How to Use the New Windows 10 Feature Pack
Ready for additional Windows 10 features? Microsoft is currently testing a new “interact with features” program that will add tiny additions to Windows 10 outside of the regular “giant update that could break your computer.” In other words, this is a way for Microsoft to give you new toys beyond the biannual Windows 10 updates.
Microsoft’s first Windows 10 Feature Pack is currently available to Windows 10 Insiders. I’m in the beta channel and yesterday I just saw a pop-up on Windows Update; I suspect the same is true for those who live insanely on the Windows Insider “Dev” channel, but those of you who minimize the risk on the “Release Preview” channel until you get the package .
After installing the Feature Experience Pack, you will restart Windows 10 and find that absolutely nothing has changed – you will not get a pop-up or anything else informing you of what is in the specified feature pack you just installed. I assume Microsoft assumes that you just know this from birth, otherwise you will do your homework before installing the update.
So, here’s what you can do.
First, you can now use Snip & Sketch to take screenshots and easily upload them to any folder in File Explorer. Use the Windows Key + Shift + S keyboard shortcut to make a “snippet” as usual, or immediately open the application of your choice, and as soon as you take a screenshot (copying it to the clipboard in the process), go to any folder in conductor. Press CTRL + V to paste the image directly into the folder and then rename it to something manageable.
The second update in the feature pack is a little more cryptic. I’ll let Microsoft describe it:
Using the touch keyboard in portrait position on a 2-in-1 touch device now supports split keyboard mode.
I suspect this doesn’t apply to most people, so don’t worry about it; The copy-and-paste update is a “big” part of this package, and it’s really useful because it saves you the trouble of always manually saving the files yourself. Copying and pasting into folders is much faster; if only Microsoft would let you do this from my favorite app, the Snipping Tool, which will eventually replace Snip & Sketch. I’ll miss you.