Microsoft Announces Windows 11 -Fabulous design, Productivity Tweaks, and Lots of Innovative Features
It’s been 6 years when Microsoft released its last operating system, Windows 10. Since then Microsoft was providing several updates and features. However, the Microsoft loyal fans were looking for an innovative offering from then, and Microsoft has done the same by unveiling the Windows 11 operating system, with amazing features and a cleaner Mac-like design.
During the recent Windows 11 reveal event, Microsoft raised the excitement quotient with an MS-Teams message, which popped up on the demo screen and said, “excited to turn it up to 11… can’t wait for October!”.
Microsoft has decided to enhance the customer experience with a new look and feel along with a plethora of features. Windows 11 brings a new Start menu with rounded corners, it also offers lots of productivity upgrades, which includes Snap Layouts for executing multiple applications at once. Windows 11 also added new widgets for displaying the latest news, along with a fresh Windows Store and seamless support to run the Android apps.
Microsoft has added the Auto HDR to improve the visuals, which will certainly please the gamers. Performance enthusiasts will love the latest tweaks from the Microsoft team, which will ensure immaculate performance for Direct Storage-supported laptops and desktops. Business users are certainly going to love the docking ability without losing their place.
When it will be available?
According to the Microsoft blog post, Windows 11 will be available and existing Windows users can download it from October 5, 2021.
How to check if your laptop can run Windows 11?
To determine if your existing system is compatible with Windows 11, you can check out either the list of Technical and System specifications on Microsoft’s website or in our chart below. If your existing system is compatible, then you can go ahead and download the Windows 11 update for free once it is available. If you are a member of the Windows Insider Program, you can certainly download the Insider Preview build version of Windows 11 now.
Specifications and Requirements for Installing Windows 11
Processor- Any processor with 1GHz or faster clock speed, with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
RAM- 4GB RAM
Storage- 64GB or larger storage device
System Firmware- Secure Boot capable, UEFI
TPM- TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0
Graphics Card- Should be compatible with DirectX 12 or later version with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display- High Definition (720p) display, should be greater than 9 inches diagonally, with 8 bits per color channel
Internet Connection- Internet connectivity is required for installation, device setup, perform updates
Microsoft Account- An active Microsoft account is required to complete the device setup on first use, and install few features
New Features of Windows 11
As we said, Microsoft has decided to take a giant leap and offer an exceptional and fresh product to its avid fand. Let’s check out the new features and upgrades it has incorporated in Windows 11, which may make a big difference.
Small-sized Updates- The biggest issue with Windows updates was their huge size, and Microsoft has taken user’s feedback and made the necessary tweaks to make updates almost 49% smaller. Microsoft also claimed that Windows 11 will be their most secure release to date.
Start Menu- This was among the biggest demand from Windows enthusiasts to bring back the iconic Start menu. Users love the Start menu, as it helps them put everything they need on their systems at the center with few pinned applications and a “Recommended” section, which is powered by the cloud to display recently opened files from your PC, smartphone and OneDrive.
Optimized Task Bar- Microsoft has revolutionized the Taskbar with beautiful animations. Now users can pin, launch, switch, minimize, and rearrange their applications on Taskbar to see the beautiful new animation effects. Microsoft has optimized the taskbar to provide an amazing experience for touch gestures as well as mouse and other pointing peripherals.
File Explorer- This is among the most common utility for the users, and Microsoft has given it a modern look and feels with an innovative command bar. Users will get beautifully conceived context menus when they right-click in the File Explorer. Application developers can extend the new context menus to enhance their utility, and Microsoft is going to publish documentation regarding the same very soon.
Snap layouts- That’s the most important feature added to enhance the multitasking capabilities of users. A user can hover the mouse over the maximize button to view the snap layouts available, and then click on a zone to snap the window. Users can take help from snap assist, which will guide them to snap windows to the rest of the zones. Users will be offered a set of 4 snap layouts for smaller screens. Users can initiate the snap layouts flyout by pressing the WIN + Z shortcut.
Snap Groups- It is an easy method to switch back to your snapped windows with ease. In order to execute it, a user must snap together at least 2 application windows, and then hover over one of the open applications on the Taskbar to determine the snap group and then click on it to switch back quickly.
Desktops- Users can access their Desktops by pressing the WIN + Tab shortcut. Users can customize and reorder the desktop backgrounds and hover the mouse over Task View on the Taskbar to quickly access their Desktops, or just create a new Desktop.
Improved Multi-Monitor support- Windows 11 comes with an enhanced multi-monitor support so that users can connect to an external monitor. It also remembers the recently used positions of windows on that monitor, which ensure that users don’t have to change the settings frequently.
Microsoft Teams- Microsoft has integrated the Teams to the dock so that users can effortlessly join the meetings and video calls. It’s a big strategic transition away from Skype, which was bundled as part of Windows 10. Users will also get a universal mute button in the system tray so that they can easily mute their microphone for all applications at one go.
The Microsoft Store- This is unarguably the biggest update in Windows 11, as Microsoft has launched a new app store and support for android apps on Windows. The Microsoft Store has been redesigned completely, which will help users to navigate easily and search for any application easily. Users can access applications like Adobe Creative Cloud, Disney+, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and many more.
Microsoft has ensured that users can get better-curated content, along with far better options to manage their purchased shows and mirroring them with their smart television. Users will also get access to EWP, WPA along with the existing Win32 applications.
As far as Developers are concerned, they can use their own “commerce engines and keep 100% of the revenue they generate from Microsoft Store. Developers can utilize their own payment system”; in this way, they can expect their sovereignty remain intact.
Android Apps- Windows 11 will also allow users to install and run Android apps. Microsoft has established a strategic partnership with Intel and Amazon to make this a reality, and this will be made possible with the help of Intel’s Bridge technology. During the event, Microsoft demonstrated TikTok and several Android apps running alongside native Windows apps on Windows 11.
Microsoft has confirmed that applications will be discoverable from the Microsoft Store with the help of the Amazon App Store so that users can download and install applications of their choice on PC or tablet. It is also said, that the new Microsoft app store will open up seamless possibilities for other applications to arrive in Windows 11, even Apple’s iTunes, Safari and iMessage could be available on the app store very soon.
Themes: Users will get brand new default themes for Windows 11 for both light and dark modes. Windows 11 will also include four additional themes for users to avail the benefits of a new look and feel. Users with visual impairments and light sensitivity issues can also avail themselves of the new contrast themes. One can change the theme by right-clicking on the desktop and choose “Personalize”. Windows 11 has retained Windows Vista’s Aeroesque look for some windows.
Sounds: Windows 11 is designed to offer atmospheric and lighter sounds. System sounds behave slightly differently according to the theme is in light or dark mode. The startup sound has returned, which users will hear once their PC boots up to the Lock screen.
Windows Widgets- Windows users love widgets and Windows 11 has just upped the ante by adding widgets that can be accessed via the dock. Microsoft has incorporated AI-powered dynamic features that enable widgets to change their appearance depending on the time users are using them. Users can simply slide left on the desktop and widgets will appear in no time. There are a plethora of widgets available for users, such as Bing Map, Weather, news, and many more. Users can install 3rd party widgets as well, as they can do on Apple’s iPad and iOS operating systems.
Gaming- Windows 10 was known for sluggish and frustrating experiences with gaming, where users were highly dissatisfied with the Windows 10 Xbox application. Microsoft has learned the lesson and incorporated a new Game Pass application in Windows 11. This application enables users to buy, remove, and manage the games. The entire process is so user-friendly that users are certainly going to love it. Microsoft is going to bring famous games such as Doom Eternal and Halo Infinite for passionate gamers.
Windows 11 will also support HDR on compatible machines, which will enhance the overall lighting and contrast for viewing media and gaming. It will also enable Windows 11 to improve the experience for a large number of DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 based games. Direct Storage is also available, which will enable the users to play their games faster than before.
Touch improvement- Tablet mode used to be a big pain area for users since Windows 8 days, which was mired by lack of performance and ease for the end-user. Microsoft has launched a revolutionary tablet feature, that could be the biggest USP for Windows 11, especially with Microsoft’s Surface products in the pipeline. Windows 11 can certainly help Microsoft to create a strong foundation for its Surface tablets, and it certainly has the potential to create a big selling point for new users.
Improved Touch Gestures- During the event, Microsoft demonstrated easier ways to move windows around, bigger touch targets, and innovative rotate optimizations. Microsoft has also brought gestures used with Surface trackpads to the touchscreen, which is certainly going to improve the overall user experience. Windows 11 will also incorporate Haptics, which will help users to use a stylus for improved control while drawing or sketching.
The touch keyboard has been completely tweaked, now it comes with a smaller keyboard, which can be operated via thumb, and emojis are also added for enhanced communication. Microsoft has confirmed that dictation capability will also be enhanced, along with the voice commands.
Windows 11- Final words
Microsoft has announced Windows 11 amid a lot of fanfare, and such excitement is not usually seen for a new operating system release at least in recent times. Windows 11 is a major update from Microsoft’s desktop operating system in the last 6 years, and it seems the revamped operating system has achieved a complete makeover that has been due for years.
Windows 11 cannot be considered as a usual redesign or iconic Windows Operating system components. It is more of a modern operating system, that tries to make its position in the smartphone-dominated technology world.
Overall, we can say that Windows 11 is certainly a bigger leap as far as productivity, gaming, features, and entertainment capability is concerned. Microsoft has tried its best to develop a product that is bound to create a lot of ripples in the Tech World and may help Microsoft to regain its glory once again.
