Microsoft details Unified Update Platform in Windows 10 Creators Update

Microsoft is working to make the delivery experience of its next major Windows 10 update much smoother for everyone. It has announced details about the next-generation delivery technologies, which is incorporated into the latest Windows Insider build to experience the pre-release version of the software.

The latest delivery technologies is called Unified Update Platform (UUP); an improvement that works across the platforms including PC, tablet, phone, internet-of-things devices (IoT) and HoloLens.

One of the key features of UUP is it reduces the download size of the updates on PCs. The UUP contains differential download technologies. To put it simply the differential download package contains the changes that have been made since the last time the Windows device was updated.

Microsoft says with this technology the download file can be reduced by about 35% when moving for one update of Windows 10 to another.

Another noticeable change in the UUP is how the Windows 10 device checks for updates. The UUP reduces the updates data sent to the devices. This feature is important for the Windows 10 Mobile devices. Using the UUP, when Windows PC checks for updates, the Windows Update service would evaluate which updates are necessary. The Windows Update service then returns the updates to the devices for download and install.

The announcement was made by Bill Karagounis, director of program management for Windows Insider Program & OS Fundamentals.

"It's important to note that with UUP, nothing will look or behave differently on the surface, UUP is all underlying platform and service optimisation that happens behind the scenes," explains Karagounis.

The Windows 10 build featuring UUP is already making its way to the mobile device, whereas UUP for PC Insider build will be available later this year. IoT and HoloLens would get it shortly after.

The company will make the UUP available as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update, which is expected coming early next year. The company has earlier announced the Windows 10 Creators Update would be available as a free update to those 400 million devices running Windows 10.