Images/iStockphoto
Nov. 12, 2019, was more than just a normal Microsoft Windows 10 Security Patch
Tuesday. After the installation of a cumulative malicious code patch or two,
you may have noticed an optional update is available on your Update & Security
settings screen (Figure A).
Figure A
More about Windows
The feature update to Windows 10, Version 1909, adds several performance and
quality-of-life enhancements to the operating system. These updated features
should make the overall Windows 10 experience better for users. But for the
most part, the updated features are subtle under-the-hood changes--nothing a
typical user will notice or have to deal with in terms of changing default
configuration settings.
There are a few new features that may appeal to certain users, particularly
users taking advantage of voice-activated digital assistants and the built-in
Windows 10 Calendar app.
SEE: 20 pro tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (TechRepublic
download)
What changes can you expect in Windows 10 Version 1909?
If you elect to install the optional feature update and move to Windows 10
Version 1909, you will notice something striking when compared with previous
version updates--brevity. The download and installation of this feature update
should take only a few minutes and will be completed by a system restart. You
do not need to plan for an hours-long process.
When you return to the Windows 10 desktop, you will not notice any obvious
changes. According to the Microsoft Insiders documents page for Version 1909,
many of the performance enhancements are not visible during typical operating
system use. There are also several improvements that are important for
enterprise administrators and OEMs--not the average user.
However, users of the Windows 10 Calendar app will notice a change right away
when they click the date and time icon located in the System Tray of the
Taskbar. There is now a box where users can add events to their calendar from
the flyout screen (Figure B).
Figure B
Another subtle change that users will appreciate applies to how the navigation
pane of the Start Menu works in Windows 10 Version 1909. Hovering your mouse
cursor in the Start Menu Navigation pane will now automatically expand the pane
to show more detail about each individual option (Figure C). Users had to
perform that task manually before the update.
Figure C
If you regularly use the Alexa digital assistant from Amazon, you may be
pleased to learn that Windows 10 Version 1909 allows you to reach Alexa above
the Windows 10 lock screen. Microsoft has been expanding features that can be
accessed without actually logging onto your PC, and now Alexa joins the list.
Should you opt in to Windows 10 Version 1909?
Overall, the Windows 10 November 2019 Update to Version 1909 adds several new
features that should appeal to certain users and not annoy everyone else. So
far, there are no reports of Version 1909 breaking applications or otherwise
causing problems. And since the installation is mostly painless, it may be
worth a few minutes to opt in to this optional Windows 10 update.
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Also see
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/windows-10-november-2019-update-version-1909-is-available-now-heres-whats-new/#ftag=RSS56d97e7
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info
