Noted Microsoft reporter Paul Thurrott wrote on Wednesday that a “trusted source” has confirmed the update will be rolling out in November as the “Windows 10 Fall Update.” It will be delivered to existing users via Windows Update and will be installed automatically during new installations of the OS.
The release will be a wrap-up of the all the preview builds released since Windows 10’s official public launch in late July. The most major changes will be to the stock apps, as the rebuilt Messaging platform with built-in Skype integration will be installed with this update.
There will also be improvements to Cortana and several refinements to the look and feel of the interface. Context menus have been altered and unified, more icons updated to match the new Windows 10 design language and theme colours tweaked to provide more customization options.
The Start menu now has the option of showing an extra column of tiles. Window title-bars can take on the system accent colour if desired and users with Windows 10 phones can send text messages from the desktop via Cortana.
However, one major feature is still missing. Originally thought to be included in this release, it looks as though extensions support for Microsoft Edge has been pushed back until next year. The browser is receiving several improvements with the Fall Update — including support for the synchronisation of favourites, history and reading list items between devices — but extensions apparently require more attention before they’re fit for public use.
Microsoft confirmed the delay to WinBeta yesterday but stopped short of stating a definite target timeframe for launch. It said: “We’re committed to providing customers with a personalised web experience, which is why bringing extensions to Microsoft Edge continues to be a high priority. We’re actively working to develop a secure extension model to make the safest and most reliable browser for our customers, and look forward to sharing more in a future Windows 10 update in 2016.”
Extensions will turn Edge into a more fully-featured rival to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox by allowing users to expand on its capabilities by installing third-party apps inside the browser. The delayed release means they’ll be more polished at launch but in the meantime it could convince users to stick with Chrome or Firefox where extensions are already established and working.
The update will still be a sizable release for people who are not in the Windows Insider program but fans may be disappointed that Edge extensions have been pushed back again. They now look set to be released in a Spring 2016 update before the major “Redstone” release expected to land in late July of 2016, a year after the initial launch of Windows 10.
