Windows 11 includes various interface improvements, including a new Start menu that looks more like an application launcher, more rounded corners, snap controls that let you pin a window to a place on the screen (and snap groups), a new widget area, and a bar icon tasks and the new Windows configuration environment.
- Windows 11 review: A new era has arrived
- Welcome design changes
- Here are 11 highlights of this release
- Thank you to the Windows Insider Community
- But wasn’t Windows 10 the last version of Windows?
- Is Windows 10X dead?
- How much will Windows 11 cost?
- Wasn’t Windows 10 the ‘last ever’ version of Windows?
- When will Microsoft officially announce Windows 11?
- Is Windows 11 a rebranded version of Windows 10X?
- What Will Windows 11 Look Like?
- How Will Windows 11 Be Different From Windows 10?
- Microsoft Store Update
- Why is Windows 11 coming now?
- What’s happened with Windows 11 so far??
- 17 September 2021 – Microsoft Office 2021 releasing at the same time
- 28 July 2021 – Windows 11 system requirements are here to stay
- 27 July 2021 – Windows 11 is on about one percent of PCs
- 28 June 2021 – October release?
- 24 June 2021 – The official reveal
- 15 June 2021 – Windows 11 leaks in its entirety
- 10 June 2021 – Windows 11 will have a startup sound
- 3 June 2021 – Microsoft confirms that there will be a ‘next-generation of Windows’
Windows 11 review: A new era has arrived
The announcement of Windows 11 was full of controversy. Strict hardware compatibility requirements have dominated the discussion about the latest version of Windows, and for good reason. But what’s it like to actually use Windows 11 as your daily driver? What are the big differences when looking at Windows 11 and Windows 10? What is it like to leave the familiar Windows 10 behind you and adopt the drastically different look of Windows 11?
Now that Windows 11 devices are sold and the final version is available, it’s time to take a serious look at where Windows 11 is currently located. With both a fresh look and a few significant improvements, I can’t help but love how the operating system fits my workflow and lifestyle. Windows 11 seems to be the beginning of a new era that most people will likely appreciate over the years.
Welcome design changes
The biggest change in Windows 11 comes down to the look and feel. The flat, square edges are gone, and replaced with more rounded corners and beautiful glass-like effects that Microsoft says are designed to feel “calm and easy.” Whether it’s true or not, the new touches and smoother edges seem like a change that Windows needs.
The place where you’ll see the most is the Start Menu. By selecting the transition from Windows 10, the Start menu is centered, rounded and centered on the screen by default. And yes, it no longer includes Windows 8-era Live Tiles that usually preview app notifications at a glance. These are gone for good.
Thanks to this move, Microsoft is moving away from Windows of the past – and I am delighted. In Windows 11, Microsoft takes a simpler approach to the Start menu that feels fresh, just as it did when it came up with the concept in Windows 95.
All the pinned apps you need are right at the beginning, along with the latest files and a search box. You’ll even see the files that matter most to you, no matter what device you have Windows on, as the file list is handled by Microsoft’s cloud. Back in the days when we’re familiar with tapping app icons on mobile phones, it feels like a natural fit for Windows.
Microsoft takes a simpler approach to the Start menu that feels fresh.
This project also moves to the taskbar. Its icons are now centered and now fit both macOS and Chrome OS. The change feels natural as my eyes are drawn to the center of the screen when searching for an app. Microsoft says this change should bring you closer to the things on your computer that you love.
Even the animations have changed in Windows 11. When you log into Windows 11, the icons on the taskbar float up from the bottom. Opening and minimizing the app causes the icon to bounce. Moving around the open window, a pane of glass appears. Even a tap to bring up the right-click menu will bring you an easy-to-read contextual menu that flows through your wallpaper. Coupled with the right hardware, everything runs smoother than ever before.
And for those who like to turn off their lights – Dark Mode is much more consistent. It dims the lights in all the right places, especially in File Explorer. After five years of Windows 10, Windows 11 seems so clean. It’s something I haven’t seen on Windows since Windows 7.
There are also new, more colorful icons throughout the operating system. You’ll find them in the more modern File Explorer, Device Manager, and almost everywhere. These are available in Windows 10’s previews, and are quite a big visual change on their own.
Here are 11 highlights of this release
- The new design and sounds are modern, fresh, clean and beautiful, giving a sense of calm and freedom.
- With Start, we’ve placed you and your content at the center. Start uses the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show your latest files no matter what device you’ve browsed on.
- Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Desktops provide an even more effective way to multitask and optimize your screen space.
- Chat with Microsoft Teams, integrated into the taskbar, gives you a faster way to connect with the people you care about.
- Widgets, a new personalized AI-powered feed, gives you faster access to important information, and with Microsoft Edge’s world-class performance, speed and productivity features, you can do more online and unlock the full potential of your system hardware with technology like DirectX12 Ultimate. DirectStorage and Auto HDR. With Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate, you get access to over 100 high-quality PC games on Windows 11 for one low monthly price. (Xbox Game Pass sold separately.)
- Windows 11 is optimized for speed, performance and a better experience with touch, digital pen and voice input, delivering new environments that work the way you work, are secure by design, and easy and familiar to deploy and manage by departments IT. Businesses can also test Windows 11 preview in Azure Virtual Desktop or generally available today using Windows 11 on the new Windows 365.
rebuilt with a brand new look that makes it easy to find and discover your favorite apps, games, shows and movies in one trusted place. We look forward to continuing our journey to bring Android apps to Windows 11 and the Microsoft Store through our partnership with Amazon and Intel; This will start with a preview for Windows Insiders in the coming months thanks to new accessibility improvements that have been made for and by people with disabilities and the developer. We are opening the Store to allow more developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their applications to the Store,streamlining native and web application development with new development tools, and making it easier to refresh the look and feel of all our application designs and experiences.
Thank you to the Windows Insider Community
The Windows Insider community has been an invaluable community that has helped us get to where we are today. Since the release of the first Insider Preview in June, engagement and feedback has been unprecedented. The team was also pleased to share further behind-the-scenes stories about the development of Windows 11 in the new series we launched in June, Inside Windows 11. We sincerely appreciate the energy and enthusiasm of this community.
The free upgrade to Windows 11 will start on October 5 and will be staged and measured with an emphasis on quality. As we follow the great lessons of Windows 10, we want to make sure we’re giving you the best experience possible. This means that new eligible devices will be offered for the upgrade first. The upgrade will then be deployed to devices on the market based on intelligence models that take into account hardware entitlements, reliability ratings, device age, and other factors influencing the upgrade. We expect all eligible devices to be offered a free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022. If you have a Windows 10 PC that is eligible for the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know
The Asus Zenbook 14 UX425 has a completely new design that is only 13.9mm thin. It has a four-sided NanoEdge display with a 90% screen-to-body ratio for immersive visuals, as well as a complete set of full I / O ports. The latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and the all-new Intel Iris X e graphics card make it the perfect portable companion.
But wasn’t Windows 10 the last version of Windows?
When Windows 10 was announced, it was supposed to be the last version of Windows. Then we would have Windows in the service, and the plan was that it would evolve over time. In fact, I’m sure Terry Myerson knew there would have to be a major design overhaul at some point, and thought it would be a Windows 10 upgrade.
Also, to be clear, developer evangelist Jerry Nixon was the only one to actually say that Windows 10 is the last version. Microsoft just didn’t fix it, apparently backing up Nixon’s remarks. Even so, it was an absolutely internal Microsoft mindset at the time.
Here’s the big problem. Everyone who said Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows doesn’t work there anymore. Panos Panay is now in charge of Windows and is kind of like a showman.
A good way to think about it is through rebranding, but rebranding will come at a time when the big UX overhaul takes place. Under the hood, it’s the same Windows 10 we’ve known for years, and it may have shipped out as an update to Windows 10. The new brand aims to spark the excitement around the idea that it’s brand new.
This is not what Windows 10X would be, as it was only meant to appear on new computers. Windows 10X was also never intended to be sold as retail licenses. With Windows 11, there won’t be any technical reasons why it can’t be installed on any computer.
Microsoft will continue to use Windows as a service so it will be a free update. But don’t expect this to be confirmed as the latest version of Windows or anything like that. We’ll probably get Windows 12 in a few years’ time. We actually asked how the version numbers would work in Windows 11, as it will be updated once a year, not twice a year. There is no need for H1 and H2 anymore. Microsoft did not comment.
Is Windows 10X dead?
Windows 10X was supposed to be the true next generation of Windows. Along with a complete visual overview, it had a lot of hidden changes like running all apps in containers. Microsoft recently announced it is dead, with many of its features rolling into Windows 11.
Windows 10X Start menu
While rumors were circulating long before it was called Windows Lite, Windows 10X was actually presented alongside Microsoft’s Surface Neo as a dual-screen operating system. It eventually abandoned its dual-screen ambition, promising to ship it on single-screen devices like cheap laptops. Panos Panay wrote in a blog post that he wants to meet customers where they are, even though you would have to buy a new computer to get one.
Since then, everything has fallen apart. There were a few Windows 10X emulators that came out when Microsoft had big plans, but when the single-screen build leaked, it couldn’t even run Win32 applications anymore. Instead, we get Windows 11 which will include the UX elements from Windows 10X.
Microsoft is bringing a brand new Photos app to the operating system that uses the new Mica material and of course has rounded corners. There are also theme-specific color palettes and new typography.
How much will Windows 11 cost?
- Free for eligible PCs
- Price list of new equipment depends on the manufacturer
This is obviously one of the biggest questions to ask, but the good news is that it will be free for eligible computers. However, Microsoft has updated the hardware requirements, so it’s not as simple as all Windows 10 devices get Windows 11.
Of course, upgrading from Windows 10 won’t be the only way to get Windows 11. Once booted up, new laptops and PCs will boot to the operating system out of the box, eliminating the need to purchase a license separately. It’s impossible to say how each company will price their hardware, but expect it to be similar to the counterparts of Windows 10 devices:
Wasn’t Windows 10 the ‘last ever’ version of Windows?
That’s what Microsoft said when it announced Windows 10, yes. But it clearly changed his mind. The company may have made these changes in the Windows 10 update, but chose not to make reference to this statement at launch and can hope its customers have short memories.
Indeed, after spending a few weeks with Windows 11, you can clearly see that not much has really changed.
Microsoft is bringing a brand new Photos app to the operating system that uses the new Mica material and of course has rounded corners. There are also theme-specific color palettes and new typography.
When will Microsoft officially announce Windows 11?
Microsoft is organizing a dedicated Windows event on June 24, which is next Thursday. Starting at 8am PT (or around 20:30 IST), the event will be broadcast live to millions of users worldwide. You can tune in to Microsoft’s YouTube channel and watch the event live. The Windows event will be attended by CEO Satya Nadella and Panos Panay, director of products at Microsoft.
We don’t know the release date of Windows 11 yet. Earlier it was said that Microsoft was targeting the second half of the year as the release date for Windows 11. Another media report says the upcoming Windows 11 will be released to the public later this year. Look, even if the Redmond company unveils Windows 11 next week, the operating system will be ready for the general public. Typically, any new operating system or software update is first tested by Windows Insiders (as with a new Windows update) before it is made available to computer manufacturers and the general public.
Is Windows 11 a rebranded version of Windows 10X?
Sun Valley is the codename of the visual changes coming to Windows, although it is unclear whether Microsoft will introduce these features in Windows 11. Last month, Microsoft announced that it would not continue to develop Windows 10X, the brand’s new operating system designed for dual-screen PCs, which it announced in the fall of 2019. Instead, Microsoft said it would bring some Windows 10X features to “other parts of Windows and products in the company.”
As for the valuation of Windows 11, we have to wait for Microsoft. Chances are Windows 11 will be a free “upgrade” for Windows 10 users, or Microsoft will be optional for Windows 10 users to upgrade to the next generation Windows. At the moment, it seems unlikely that the next version of Windows will be a minor update. Microsoft has officially announced that it will end support for Windows 10 in 2025.
The new Widget Bar – which can be resized – essentially replaces the Live Tiles on the Windows 10 Start menu, allowing you to deliver personalized information like relevant news. There should be many different options at launch as developers will be able to contribute as well.
What Will Windows 11 Look Like?
These latest leaks shared by Tom Warren of The Verge give us the best Windows 11 look to date:
Microsoft has yet to officially disclose anything about Windows 11. But since last fall, we’ve heard of a “big UI refresh” scheduled for 2021. Given the way we just got the latest Windows 10 update without any major UI changes, it was important that the planned “major UI refresh” was part of Windows 11. And it seems to be the case.
The leaks have indeed shown that Windows 11 will adopt many of the UI features originally planned for Windows 10X.
A possible UI update was first reported by Windows Central in October. Back then, there were no rumors about Windows 11, and the planned update was codenamed ‘Sun Valley’.
Last year’s Windows Central report said we can expect a new Start menu and a new Action Center experience, among other things. Visually, “Sun Valley” was supposed to resemble the abandoned Windows 10X, adapted only to graphics environments.
Recent leaks show that the Start button along with other taskbar icons are different and have been moved towards the center of the taskbar. But they supposedly can be moved back inside out if you want.
Windows 10 looked more or less the same since its release in 2015, except for a few minor changes. With Windows 11, we can expect Microsoft to follow the current industry trend with rounded corners.
Microsoft has been working on a new circular user interface for Windows for some time. And recent Windows 10 updates have even made some of these changes, such as the weather widget on the taskbar. It’s safe to assume that this will also be a huge part of your Windows 11 experience.
We can also expect many new icons and a refreshed taskbar. Of course, none of this is official yet. We will have to wait for the official announcement.
How Will Windows 11 Be Different From Windows 10?
Windows 10X has been scrapped for something “bigger” (presumably Windows 11). However, it’s safe to speculate that Windows 11 will try to maintain a uniform appearance across mobile and desktop platforms. That was the original idea from “Sun Valley” and so reminiscent of Windows 10X.
In Windows 10, one area where Microsoft has struggled with the uniformity of the mobile desktop is the touch feature. So we can expect it to be a huge feature in Windows 11. In 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 with the main emphasis on touch. In hindsight, they might have been a little hasty there.
So Windows 10 has seen a big drop in terms of touch. But back then, no one really bothered because everyone was just happy about reintroducing the boot menu. Microsoft has tried and tried to improve the touch functionality on its Windows 10 platforms.
So it’s safe to assume that Windows 11 will put a lot of emphasis on touch. Developers can introduce several new swipe gestures as well as tapping features that are consistent across the platforms Windows 11 will run on.
Also, based on changes to Dev Channel builds, it’s safe to assume that Windows 11 will not require any special hardware upgrade. You will be able to use it on computers that support Windows 10.
Microsoft Store Update
Another major change will come to the Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store was first announced with Windows 8 in 2012. But it didn’t really take off like other big app stores like the Google PlayStore or the Apple App Store.
One of the main problems was licensing. Until now, Microsoft has tried to retain some control over the applications distributed through their store. In Windows 11, Microsoft will allow users to submit applications without packaging. Applications can also be hosted on the developer’s own content delivery network.
All of this is in line with CEO Satya Nadella’s recent claim that the upcoming update “will unlock greater economic opportunities for developers and creators.”
Windows 11 is due out later in 2021 and will ship in a few months. Rollout of the upgrade to current Windows 10 devices will begin in 2022 through the first half of this year. – Windows (@Windows) June 25, 2021
Why is Windows 11 coming now?
- Windows 11 has been around since 2015.
- There have been no fundamental changes since then.
- Pressure to sell more computers?
Microsoft has been stuck with Windows 10 for a long time – since 2015, in fact. The reason for this is fairly simple, Microsoft iterated Windows 10 through twice-a-year updates, but didn’t make any fundamental changes.
He probably wanted to stick with the successful version of Windows too, considering that while Windows XP from 2001 and Windows 7 from 2009 were hugely successful, the mid-builds of Windows Vista from 2006 and Windows 8 / 8.1 (2012-13) did not they were so good. Received.
However, pressure from Microsoft’s partners likely forced a change to sell more computers to buyers looking to upgrade to the new operating system.
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Logitech’s latest MX Keys offering is Mini, and that’s something.
We’ve known for a while that 2021 will bring a refresh to the design of Windows, but now it seems to be bearing fruit as a new version codenamed Cobalt, officially called Windows 11. The interface refresh itself is apparently known internally in Microsoft’s Sun Valley.
What’s happened with Windows 11 so far??
17 September 2021 – Microsoft Office 2021 releasing at the same time
In early September, Microsoft announced that it would be releasing a new version of Microsoft Office along with Windows on October 5th.
28 July 2021 – Windows 11 system requirements are here to stay
There has been speculation that Microsoft will make it easier for older PCs to install Windows 11, but according to Microsoft’s Program Manager Aria Carley, it won’t, even though Microsoft is currently testing Windows 11 with older 7th generation Intel Core PCs.
27 July 2021 – Windows 11 is on about one percent of PCs
According to a recent Windows usage report, around one percent of computers are already wearing a pre-release version of Windows 11.
28 June 2021 – October release?
In June, while Microsoft has yet to say when Windows 11 will be with us, there were hints on the October release date. Many of the screenshots that Microsoft has released for the release have the date October 20 in the systray and the time is set to 11/11.
24 June 2021 – The official reveal
Microsoft has officially revealed Windows 11, and it is largely similar to the released version. The main differences are the announcement of support for Android applications, as well as the confirmation that the Microsoft Store will be redesigned from the ground up. We also got more details on tablet and touch support for larger touch objects and windows that change orientation when you switch from landscape to portrait orientation, for example.
15 June 2021 – Windows 11 leaks in its entirety
First, user Baidu posted two screenshots of Windows 11, revealing a central Start menu similar to Windows 10X with rounded corners (the menu can also be placed back into its traditional position on the left). Almost at the same time, the ISO file (installation file) of the operating system was leaked online via various download sites.
We and others were able to install it.
10 June 2021 – Windows 11 will have a startup sound
Microsoft has ditched a pretty exaggerated video (above) with Windows startup sounds slowed down by 4,000 percent – in fact. This is a direct trailer for the What’s Next digital event for Windows, so we can only assume that Windows will again have the startup sound (just like it was supposed to have Windows 10 X).
3 June 2021 – Microsoft confirms that there will be a ‘next-generation of Windows’
Microsoft sent out invitations to the media to its What’s Next for Windows digital event on June 24, saying the key slogan “where the company presents the next generation of Windows.” The trailer for the event also featured a reflection of the Windows logo with a bar taken from the “window”, which means that the reflection of the logo was as two vertical lines – that is, 11.