Windows 10 'Build 10565' allows users to send texts with Cortana
19 Oct 2015
Windows 10 'Build 10565', currently seeded to Windows Insider testers, contains several new features and enhancements, of which, one is a way to make it easier to message your friends.
According to WInBeta, with the new build, Cortana will get the ability to send text messages via SMS. Users can send texts either by speaking them to Cortana on their PC or by typing them, and judging from WInBeta's accompanying video, it seemed quite easy to do.
Cortana's newfound text messaging comes with several new communication features in Build 10565, such as new bundled Messaging, Skype, and Phone apps.
With the build Cortana, gets to learn a few other tricks, if users bought tickets to a movie or other event online, Cortana will pull showtime information from the confirmation email they received and set up a reminder that will appear two hours before the event and even provide driving directions.
Under Build 10565 the Edge browser also gets some enhancements, new right-click contextual menus for Start menu items, some user interface tweaks, and more.
Microsoft has not announced a timetable for when the general public will see these new features, so users who are not Windows Insiders, will need to be patient.
However, the additions look as though they will be worth the wait, according to commentators.
Meanwhile, a petition by Windows 10 users to Microsoft's CEO calls for not only letting them delay feature and functionality updates, but also ignore them.
According to commentators if the plea is granted it would upend the company's model of delivering the OS as a service.
The Change.org petition had collected over 1,600 virtual signatures as of early Saturday.
"To effectively implement and use Windows 10 in our homes and businesses, Microsoft must make changes to both the operating system and the policies the company put in place to support the new OS," wrote Susan Bradley, who initiated the petition a week ago sent it to Satya Nadella, Microsoft's chief executive.
"We need the ability to delay or hide damaging updates that impact the computing experience, have undesirable side effects such as blue screens of death, or reduce the functionality to attached devices," Bradley wrote. "As long-time Windows users, we understand the need to have quicker and more agile security updating. But this agility should not introduce additional risks to our systems."