Credit: Microsoft
The Windows 10 October 2018 update will be available starting Tuesday, October 2. Windows and Devices VP Yusuf Mehdi announced the new operating system's immediate availability at a Microsoft event the same day in New York, where new Surface hardware was also announced. More substantive details weren’t outlined, but hey, start jamming that Check for updates button.
This update doesn’t include as many standout features as Microsoft’s prior cornerstone Windows 10 revisions, but you’ll still find some nifty extras for PC enthusiasts. Improvements include:
- A dark theme for File Explorer
- The ability to send texts from your PC via a “Your Phone” companion app
- The ability to see your clipboard history and sync your clipboard across multiple devices
- A slick new Snip & Sketch screenshot tool that supports annotations
- The arrival of the SwiftKey virtual keyboard on desktops
- ...and more!
High-end PC gamers should pay particular attention. The Windows 10 October 2018 Update improves the setup process for HDR displays, and possibly adds the crucial DirectX Raytracing API that unlocks real-time ray tracing in games. We haven’t confirmed the API’s inclusion, but Nvidia said it would be added to Windows 10 in October, so it’s possible. You might actually be able to use your GeForce RTX 2080 Ti’s fancy futuristic features soon.
Mark Hachman, PCWorld’s Microsoft beat editor, is on the ground at the event. Stay tuned for more information about the new Surface devices. We've already combed through the October 2018 Update via Insider Builds and will be posting our in-depth review soon as well.
