Windows 10 update adds new Hello security feature to Surface family

Microsoft sent out a fresh Windows 10 update yesterday evening to the new Surface family of devices. The new Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 are both available for pre-order and should start showing up in US stores and Microsoft’s new flagship store in New York starting today. The flagship store is going to open today and it will most likely have a decent stock of new Microsoft devices available. Those who prefer ordering online might have to wait longer to get their new Surface, but at least it will be updated. The Windows 10 update that is currently rolling out is the preview version that insiders had already tested. While we were expecting the update to land in November, it seems like rolling out Windows Hello to the upgraded devices was a priority.

The new Windows 10 update adds more than meets the eye, but Windows Hello is one of the most important features that it brings forth. Microsoft incorporates facial recognition technology in the cameras of the Surface Book, Microsoft Lumia 950 and Surface Pro 4. The Surface Pro 4’s type cover has an added fingerprint sensor, which you can also use on the Surface Pro 3. The hardware is there, but until today, Windows Hello was not available on these devices. Starting today, however, people will have the ability to set up biometric security on their convertible machines and Lumia smartphone.

Windows Hello has been a long anticipated feature Microsoft first announced a couple of months ago. With the built-in biometric security app, the Windows 10 update adds a new dimension to the Windows 10 security features and builds upon the features that were already in place. With Windows Hello on board, users can just open their Surface Book and its camera will perform a facial recognition scan that will log the user into the operating system without much hassle. The same thing goes for the fingerprint reader on the Surface Pro 4 type cover. Once you start the device up, placing your set finger on the fingerprint sensor will unlock the device through Windows Hello.

Today’s Windows 10 update doesn’t just add Windows Hello, because it is a larger update that contains a couple of extras that were previously unknown, even to testers of the Windows 10 preview. The update adds a multitude of updated driver firmware into the mix, to ease access for various users. Driver optimization is a very important step for an OS because it makes the software and hardware work together seamlessly. The Windows 10 update adds upgraded firmware to Ethernet drivers, WinTab driver and many more specific to the device they’re being installed on.

Reviewers of Microsoft products have confirmed that all of the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 devices in their possession started receiving the Windows 10 update last night, adding Windows Hello. If you’re wondering about how to setup Windows Hello, you first need to add a PIN and a password in order to be able to access and setup Windows Hello. You can do this from the Accounts panel in Settings, navigating towards security and login methods. You can set the Surface Pro 4 to unlock based on your fingerprint sensor or facial recognition, while the Surface Book only supports the latter.

With the early Windows 10 update release date, Microsoft makes it clear that their products are ready to be enjoyed by the masses, to the fullest of their capacities. With Windows Hello and Windows 10, Microsoft is changing the way in which we approach the Windows ecosystem and revolutionizing the way we use convertibles and hybrid devices. All that is left that HAS to be improved quickly is the Microsoft Store. We are still lacking a lot of apps, especially for Windows 10 on mobile phones. Hopefully, once the flagship store opens today, developers will begin jumping on the universal app development bandwagon.