With the April 2018 update, Windows 10 becomes more and more mature, with several useful functions more than before and also something less. With this update, available as a free download from April 30, Windows 10 wants to minimize distractions, make configuration easier through the Settings menu and make the most of the desktop and its notification and task management tools.
In particular, Windows 10 increasingly becomes an operating system similar to Android and iOS, making the transition from one app to another and the sharing of data more immediate.
As already explained, there are several ways to download the April update for Windows 10 and it is possible to anticipate the installation without waiting for it to be pushed by Windows Update.
Once Windows 10 April Update is installed, you can follow a first guided configuration that slightly anticipates some news of the Microsoft operating system, with the possibility of activating the unlocking of the computer by voice and of disabling monitoring and data collection by Microsoft .
Once logged in, you will be able to discover the new features of Windows 10 and all the improvements, which have been added since the April update .
1) Activity history
The first and most visible feature that will be found in Windows 10 with the April 2018 update is, of course, the Timeline, which can be activated by pressing the "View activity" button on the application bar (which has changed its icon), near that of the Research.
The timeline is a kind of chronology of what has been done on the computer, so you can resume a job even after days, without having to search again for the files you were working on.
The history is used to go back in time to the previous activities you have worked on on all the devices and computers used with the same Microsoft account.
So if you are looking for a specific document, image or video that you worked on yesterday or a week ago, Timeline makes it very easy to find it.
The history above all stores the activities on Windows 10 applications, Office programs and Microsoft Edge.
You can turn off the timeline history by going to Settings> Privacy> Activity History, unchecking the option " allow Windows to collect my activities on this PC ".
From the same screen you can manage the recorded activities and delete them.
2) Shared experiences to share files
Nearby sharing allows you to instantly share videos, photos, documents and websites with nearby people and devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
In this way it becomes easy and super fast to share with the people we are working with or to transfer files between PC and smartphone without problems.
To use this function, you can open an application such as Photos or Microsoft Edge, where you can find the Share button in the upper right corner.
The Shared Experiences options are in Settings> System and it works great for transferring files between two or more Windows 10 computers.
3) Focus Assist
This feature is the one that blocks notifications and sounds during working hours, so as not to be disturbed by distractions from applications such as Facebook or mail or others.
In this way, if for example you are presenting a job on your PC, you can be sure of any interruptions.
The Notification Assistant options are in Settings> System> Notification Assistant, where you can activate manual notification interruption, programmed for certain times, when you duplicate the screen or when playing.
You can activate the notification only priority or only alarms also using the quick button that appears by pressing the button of the operations center near the clock.
4) Microsoft Edge: new functions
In every Windows 10 update, Microsoft Edge is improved with a new version that brings more and more interesting features.
With the April 2018 update, in particular, we have the options to silence the sound of noisy cards and the automatic filling of the modules .
You can therefore save personal information such as address, credit card number, name, surname and more to be faster when registering or paying for online services.
In Edge there is also an option for printing without unnecessary elements, in order to print articles from websites without including what is not needed.
To use this option, simply press the button to Print and then, in the window that appears, scroll down the options on the left until you find the one that activates printing without unnecessary elements.
In Edge you can also activate the full screen reading mode by pressing the book key that appears on the address bar and pressing the F11 key to go full screen (or press the double arrow icon on the reading bar).
Each web page in reading mode can be read aloud from the computer.
You can also save books bought on the Microsoft Store in EPUB format.
From a graphic point of view, Edge becomes perhaps the most elegant and beautiful browser to look at, with support for the dark menu theme and a better contrast between text and icons.
Using Edge on Android and iPhone smartphones it is possible to synchronize history and favorites and send web pages to the computer in a simple way using the button below (on the phone screen).
6) Windows Ink improvements
By pressing on the Windows 10 toolbar with the right mouse button you can display the Windows Ink button, which opens a very comfortable drawing tool to use especially on tablets and touch screens.
I had already explained how to use Windows Ink to draw and write on the screen.
With the April update it is now possible to write with a digital pen or with your finger using your own calligraphy as if you were using a sheet of paper.
To configure this function you need to go to Settings> Devices> Pen and Windows Ink .
7) Improvements to the Start menu and menus
As in any version of Windows 10, Microsoft has made some changes to both the Start menu and the Action Center, with new user interface effects and additional behaviors to improve usability.
The change is the inclusion of multiple effects of Fluent Design, with small changes and mouse-over effects that make it more pleasant to use the computer anyway.
On the Start menu, Microsoft has added the Documents and Pictures folders to the left column of the menu, so you can find the most important folders easier.
From the Settings> Personalization> Start menu you can choose which folders to display in the Start menu.
Another novelty in this version is the possibility to directly access the settings of an application by pressing the right mouse button on its icon in the Start menu and then going to More> App Settings .
8) Other improved or updated features in Windows 10 April Update are:
- The mixed 3D reality of Windows 10, already introduced with the previous update, improves and is easier to use.
- Access options with facial recognition or PIN configurable directly from the lock screen.
- Photos Microsoft now has an integrated video editor to add 3D effects to photos and videos and improves the search for people.
- Cortana now supports voice commands to start playing music with Spotify and to manage some home automation devices such as the Nest thermostat.
- Disk Cleanup function under Settings> System> Storage, by pressing the Free Space Now link.
- Improved the game bar to record games and video games.
- Ability to write with voice dictation by pressing the Windows-H keys together (but only works if Windows 10 is set in English).
- Windows Defender and security center improved for computer security.
- Bluetooth pairing with a smartphone is easier and faster, with a notification that appears as soon as a bluetooth device is detected.
- More Control Panel options are now transferred to Settings, such as selecting Fonts (in the Settings> Personalization menu) and managing devices.
- Diagnostic data viewer in Settings> Privacy> Feedback and diagnostics .
- New Windows Update icon that appears in the notification bar near the clock.
- Home group is the function that has been removed from Windows 10 and can no longer be used.
