Microsoft's next major update for Windows 10, codenamed Redstone 4, is set to arrive early in 2018, with the latest Insider build 17035 doing away with “sneakernet”, now replaced by a feature called “Near Share” plus a phone-like auto-suggest feature for text typing.

While the company have already started bringing new features via the Redstone 4 update, it's expected to be a much bigger upgrade compared to the earlier Fall Creators Update, and will bring back some features like Timeline which was rather cut off from the Fall Update.

Meanwhile, Windows Insiders have been trying out the new OS update, and some of it's notable features, such as: Near Share, a new Audio settings menu, and the ability to configure bandwidth.



What is Near Share and How does it work?

Near Share is a handy feature that makes it possible for your PC to seek out nearby PCs and offer to share a file. It makes it pretty easy to just haul out a USB key and copy a file over, replacing Bluetooth, and shareable to just about any medium, through email, Facebook, and more.

To get started, it's currently available with Insider build 17035. Once installed, then you’ll need to turn Bluetooth on, making sure that the “Near Share” button in the Action Center is toggled on. Next, every time you see the “Share” icon, you’ll have the option to share the file or URL with a nearby device.

Ability to Configure Bandwidth

The Insider build 17035 extends the Fall Creators update function that allowed you to adjust the bandwidth used by Windows updates, basically different from downloads you started, like apps you downloaded from the Store.

Instead focusing on major things, many Windows users are preoccupied with rather unnecessary bandwidth consumption from rarely used app download such as games.

Other stuff includes: the main Audio settings ability to set Windows sounds, and so forth has been migrated into the Settings menu, out of the Control Panel. And the touch keyboard now includes a couple of improvements, like a new “Acrylic themed" background, as well as extending support to over 190 new foreign-language layouts.

Additionally, there's now support for text suggestions from the Japanese-language AI chatbot Rinna, which will suggest phrases as you type. But, don’t expect same function to be extended to American users anytime soon.

A Peek into Microsoft's Windows 10 Redstone 4 update

Microsoft's next major update for Windows 10, codenamed Redstone 4, is set to arrive early in 2018, with the latest Insider build 17035 doing away with “sneakernet”, now replaced by a feature called “Near Share” plus a phone-like auto-suggest feature for text typing.

While the company have already started bringing new features via the Redstone 4 update, it's expected to be a much bigger upgrade compared to the earlier Fall Creators Update, and will bring back some features like Timeline which was rather cut off from the Fall Update.

Meanwhile, Windows Insiders have been trying out the new OS update, and some of it's notable features, such as: Near Share, a new Audio settings menu, and the ability to configure bandwidth.



What is Near Share and How does it work?

Near Share is a handy feature that makes it possible for your PC to seek out nearby PCs and offer to share a file. It makes it pretty easy to just haul out a USB key and copy a file over, replacing Bluetooth, and shareable to just about any medium, through email, Facebook, and more.

To get started, it's currently available with Insider build 17035. Once installed, then you’ll need to turn Bluetooth on, making sure that the “Near Share” button in the Action Center is toggled on. Next, every time you see the “Share” icon, you’ll have the option to share the file or URL with a nearby device.

Ability to Configure Bandwidth

The Insider build 17035 extends the Fall Creators update function that allowed you to adjust the bandwidth used by Windows updates, basically different from downloads you started, like apps you downloaded from the Store.

Instead focusing on major things, many Windows users are preoccupied with rather unnecessary bandwidth consumption from rarely used app download such as games.

Other stuff includes: the main Audio settings ability to set Windows sounds, and so forth has been migrated into the Settings menu, out of the Control Panel. And the touch keyboard now includes a couple of improvements, like a new “Acrylic themed" background, as well as extending support to over 190 new foreign-language layouts.

Additionally, there's now support for text suggestions from the Japanese-language AI chatbot Rinna, which will suggest phrases as you type. But, don’t expect same function to be extended to American users anytime soon.