Microsoft Windows Redstone 1803 Review
Just to get it out of the way and to let new ones know why I post reviews related to Tech,
CompTia A+; 3 DCSE; 2 IT Degrees etc..etc...etc...etc...blah....blah
To the good stuff. I downloaded 1803 the day it was released, Tuesday May 8th 2018. I use a Dell Venue 5130 11" Tablet with attached keyboard. The update downloaded through Microsoft update as a push update. Sadly as with all push Microsoft updates something went wrong.
Unknown to many when an OS update occurs via Microsoft Update Push in many cases one or more features do not install or fail to install and work properly. I did not know the update failed until I manually updated my wife’s Dell Venue 5050. Her tablet did not do the push update due to lack of HDD free space. I created a USB install verison via Media Creation Tool and updated her tablet offline. Within a few hours she started pointing out new 3D features to me. When I looked at mine, those features were not there. So I backed up my data, took the USB stick and did a clean install of Redstone, it went well and all features installed correctly, I even believe Windows Mail is working properly.
So my review:
1) The first issue is in app Scrolling. The #1 App I use is the JW App. Within the app are hundreds of publications and many Bible versions. Since I use the app the most I loaded it first and noticed right away smooth scrolling no longer worked in reading of any publication. The smooth scrolling issues was not limited to the JW App, it also happens in Google Chrome while on the Internet, my wife noticed it on Penterist. I have found no fix.
2) The On Screen Keyboard. This issue has reached a point of total frustration and in my view has become a black eye for Microsoft. The OSK pops up ALL the time. When any page on the Internet loads the OSK pops up, every app I open the OSK pops up, I go to the Desktop the OSK pops up. In fact without m attached physical keyboard the OSK pops up 100% of the time with ANY change on the screen. It is beyond frustrating. I have researched this and can find no fix. I have applied all the suggestions, but the OSK is a test by Microsoft to see how many customers will stick around if tortured.
3) Microsoft Photos. Microsoft is NOT listening to their customers on this issue. Although I do like the new toys in Photos, Microsoft has yet to allow arranging Photos by Name. Since its inception Photos has a default defect of being listed by DATE only. If you check forums you will find some off the wall answers from Microsoft as to why they do this, none of which is logical. Either Microsoft can’t code Photos to sort by Name, or they do not know how to code it properly or they just desire to continue to make users upset. I still use Google Picasa since it has many of the same features as Windows Photos and in fact you can download the last version of Picasa released on this site. Picasa will allow you to sort by photo name and folder name. Once you have your photos sorted in Picasa just use the toys in Windows Photo and ignore the rest since Microsoft ignore’s its users.
4) The Timeline Feature. I have not and will not use this feature and I have turned all parts of it off. Why? Timeline does not work in a manner that respects privacy. In a world of “Facebook data mining” a bit of research into how Timeline works is freighting. Timeline works by coping your personal folders and uploading to the Microsoft Cloud (Not your OneDrive). This allows files transfers to resume from a given location. Now consider, A) Microsoft can’t give any assurance that your data will not be compromised and B) since it will upload all your personal data it is left up to Microsoft to decided if it is in compliance with all state and federal laws. Oh you say you have noting to hide, two words, normal family photos. I can foresee a lot of issues arising from Timeline. The foremost is data lose and privacy issues.
5) Log in screen. Tap twice and maybe you will be allowed to enter. This issue as will all the others above are taking place on my tablet as well as my wife’s. We both use a PIN to unlock our tablets. One of the first things we both noticed is that we have to tap at least twice to get the OSK to popup to allow us to enter our PIN. Now above I mentioned the annoying feature of the OSK popping up all the time, this is the only time when you need the OSK and it does not work properly. The first time it happened I thought I would not be able to get in.
6) Battery saver feature. This has not changed either. To stop Windows from Push updates we set the batter saver to “Best Battery Life” this is the ONLY way to stop Windows Update from downloading updates over a metered tethered connection. Yes you can set it not to update over metered connections, but the tablet does not know when it is tethered. So if you charge your tablet and then remove from charger the Batter saver resets and unless you are aware you may use all your cell data. Microsoft MUST allow the user to make this choice and not have it forced on them.
7) Battery life. Like the 1709 update at first release my battery life was about half of what it’s supposed to be. Redstone has done the same thing. My battery typically last 9-10 hours of use, Since the update I am getting about 5-7 hours of use. Please fix Microsoft.
So what is nice?
1) The augmented reality video feature. That is super cool. I uploaded a 1st attempt video to my YouTube channel. Yes the Creators Update (1709) had some of these features but the bread got toasted in Redstone. I made an augmented reality video of a dino chasing my dog.
2) The add 3D effects to Photos. My wife discovered this feature and it was one feature that failed to work on my Push update. This feature is really cool and if you update for any reason make this the reason, I am sure Microsoft will be adding effects. The only downside is on a tablet th demands are intense so my app crashes. But I can see a lot of fun with this feature.
3) Since I had my Dell Venue and since the release of Windows 10 Microsoft Mail has NEVER worked properly. So far it appears to be working. I hope it continues to work properly.
4) I like that Homegroup is gone. It was cumbersome. In order for it to work all connected devices MUST be set to the exact same time. And it was difficult for a remote device to reconnect unless you cleared DNS cache. Just regular file sharing works fine.
Windows 10 has come a long way. It’s still no Windows 7 as far as stability, reliability and ease of use. Windows 10 has it’s privacy settings in too many places. Although in Control you will find a section called “Privacy” the fact is that not all one should be concerned with is in that area. Microsoft did remove nearly 2GB of worthless code, which makes the OS lighter. But it is evident on some issues Microsoft refuses to listen to the average user.
So will we ever see Windows Photos sorted by Name?
Will Windows Mail continue to be stable?
Will Windows 3d Effects stop crashing?
Will Microsoft give users the ability to control how the OSK pops up?
Will Microsoft fix the battery issue?
Will Microsoft fix the Battery Status issue?
Will Microsoft make smooth scrolling a reality?
Stay Tuned, these and many more unanswered and unknown questions will or will not be answered in the next Windows update.
Just to get it out of the way and to let new ones know why I post reviews related to Tech,
CompTia A+; 3 DCSE; 2 IT Degrees etc..etc...etc...etc...blah....blah
To the good stuff. I downloaded 1803 the day it was released, Tuesday May 8th 2018. I use a Dell Venue 5130 11" Tablet with attached keyboard. The update downloaded through Microsoft update as a push update. Sadly as with all push Microsoft updates something went wrong.
Unknown to many when an OS update occurs via Microsoft Update Push in many cases one or more features do not install or fail to install and work properly. I did not know the update failed until I manually updated my wife’s Dell Venue 5050. Her tablet did not do the push update due to lack of HDD free space. I created a USB install verison via Media Creation Tool and updated her tablet offline. Within a few hours she started pointing out new 3D features to me. When I looked at mine, those features were not there. So I backed up my data, took the USB stick and did a clean install of Redstone, it went well and all features installed correctly, I even believe Windows Mail is working properly.
So my review:
1) The first issue is in app Scrolling. The #1 App I use is the JW App. Within the app are hundreds of publications and many Bible versions. Since I use the app the most I loaded it first and noticed right away smooth scrolling no longer worked in reading of any publication. The smooth scrolling issues was not limited to the JW App, it also happens in Google Chrome while on the Internet, my wife noticed it on Penterist. I have found no fix.
2) The On Screen Keyboard. This issue has reached a point of total frustration and in my view has become a black eye for Microsoft. The OSK pops up ALL the time. When any page on the Internet loads the OSK pops up, every app I open the OSK pops up, I go to the Desktop the OSK pops up. In fact without m attached physical keyboard the OSK pops up 100% of the time with ANY change on the screen. It is beyond frustrating. I have researched this and can find no fix. I have applied all the suggestions, but the OSK is a test by Microsoft to see how many customers will stick around if tortured.
3) Microsoft Photos. Microsoft is NOT listening to their customers on this issue. Although I do like the new toys in Photos, Microsoft has yet to allow arranging Photos by Name. Since its inception Photos has a default defect of being listed by DATE only. If you check forums you will find some off the wall answers from Microsoft as to why they do this, none of which is logical. Either Microsoft can’t code Photos to sort by Name, or they do not know how to code it properly or they just desire to continue to make users upset. I still use Google Picasa since it has many of the same features as Windows Photos and in fact you can download the last version of Picasa released on this site. Picasa will allow you to sort by photo name and folder name. Once you have your photos sorted in Picasa just use the toys in Windows Photo and ignore the rest since Microsoft ignore’s its users.
4) The Timeline Feature. I have not and will not use this feature and I have turned all parts of it off. Why? Timeline does not work in a manner that respects privacy. In a world of “Facebook data mining” a bit of research into how Timeline works is freighting. Timeline works by coping your personal folders and uploading to the Microsoft Cloud (Not your OneDrive). This allows files transfers to resume from a given location. Now consider, A) Microsoft can’t give any assurance that your data will not be compromised and B) since it will upload all your personal data it is left up to Microsoft to decided if it is in compliance with all state and federal laws. Oh you say you have noting to hide, two words, normal family photos. I can foresee a lot of issues arising from Timeline. The foremost is data lose and privacy issues.
5) Log in screen. Tap twice and maybe you will be allowed to enter. This issue as will all the others above are taking place on my tablet as well as my wife’s. We both use a PIN to unlock our tablets. One of the first things we both noticed is that we have to tap at least twice to get the OSK to popup to allow us to enter our PIN. Now above I mentioned the annoying feature of the OSK popping up all the time, this is the only time when you need the OSK and it does not work properly. The first time it happened I thought I would not be able to get in.
6) Battery saver feature. This has not changed either. To stop Windows from Push updates we set the batter saver to “Best Battery Life” this is the ONLY way to stop Windows Update from downloading updates over a metered tethered connection. Yes you can set it not to update over metered connections, but the tablet does not know when it is tethered. So if you charge your tablet and then remove from charger the Batter saver resets and unless you are aware you may use all your cell data. Microsoft MUST allow the user to make this choice and not have it forced on them.
7) Battery life. Like the 1709 update at first release my battery life was about half of what it’s supposed to be. Redstone has done the same thing. My battery typically last 9-10 hours of use, Since the update I am getting about 5-7 hours of use. Please fix Microsoft.
So what is nice?
1) The augmented reality video feature. That is super cool. I uploaded a 1st attempt video to my YouTube channel. Yes the Creators Update (1709) had some of these features but the bread got toasted in Redstone. I made an augmented reality video of a dino chasing my dog.
2) The add 3D effects to Photos. My wife discovered this feature and it was one feature that failed to work on my Push update. This feature is really cool and if you update for any reason make this the reason, I am sure Microsoft will be adding effects. The only downside is on a tablet th demands are intense so my app crashes. But I can see a lot of fun with this feature.
3) Since I had my Dell Venue and since the release of Windows 10 Microsoft Mail has NEVER worked properly. So far it appears to be working. I hope it continues to work properly.
4) I like that Homegroup is gone. It was cumbersome. In order for it to work all connected devices MUST be set to the exact same time. And it was difficult for a remote device to reconnect unless you cleared DNS cache. Just regular file sharing works fine.
Windows 10 has come a long way. It’s still no Windows 7 as far as stability, reliability and ease of use. Windows 10 has it’s privacy settings in too many places. Although in Control you will find a section called “Privacy” the fact is that not all one should be concerned with is in that area. Microsoft did remove nearly 2GB of worthless code, which makes the OS lighter. But it is evident on some issues Microsoft refuses to listen to the average user.
So will we ever see Windows Photos sorted by Name?
Will Windows Mail continue to be stable?
Will Windows 3d Effects stop crashing?
Will Microsoft give users the ability to control how the OSK pops up?
Will Microsoft fix the battery issue?
Will Microsoft fix the Battery Status issue?
Will Microsoft make smooth scrolling a reality?
Stay Tuned, these and many more unanswered and unknown questions will or will not be answered in the next Windows update.
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