Microsoft has released the latest version of its Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones to Fast ring members of the Windows Insider Program.
Build 10080 comes with a number of new apps and features, as well as a couple of fixes relating to email notifications and incoming calls.
It also supports a wider variety of smartphones, including the Lumia 930, Lumia 640, Lumia 640XL, and HTC One (M8) for Windows.
The biggest talking point is the first appearance of the beta version of the new-look Windows 10 Store for phones.
Microsoft says it should feel very similar to use as the PC Windows Store Beta, since they’re both built using the new Universal Windows Platform code.
You can search for and even download apps from the marketplace, paying for any purchases with an international credit card, gift card or through PayPal. Carrier billing is not yet live, but it’s on its way.
You can’t yet get your hands on music through the beta store just yet, but movies and TV shows are available.
Microsoft has also introduced the Windows 10 Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote Preview apps, as well as test versions of the new Xbox, Music, Video and Camera apps. While you can play around with these, Microsoft has stressed that there are some existing bugs that will affect your user experience.
The company has also shed some light on when Windows 10 would become available on smartphones, and it’s not great news.
“For phones, Windows 10 will arrive later this year – both on new devices and also upgrades for existing Windows Phone 8.1 devices,” wrote Gabe Aul, the lead of the Windows Insider Program, in a blog post.
“Even though Windows 10 will be arriving for phones later than it does for PCs, the underlying OS code is still the same.”
Related: Best Windows 10 Laptops and Tablets
Follow the link above for more of what Windows 10 will offer, including the return of the Start Menu, Cortana and Microsoft Edge.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
