While leaks may have revealed exactly what Microsoft’s next version of Windows would look like before the Redmond-based company could show off its design chops for itself, Windows 11 is now official – and will bring a host of new improvements in what Microsoft has confirmed will be a free upgrade for Windows 10 users.
Windows 11 inherits much of the same design language that Microsoft had intended for Windows 10X, and features an interface with rounded corners, a centered Start menu, and no Live Tiles present.
An iterative improvement for those of us who love snapping app windows into place is the presence of ‘Snap Layouts’, which enables users to snap apps to share a screen in halves, thirds, or in a number of different combinations.
Perhaps the most significant change-of-pace is that Microsoft has elected to integrate Teams directly into Windows 11, which replaces most of what Skype was intended to achieve in Windows 10. Windows 11 will enable users to call co-workers or their contacts directly from the taskbar.
Windows 11 also marks the return of widgets, which will feature on its own (optionally fullscreen) left-hand pane which slides in similarly to the Notification Center found on MacOS.
Microsoft has further (once again…) redesigned the Microsoft Store, though this time there’s an exciting new development – Android apps are now officially supported on Windows, and can now be found on the Windows app store. Unlike Apple, Microsoft will enable developers to craft their own payment gates for premium features or content and won’t take a cut of their earnings.
Lastly, several under-the-hood improvements will likely interest consumers; Microsoft has promised that going forward, Windows updates will be up to 40% smaller and will install in the background without interrupting a user’s workflow. Improvements in ink support will likely grow the number of styli available for Windows devices, and Auto HDR – a feature Microsoft debuted aboard the Xbox Series X & S, will also be supported on the platform.
Windows 11 is slated for full release towards the end of the year, while Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Insiders will be able to access beta builds of the operating system shortly.
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