Windows 10 Build 17017 - RS4 looks to be the Fluent branch
Back on Oct 13, MS released what I consider the 2nd Insider release of the Redstone 4 branch - build 17017 to Fast Ring and Skip Ahead users. In effect Skip Ahead is over as both groups will now receive the same builds going forward.
I am only testing these builds on two devices for now - an HP Elitebook 745 G3 laptop running an AMD Pro A12-8800B CPU and my trusty old Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet running an Intel Atom Z3740D.
In both cases the update installed cleanly.
I've decided at this point to remove several of my other devices from Insider for now. They are all at 16299.15 - so 1709 and will stay there for a bit.
If there is one trend I see so far in RS4 it's the movement towards incorporating the Fluent Design elements into the primary UI - so initially the Start Menu and with a recent Store update the Mail/Calendar/People apps.
So the big thing with Fluent is the transparent theme and a more refined look around icons, fonts, highlighting, etc. It definitely looks nice.
In fact it may be possible that the main thrust of RS4 will be migrating the primary native apps to Fluent. The question will be how many and how fast can these apps be transitioned.
One of my criticisms of Windows 10 still to this day is that the UI has elements of Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10 in it. So now we have Fluent and in my opinion MS needs to accelerate migrating the entire UI and finally 86 the legacy elements. If you are saying its a new OS and experience - then make it so.
The other big thing will be the Windows on ARM support. Some early reports are indicating that these new devices might have multi-day battery life. What has not been clear yet is exactly when these devices will be available. It may be entirely possible that they will be tied to Windows 1803 release at the end of the RS4 branch.
Without any real devices to test - there is in effect no Insider track around this so far.
The concept of an ARM based device with LTE running Windows 10 is very promising but as with any concept it will come down the execution of both MS and partners - initially HP, Asus and Lenovo - to determine it's success.
Just as with the Fall Creators focus on VR/AR and the flood of cheap headsets coming to the market - the whole commitment and buy in of the OEMs around Windows on ARM may be measured by what success they have with AR. As several sites have stated - this AR push will either be hugely successful or a complete bust. Personally I feel it will be the later.
Over the years, MS has developed many concepts and gotten the OEM community to commit resources and funding to build devices only to have them fail in the market. From Home Server to Media Center Extenders to the final push of Windows Phone and now Cortana speakers and AR Headsets - MS has convinced one or more OEMs to commit to these concepts only to have them only receive luke warm responses in the market.
I do look forward to seeing what these new Windows on ARM devices will look like, perform and cost.
Bottom line is - we are now off and running with RS4. My expectation is more Fluent Design app transitions and Windows on ARM.
I am only testing these builds on two devices for now - an HP Elitebook 745 G3 laptop running an AMD Pro A12-8800B CPU and my trusty old Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet running an Intel Atom Z3740D.
In both cases the update installed cleanly.
I've decided at this point to remove several of my other devices from Insider for now. They are all at 16299.15 - so 1709 and will stay there for a bit.
If there is one trend I see so far in RS4 it's the movement towards incorporating the Fluent Design elements into the primary UI - so initially the Start Menu and with a recent Store update the Mail/Calendar/People apps.
So the big thing with Fluent is the transparent theme and a more refined look around icons, fonts, highlighting, etc. It definitely looks nice.
In fact it may be possible that the main thrust of RS4 will be migrating the primary native apps to Fluent. The question will be how many and how fast can these apps be transitioned.
One of my criticisms of Windows 10 still to this day is that the UI has elements of Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10 in it. So now we have Fluent and in my opinion MS needs to accelerate migrating the entire UI and finally 86 the legacy elements. If you are saying its a new OS and experience - then make it so.
The other big thing will be the Windows on ARM support. Some early reports are indicating that these new devices might have multi-day battery life. What has not been clear yet is exactly when these devices will be available. It may be entirely possible that they will be tied to Windows 1803 release at the end of the RS4 branch.
Without any real devices to test - there is in effect no Insider track around this so far.
The concept of an ARM based device with LTE running Windows 10 is very promising but as with any concept it will come down the execution of both MS and partners - initially HP, Asus and Lenovo - to determine it's success.
Just as with the Fall Creators focus on VR/AR and the flood of cheap headsets coming to the market - the whole commitment and buy in of the OEMs around Windows on ARM may be measured by what success they have with AR. As several sites have stated - this AR push will either be hugely successful or a complete bust. Personally I feel it will be the later.
Over the years, MS has developed many concepts and gotten the OEM community to commit resources and funding to build devices only to have them fail in the market. From Home Server to Media Center Extenders to the final push of Windows Phone and now Cortana speakers and AR Headsets - MS has convinced one or more OEMs to commit to these concepts only to have them only receive luke warm responses in the market.
I do look forward to seeing what these new Windows on ARM devices will look like, perform and cost.
Bottom line is - we are now off and running with RS4. My expectation is more Fluent Design app transitions and Windows on ARM.
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