Entertainment News

SPOILER ROOM

Spoiler Room: Scoop on Arrow, Agents of SHIELD, Blacklist, more

KATIE YU/THE CW; JENNIFER CLASEN/ABC; WILL HART/NBC

Welcome to the Spoiler Room, a safe place for spoiler addicts to come on a weekly basis to learn what’s coming next on their favorite shows and, hopefully, get a few of their own questions answered. If you want scoop on a specific show, send your questions to spoilerroom@ew.com.

We know that Oliver is going to end up back on the island this season on Arrow. Is there anything you can tease about how he’s going to get back there? — Brianne
Here’s a juicy tease: “I can tease that it will either be by boat or plane,” executive producer Marc Guggenheim tells me. “I can also tease he won’t be going back alone.”

Is there any chance that Radcliffe could actually be Fitz’s father on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? — Micah
I saw that theory on Reddit recently, so I took it to the source: “They’re both Scottish, and we’ve discussed it at length,” EP Jed Whedon says. “Truthfully, there’s no one better to play his dad than John Hannah, but no, Radcliffe is not his father.” There goes that theory!

Will we see Katarina Rostova back this season on The Blacklist? — Harlem
Yes! “In an unexpected way, she will come back and that’s going to be a really telling episode,” executive producer Jon Bokenkamp says. Could she actually be behind Red’s recent troubles? When I asked Bokenkamp whether Liz’s apparently dead mother would reappear in present day or just in flashback, he stayed coy. “I don’t think I should say that,” he says, “but she will be coming back.”

Can you tease anything for Henry on Once Upon a Time? I feel like he gets overlooked in spoilers… — Katherine
Yes. In fact, you could say that Henry’s gig as the author kicks into overdrive, which makes some residents of Storybrooke nervous about what that means.

Is there anything you can share about Winn’s new relationship on Supergirl? — Gaia
As I teased on Superhero Insider, it sounds like Winn and Lyra are in it for the long haul. After all, Winn does have a tendency to be drawn strong fierce femmes, which comes with its drawbacks. “In our world strong-willed women and women who are powerful in their own ways tend to have other things going on, so we find out that there are secrets,” Jeremy Jordan teases. “But for the first few episodes that we see Winn and Lyra, it’s more about discovering how their relationship fits into this new world that we’re discovering on Supergirl.”

What’s going to happen now that Clary can activate the Soul Sword on Shadowhunters? — Susie
At the moment, Simon and Clary might seem to be making the most of their time together, but soon enough everything is going to catch up with Clary. “It’s devastating,” Katherine McNamara says of the Soul Sword realization. “It’s another blow to Clary. She’s trying to do nothing but good in this world, and she’s finding out that she could be the key to the ultimate evil. It’s fighting that darkness within. You saw Jace go through it at the beginning of the season and now Clary’s starting down a similar path.”

With Rip presumably part of the team again after the next episode of Legends of Tomorrow, when can we expect the issue of who’s going to be captain going forward to be addressed? — BearSpeak
Even though Rip is back on the Waverider, that doesn’t mean they can truly bring back the old Rip — and even if they could, the team may never be able to fully trust him again. “In my head, Rip’s done a lot of things to Sara that she didn’t like and didn’t appreciate,” Caity Lotz says. “She has a love-hate with him relationship already. She loves him, but she hates him and that’s kind of a hard thing to forgive. Sara’s not a saint.”

Anything on The Americans before it comes back? — Charlie
It sounds like the Jennings are finally on the same page (if not the same Paige). Expect Philip and Elizabeth to be better partners at the beginning of this year than they’ve ever been, especially after they were rattled by last season’s triple whammy of Martha’s departure, William’s capture, and Paige’s relationship with Matthew Beeman. In fact, they’ll start fresh — there’s no mention of EST — and will be entrusted with a mission that has something to do with protecting the entirety of the motherland. The hint’s in the episode title: “Amber Waves.” (Of what?)

Have we seen the last of Wes on How to Get Away with Murder? — Samuel
Probably not. “I hope not,” EP Pete Nowalk tells me. “Obviously he is dead, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see him. There’s a big question of who did he call and say it’s Christophe.  There’s a lot more story to tell there. I don’t think we’ll see a ton of him, but I hope to see him throughout the series.”

Do you happen to know anything about The Walking Dead? — Carson
When Eugene gets to the Sanctuary, he’ll basically have the exact opposite experience that Daryl did, though that doesn’t mean he’s changing his stripes. Also: A different character from the source material will have a very similar trajectory to what we saw in comics.

This week in TV: Just me or was the How to Get Away with Murder finale a bit confusing?

That’s a wrap on this week’s Spoiler Room.

By NATALIE ABRAMS@NATALIEABRAMS

Praying the Psalms

Why Praying the Psalms is So Enriching and One Way to Do It by Kelly Givens

Making the Psalms a consistent part of our time studying the Bible is enriching and important. The Psalms are meant to be sung and prayed, but so often we just read through them on our own for words of encouragement. So this year, I decided I wanted to approach my favorite book of the Bible a little differently. In the past, my go-to method for reading the Psalms was usually to read a psalm a day, and pray and meditate over that psalm. Sometimes I followed a reading plan or sometimes I just found a psalm I knew I enjoyed. That was fine, but though I was covering a lot of ground by reading a different psalm each day, I wasn’t writing any of them on my heart. I knew bits and pieces of many psalms, but I want entire psalms memorized and stored in my head for times when I desperately need to speak truth to myself. So I’m doing something different now, and it’s enriching and breathing life into my personal times of prayer and worship. Rather than going broad, I’m going deep – I’ve chosen 7 different psalms, assigned them a day of the week, and have tried my hardest to make time each day to pray through and meditate on that day’s particular psalm.  I thought for a long time about which psalms I wanted to choose. I wanted to pick ones lengthy enough to challenge me and give me a lot to think about week after week, but not too long so that I couldn’t pray through it in a sitting (sorry Psalm 119). I also wanted different psalms to address different needs in the spiritual life. Before I choose my seven psalms, I made note of the different categories of psalms available. Different people categorize the psalms differently, but here is a brief list of some of the different types of psalms in the Bible: Individual and Communal Laments – this is the largest category. These psalms lay a troubling situation before the Lord and ask him for help. They can be about broad community problems or individual struggles. Individual and Communal Thanksgiving – like the laments, these can be for a larger group or a single person – thanking God for answering a petition. Psalms of Praise/Blessings – these are songs meant to bring us to worship and thank God, usually reminding the reader of God’s great attributes and inviting us to worship God for who He is. Songs of Confidence/Comfort – these psalms enable worshippers to deepen trust in God by reminding us of God’s goodness and plan for us. Historical Psalms – these help worshipers reflect on what God has done in the past in order to help us trust him in the future. Wisdom Psalms – these psalms build on themes found in the Wisdom books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon). With those categories in mind, I tried to choose 7 different types. I want to be able to have different psalms memorized so I can recall them for any type of situation that arises. If you’re interested, here’s what I ultimately chose: Sunday – Psalm 92. This is a hymn of blessing and praise, specifically meant for the Sabbath. Worship is the focus of this psalm and I felt like I had no choice but to start my week off here! Monday – Psalm 16. This is my favorite psalm, a psalm of confidence. I knew I wanted to include it in my list and decided it would be a good way to start my work week off. It reminds me of God’s goodness and good plan for my life. Tuesday – Psalm 37. This is a wisdom psalm and reminds me every time I read it that worry and fear are futile because God is in control of all things. This psalm convicts and humbles me every time I pray through it. Wednesday – Psalm 121. This is another psalm of comfort and confidence. I struggle with anxiety and have several friends who struggle with anxiety, and I use this psalm as a prayer I pray aloud to myself, almost daily. Memorizing this psalm has been a powerful weapon in my spiritual warfare arsenal. It reminds me that though I have limits, God is limitless and is forever watching over me and my loved ones. Thank you, Lord. Thursday – Psalm 77. This is a psalm of lament and the one that took me the longest to choose. There are so many psalms of lament that have spoken to my heart over the years, but I finally settled on this one because I felt like it could be a prayer I could recall for myself or for others when they need a friend to pray over them. There are some deep, deep truths in the psalm that speak incredible comfort and assurance for the hurting. Friday – Psalm 32. Though my Bible classifies this as a psalm of thanksgiving, I use this as a confessional prayer each week. Though hopefully I’ve been confessing sin all week, Friday is my time to really grapple with my sin and remind myself of God’s grace and forgiveness. Saturday – Psalm 103. This is a psalm of blessing and praise, celebrating the abundant goodness and love of the Lord. I love praying through this psalm on Saturday morning when I’m the only one awake and I am filled with gratitude thinking about the weekend ahead, usually full of simple joys with my family and friends.

Tues Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

I read a story the other day I had never heard before about Abraham Lincoln. He was surprised one day when a rough looking man drew a revolver and put it right in his face. Trying to remain as calm as he could Lincoln simply asked the man, “What seems to be the matter?” The stranger replied, “Well some years ago I swore an oath that if i ever came across an uglier man than I am i’d shoot him right on the spot.” Lincoln smiled and said, “Well then please shoot me for if i’m an uglier man than you are I don't want to live.”

If you are normal and in a normal frame of mind you don't want to just live life you want to live a life worth living. The reason why people commit suicide is because they have convinced themselves that for whatever the reason their life is no longer worth living. Well I make no apologies when i say to you I want my life to be worth living and when it’s over I want it to be well lived.

One of the things that I hear so often about people and from people is they’re “Trying to find themselves”. Some of you are married to a person whose never found themselves. You have a son or a daughter that’s trying to find themselves or maybe deep down you know you’re trying to find yourself.

We’re learning Jesus’ answer to a question that He asks His own disciples on more than one occasion and is asking you today. “Who do you think that I am”? And rather than let us guess or simply give our own opinion He identifies Himself. John who wrote the fourth gospel records seven “I am” sayings of Jesus never found anywhere else in scripture. In these statements Jesus clearly describes exactly who He is. But amazingly He doesn't use it with titles or names He does it by using metaphors. We’ve learned so far He’s descirbed Himself as The Bread Of Life, The Light Of The World, The Door. But today He’s going to describe Himself in such a way that not only tells us something about who He is but it tells all of us the one thing we need to know about ourselves if we’re truly going to find ourselves. The way Jesus is going to describe Himself to me is one of the most encouraging, strengthening, and comforting statements in the entire bible. Listen to these simple five words.

“I am the good shepherd." (John 10:11)

Now there’s one thing that a shepherd must have if he’s going to be a shepherd. What is that? Sheep. Well we know who the shepherd is because he’s already told us. Then who are the sheep? You got it. We are.

You will never understand yourself fully. You will never find yourself completely until you begin to see yourself the way you really are. And that is as a sheep. Sheep are mentioned in the bible over 300 times more than any other animal. And when God looks at us He looks at us through shepherds eyes. He sees us for what we are, as sheep.

But God...

But God...

By Touching Lives

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5

Big things really do come in small packages. This is so true when it comes to words. Some of the most important, powerful, life-changing words are some of the smallest words in the English language. One of those words is the tiny word, “but.” Think about how that one word can change an entire life and an entire perspective in a moment. “Yes, your daughter was in a terrible automobile accident, but she is all right.” Or, “Yes, there is a spot on your lung, but it is just scar tissue.”

That little phrase, “Yes, but…” is a classic way of agreeing, and yet not agreeing. That little word “but” effectively says that what has been said sounds true, but it is not completely true or at least finally true. Whatever falls on the backend reveals the real truth. Look at these examples:

Life is not always fair, but…

Right does not always prevail, but…

Sometimes you get wronged for doing what is right, but…

Most of us can relate to at least one of these sentences. Because of God, however, the sentence is not finished until you read what comes behind the little word, “but.”

The Bible never teaches that all things are good. Kidnapping, racism, cheating, lying, divorce, and murder are all bad things. There are a lot of bad things that will go into the puzzle of our lives; but when the puzzle is completed it won’t spell “bad” – it will spell “good.”

If you have trouble believing this truth, look to the greatest example of all time – the cross of Jesus Christ. When the human race was doing its worst to the Son of God on the cross, God was doing His best for the human race. What we intended for evil God intended for good. Could anyone who stood there watching that horrific scene ever have imagined the purpose God was accomplishing through such evil and injustice? Could Mary have fathomed that the death of her son would give her eternal life? We won’t always understand in the moment all that God is doing, but that does not mean that we should not trust Him in all things.

A Jewish rabbi sent a telegram to Albert Einstein one time to ask him if he believed in God. This is how Einstein replied: “I believe in a God who reveals Himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns Himself with the fates and actions of human beings.” Well, Mr. Einstein, that is not the God of the Bible. The One True God is intimately involved and completely in control of the fates and actions of every human being.

Biblical Interpretation

Biblical Interpretation: God Doesn’t Leave You in the Dark

Biblical Interpretation: God Doesn’t Leave You in the Dark
By Rick Warren

“No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11b NIV).

Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, that’s just your interpretation of the Bible”? It’s as if that little phrase disproves everything that’s been said. But it really doesn’t disprove anything.

There are right ways and wrong ways to interpret Scripture. Here are six principles of interpretation that are accepted just about everywhere.

1. You need faith and the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture. The Bible doesn’t make sense to non-believers. It is God’s love letter to believers. When an unbeliever reads the Word, he is reading someone else’s mail. The Bible is a spiritual book that must be understood by spiritual people. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (NIV).

2. The Bible is its own best commentary. Scripture interprets Scripture. Practice this principle by getting a Bible with cross-references in the margin. By looking up cross-references, you’ll get a much bigger and clearer picture of what God has said in all of his Word, not just that one context. 

3. Read the Old Testament with the New Testament in mind, and read the New Testament with the Old Testament in mind. The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.

4. Always interpret unclear passages in the light of clear passages. Look at the full counsel of God in Scripture to get a clear understanding when you find a passage that seems contradictory or confusing. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:29 has a very obscure reference to baptism for the dead. It’s the only time the idea is mentioned in Scripture. Paul isn’t condoning this. Nothing in Scripture condones it. Let clear passages about salvation and baptism interpret this unclear one, not vice versa.

5. Don’t form a doctrine based solely on a historical event. Take historical passages of the Bible for what they’re meant to be: good lessons. Don’t build your doctrine upon them. For example, in Mark 1:35, the Bible says Jesus got up very early, went to a place of solitude, and prayed. Does that mean you must get up every morning at 4 a.m., leave your house, and go somewhere and pray? Of course not! God may convince you that it’s a good idea, but it’s not a command. Use doctrinal passages to base doctrine on. Use narratives to teach lessons.

6. Never interpret Scripture based on your own experiences. The point of Bible study is not to shape Scripture to agree with your subjective opinions or your experiences. Feelings lie. Emotions lie. Instead, discover God’s timeless truth, and let it shape your life. Study the Bible with an open heart, and invite God to conform you to his will.

God doesn’t want to leave you in the dark when you study Scripture. Following these basic rules of Bible study can help to ensure you read the Word from God’s perspective.

More on Cloudbleed from Dashlane

Everything You Need to Know about Cloudbleed and How to Keep Your Accounts Safe

Here’s everything you need to know about the #Cloudbleed data leak:

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflare is a popular content delivery network and according to their site, “provides performance and security”, including DDoS protection for millions of websites, including Medium, Feedly, FitBit, TransferWise, Zendesk, OK Cupid and more.

What is Cloudbleed?

Cloudflare, which is used by more than 5.5 million websites, accidentally leaked mass amounts of sensitive user information from those sites, including passwords, private messages, hotel booking, and more between September 2016 and February 18th of this year. The leak has been dubbed ‘Cloudbleed’.

Security researcher, Tavis Ormandy, identified the vulnerability, which is the result of a software bug in their code, known technically as a buffer overrun. According to a blog post from Cloudflare, “our edge servers were running past the end of a buffer and returning memory that contained private information such as HTTP cookies, authentication tokens, HTTP POST bodies, and other sensitive data” and that they have not found “any evidence of malicious exploits of the bug or other reports of its existence.”



Image credit: Cloudflare / Gizmodo

Which websites were affected?

Cloudflare has not formally released a list of affected websites. However, a Github account has an unofficial list of 4,287,625 possibly-affected domains (and counting) that use Cloudflare DNS, not just the Cloudflare proxy that was primarily affected. Some of the major, notable sites include:

• Uber.com
• Fitbit.com
• Yelp.com
• Okcupid.com
• Change.org
• Zendesk.com
• Medium.com
• Patreon.com
• Jquery.com
• Glassdoor.com

To view the full list, go here: https://github.com/PIRATE/SITES-USING-CLOUDFLARE

Is Dashlane affected?

After further investigation from our Security Team, we’ve confirmed that Dashlane’s password manager is not affected by this data leak:

Your Dashlane account is not impacted by the Cloudbleed bug as Dashlane has never used Cloudflare as a service provider, but also because we add additional layers of encryption to protect your data.
Your Master Password is safe and does not need to be changed, as it is never transmitted.
Your personal data, when transmitted, is always ciphered locally with AES-256, which is not affected by the Cloudbleed vulnerability.
In cases of data leaks or hacks, you can rest assured that Dashlane will notify users of compromised accounts via in-app Security Alerts. You can learn more about Dashlane Patented Security Architecture, and for technical details on how Dashlane handles HTTPS communications, please read our updated Security Whitepaper.

What should I do to protect my accounts?

Dashlane’s Security Team and other industry security researchers say the most effective thing you can do is to update your passwords as soon as possible. We strongly encourage you to use strong, unique passwords on each and every one of your accounts to prevent a hacker from access multiple accounts if one is compromised. Our Password Generator and Password Changer tools to help you quickly create complex, unique passwords for all of your accounts.

Experts also recommend resetting two-factor authentication tokens for accounts where it’s enabled, since 2FA codes may have been compromised. If you haven’t enabled 2FA yet, make sure you do so for all of your accounts whenever it’s available.

Updating your passwords may seem like a mountain of a task, but the costs of not doing so leave much more at stake and we’re here to help you make password security simple and your new top priority.

Bad Credit Reports are ID Theft Targets

Even Bad Credit Reports are Identity Theft Targets

A guest post by Eva Velasquez, CEO, Identity Theft Resource Center

Individuals might not realize how imperative it is to monitor their credit report and know their credit score, but they are both important steps to take in minimizing the risks of identity theft and in catching any suspicious activity early. Your credit report provides you with a lot of information, mostly things like inquiries from creditors (current and potential), any unauthorized accounts or lines of credit, and any outstanding debt that may have been turned over to collections.

Your credit score, on the other hand, is an important piece of compiled personal data that’s largely based on your credit report. Knowing your score before you try to make a large purchase can mean the difference in getting turned down, or even being offered a percentage rate far higher than you’re actually eligible for due to that low score.

But there’s a common misperception among people who don’t have the best credit history or maybe have a score they’re not quite proud of, and that’s the notion that identity thieves won’t bother with you if you don’t have amazing purchasing power. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, and in some ways, you could actually be more of a target to a thief or scammer if you’re not staying on top of your credit.

First of all, your Social Security number is not “tied” to good credit or bad credit. It’s one of the pieces of information you’ll submit when you request a credit report, but there’s no magic formula that tells a thief that your number has been flagged or blacklisted, for example. If a thief has the opportunity to steal your personal identifiable information, whether to use it themselves or sell it, there’s no instant glimpse at your credit report to make sure your data is worth stealing. Of course, if the thief does eventually discover that you don’t have good credit, that might actually help them; it could be a sign that you’re not monitoring your report or checking up on your financial standing, giving them ample opportunity to use it undetected.

At the same time, while having bad credit might prevent a thief from opening a new credit card in your name, it doesn’t stop them from telling the police your name if they are stopped for a traffic violation or arrested for a crime. It also doesn’t prevent a thief from falsely applying for disability benefits, getting a job, or even filing a fraudulent tax refund, all in your name. Once those incidents occur, the damage can go on for quite some time before you ever find out.

So, how do you go about not only fixing your credit, but also working to minimize your risk of identity theft? Once you’re certain that you’ve safeguarded your personal data as much as you can, get to work on that credit report. The first step is to know what’s on it and AnnualCreditReport.com is an excellent source for free reports. You’re entitled to one free report every 12 months from each of the three major reporting agencies, so there’s no reason to delay.

After your report arrives, it’s time to look it over with a fine-toothed comb. Check for any strange activities, any credit lines that you weren’t aware of, and of course, any outstanding debt in your name. It’s also important to look for any old credit cards that might have been your legitimate accounts but that have been long forgotten. There are credit counseling services that can help you get moving in the right direction towards a better credit score, but right now, you can’t know if your identity is in danger if you don’t know what’s on your report.

Did You Know/Todays Term

Did You Know?

Genetics is the study of changes in an organism caused by the activation or deactivation of genes that are passed down to their offspring (without any changes to the organism’s DNA).

Today's Tech Term 

KVM

KVM (short for Kernel-Based Virtualization Machine) is an open-source virtualization infrastructure built for Linux operating systems that allows a Linux system to operate/function as a hypervisor for creating and running multiple virtual machines.

Trivia

Which Computer Keyboard Key Is An Archaic Reference To Its Original Mechanical Function?

Shift	Alt
Ctrl	NumLock

Answer: Shift

The modern computer keyboard, created in the 20th century and scarcely changed since, is an electro-mechanical descendant of the typewriters that preceded it in the 19th century. While many of the keys on the keyboards we use today are specific to a digital work environment (like the “print screen” button that originally printed what was visible on the screen and now “prints” the screen to an image file), one particular key you might assume was a modern one traces its roots all the way back to 1878: the shift key.

Today, when you press the shift key, the key functions as a temporary modifier that shifts the case of letter keys from lower to upper case, number keys from the number to the associated symbol, and otherwise acts as a modifier—all functions being handled by the software drivers for your keyboard. When the shift key was introduced in 1878 with the release of the Remington No. 2 typewriter, the shift key was a mechanical key that literally shifted the inside of the typewriter to achieve a change in letter case.

When you pressed the shift key (depending on the model of typewriter), one of two things happened. Either the typebar basket, where the actual metal letters were held, shifted and aligned the upper case letters with the ribbon (in which case the typewriter was referred to as a “basket shift” model) or the paper-holding carriage and ribbon shifted to align with the upper case letters on the typebars (in which case the model was referred to as a “carriage shift” typewriter).

The introduction of the shift key revolutionized the typewriter industry as it greatly simplified the construction of typewriters which, prior to the shift key, had two complete keyboards (one above the other) to accommodate both lower and upper case letters.

Configure Proxy Server on iPhone/iPad

How to Configure a Proxy Server on an iPhone or iPad

When you configure a proxy server for a Wi-Fi network, your iPhone or iPad will use it when accessing that network. This is sometimes required to access the Internet on a business or school network, for example. Your network traffic will be sent through the proxy you configure.

Generally, you’ll use a proxy if your school or work provides it to you. You could also use a proxy to hide your IP address or access geoblocked websites that aren’t available in your country, but we recommend a VPN for that instead. If you need to set up a proxy for school or work, get the necessary credentials from them and read on.

Head to Settings > Wi-Fi to access proxy settings on an iPhone or iPad. Tap the name of the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to. Scroll down and you’ll see the “HTTP Proxy” option at the bottom of the screen.



By default, the HTTP Proxy option is set to “Off”. This means your iPhone won’t use a proxy at all when connected to the network.

To enable automatic proxy detection, select “Auto”. Your iPhone will use the Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol, or WPAD, to see whether a proxy is necessary on the Wi-Fi network and automatically configure your proxy settings if one is required. This feature is often used on business and school networks. If your current network doesn’t provide proxy details using the WPAD protocol, your iPhone or iPad won’t use a proxy, even if you select “Auto” here.

To use an automatic proxy configuration script, sometimes called a .PAC file, select “Auto” and enter the address of the proxy auto-configuration script into the “URL” box. iOS will instead use the proxy auto-configuration script instead of WPAD to enable your proxy.

If your network administrator or proxy service provider wants you to use a proxy auto-configuration script, it will provide you with the address of the file.



To manually specify a proxy server’s address and port, select “Manual”. Enter the address of the proxy server in the “Server” box and the port it requires in the “Port” box. Your organization or proxy service provider will provide you with these details.

If the proxy server requires a username and password—your proxy provider will let you know if it does—enable the “Authentication” option here. Enter the username and password the proxy server requires in the “Username” and “Password” boxes.



If your iPhone or iPad can’t connect to the proxy server—for example, if the proxy server goes down or if you enter its details incorrectly—you won’t be able to access websites and other network addresses.

For example, in Safari you’ll see a “Safari cannot open the page because the server cannot be found” message, and in the App Store you’ll see a “Cannot Connect to App Store” message. Other applications will display their own network error messages.

You’ll need to fix your proxy settings before you can continue accessing the Internet on that Wi-Fi network.



The proxy settings you configure are unique to each Wi-Fi network. In other words, if you want to use the same proxy on three different Wi-Fi networks, you’ll have to enable it separately for each Wi-Fi network, entering the server details three times. That’s because you may need to use a proxy while connected to the Wi-Fi network at your workplace, but not at home or on other Wi-Fi networks.

If you’d like to set up a global HTTP proxy that’s used when connected to all Wi-Fi networks, you’ll have to “supervise” your iPhone or iPad and create a configuration profile that enables a proxy on all connections. Apple considers this a feature for businesses, schools, and other organizations, so it requires enterprise-grade configuration tools.

New W10 Update Info

What’s New in Windows 10’s Creators Update, Arriving Spring 2017

The Windows 10 Creators Update—also known as Redstone 2—is due to hit PCs in April, 2017. Like other updates to Windows 10, it’s free, and includes a host of new features.

We originally wrote this article after Microsoft’s big October 26, 2016 event. We’ve updated it with features that have appeared as of Windows Insider Preview build 15031, released in February.

3D for Everyone

Microsoft is making a big bet on 3D creativity with the Creators update. This is the company that bought Minecraft, after all.

A new Paint 3D application included with Windows 10 allows you to work with and create 3D models. You can scan an object with a smartphone using the “Windows Capture 3D Experience” and then insert it into a Paint 3D scene and modify it. Microsoft showed this off using a Windows Phone, but said it envisioned this being possible on any device—in other words, iPhone and Android users should be able to do this, too.

The Microsoft Edge browser now supports 3D content. It can be used to upload and download 3D models—including models exported from Minecraft and SketchUp—from Remix3D, a community website created by Microsoft. Windows can then print any type of 3D model to a 3D printer, which means Minecraft players can bring their creations into the real world.

Windows now comes with a “View 3D Preview” app that allows everyone to open 3D models, view, rotate around, and zoom in. Currently, it supports .fbx and .3mf file types.

Microsoft PowerPoint gains 3D models and cinematic 3D animations for transitions like Morph, so those 3D models can be incorporated into presentations. Microsoft will be adding more 3D features to Office applications like Word and Excel over the next year.

Mainstream Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Headsets

Mixed Reality—which includes Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Holographic computing according to Microsoft—is another big focus of Microsoft’s. This works hand in hand with the 3D support. Microsoft’s own HoloLens headset, for example, is a mixed reality headset. It allows you to see through the headset to the real world, and digital images are superimposed on that image of the real world.

With HoloLens, you’ll be able to download a 3D model from Edge or create one in Paint 3D and virtually place it somewhere in the real world.

You’ll be able to create a custom space in virtual reality and decorate it with your own furniture and apps, like you would another room. Apps can be placed on shelves. There’s also a new application called HoloTour, which lets you explore locations around the world using a virtual reality or augmented reality headset.

Microsoft Edge is gaining support for WebVR, a standard that will allow websites to deliver virtual reality experiences, just like desktop applications. WebVR was originally developed by Mozilla and Google is also working on WebVR support for Chrome.

Most excitingly, though: Microsoft is partnering with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to create mainstream mixed reality headsets. They’ll work without any additional tracking hardware that needs to be placed in the room. “Zero need for a separate room. Zero need for a complicated setup”, as Microsoft put it. These headsets will include cameras so they’re capable of mixed reality—think Pokémon Go, but in a headset. Best of all, headset prices will start at $299, so they’ll be much more affordable than Microsoft’s own $3000 HoloLens hardware. They’re also much cheaper than the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets, which start at $599 and $799, respectively.

These headsets won’t need a very expensive PC, either. The minimum specifications are much lower than what an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive requires. These headsets will even work with Intel integrated graphics, as long as you have the Kaby Lake series of Intel graphics or newer. Here are the minimum specs Microsoft announced:

• CPU: Intel Mobile Core i5 (e.g. 7200U) Dual-Core with Hyperthreading equivalent
• GPU: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 620 (GT2) equivalent or greater DX12 API Capable GPU
• RAM: 8GB+ Dual Channel required for integrated graphics
• HDMI: HDMI 1.4 with 2880  x 1440 @ 60 Hz
  HDMI 2.0 or DP 1.3+ with 2880 x 1440 @ 90 Hz
• Storage: 100GB+ SSD (Preferred) / HDD
• Bluetooth: 4.0 and above for accessories.

Windows 10 now includes a new “Mixed Reality” icon on the main page of the Settings app to manage settings for virtual reality and augmented reality devices, too.

Night Light

Windows 10 now has a “Night Light” feature, which was known as “Blue Light” in earlier builds of the Creators Update.

Night Light works similarly to the venerable f.lux utility. It makes color temperatures warmer at night so it’s easier on your eyes and easier to get to sleep right after using the computer, in theory. Many operating systems have been adding this feature lately, like iOS with Night Shift.

Visit Settings > System > Display > Night Light Settings to enable Night Light mode and configure your desired color temperature. You can set Windows to automatically enable Night Light mode at sunset and enable it at sunrise, too.

Game Mode and Game Settings

Windows 10 is gaining a “Game Mode” that claims to improve the performance of games using both Microsoft’s new UWP (Windows Store) application platform and older Win32 (desktop) application platform.

To enable Game Mode, open the Game Bar by pressing Windows+G while in a game. Click the settings icon on the Game Bar and check the “Use Game Mode for this game” option.

Game Mode functions by prioritizing the game you’re playing, giving it more system resources and giving other applications on your PC less resources. Your game will be given more CPU cores and background processes will be given fewer, according to MSPowerUser. This will work better for new UWP (Windows Store) applications, but Microsoft says it will still do something for traditional Win32 (Windows desktop) games. We’re skeptical of Game Mode and its benefits when it comes to traditional Windows desktop games, but we’ll surely see some interesting benchmarks after the Creators Update is officially released.

These features are now much more accessible, too. Gaming related settings are now available at Settings > Gaming. You no longer have to open the Xbox app and sign in with a Microsoft account to disable the Game Bar or Game DVR features.

Game Broadcasting for Windows 10 and Xbox One

Microsoft’s Game DVR feature, which already can record a video of your gameplay in the background and upload it to social services, is gaining a “Broadcast” button. It’ll be able to stream your gameplay to Xbox Live in real time, and your Xbox Live friends will receive a notification that you’re broadcasting. This will be built into both the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. It’s powered by Beam, a service Microsoft purchased in August.

However, this feature can only stream to Microsoft’s own Xbox Live service. It’ll likely be popular on the Xbox One, but alternatives like Twitch and YouTube are very popular on PC, and Microsoft’s built-in feature doesn’t support them.

Other PC Gaming Improvements

Augmented reality and broadcasting aren’t the only gaming improvements arriving with Windows 10.

Microsoft is partnering with Dolby to bring Doly Atmos positional sound to PC and Xbox One. You don’t even need hardware that supports Atmos—Windows 10 will allow you to create virtual Dolby Atmos positional sound with “virtually any pair of headphones”. Microsoft’s blog post uses Overwatch as an example, promising a tactical advantage when you can more easily hear where other characters are in the game world.

Games you download from the Windows Store now contain bundled display drivers, ensuring people who choose to buy games from the Store will always have the minimum required driver for the game to perform well.

The Game Bar supports many more full-screen games, including Fallout 4, Dark Souls 3, Overwatch, Starcraft II, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Terraria.

The Xbox app is gaining support for custom tournaments. Create a tournament and your friends can join it, playing on either Xbox One or Windows 10 PC if an Xbox Live-enabled game runs on both platforms.

Other features include Windows Display Driver Model 2.2 (WDDM 2.2), which is reportedly tailored for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality scenarios. Windows 10’s Creators Update will also feature high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut support for PC games and media.

Many of these details were announced at a PC Gaming WinHEC session.

Microsoft Edge Improvements

Edge now offers a tab preview bar that shows you a visual preview of every tab you have open. Click the little down arrow icon to the right of your tabs to view it. It looks a little similar to the tab bar in Windows 8’s “Modern” version of Internet Explorer. Another new tab management feature allows you to “set tabs aside” for later and view tabs you’ve set aside and even “Share” them to other apps on your PC. Two new buttons for this are located at the left side of the tab bar.

Microsoft Edge has always been a multi-process web browser, but Microsoft redesigned its architecture. Long story short, Edge should be more stable, more responsive to input, and more resistant to slow or frozen web pages.

Edge will now prefer HTML5 content when available as well, blocking Flash by default. You’ll be able to choose whether you want Flash to load or not. Avoiding Flash will improve battery life, security, and browsing performance. This decision follows similar announcements from Google, Mozilla, and Apple.

Microsoft also added web payments support that uses the “Payment Request API”, which is designed to make online payments faster by more easily providing the credit card details and shipping address stored in Microsoft Wallet. You won’t be able to use this feature until websites add support for it.

Edge has received a lot of little improvements, too. Edge’s taskbar icon now offers jump list support, so you can right-click or swipe up on the Edge icon on the taskbar to get quick access to tasks like opening a new browser window. Edge can now read EPUB format eBooks right in the web browser, too. Click an EPUB file and it will be displayed in Edge, just like how PDF files are currently displayed in Edge today. Edge now allows you to export your favorites to an HTML file and allows you to import data from other browsers on your PC.

The file download experience has improved to match what was possible in Internet Explorer. When downloading a file, you can choose to “Run” a download without first saving it or use a “Save As” button to choose exactly where you want to download the file.

Internally, Edge now supports Brotli compression. It promises better compression ratios and decompression speeds, which means websites that take advantage of this feature can load faster. This compression scheme is also supported in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, so it’s a cross-browser solution that should make the web better for everyone.

New Cortana Features

Microsoft’s virtual assistant knows some new voice commands in the Creator’s Update. Cortana can now turn off your computer, restart your PC, lock your screen, or put it to sleep with just a voice command. It can also raise or lower your system volume. Cortana now supports voice playback controls for the iHeartRadio and TuneIn apps. You can also ask Cortana what song is playing, and it will tell you.

App developers can add Cortana commands to their applications—for example, you can use Cortana voice commands to play movies in Netflix. If you type an installed app’s name into Cortana—like “Netflix”—you’ll see a list of suggested commands. Here’s a list of apps that offer Cortana voice commands.

Cortana is gaining a new full-screen mode, too. When your PC is unlocked and idle, you can say “Hey Cortana” and Cortana will appear in a full-screen interface, allowing you to read the screen from across the room. To try this, enable “Hey Cortana”, don’t use your PC’s mouse or keyboard for at least teen seconds, and then say “Hey Cortana”.

Reminders in Cortana have gotten more flexible. You can set reminders to recur “every month” or “every year” if you want a reminder about  something that happens once a month or once a year.

Cortana is now integrated into the “Windows Out-Of-Box-Experience”, the setup wizard you see when setting up a new PC. You can go through this experience just by talking to Cortana.

Microsoft is also working on a new Cortana feature that will prompt you to synchronize apps between your devices. When you switch computers, Cortana will display links in the Action Center to direct you to websites you had open in Microsoft Edge and cloud-based documents you had open. For example, Cortana would prompt you to open a PowerPoint presentation you have saved in SharePoint or OneDrive if you switch PCs while working on a presentation. It’s similar in concept to Apple’s Continuity feature, which works between iOS and macOS.

Developers at Microsoft are quietly working on new Cortana features that haven’t been officially announced, too. Cortana appears to be gaining a new “Universal Clipboard” that allows you to synchronize your clipboard between devices running Cortana. It appears you’ll be able to use the “Copy To” voice command to copy content from one device’s clipboard to another.

Notification sync also looks set for a big improvement. Not only will Cortana be able to show notifications from your phone on your desktop PC, but it will be able to go the other way. Cortana will be able to push notifications from your desktop PC to a smartphone with the Cortana app, so you can get your PC’s notifications on your phone.

There’s also a feature that appears to allow unlocking your PC with a phone. Perhaps you’ll be able to use a phone running the Cortana app along with Windows Hello to unlock your PC.

More Control Over Windows Update

Windows Update will see some huge changes, with Microsoft adding options many Windows users have been begging for.

You can now pause updates for up to 35 days. You’ll find this option at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Pause Updates. This setting is only available on the Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10—not Windows 10 Home.

You can also choose to avoid driver updates when updating Windows, preventing Windows Update from messing with your drivers. You’ll also find this option at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Pause Updates. Again, it’s only available on the Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10—not Windows 10 Home.

If you do have the Home edition of Windows 10, there is one helpful new change. You can now set up to 18 hours of the day as your Active Hours, so Windows 10 won’t restart for updates during those hours. Previously, the maximum was 12 hours. Windows Update also attempts to detect whether the PC display is being used for something—projecting, for example—before automatically restarting the PC.

A new Unified Update Platform makes Windows Update faster when searching for available updates. Microsoft expects the size of a new major update like the Anniversary Update or Creators Update should be about 35% smaller, leading to faster downloads and reduced data usage.

And finally, you can now set wired Ethernet connections as metered from Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet. This prevents Windows from automatically downloading updates and using other unnecessary data on a connection with limited data. This previously required a registry hack.

Changes to Privacy Settings

Microsoft is finally trying to allay some of the concerns about Windows 10’s privacy settings. First, there’s a new Your Privacy page for your Microsoft account. This page allows you to see the information stored about you and delete it, if you like. It provides more information about what information Microsoft is collecting and why.

The Windows 10 setup experience you see when setting up a new PC is changing, too. The “Express” setup option that encourages you to be hands-off and select the default settings is gone. Instead, there’s now a “Choose privacy settings for your device” page that provides information and encourages you to make choices.

Windows 10’s telemetry levels are also being simplified. You can now choose between either “Basic” or “Full” diagnostic and usage data, with the “enhanced” level in the middle being removed. The amount of data Windows 10 shares with Microsoft when you select the “Basic” level is also being reduced.

Geeky Stuff

Only the geekiest of Windows users will notice these new features:

• A Location Bar in the Registry Editor: The Registry Editor finally includes a location bar, allowing you to easily copy-paste addresses rather than being forced to painstakingly navigate to them.
• Bash on Ubuntu on Windows 10 Updates: The Windows Subsystem for Linux now supports Ubuntu 16.04. In the Anniversary Update, it only supports Ubuntu 14.04. Windows applications can now be launched from the Bash shell, too, making it more flexible.
• PowerShell Is the Default: PowerShell is now the default shell. When you right-click the Start button, you’ll see options to open PowerShell instead of Command Prompt. When you hold Shift and right-click in a folder or click the File menu in File Explorer, you’ll see an option to open PowerShell instead of Command Prompt. Despite this, Microsoft insists that the Command Prompt is not dead and will not be removed from Windows until almost no one uses it.
• Control Panel Is Harder to Get To: You can no longer right-click the Start button and select “Control Panel” to easily launch the Control Panel. It’s been removed from this menu and replaced with a link to “Settings”.
• Symbolic Link Improvements: You can now create symlinks without elevating the Command Prompt to Administrator. That also means that developers, software tools, and projects can now take advantage of this useful feature without requiring Administrator access.
• Hyper-V Display Scaling: A new “Zoom” option in the View menu allows you to set your preferred display scaling for Hyper-V virtual machines, overriding your default display scaling settings. You can set it to either 100%, 125%, 150%, or 200%.
• Quick Virtual Machine Creation: If you’re using Hyper-V to create virtual machines, you’ll see a “Quick Create” button in Hyper-V manager. This is a simplified wizard that allows you to create a new virtual machines in just a few clicks.
• Hyper-V Virtual Machine Connection Windows Are Resizable: You can quickly resize a Hyper-V virtual machine connection window by dragging the corners of the window. The virtual machine will automatically change its display resolution to adjust. You have to be signed into the guest operating system and using Enhanced session mode for this to work.
• Improved High DPI Support for Desktop Apps: If you have a high-DPI display, fewer desktop apps will appear blurry. In particular, Microsoft has made the Device Manager and other Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap ins look better. Microsoft has previously written about its difficulties in improving high-DPI support, so it’s good to know these are finally improving.
• More High DPI Scaling Options: If you have a super high-res display, you know how annoying DPI scaling can be. Microsoft has enabled improved high-DPI scaling for some included Windows desktop applications, and you can now enable it for other applications. Right-click a program’s .exe file, select Properties, and you’ll find a new “System (Enhanced)” Setting for DPI scaling on the Compatibility tab. This new feature forces an application to be scaled by Windows, so it can help fix blurry applications—but it only works with applications that use GDI, the Windows Graphics Device Interface.
• Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Improvements: Improvements to Windows Defender ATP will allow network administrators to better detect new threats on their organization’s PCs. ATP’s sensors can now detect threats that just persist in memory or the Windows kernel.
• Windows Hello for Active Directory: Organizations that use an on-premises Active Directory will now be able to use Windows Hello to unlock their PCs, if they like.
• Green Screen of Death: If you’re using an Insider build of Windows 10 and Windows crashes, you’ll now see a “Green Screen of Death” instead of the usual blue screen of death. This helps identify that the problem may have occured because you were using an Insider build of Windows with bugs.

Other New Features

The Creators update includes a variety of other important features, many of which Microsoft didn’t announce at the event. Here’s what we already know about:

• Skype SMS Forwarding: Skype now supports SMS forwarding, allowing you to send and receive text messages from your computer, similar to iMessage on macOS. Unfortunately, this currently only works if you’re also using the Skype Preview app on a Windows 10 Phone.
• OneDrive File Placeholders: Windows 8.1 introduced “placeholder” files for OneDrive–files that appeared in File Explorer but were actually stored in the cloud and only downloaded when you needed them. Microsoft removed this feature in Windows 10, but an “on-demand sync” feature looks likely to arrive in Windows 10 to replace it.
• A New Share Menu: Microsoft has redesigned the current Share feature, replacing the old sidebar design introduced in Windows 8 with a new pop-up Share interface that shows a list of applications you can share to. The applications you share to most frequently listed first. The old Windows+H hotkey that used to open the share bar has been removed. You’ll need to find the share icon in an app to share something.
• A New Screenshot Hotkey: Windows 10 gains yet another screenshot tool. Press Windows+Shift+S to capture a region of your screen and copy it to your clipboard. This feature was originally part of OneNote 2016, but has been added to Windows itself.
• Accessibility Improvements: Windows 10 is gaining braille support. The Narrator is now available in the Windows installation and recovery tools environments. The Narrator hotkey is changing from Windows+Enter to Ctrl+Windows+Enter to make it harder to trigger accidentally.

• Storage Sense: Windows 10 can now automatically free up disk space, although this feature is off by default. Enable the Storage Sense feature under Settings > System > Storage and Windows will automatically erase your temporary files and empty your recycle bin to free up space.
• Dynamic Lock: Windows 10 can now automatically lock your PC when you step away. Pair a Bluetooth-enabled phone and enable Dynamic Lock under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options. If you step away from your PC for 30 seconds and take the phone with you, Windows will automatically lock your PC. Microsoft’s blog post says this is for “Bluetooth phones”, but it appears it may work with other devices, like Bluetooth-enabled wristbands.
• Troubleshooters in the Settings App: The troubleshooters built into Windows can find and automatically fix common system problems. They’re now accessible at Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot.
• Settings Changes: Microsoft has streamlined the Settings app yet again. App-related settings have moved from the System category to a new category named Apps. You’ll find more information about related settings at the bottom of every settings page. The Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices page provides a single place to manage your connected devices. The System > Display page has been reorganized, and now lets you change the display resolution without visiting the Control Panel first.

• A New Windows Defender Interface: Microsoft has overhauled Windows Defender’s interface in the Creators Update, replacing the old desktop application with a modern “Universal Windows Platform” app that looks more at home on Windows 10. The Refresh Windows tool, which downloads a new Windows system from Microsoft and wipes any manufacturer-installed bloatware, is being incorporated into Windows Defender.
• Improved PIN Login: When signing in with a numerical PIN, you don’t have to worry about pressing the Num Lock key. The PIN field will behave as if the Num Lock key is always enabled. No more fighting with Num Lock!
• Windows Remembers Which Built-in Apps You Don’t Want: When you uninstall built-in apps like Mail and Maps, they won’t automatically be reinstalled when you upgrade Windows. Windows will now respect your choice. You can always reinstall those apps from the Store, if you want them.
• File Explorer Notifications: File Explorer is gaining a new “product education feature” that provides information about Windows features in your file manager. You can disable these notifications though, if you like.

• Compact Overlay Windows: UWP applications can now use a “compact overlay window” that works like picture-in-picture mode on a televisions For example, video streaming or video chat apps could display a video in an always-on-top thumbnail in the corner of your screen. Microsoft will update the Movies & TV app and Skype Preview app with this feature.
• Wi-Fi Control Improvements: When you disable Wi-Fi, you can configure it to automatically turn on in one hour, in four hours, or in one day. By default, it will be kept disabled until you manually re-enable it.
• Action Center Improvements: Quick Action icons for quickly controlling settings have been improved. In addition, you’ll find volume and brightness sliders directly in the Action Center, making it easier to adjust these settings. Developers can now group their app notifications and override the timestamp displayed for notifications if it makes sense to do so. Notifications can now have progress bars. You’ll now see a progress bar in the “Downloading” notifciation while downloading an app from the Windows Store, for example.

• Start Menu Folders: Windows 10 now allows you to group the tiles on your Start menu into folders. Drag and drop a tile onto another tile to create a tile folder that can contain two or more tiles. Click or tap the tile folder and it will expand to display its contents.
• Start Menu Customization: A new option at Settings > Personalization > Start allows you to hide the All Apps list, which always appears at the left side of the Start menu in the Anniversary Update.
• More Interface Color Options: The Personalization screen now has a color picker, allowing you to choose any interface and window title bar color. On the earlier versions of Windows 10, you can just select from a handful of available colors. It also shows a list of recent colors, so you can quickly choose between your favorite colors.
• A Virtual Touchpad: Windows 10 already contains an on-screen keyboard, and it’s getting an on-screen touchpad. Press and hold on the taskbar and you’ll be able to select “Show touchpad button”. You’ll then get a touchpad button next to your touch keyboard button. Microsoft says you can use the virtual touchpad on a tablet to control the mouse cursor on a connected external display, for example. You don’t need a mouse, or even a physical touchpad.
• Smoother Window Resizing: It’s minor, but Microsoft has improved performance when resizing application windows so it will look smoother. This applies to both new UWP apps and desktop applications—but only desktop applications that use the Windows Graphics Device Interface, or GDI.

• Theme Management: You can now manage and select desktop themes from Settings > Personalization > Themes. This previously required the Control Panel. Themes are now available in the Windows Store, too.
• Desktop Icon Placement Improvements: Windows now more intelligently rearranges and scales desktop icons when you switch between different monitors and scaling settings, seeking to preserve your custom icon layout rather than scrambling them.
• Quicker VPN Access: When you open the network menu from your notification area, you can now connect to VPNs directly from the menu rather than needing to open the VPN Settings screen first.
• Multiple Account Sign-in Improvements: If you have multiple accounts, you’ll appreciate the new sign-in dialog that appears when you need to provide a Microsoft account in apps. It shows any Microsoft, Work, and School accounts you’ve added to the system and gives you the ability to add new accounts to Windows.
• Lunar Calendar Support in the Taskbar: You can now see the simplified or traditional Chinese lunar calendar in the taskbar calendar. To enable this feature, head to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time and use the new “Show additional calendars in the taskbar” menu.

• Office Hub: There’s a new version of the “Get Office” app, which originally just pointed you at the Office 365 website. Get Office 2.0, also known as “Office Hub”, is much more capable. This app still guides you through how to sign up to Office 365, but it also provides direct download links for Office applications, a list of Office documents you’ve recently used, and other useful features.
• Photos App Improvements: Keeping with the “Creators Update” theme, Microsoft is improving the Photos app. You can now use a stylus or your finger on a touchscreen to draw directly on your photos or videos. Write on a video and what you’ve scribbled will appear when you get to that place in the video. The Photos app offers a new set of filters and redesigned editing interface for better photo editing, too. Microsoft is also releasing a Photos app for the Xbox One, so you can view those same photos in your living room. There’s also a new light theme for the app, so you don’t have to use the old dark theme if you’d prefer a brighter look.
• Sticky Notes Insights: The Sticky Notes app offers more “Insights”. For example, it can detect stocks, flights numbers, email addresses, web addresses, phone numbers, and times and automatically provide more information. This now works for many more languages. Sticky Notes also received various performance, reliability, and interface improvements.

• Books in the Windows Store: The Windows Store now offers eBooks in a “Books” section that appears alongside Apps, Games, Music, and Movies & TV at the top of the Store window. Windows 10 doesn’t contain an eBook reader app, however, so these eBooks open in Microsoft Edge after you buy them. Tap the menu button in Edge and you’ll see a new eBook library section alongside your favorites, downloads, and history. Edge can also read eBooks aloud.
• Windows Ink Improvements: Windows Ink, introduced in the Anniversary Update, has seen quite a bit of polish. Screen sketches can now be resumed and the cursor will be hidden while you’re drawing on the screen. A new rounded protractor combines the protector and compass into a single tool, making it easier to draw a complete circle or an arc. The protractor can be resized with a two-finger pinch. The ruler also shows the numerical value of the angle it’s positioned at. You can now erase only parts of an ink stroke. The pen, pencil, and highlighter control menu now visually indicates which colors you have selected.
• Surface Dial Settings: If you have a Surface Dial, you can customize its settings from Settings > Devices > Wheel. The options here allow you to set custom shortcuts for specific apps. You can set the wheel to send custom keyboard shortcuts to quickly perform actions in apps.
• Cross-Device Experience Settings: There’s a new settings pane at Settings > System > Cross-device Experiences. App developers can use Microsoft’s new “cross-device experience” tools to create experiences that use apps across multiple devices, but you can disable those features here, if you like.
• Battery Life Improvements: Microsoft is experimenting with “throttling” traditional Windows applications running in the background to save battery life. This change is only live on some Insider PCs.

As usual, there are many other smaller changes and bug fixes. We’ll keep watching the Insider Preview builds and updating this post as Microsoft adds more new features.

The Future: Redstone 3 and Beyond

We know about some other features that Microsoft is working on, but which won’t be ready for the Creators Update. These features are slated for “Redstone 3”, the next update after the Creators Update (which is codenamed “Redstone 2”).

• Contact Prioritization with Windows MyPeople: As part of a plan to “place people at the center of Windows”, Microsoft is adding a “Windows MyPeople” feature to Windows 10. You’ll be able to drag and drop people to an area to the right side of your taskbar, giving you quicker, more convenient access to the few key people you regularly communicate with. These people are prioritized when you use the “Share” feature in Windows, and messages from them will be prioritized in apps like Mail, Skype, and Xbox Live. Your priority contacts can also send “shoulder taps”, which are animated emojis that pop up from your taskbar. Microsoft initially promised this feature for the Creators Update, but pushed it back.
• Full Office in the Windows Store: Microsoft will reportedly bring the full Microsoft Office suite to the Windows Store via the desktop app converter sometime after the release of the Creators Update. As part of this, Microsoft will shift its focus away from the Office Mobile UWP apps for desktop PCs, which are currently available in the Windows Store. This news comes from MSPowerUser.
• x86 Emulation for Windows on ARM: This will allow Windows on ARM to run traditional Windows x86 software. Microsoft could then launch a new version of Windows RT on ARM hardware, one that actually supported the desktop software Windows users want to run. Windows Phones with Continuum would also be able to run traditional Windows desktop software. Microsoft has showed off a video of Windows 10 on ARM running desktop applications like Photoshop.
• Adaptive Shell: Microsoft is reportedly working on an “adaptive shell” that will work across every device, from HoloLens and Xbox to PCs, tablets, and phones. This will provide a single interface shared across all Windows 10 devices that can automatically adjust to the situation. It’s also known as “Cloud Shell”. “Composable Shell”, or “CSHELL” and it will be able to dynamically switch between different interfaces according to Windows Central. This feature may not show up in Redstone 3, but Microsoft is working on it and pieces of it should appear over time.

• Project NEON: According to Windows Central, Microsoft is working on a new design language, known as “Project NEON”. It’s designed as an updated look for Windows 10’s new applications, one that will also work well in holographic and augmented reality. A source described the new design as “Very fluid, lots of motion and nice transitions.” MSPoweruser has reportedly obtained official Project NEON concept art from Microsoft. The concept art features quite a few transparent effects, and calls to mind Windows 7’s Aero glass in some ways.
• Home Hub: Home Hub is designed to take on Amazon Echo and Google Home. It’s not hardware—just software. Home Hub will provide a shared “Welcome Screen” and “Family Desktop” designed for family PCs so people don’t have to juggle different accounts. Cortana will always be listening on the welcome screen. In other words, Microsoft wants you to have a shared PC with a screen instead of an Amazon Echo or Google Home. It will be always listening, just Amazon and Google’s devices, so you can shout a question or command across the room. Expect PC manufacturers to design streamlined all-in-one PCs to compete with the Amazon Echo and Google Home. This feature should partially arrive in Redstone 3, with improvements arriving in Redstone 4 afterwards.
• Windows Defender Application Guard for Microsoft Edge: This feature may or may not be ready for the Creators Update, and is just for Enterprise editions of Windows. When an employee browsers to a website that an organization doesn’t trust, Application Guard uses Hyper-V virtualization to create a new Windows operating system instance at the hardware level, running the website in Microsoft Edge in a separate instance of Windows. Even if the browser were exploited, the main Windows operating system would still be safe.
• Windows Cloud: Microsoft is reportedly about to unveil a new edition of Windows. “Windows 10 Cloud” will be designed to compete with Chromebooks. It will only allow you to install applications from the Windows Store, sort of like Windows RT. You won’t be able to install or use traditional Windows desktop applications. Unlike Windows RT, Windows Cloud will allow you to upgrade to Windows 10 Professional for a fee to make your device more useful.

Redstone 3 will contain other new features, too. We’ll learn more about that in the future.