Author: Mark Hachman / Source: PCWorld
Microsoft’s mid-release Windows Insider builds typically are the biggest of the lot, and Windows 10 Insider Build 18305 is no exception. In addition to the new Windows Sandbox, there’s a simplified Start menu, a new Office app, tweaks to Settings, File Explorer, Task Manager and Security—and even a process for doing away with your Windows 10 password.
Though the existence of the virtualized Windows Sandbox safe space leaked in advance, it’s the elimination of passwords that’s probably the most significant. We’ll walk you through the most important additions below. Remember, if you’re not a Windows Insider, your PC won’t see these—until they’re scheduled to roll out in the “19H1” release sometime next year.
Sign into Windows with a phone, and without a password
As we note in our upcoming Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 review, the “Out of the Box Experience” for the Laptop 2 doesn’t even ask for your password. Once you enter your account name, Windows knows whether you have two-factor authentication turned on. In my case, it simply asked to authenticate me on my phone. Now that process will be extended to all Windows devices running Windows 10 Home.
To enable this, you’ll need a phone that’s been linked to a Microsoft account—say, with the Word mobile app, Microsoft suggests. From that app you can “log in” using just your phone number as your default “account.”
In Windows, you’ll need to add the account (Settings > Accounts > Family & other Users > Add someone else to this PC) and then sign into that account. According to Microsoft, you’ll then be prompted to use a PIN or Windows Hello to sign in on subsequent attempts.
The password you’ll enter to enable the process will simply be a code texted to your smartphone.Microsoft’s also revamped the PIN reset experience by using a web-based sign-in, but the process doesn’t appear too different otherwise.
Windows Sandbox appears
Windows Sandbox is essentially a derivative of the Hyper-V virtual machine environment within Windows 10 Pro, made a little friendlier for testing apps that you’re not sure are legitimate. Our separate story on Windows Sandbox goes into more detail.
Start gets simpler
We’re not sure what was wrong with the existing Start menu, but Microsoft has revamped it. While the default layout will remain as you left it, you’ll now have the option to simplify it into a single-column design.
Do we really need a simpler Start? It’s an option for those…
The post Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 build kills passwords, simplifies Start, and adds fun ‘kaomoji’ appeared first on FeedBox.