Windows 10 Redstone 4 will turn Cortana into an interactive user manual

[sincity]

Microsoft clearly looks to boost Cortana’s effectiveness and helpfulness with the next big Windows 10 update. Known internally as Redstone 4, this update introduces a new ‘Cortana Show Me’ feature that teaches users how to navigate key features of the operating system (OS).

The firm has released a test version of this feature through its Windows Insider Preview, publicly accessible by anyone who’s interested should they want to test out a less-than-stable version of the OS. Specifically, this feature can be found in the Fast Ring of Windows Insider Preview Build 17128.

This feature update follows one released just earlier this week that adds profiles to the Cortana digital assistant, allowing it to provide insights and reminders before you even ask.

Windows 10 rookies no longer

The idea behind Cortana Show Me, which is available through the Microsoft Store within this preview build specifically, is to make newly-minted Windows 10 users feel acclimated more quickly and easily. To that end, the app currently provides detailed guides on several key OS functions and tasks, while voice activation will be added ‘soon’, a blog post announcing the feature reads.

So far, here’s what Cortana can help new users with through Cortana Show Me:

• Update Windows
• Check if an app is installed
• Uninstall an app
• Change your desktop background
• Use Airplane Mode
• Change your display brightness
• Add nearby printers or scanners
• Change your default programs
• Change your screen resolution
• Turn off Windows Defender Security Center
• Run a security scan
• Change Wi-Fi settings

These changes are particularly interesting as it appears Microsoft is hell-bent on seeing Cortana win the war of digital assistants between itself, Amazon, Apple and Google – particularly with Amazon’s Alexa soon to make it onto Windows 10 PCs this year.

Widely assumed to be known as the Spring Creators Update when it finally launches, we expect to see this major revision to Windows 10 available to all (in the most stable version of Windows 10) sometime in April. 

• Here’s what we hope to see in Apple’s macOS 10.14