Microsoft is reportedly finalizing Windows 10 and is getting ready to release final copies with a release to manufacture (RTM) to its partner device manufacturers.
A new report from The Verge cites sources familiar with Microsoft's plans who say the software firm is planning to release the Windows 10 RTM build by the end of this week. Russian leaker WZor says the RTM build will be sent out to manufacturers as early as July 9, or this coming Thursday, and this was confirmed by Neowin senior editor Brad Sams.
Can confirm that wzor is correct, Windows 10 RTM is targeted for July 9th. pic.twitter.com/QOCYWtiBsA
— Brad Sams (@bdsams) July 6, 2015
The RTM build would be the Windows 10 build that manufacturers will install in their latest products before Microsoft officially launches Windows 10 to the general public.
Generally speaking, the RTM build is also the final build and Microsoft stops tweaking the operating system after the RTM has been released. However, with Microsoft shifting to a "Windows as a service" mindset, Windows 10 will never really have a final build in the true sense of the word. Instead, the RTM build becomes more of a starting point for consumers as Microsoft continues to roll out improvements for the software.
"We will never be done," said Windows chief Terry Myerson, explaining that Microsoft will continue to roll out updates and new features, such as new extensions for the new Edge browser and upgrades for the various Windows 10 apps.
Additionally, WinBeta has spotted a new Windows 10 build that it says is a candidate for RTM. Build 10176 from the th1 branch has appeared on Microsoft's buildfeed, and it jumps 10 builds from 10166, although it remains to be seen if the new build will be made available to Windows Insiders who volunteered to test the OS ahead of its public release.
Microsoft is expected to choose among a number of different builds that are good enough to be released to the public, and employees will get to vote which one becomes the RTM build.
The Redmond, Washington-based company has been hard at work fine-tuning Windows 10 before its July 29 release. Last week, Microsoft rolled out a total of three separate builds, each coming with improvements to deal with more than 300 bugs. Insiders say Windows 10 still has some bugs and driver problems, but the OS is overall stable enough to be released to manufacturers, and Microsoft is expected to address the issues going forward from July 29.
