Windows 10 Redstone 2 Test Build 14951 Announced: Includes Camera, Inking And Linux Subsystem Updates

Microsoft released Wednesday the test build 14951 for its Redstone 2 operating system for Windows mobiles and PCs that use the Fast Ring program. Fast Ring allows users to receive updates faster than Microsoft's default setting of Slow Ring. With build 14951, Microsoft has added Windows Ink improvements for PC users.

The company has introduced Stencils — a Windows Ink protractor tool that lets users draw a complete circle or an arc. Users can resize the protractor using a two-finger pinch on touchscreen devices. Users can also ink photos and share their drawing both as an image or a video. Text can also be added to photos — a calligraphy pen has been added to the Windows Ink Toolbar.

New keyboard improvements have also been announced. A recorder has been added to the keyboard shortcut picker. It will capture users’ favorite key combos. Users will also be able to adjust audio and video using basic swipe gestures.

The camera app has been updated as well. Its new features include:

• Higher-contrast capture buttons for photos, videos and panoramas.
• A new toggle control that lets the user set a photo timer from the camera dashboard.
• New zoom slider for easy zoom.
• New capture animation.
• One-hand access to the camera roll for Windows smartphones.
• Spacebar shortcut for taking pictures on PC.
• Ability to launch settings from the camera UI.

For Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3 users, Microsoft has introduced “living images”— photos featuring motion captured with snippets of video.

The company has also included two major updates to its Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with support for official Ubuntu 16.04 and Windows/WSL interoperability.

Windows 10 Redstone 2 is expected to be launched at the Microsoft Fall hardware showcase event at 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday in New York.