Microsoft is expected to finalize Windows 10 Redstone 4 next month. However, new features are coming to Insiders, such as Progressive Web Apps in the coming weeks. Despite this, Microsoft is turning to the next version of Windows, codenamed Redstone 5. The company is apparently ready to open a preview branch for the development.
Windows Insider Program members are running Redstone 4 (Version 1803) builds in preview. Windows Central reports Microsoft will soon open up Redstone 5 previews in the Skip Ahead feature.
You may remember Skip Ahead was launched last year, but only to select Insiders. Microsoft later opened it up to all preview users. It allows Insiders to jump forward in branches and preview features and builds in very early developmental stages.
The report suggests Redstone 5 will arrive on Skip Ahead next week and will be labelled Version 1809. As always, the number refers to the year (2018) and the finalization month (09, September). Fast Ring members will not be able to get Redstone 5 and will have to move to the Skip Ahead branch.
Redstone Release Cycle
Strangely, Microsoft has still not given Redstone 4 its official name. For previous Redstone releases, the company had official naming and preview events. This time, Redmond seems to be going for a big all-in-one review where the branding and features will be dropped at once.
When that happens is still not official, but we can probably look to last year for a club. Microsoft finalized Redstone 2 (the Creators Update) in late March and released it in early April. It is almost a certainty the company will follow a similar schedule with Redstone 4.
As for Redstone 5, it will also fit into Microsoft’s now set Windows release timeline. It will be the end-of-year release of Windows 10. So, looking to Redstone 3 (Fall Creators Update), we can expect to see Redstone 5 launch in October.
