A few days ago, Microsoft unveiled the brand new Windows 11 which will be available on new PCs and through a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs later this year.
So what’s new in Windows 11?
Windows 11 has a new, cleaner interface with easy tools to help people get things done and be more creative. By hitting the Start button in the centre of the screen, users may quickly find what they need.
Start makes advantage of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to offer users recent files that they’ve previously viewed on other platforms or devices, allowing them to start up where they left off – even documents they were working on their Android or iOS devices.
With new Windows 11 capabilities like Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Desktops that help users organise their windows and optimise their screen real estate, multitasking has never been easier.
By snapping numerous programmes side by side on their screens, users may now enjoy the freedom of many windows and work on multiple apps at the same time.
Users can personalise places for each element of their lives, such as work, gaming, or education, and switch between them effortlessly with Desktops.
Widgets, which deliver a tailored news feed driven by AI and best-in-class browser speed from Microsoft Edge, also give users faster access to information they care about. Widgets provide fresh real estate within Windows for producers and publishers to deliver tailored content.
Windows 11 is a secure operating system that is ideal for hybrid work and learning. It contains new built-in security mechanisms and a Zero Trust-ready operating system to protect data and access across devices, and it is secure by design.
The Microsoft Store in Windows 11 has been completely revamped for speed, variety, and convenience. It has a larger selection of first and third-party apps that have been thoroughly evaluated for security and family safety, and it offers unique experiences to entertain, inspire, and connect people.
For the first time, Android apps will be available in the Microsoft Store, and customers will be able to download them directly from the Amazon App Store, thanks to Microsoft’s collaboration with Amazon.
Microsoft, like Windows 10, is committed to app compatibility on Windows 11 with App Assure, a free service that assists clients with 150 or more users in resolving any app difficulties they may have.
Windows 11 also unlocks the full potential of a system’s hardware, putting some of the latest gaming technology to work and providing users with the ultimate, immersive gaming experience with:
- DirectX 12 Ultimate, where users can enjoy breathtaking immersive graphics at high frame rates.
- DirectStorage allowing for faster load times and more detailed game worlds.
- Auto HDR providing a wider, more vivid range of colours for a truly captivating visual experience.
- Access to over 100 high-quality PC games and new games are added all the time and made available to Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate customers.
With the inclusion of Microsoft Teams onto the taskbar in Windows 11, customers will be able to remain in touch with loved ones more quickly. Microsoft Teams allows users to instantly connect with loved ones anywhere in the world via text, chat, voice, or video on Windows, Android, or iOS.
Users can still communicate with friends and relatives who do not have the Teams app by sending two-way SMS. Users can now start presenting or muting themselves directly from the Taskbar, thanks to better integration with Teams’ productivity capabilities.
Microsoft is taking a step further to unlock new opportunities for creators and developers by creating a more open ecosystem with Windows 11 that will benefit developers and bring more apps, games, movies, shows, and web content to users where:
- Developers and independent software vendors apps (ISVs) can bring in their apps to the Microsoft Store regardless of the app framework they are built on, such as Win32 or Progressive Web App (PWA).
- A progressive change to Microsoft’s revenue share policies means that developers can keep 100% of their commerce revenue. App developers can still use Microsoft’s commerce ecosystem with a competitive revenue share of 85/15.
For more information on the latest features, please see here. You can also check whether your Windows PC is eligible or not for Windows 11 here. If it isn’t, don’t worry, we recently published a guide to try and rectify that, which you can check out right here.
