Microsoft has announced that it has started to send smaller, more seamless downloads to Windows Insiders running the latest mobile OS build. Windows 10 Anniversary Update provided update niceties such as active hours and improved update control capabilities. The next Windows update, based upon what Insiders are now testing, will add a feature called the Unified Update Platform (UUP).
Differential download based tech
The major tech change delivered by UUP is the enabling of differential downloads for Windows 10 devices. With this software update methodology in place, the downloaded update package "contains only the changes that have been made since the last time you updated your device, rather than a full build". The lighter downloads will make them faster to arrive and could mean less disk churning and a faster actual update process too. A headline figure published by Microsoft indicates that update download sizes are reduced by 35 per cent on average "when going from one major update of Windows to another".
Another bonus to mobile users will be 'one-hop' updates. On the PC it is possible to upgrade to the latest OS build regardless of the base OS build you are currently running, says Microsoft. Previously mobiles might have had to update to an intermediate OS version to then apply another to become current…
Windows 10 desktops/laptops too
So, UUP has already started rolling out to Windows 10 Insider mobile OS users. PC Insider builds are expected to use this same technology later this year, followed shortly by IoT and HoloLens. Expect the feature to go prime-time approximately in line with the launch of the Windows 10 Creators Update.
Back in July Google announced it was starting to use differential downloads and new compression techniques to reduce APK package and subsequent update sizes.
