Microsoft just released the newest Windows 10 preview for PCs, with significant improvements to Edge in tow.
Mainly, the new additions improve the browser's integrated PDF reader, and its new features might better convince you that you don't need a separate PDF reader program at all — Edge can take care of that, and more.
Microsoft Edge: New PDF Features
First off, Edge users may now fill out all types of PDF forms directly from the browser. Whether it's an invoice, an application or an entry form, you can fill those right inside Edge's PDF reader.
Users may now also annotate PDFs right from the browser by clicking the "Make a Web Note" button located at the top right, which brings up the annotation bar. Users can highlight or ink text, and erase annotations, too.
Often, PDFs contain many pages, and it's hard to keep track of everything, especially if one is looking for something specific. Thankfully, users may now use the Table of Contents to navigate between pages.
Microsoft wants Edge to become the de facto tool for viewing, filling out, and annotating PDFs, and Edge's new and improved PDF navigation features are a testament to that. Users may now rotate PDFs, turn them into two-page layouts, and enable page-wise scrolling for improved navigation and reading experiences.
Microsoft Edge: Windows Defender Application Guard
Windows Defender Application Guard was already announced back in September, but only now is Microsoft making it available for those enrolled in Windows Insider Previews, or for Enterprise users in the Fast Ring.
For the uninitiated, Edge running in Application Guard protects one's computer from malware and zero-day attacks against Windows. For those who want to perform a test drive, simply turn on Windows Defender Application Guard via the "Turn Windows features on or off" dialog. Then, start Edge, click on the menu, and choose to open a new Application Guard window. With it turned on, any site a user visits will be be isolated in Application Guard.
The features highlighted above are all available via Microsoft's latest PC Fast Ring Redstone 3 test build, carrying the build number 16188.
Changes And Fixes For PC
Microsoft also added a bevy of improvements to this latest Windows 10 Build. For one, the company has ironed out an issue where the candidate window doesn't appear when the user types on certain apps using Simplified Chinese IMEs or the Changjie and Quick IMEs.
Also, Microsoft has enabled universal dismiss of Cortana reminders across Windows devices.
Furthermore, with this update, when users double click the Windows Defender Security Center icon inside the notification area, it will now open the Windows Defender Security Center.
There are quite a number of things Microsoft fixed with this latest build, and you should read the company's official blog post if you want to know all the details. But in a nutshell, new PDF and Application Guard features on Edge are the highlights of Windows 10 build 16188.
Thoughts about the latest Windows 10 build? Have you tried the new PDF features on Edge? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
