Win10_Windows_Cortana_WebPeople who want to try out some of the new features Microsoft demoed at its Windows 10 press event earlier this week now have their chance. Microsoft just released a new build of Windows 10 to members of its Windows Insider Program that includes a handful of key features that people have been hoping for.

Chief among them is the first version of Cortana on the desktop. Microsoft’s virtual assistant, which was first unveiled at the company’s Build conference last year, has come to Windows from Windows Phone, and will handle a variety of queries from users, including web searches, context-aware reminders, and information about the weather.

Users can get help from Cortana either using voice commands or by typing into the text box that she occupies on the new task bar. Like the Windows Phone version, Cortana will track users’ interests and information in a “notebook” that can be edited to add or leave out information that users do or don’t want to share with the assistant.

Win10_Windows_StartScreen2_Web
The new full-screen start screen

In addition to Cortana, the new build also includes an updated start menu, which will allow users to open up a Windows 8-style full-screen menu if they prefer it, rather than the smaller version that was re-introduced in Windows 10. The new Xbox app is also included in this build, with support for managing users’ Xbox Live profiles, achievements, and friends.

Windows Insider Program members should get the update automatically applied during their computer’s usual maintenance window while it is on or sleeping and plugged in. People who don’t want to wait for the automatic update can go to PC Settings > Update and recovery > Preview builds > Check Now to install it.

While the new features are certainly cool, it’s worth noting that this is still pre-release software with a number of bugs. The blog post introducing the build references a number of known problems, including a bug that will prevent the start menu from launching, and one that may lead to some devices like the Surface Pro 3 getting shorter-than-expected battery life. In other words, this definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, or people who need their computer to consistently function well.

Here’s a video from Joe Belfiore, a Corporate Vice President in the Operating Systems group, detailing all of the new features people can expect.

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