Update 1905 for the Technical Preview Branch of System Center Configuration Manager has been released. Now you can create a group of applications that you can send to a user or device collection as a single deployment. The metadata you specify about the app group is seen in Software Center as a single entity. You can order the apps in the group so that the client installs them in a specific order.

Application groups can be used to group applications in a suite:

or simplify management of dependencies:

Learn more about application groups.

This preview release also includes:

Improvements to Configuration Manager console - Based on customer feedback at the Midwest Management Summit (MMS) 2019, this release includes improvements to the Configuration Manager console.

- Based on customer feedback at the Midwest Management Summit (MMS) 2019, this release includes improvements to the Configuration Manager console. BitLocker Management – You can now use Configuration Manager to install and manage the Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) client.

– You can now use Configuration Manager to install and manage the Microsoft BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) client. OneTrace log viewer - OneTrace is a new log viewer. It works similarly to CMTrace, and includes improvements such as a tabbed view, dockable windows and improved search capabilities.

- OneTrace is a new log viewer. It works similarly to CMTrace, and includes improvements such as a tabbed view, dockable windows and improved search capabilities. Retry the install of pre-approved applications - You can now retry the installation of an application that you previously approved for a user or device.

- You can now retry the installation of an application that you previously approved for a user or device. Install applications for a device - From the Configuration Manager console, you can now install applications to a device in real time. This feature can help reduce the need for separate collections for every application.

- From the Configuration Manager console, you can now install applications to a device in real time. This feature can help reduce the need for separate collections for every application. Improvements to Community Hub – The Community Hub now supports task sequences, applications and configuration items and also manages updates to shared objects.

– The Community Hub now supports task sequences, applications and configuration items and also manages updates to shared objects. More frequent countdown notifications for restarts - End users will now be reminded more frequently of a pending restart with intermittent countdown notifications.

- End users will now be reminded more frequently of a pending restart with intermittent countdown notifications. Improvements to Software Center tab customizations - You can now add up to five custom tabs in Software Center. You can also edit the order in which these tabs appear in Software Center.

- You can now add up to five custom tabs in Software Center. You can also edit the order in which these tabs appear in Software Center. Task Sequence as an app model deployment type – You can now install complex applications using task sequences via the application model. Add a deployment type to an app that's a task sequence, either to install or uninstall the app.

– You can now install complex applications using task sequences via the application model. Add a deployment type to an app that's a task sequence, either to install or uninstall the app. Task Sequence Debugger - The task sequence debugger is a new troubleshooting tool. You deploy a task sequence in debug mode to a collection of one device. It lets you step through the task sequence in a controlled manner to aid troubleshooting and investigation.

Improved control over WSUS maintenance - You now have more granular control over the WSUS maintenance tasks that Configuration Manager runs to maintain healthy software update points. In addition to declining expired updates in WSUS, Configuration Manager can now remove obsolete updates from the WSUS database.

- You now have more granular control over the WSUS maintenance tasks that Configuration Manager runs to maintain healthy software update points. In addition to declining expired updates in WSUS, Configuration Manager can now remove obsolete updates from the WSUS database. View SMBIOS GUID Column in device lists – You now have the option to add a column containing device SMBIOS values to Device and Device collection nodes.

– You now have the option to add a column containing device SMBIOS values to Device and Device collection nodes. Windows Defender Application Guard file trust criteria – There is a new policy setting that enables users to trust files that normally open in Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG). Upon successful completion, the files will open on the host instead of in WDAG.

– There is a new policy setting that enables users to trust files that normally open in Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG). Upon successful completion, the files will open on the host instead of in WDAG. Delivery Optimization download data in client data sources dashboard – The Client data sources dashboard now includes Delivery Optimization data. This dashboard helps you understand from where clients are getting content in your environment.

– The Client data sources dashboard now includes Delivery Optimization data. This dashboard helps you understand from where clients are getting content in your environment. Synchronize collection membership results to Azure Active Directory groups - You can now enable the synchronization of collection memberships to an Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) group. This synchronization allows you to use your existing on premises grouping rules in the cloud.

- You can now enable the synchronization of collection memberships to an Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) group. This synchronization allows you to use your existing on premises grouping rules in the cloud. Configure client cache minimum retention period - You can now specify the minimum time for the Configuration Manager client to keep cached content. This client setting controls how long the client stores content in the cache before deleting it.

Update 1905 for Technical Preview Branch is available in the Configuration Manager Technical Preview console. For new installations please use the 1902.2 baseline version of Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch available on TechNet Evaluation Center. Technical Preview Branch releases give you an opportunity to try out new Configuration Manager features in a test environment before they are made generally available.

We would love to hear your thoughts about the latest Technical Preview! Send us Feedback directly from the console. You may also use our feedback channels through the Feedback Hub app for product issues, and our UserVoice page for ideas about new features.

Thanks,

The System Center Configuration Manager team

Configuration Manager Resources:

Documentation for System Center Configuration Manager Technical Previews

Try the System Center Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch

Documentation for System Center Configuration Manager

System Center Configuration Manager Forums

System Center Configuration Manager Support