The improved Search Indexer is the early star of 19H1, although we’re still in the early days.
We’re already seeing hints of the next version of Windows 10, due in the spring of 2019 and known by the code name “19H1.” Some are cosmetic, like the new Acrylic look and feel to the Windows sign-in page. Others are more substantive, like the new Search Indexer.
But wait, you ask: Isn’t Windows 10’s October 2018 Update still in limbo? Yes: The October 2018 Update, delayed due to the potential for data loss, hasn’t been pushed to anyone but Windows Insiders. Currently there is no further news to share about its release, a spokesman said.
Microsoft’s Windows teams move on parallel tracks. What’s known as the “Fast Ring” usually helps test the next version of the OS. As that version moves into its final testing phases before release, a second “Skip Ahead” track acts as a passing lane of sorts to move ahead. Microsoft has merged the Skip Ahead and Fast Rings together, though they’ll split apart as we get closer to the formal 19H1 release.
Why this matters: While some features fall away in the course of development, the early builds are still a good way to gauge the direction of the OS. Given that the last few updates have been increasingly underwhelming, we’re all looking for hints of bigger things to come.