Microsoft has just released a new build of Windows 10 Redstone 5. This build is available to users of the “Skip Ahead” option of the Insider program and brings changes around Windows Defender.
Windows 10 Redstone 5 Build 17650, Windows Defender gets a new look
While Redstone 4 has been delayed, Microsoft development teams are working on several projects at the same time. Thus the development of Redstone 5 continues with the arrival of the 17650 build. It brings several things including two significant improvements to the Windows 10 defense and protection system; I mean Windows Defender.
Windows Defender and Fluent Design
Slowly but surely, Redmond continues to implement Fluent Design in its operating system. The work is long, but things are progressing slowly.
Windows Defender Security Center now offers some elements of Fluent design. Microsoft implements space and fills adjustments and dynamic category sizing on the main page. The title bar evolves with the adoption of user choices in color.
In parallel, Microsoft offers an update of the Windows Defender firewall. It supports WSL processes (Windows subsystem for Linux). Specific rules for a WSL process can be set up just like any other Windows process. Windows Defender Firewall supports notifications for WSL processes. Clearly, if a Linux application wants access to a specific port, the firewall prompts the user to give permission or not.
There are several other changes, as well as a long list of known problems. This is not surprising given that we are part of the Insider program.
The first Redstone 5 builds are currently reserved for Skip Ahead users. Once Redstone 4 is publicly deployed, things will change. This future update of Windows 10 will land on the fast ring of the Insider program for on the slow. Redstone 5 is expected to be finalized next September.
Windows 10 Redstone 5 build 17650, release note:
General changes, improvements, and fixes for PC
- We fixed an issue where File Explorer would always open with the ribbon minimized, rather than remembering how you’d left it.
- We fixed an issue where the Windows Defender Security Center app could not be changed.
- We fixed an issue where no-default languages might unexpectedly have the option to remove in Settings greyed out.
- We fixed an issue where the Color Filters and High Contrast icons were switched in Settings.
- We fixed an issue where clicking links in Settings crashing and other things would happen.
- Set defaults by App.
Known issues
- On the desktop, the desktop may be momentarily visible before the Lock screen displays as expected.
- When Movies & TV user’s guide to their videos (via the “Let’s get in the movies”), Movies & TV crashes when the user navigates to the “Personal” tab.
- Tiling and cascading windows, including features like “View Side by Side” in Word, will not work for inactive tabs.
- The Office Visual Basic Editor window will currently be tabbed but not intended for the future.
- Opening an Office document while the same app has an existing document open can cause an unintended switch to the last active document. This will also happen when closing a sheet in Excel while other sheets remain open.
- Local files or non-Microsoft cloud files will not be automatically restored, and no error message will be provided to the user to that fact.
- UX Sets for Win32 Office desktop apps is not final. The experience will be refined over time based on feedback.
- The top of some windows Win32 desktop app may be slightly less than the bar when maximized. To work around the issue, restore and re-maximize the window.
- Closing one tab can sometimes minimize the entire set.
- Narrator to read extra text when invoking Alt + Tab, and we’re working on a fix.
- Using arrow and Page Up / Page Down keys do not work to scroll web pages in Microsoft Edge. You’ll need to use another input method (mouse, touch, or touchpad).
- If you complete the setup for a Windows Mixed Reality headset on this build, the headset will remain black until it is unplugged and reconnected to the PC.