As has previously been the case, a Windows 10 build unofficially leaked to brighten our weekends. Windows 10 build 10056 is the preview version in question that is now doing the rounds.

You can find out the details here, before you go looking for it.

Conveniently, WZor the famed Russian leaker has put up the full release notes for this version, and they show that Microsoft has steadily applied a lot of refinements under the hood, while at the same time nixed a fair amount of bugs.

The notes are 25 pages long, so if you want to take a look, here they are:
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Or if you simply want some condensed highlights of what’s new and improved in this build, without having to install it, here are a few pointers:

  • When using Start Menu in full screen taskbar sometimes hides itself. It restores back in half a second.
  • New Weather and News app
  • New animations – Start Menu has that Continuum concept animation when in full screen
  • Tablet Mode widens the gap between system tray icons and minimizes Search into an icon
  • New dark Theme for Start Menu and Action Center
  • Cortana is now in full taskbar height – also, new Mic icon when Cortana is listening
  • Cortana can recognize music now (option is in Cortana menu)
  • Date/Time UI refreshed (could be activated via registry hack in b9926)
  • Network flyout has new animation
  • Power buttons is moved to bottom left corner
  • Start Menu can be resized – still a bit wonky when resizing height
  • new “Show Touch Keyboard button” when right clicking on taskbar
  • new Keyboard icon in system tray – it is right by the clock
  • keyboard visual design seems refreshed
  • Win32 titlebars are grey
  • 1px border on top of the win32 apps is now present but it’s black
  • new Recycle bin icon (only new icon atm)
  • new TaskView icon
  • new virtual desktop icon animation
  • Bio Enrolment and Microsoft Family (Parental Controls) still don’t work

Well that’s more than enough additions to keep enthusiasts occupied for another week or so, until we get our hands on another build — officially or unofficially.
But these changes do show that the development of Windows 10 is not entering a decisive phase. A phase where Microsoft will make a lot of changes (hopefully based on community feedback) in the upcoming operating system at a faster pace.
With all the talk about Redstone, there’s every chance that Redmond will soon cut off the development of new features and work with what’s already developed to really polish stuff up.
BUILD 2015 could be really something!