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Latest Windows Insider update brings some big changes to Sticky Notes, Ink

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A Windows 10 laptop sitting atop a desk.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 Preview Build 14965 for Insiders in the Fast Ring on Wednesday, bringing with it a host of bug fixes, some new features, and a slightly delayed update to language packs.

What’s new

First up, the latest Windows 10 Preview build aims to make it easier to use a second monitor with just a tablet. By enabling a virtual touchpad on Windows 10 tablets, you can now drive content directly to a separate display without having to connect a mouse.

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Previously, if you connected a monitor to, say, a Surface Pro, you’d need to attach a mouse in order to make use of the second display – which would behave like a standard desktop monitor. Now, however, you’ll be able to use an on-screen touch pad to control the cursor on the separate display.

Microsoft also has some big plans for the Sticky Notes app. In the latest Insider update, Sticky Notes will be able to read flight information in not just English, but also German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese.

Speaking of languages, added support for non-English language packs will be coming shortly, Microsoft reports, as it looks like they’ll need a little extra time before they’re ready for testing.

So your Sticky Notes will be able to detect when you’ve saved flight information to a note, and automatically display the latest updates for your flight. Sticky Notes will also feature improved performance, and some snazzy new UI/UX improvements.

A few other, smaller updates will be introduced to the Windows Ink Workspace and the address bar in the registry editor. The Ink Workspace will be able to display a greater number of recently used apps shown in the menu, and there’s a new protractor available that can be controlled via your mouse’s scroll wheel. The registry editor’s address bar will now allow users to use keyboard shortcuts to set focus to the address bar.

There are a few other, minor, updates, which you can check out here.

Known bugs

There are a few known issues you might encounter in this latest Windows Insider update.

Double-clicking on an Excel document to open it from the Explorer will, oddly enough, crash Excel. The workaround is to open Excel first and use the file open option.

Additionally, a few Microsoft Studios games like Sudoku, Jigsaw, Minesweeper, and Taptiles might freeze at the splash screen on launch. This issue doesn’t currently have a confirmed workaround.

Where can you get it?

In order to get your hands on the latest Windows preview build, you’ll have to join the Windows Insider program, which you can do here.

If you’re already a member, just open up your Windows update and check if the latest update is available.

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Jayce Wagner
Jayce Wagner
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A staff writer for the Computing section, Jayce covers a little bit of everything -- hardware, gaming, and occasionally VR.
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