Windows 10 Dev has been switched from manganese branch (Mn) to iron branch (Fe)
Microsoft introduced Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20246 to users. This version is a regular repair version and does not bring any interesting features.
What is interesting is that although there are no new features, Microsoft has completed the switch of the branch channel. The original development and test channel belonged to the manganese branch (MN_RELEASE) and the latest version switched to the iron branch (FE_RELEASE).
It seems that the version number of the next version may rise rapidly because the FE_RELEASE branch corresponds to the Windows 10 21H1 version update next spring.
Microsoft has previously decided to use the sequence of elements in the periodic table as the version development code, including Windows 10 and other Microsoft products.
The code name of the latest version of Windows 10 20H2 RTM is Manganese, and the code name of the Windows 10 20H1 version released this spring is called Iron.
The original element before manganese was Chromium (Cr), but chromium has been used by Google Chrome, so Microsoft can only use this as the code name.
The next 21H1 version is code-named iron (Fe), and the 21H2 version is code-named Cobalt (Co). The FE_RELEASE branch mentioned in this article refers to the 21H1 version released next spring.
The current beta switch from the MN_RELEASE branch to the FE_RELEASE branch means that Microsoft has also started the development of a new version, but it is rumored that the version next spring is a minor update.
It is also true that Microsoft emphasized in the blog that the current channel switching will not match the specific version. According to this statement, the content of the Cobalt branch should be tested temporarily.
Earlier we mentioned that Microsoft is planning to make major changes to Windows 10 in the Sun Valley project, but as far as the current development progress is concerned, it will be completed at least next fall.
As for what content may be brought by the small update next spring, it is not yet clear. It is expected that we will see some new changes in the next beta version.
