Windows 10 Build 17004 - Okay Redstone 4 actually starts

On Sep 28, MS release Windows 10 build 17004 to members of the Skip Ahead group.  With the new numbering starting in the 17000 range this indicates to me that this is the first true Redstone 4 build.

While not called out specifically - 17004 starts from one of the recent RS3 Release builds (most likely 16296) and then adds some new capabilities based on the Fluent Design framework to the start menu, some color wheel changes and some more Edge fixes.   

One surprising add to this build was an Edge shortcut added to the default desktop.  MS is doing everything it can to promote the use of Edge - but as I've stated in earlier posts MS is loosing the browser war and I never even look at it.

One fix that was directly affecting me was addressed and that was a Green Screen crash caused by a System Service Exception error in win32kfull.sys.  I had experienced it several times in the last 2 weeks running 16362.

What was not really answered that well @ the Ignite conference was what new features will be included in the Redstone 4 branch.   Outside of what I describe as a packaging effort - so Windows 10 S for what MS is calling Front Line users bundled with Office 365 - there was not a lot of insight.

But based on where we are now here is what I expect....
  1. Continued Transition to Fluent Design elements in the general UI and Settings
  2. Continued Transition of Legacy Control Panel capabilities to Settings app - In my opinion MS is taking way too long to move away from these legacy Properties/Settings components.  While there is some comfort is being able to perform certain control aspects - it leaves the overall UX fragmented.
  3. Improved AR support - MS made a huge bet here with OEMs around AR headsets - so we'll see refinement and additions there.
  4. Improved pen support.  One thing I've noticed with the newest 8th gen core laptop releases is almost a default support for touch/pen
  5. Continued "improvements" to Edge and Cortana.   
  6. Continued improvements to what I call the core store apps - like Groove, Movies & TV, Photos, OneDrive, Mail/Calendar, etc.
The other major effort will be Windows 10 on ARM.  MS has a "Surface Event" scheduled for Oct 31 in London.  While one of the new Surface capabilities - LTE has already been leaked - the wild card will be the announcement of an ARM based Surface device.  While previous announcements from MS have mentioned OEM partner devices from ASUS, HP & Lenovo to be available this year - there has been no indication of a Surface branded ARM device.  

To me the real question is not the announcement itself but actual availability of ARM based devices - which I believe might be aligned with the RS4 release.  And yes there will NOT be a Surface Phone.  At least that's my bet.  That boat has sailed and I don't believe MS will go there.  

So with 17004 to me RS4 has officially begun.  To be honest Skip Ahead has been kind of boring and I think the changes in RS4 will be subtle.  

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