Although it’s been widely reported that the ready-for-the-world Windows 10 Redstone 4 (1803) release would begin today, it’s now appearing that it’s not to be, not today anyway. Both Paul Thurrott and Zac Bowden have tweeted today that the release has been “delayed,” although the April 10 release date has come from Microsoft watchers and not Microsoft itself. Normally these announcements would come with a 6am blog post, which did not happen.

One possible reason for the “delay” may well be all in a name. A number of Microsoft watchers have been tweeting in recent days and weeks that the almost foregone conclusion name “Spring Creators Update,” which was mentioned in a Feedback Hub reference and also showed up in at least one of the latest RS5 builds. However, and possibly with the reorganization of the Windows teams within Microsoft, the “Spring Creators Update” name appears to be out. Nobody seems to know what the new name is, and it could well be that getting marketing materials together for a new name could be slowing things down.

It’s even possible that Microsoft has hit a last minute bug or two, either in the OS release itself or in the release mechanism for rolling out the latest Windows 10 update around the world. Last week, Microsoft announced that a version of Windows 10 build 17133, thought to be the final build, was released first to the Slow Ring and then to the Release Preview Ring, a signal that the build was at least a candidate for an “RTM” version.

The Release Preview was slated to have completed rollout by yesterday, but as you can see by these updates to that blog post, those plans have changed:

UPDATE 4/9: We are continuing to test our targeting and as a result, not all Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring will see Build 17133 offered at this time. We’ll update this post when full availability is reached.

UPDATE 4/5: We have released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17133 (RS4) to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. Not all Insiders in the Release Preview ring will be immediately targeted to receive this flight. We are targeting full availability to Release Preview Monday 4/9. However, if you’d like to install immediately, a manual check for updates under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update will present the build.

Releasing an update to millions and millions of daily driver PCs can be a daunting task, and it’s not surprising that everything’s not running like clockwork. Of course Microsoft could surprise us all and release 1803 today after all, but our Magic 8 Ball signs point to no.

Of course we want Microsoft to release Windows 10 1803 when it’s ready, and not before. We’d also like to see a well thought out, updatable naming convention, where we’re not held back waiting for marketing to get the signs made. If those take some time, so be it, and we’ll be waiting and watching to bring you all the latest when Windows 10 version 1803 / Redstone 4 / Spring Creators Update is actually released.

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