Windows 10 Creators Update Build 14965 Highlights

Earlier this week while I was on the Microsoft Campus for the annual MVP Summit, we were treated to a new Fast Ring build in the Redstone 2 development branch aka the Creators Update.

This release, Build 14965, is the 12th PC build pushed out to testers since testing of the third major update to Windows 10 began back on the 11th of August.

Many times the builds have plenty of work in them that is under the hood but not always items that we can grab screenshots of and talk about. With this new build there are a couple new features that we can show you plus I discovered some new functionality that shows the steps towards replacing the Control Panel with the new Windows Settings app continues to move forward.

Let's start with the new Virtual Touchpad. This feature will be very useful to tablet users who are casting/projecting their screen to an external monitor/TV and do not have a keyboard/mouse attached to their device.

This on screen touchpad will allow you to interact with the screen you are casting directly from your tablets screen.

To get started with this just right click the Taskbar in Build 14965 and select Show touchpad button.

That will add this icon near your System Tray:

Just select that and you will get an on screen touchpad to use on your device:

By default it appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen and for right now it can not be moved from that location.

This virtual touchpad does accept gestures and its functionality can be adjusted in Windows Settings > Devices > Touchpad. A feature like this makes a lot of sense with so many tablets out there and the capability to project those screens on to secondary monitors/TVs. Ultimately, I would like to see it have a more defined appearance and allow for it to be placed in other spots on the screen however, it works very well as it is right now.

The Windows Ink Workspace got a few small tweaks with the biggest one being the expansion of the Recently Used list which now shows the last 6 most recently used ink related apps instead of just the last five.

Finally a favorite shortcut menu of many Windows users, often referred to as the Power User menu, that is accessed in the lower left corner of the Windows 10 Desktop by either a right click or hitting the Windows Key and the X button has started to see some of its menu entries directing to the new Windows Settings app instead of the legacy Control Panel.

1. Programs and Features = Apps & features

2. Power Options = Power & sleep

3. System = About

4. Network Connections = Network & Internet Status

5. Settings = Windows Settings

Thanks to Jason Cartwright (@techAU) for the tip on this. Turns out that another tip on Twitter indicates these changes may have started in one of the last few builds. No matter when it did begin, there is most definitely a continued effort to move the majority of system related settings out of the legacy Control Panel. Whether that is a goal to be met in the Creators Update next year or not remains to be seen.

Have you seen anything that stands out in the latest Windows 10 Creators Update build?

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.