Highlights:
- Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest operating system for PCs, laptops, and 2-in-1s.
- The Start menu is now in the centre of the taskbar in Windows 11, which is a new design.
- Microsoft will make Windows 11 available to Windows 10 users as a free upgrade.
Microsoft unveiled Windows 11, the next generation of Windows, on Thursday. The latest version of Windows arrives six years after Microsoft released Windows 10 to the globe. Windows 11 emphasises a new user interface, a new Windows Store, and improved features.
Windows 11 has a new design language, which is something that customers have been asking for in the next generation of Windows. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella remarked, “Today marks a major milestone in the history of Windows.” He added, “It’s the beginning of a new generation.”
The Start button and taskbar have been relocated to the bottom of the screen, rather than the left side, in Windows 11. The user interface is similar to Windows 10x, a now-defunct operating system meant to work with Google’s Chrome OS. It does away with live tiles in favour of a grid of icons that can be rearranged and pinned to the new Start menu. There are rounded corners, as well as widgets for your calendar, weather, and sports leader board. There’s also a new split Notifications and Quick Actions UI in the System Tray. Also, with updates that are 40% smaller and instal in the background, Windows Update will be faster and more efficient.
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The new desktop operating system, according to Microsoft’s chief product officer Panos Panay, is “the Windows that brings you closer to the things you love.”
The Windows Store is also being redesigned, according to Microsoft. Not only will Windows 11 have a new look, but it will also accept Android apps through Amazon’s app store. This means that millions of popular apps that were previously unavailable on Windows will now be available for download on the world’s most widely used desktop operating system.
Microsoft said earlier this year that it would reduce the amount of revenue it receives from Windows games. It stated it would drop the cut from 30% to 12% in order to bring more PC games to the Windows Store. During the virtual event, Panos Panay said that developers can choose between using Microsoft’s payment processor, which charges a 12% fee on purchases, or using their own payment processor, which allows them to keep 100% of the purchases. Apple, a Microsoft competitor, is being investigated for antitrust violations related to its app store policy.
The Redmond-based company recently announced that several features from its Xbox consoles will be compatible with Windows 11. These include automatic HDR, which basically alters the lighting and colour in a game. To use this feature, you’ll need the appropriate games and a powerful PC.
On the tablet front, Microsoft stated that the overall experience when using touch has been improved. Microsoft Teams, its video conferencing and chat platform, will also be integrated directly into Windows. As a result, Teams is now directly integrated into the taskbar, allowing Windows 11 users to call friends, family, or co-workers.
Windows 11 will be available to consumers later this year, according to Microsoft, and Windows Insiders can start testing a preview of the OS as early as next week. Windows 11 will be a free upgrade for Windows 10 users who have a compatible PC that satisfies Microsoft’s new operating system’s requirements.
