Microsoft has released the Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18309 in the Fast Ring at the beginning of the year. This is the 19H1 development branch, which will be released in spring 2019.
The announcement and a description of the new features can be found in the Windows Blog. There are some new features that Microsoft lists for the new build.
Simplfied Windows Hello PIN reset
In this build, the improved resetting of the PIN for Windows Hello logon is announced as a highlight. If you have forgotten the PIN for the Windows Hello login, you should be able to reset this PIN just as easily via the link “I have forgotten my PIN” as it works with websites.
(Source: Microsoft)
Originally this feature was announced for build 18305, but only available for insiders with Windows 10 Home Edition. With today’s Windows Insider Preview Update, this feature is available on all Windows 10 editions.
Passwordless login is enforced
Already in the build 18305 the passwordless registration was introduced. A user account can be created via a Microsoft account with a telephone number and an SMS. This login option available in Windows 10 Home, which set up a PIN, is available for testing with build 18309 for all Windows 10 editions.
Cortana is switched off during setup
Also activating Cortana during Setup of a Windows 10 machine hasn’t been a highlight in the user favor. In the changelog for the new Insider Preview you can now read:
Based on feedback, if you clean install Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows, the Cortana voice-over will be disabled by default. Screen reader users can still choose to start Narrator at any time by pressing WIN + Ctrl + Enter.
Based on user feedback, Cortana remains disabled by default when you clean install Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education.
The new build provides a number of other improvements and fixes, ranging from Hyper-V issues to green screen bugs and Explorer crashes when accessing network printers. Read the details here. There is also a long list of known issues.