Microsoft deems Windows 10 October 2018 Update ready for wide availability

Microsoft declares Windows 10 1809, or the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, suitable for wide distribution rather than targeted availability. That’s six months after its initial release and probably not long before the arrival of Windows 10 1903.

Microsoft Windows-as-a-Service employee John Wilcox reports that Windows 10 1809 is ready for widespread deployment “based on feedback from consumers, OEMs, ISVs, partners and enterprise customers.” The rollout is therefore no longer ‘targeted’, in other words aimed at specific groups of users.

Microsoft is making new feature updates of Windows 10 available first in a targeted manner to obtain data that can be used to prepare the software for wide availability. The fact that Microsoft thinks Windows 10 1809 is good enough for general availability means, among other things, that business users can now make the switch, according to Microsoft.

Windows 10 October 2018 Update marks one of the most turbulent Windows updates ever. Microsoft completed development in September of last year and started distribution in October. It soon became apparent that some users had lost files, folders and programs after the update was implemented, after which Microsoft stopped the distribution. In mid-November, the Redmond-based company cautiously resumed distribution with small groups of users, but problems persisted after that. The company has since made multiple cumulative updates to fix bugs.

Windows 10 October 2018 Update brings ray tracing support to DirectX 12, clipboard synchronization, a more comprehensive Notepad app, and a dark mode for File Explorer, among other things.

Windows 10 April 2019 Update is now just around the corner. The release of this version, Windows 10 1903, is expected in April. This release includes changes to the graphics, a separation between Cortana and the search function, and a slider for screen brightness in Action Center.