Windows 10 Mobile - Build 10586.164 - Release Candidate ?

On March 8, MS released Windows 10 Mobile build 10586.164 along side the same build number for Windows 10 for PC.   This release comes just 6 days after 10586.122 which many thought may have been the Production release code for carriers.

 Both of these cumulative updates are based on the 10586 or 1511 (pick your preference) Windows 10 base code originally released in November at the end of the Threshold branch.  

 For Insiders on legacy gear like myself that meant switching to Release Preview mode in Windows Insider.   As always I installed on both Lumia 735 and 630 models I own.  So far legacy devices have not been included in Redstone branch releases.

 One of the challenges first off is that there was no official Windows Blog announcement with a detailed list of fixes.  There was a twitter announcement - but no detailed listing of fixes.  There is a partial list from msmobiles.pl...
  • Faster saving of screenshots
  • Smoother video playback
  • Opening of PDF files in Edge improvements
So I think there are three main questions.

  • Is 10586.164 the release version of Windows 10 Mobile that many not on the Insider path have been patiently been waiting for some months now ?
  • When will I get it ?
  • Should you update to it ?
Unfortunately I do not have a good answer for question 1.  MS has been pretty tight lipped about it so far.    In the my honest opinion the answer is no.  My only criteria for making that statement is simply the build number.  I just have this feeling that MS will roll this up into to either a 10587/8 build number or a 10586.200 or something.  Obviously pure speculation on my part with no basis in fact..

For question 2 - the answer is "it depends".  


When I classify Windows Phone users I place them into three groups - Group 1 are those that bought from a carrier and basically haven't really messed much with it from day 1.   Group 2 are those who bought an unlocked Phone from a 3rd party - i.e. the MS Store or an online retailer like BH Photo and Expansys, etc and are not members of the Windows 10 Insider program and 3rd are Windows Insiders.

For Group 1 - you will be at the mercy of your carrier and depending on how quickly that carrier processes the production build and prepares it for a supportable deployment is completely their call.  As I've stated in previous posts - that could potentially be months away depending on the carrier.  I those regions of the world where Windows Phone carries a good market share - I expect a quick response.  Conversely in those regions of the world where Windows Phone carries a small market share - it may take some time since I don't think the carriers are really motivated to support legacy devices.

For Group 2 - you will get the update directly from MS via Phone Update.  So the when should be shortly - hopefully before the end of March.  Everything depends on whether .164 is in fact the release build.

For Group 3 - Obviously we are already running .164 and we have been running Windows 10 Mobile for months.   Along with all of the various good, bad and ugly that has gone along with being a member.

And Finally - Should I update to it ?  The answer is "it depends" or "you may not have a choice".   

For Group 1 - everything will depend on how the carriers are working with MS on this.  It is entirely possible that MS may make this a "recommended" update - just like they did with Windows 10 for PC - where by you'll get a notice from your carrier regarding Windows 10 being available and some window of time before it just comes down as an OTA update. 

For Group 2 - Similar approach - just direct from MS.

For Group 3 - we don't care - we're actually waiting for Redstone.

So on to the .164 build itself.  As always the update downloaded and installed okay.  As I mentioned previously - you have to switch to Release Preview mode in Windows Insider to get .164 - which also forces an additional update that requires a reboot/flash to take effect.  Overall this process really slows the update - especially in the preparing and flashing stage.  It can easily take 30 minutes or more to prep and another 15 to update.  

Did I really notice any real difference from .122? - No - with one exception....

The evening after I installed .164 I was using Edge to browse a website when suddenly my phone rebooted.  This is the first time I've experienced any sort sudden reboot of any kind over the last several builds.  Once the phone rebooted - all came back to normal but there was no notification of update applied or anything for that matter that gave me any information what so ever on what caused the reboot. 

To me that's one of the problems I have with Windows Phone.  If this same issue occurred with any of my Windows 10 PCs - I could go into the system logs and see what event caused the issue.  Unfortunately there is no such native tool with Windows Phone - never has been and never will be.   Which is a shame.

Additionally the same errors that have existed for quite some time are still around.  Namely - blank app icons, broken fitbit sync, some jerkiness and broken apps like Insider Hub.  

I have not performed an WP 8.1 -> 10 upgrade for quite some time - but where I see potential challenges are in the following areas...

  • Phones with limited space remaining - meaning you may need to remove content like photos, videos, music, docs and apps to get the upgrade to happen.
  • App compatibility with legacy apps - many Windows Phone ISVs have not gone the UWP route yet and may not for some time. Most of mine work fine.  Even some of MS's native apps can have issues - for example the Level app works - but shows up in all Apps as [Lêvël xxx xxx].  
  • Many of the native apps have changed - so while News, Sports, Weather, Money are there - their UI is different.
  • Edge is an improvement over WP 8.1 IE.  But it's still a lousy browser.
  • Cortana replaces Windows Voice actions.  So while capabilities like text message reading/reply still work - they are much slower.
Bottom line is this - While I don't believe that .164 is the actual Production release of Windows 10 Mobile - it's very close - maybe in the next week.  When you actually get it will be determined by your engagement - so from a few days to a few months.  Finally - Windows 10 is not a small upgrade it's a major change and there are still some rough edges.  





  













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