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Forget Patch Tuesday, It's Windows Build Thursday

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New builds of the Windows 10 OS currently in development are becoming as predictable as Microsoft's Patch Tuesday. Last Thursday, Microsoft released Build 10162 to its Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring, and like clockwork we have the latest Build 10166 this Thursday. It features the typical bug fixes and updates, but it also includes one special feature that not everyone will get to try out.

The primary feature of this update is the ability to purchase paid Wi-Fi through the Windows Store using the Microsoft Wi-Fi app. Currently, the option only works if you live in the Seattle area, but Microsoft plans to expand it to the rest of the U.S. soon.

It's likely that Microsoft will be working to get the service up and running online in other major cities preceding the release of Windows 10, and then work to expand to less populated areas thereafter. Currently, we have no idea what method it is using to transmit this Wi-Fi signal, be it municipal ground hotspots, satellite, balloon Wi-Fi transmitters similar to the ones Google is developing, or another method entirely. As a result, it's hard to say how long it will take this service to grow.

Developers on Windows 10 can look forward to this build too, as a new Windows 10 SDK was released alongside it. The SDK features new bug fixes and general improvements, as well as updates the Windows.ApplicationModel.Email function. Microsoft advised developers to uninstall the older 10158 SDK and emulators prior to updating, to avoid issues.

If you are interested in trying out the latest build and bug fixes, it is available now, but don't be surprised if another new build soon follows.

Follow Michael Justin Allen Sexton @LordLao74. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • blazorthon
    I feel a little bad that when I saw patch Tuesday in the headline, my first thought was Blizzard's update schedule for World of Warcraft (every Tuesday).
    Reply
  • Build 101062 is completely borked on my test laptop. I'm going to have to roll back a build to even do a Windows update to get the new build. I have just been doing updates on top of updates since about the second public release though. I imagine a clean install would have avoided most of my issues.
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    is everyone getting this build? I am able to get the update on my laptop but im not getting it on the VM on my desktop. both are on build 10162
    Reply
  • is everyone getting this build? I am able to get the update on my laptop but im not getting it on the VM on my desktop. both are on build 10162

    Me too. Regular desktop, seems to be stuck on 10162. I'm getting a few bugs here and there, corrupt partition when removing (even safely) a usb3 external hard-drive, some memory error when rebooting (before reboot), but otherwise very excited about Windows 10. Very usable workflow, nothing like the disaster that was Windows 8/8.1.

    I don't like that you need some type of email account, and forget the recommended settings, you need to go to "advanced", every default choice is against your security/privacy. And very sneakily one of those you have to scroll down to see, and there is no scroll down bar. You basically can't see it except if accidentally scroll down or use the tab key to select the options (which is how I found it).
    Reply
  • ctguy1955
    I cant get DCS World to play, as my OS crashes. I have newest nvidia drivers
    and my BSOD gave a message that " Page Fault in Non Paged Area".
    Reply
  • jasonkaler
    "The primary feature of this update is the ability to purchase paid Wi-Fi through the Windows Store using the Microsoft Wi-Fi app."

    So you need an OS update to update an app?
    What is this? apple?
    Reply
  • Quamin
    But you need how can you purchase from the store unless you have Wi-Fi to purchase the Wi-Fi so you can use the Wi-Fi?
    Reply
  • Quamin
    Drat, is there no edit button here? lol
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    That was almost English
    Reply
  • Urzu1000
    But you need how can you purchase from the store unless you have Wi-Fi to purchase the Wi-Fi so you can use the Wi-Fi?


    Presumably, you will be able to connect to it as a guest with limited access. Here in the North East, the dominant ISP is Optimum, and they have wi-fi hotspots covering most of the state that I'm in. Whenever I connect to their network, it allows me to access their website where I can either login if I'm a subscriber (which I am), or pay $5 to use it for a day. No other sites can be visited until one of those two conditions have been met. Although to be honest with you, Gmail sometimes manages to sneak an e-mail through prior to my signing in, so I assume there's a small gap before the filter hits.
    Reply