Windows 10 'Redstone 5' will be officially called the October 2018 Update

The next Windows 10 feature update, codenamed 'Redstone 5', is right around the corner and Microsoft is calling it the 'October 2018 Update'. Microsoft is sticking to its commitment of providing a major update in Spring and Fall and the RTM build of the October 2018 Update will be finalized in the coming days. Microsoft Corporate Vice President Roanne Sones wrote on the Windows Experience Blog,

...I’m pleased to announce that our next feature update to Windows will be called the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. With this update, we’ll be bringing new features and enhancements to the nearly 700 million devices running Windows 10 that help people make the most of their time. We’ll share more details about the update over the coming weeks."

The October 2018 Update will be less heavy in terms of adding new features but instead, focuses more on overall stability and bug fixes. Still, there are few notable additions to this release such as a dark mode for File Explorer, Cloud Clipboard a new Snipping Tool app, a redesigned Xbox Game Bar that shows vital PC stats, improvements to the Edge browser, and a new Search experience. Also, in a long time, the humble Notepad gets an update to properly recognize LF/CR line endings. While Sets was a feature in early Redstone 5 builds, the final RTM will not be featuring it as Microsoft deems that the experience is still not mature enough for wide adoption.

Actually, Microsoft has done everyone a favor by opting for simple, easy recognizable names for major Windows 10 updates. Before the April 2018 Update, we had to contend with names such as Creators Update and Fall Creators Update, which did not make sense to a lot of people. Not many use the pen, inking and Paint3D features that Microsoft pushed hard in the Creators Update and there is no 'Fall' season in many parts of the world. Hopefully, this persists going forward.

Of course, given the sheer number of hardware and software combinations, Microsoft will continue to opt for a staggered release to prevent any untoward incidents. Even after Microsoft finalizes the RTM candidate, there will still be day zero cumulative patches and the update will initially rollout to a limited number of PCs. Pending no major compatibility issues and based on feedback, other PCs will get updated eventually.

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