June 24, 2021, 8:30 pm IST Microsoft announced what it calls the ‘Next Generation of Windows’ a.k.a the Windows 11. The new Operating System comes with a completely rebuilt UI and a whole new way to do things.
The so-called Windows 11 under the hood is mostly the same Windows 10 but with a whole lot of improvements that make the overall user experience way better than what Windows 10 could deliver.
Reimagined Design
Windows 11 comes with a beautiful new UI that is different in every aspect. A new centered taskbar with centered icons and a Start Menu that comes in to the center are the first changes you would notice in the Windows.
The Start Menu on the Windows 11 is centered and now a lot simpler visually when compared to the ugly and complex start menu of the previous OS. The live tiles are no more and are replaced by a section of pinned App icons. Below this pinned apps section lies a recents section that shows all your recent files and documents for easy access.
The centered taskbar clearly gets its inspiration from macOS and Chrome OS with primary focus on icons and little to no text on the bar.
The entire OS now comes with rounded corners making the ui look more modern and fluid.
This new design language spans across the system making it a lot more consistent and uniform.
The new interface also extends the Acrylic backgrounds a lot more areas in apps.
Performance and Gaming
Windows 11 has a major focus on performance with support for direct storage allowing Major improvements to speed.
Direct storage there is a major feature hired from Xbox. Direct storage will require latest NVMe drives to speed up app and game load times.
For gaming Microsoft now has a new Xbox app that integrates Xbox game pass right into windows, Allowing users to stream games right from the Xbox app.
Microsoft announced DirectX 12. Games running on DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 will support auto HDR allowing Windows to enhance graphics of the game you’re playing.
Windows widgets
Microsoft has added a new icon to the taskbar Labelled as widgets. These new windows widgets provide information you need and want through a beautiful set of tiles that slide in with one click.
The Widget section also hosts latest news stories from Microsoft news.
All New Microsoft Store.
Microsoft has redesigned the Microsoft Store from the ground up. The new store app comes with new and beautiful UI. This new store is more open than ever allowing developers to submit their apps with their own commerce solution and technologies they choose.
Android Apps
Windows 11 now natively supports Android Apps, using Intel Bridge Technology to run the apps and integrating the Amazon AppStore directly into Microsoft Store to access thousands of Android Applications directly from Microsoft Store.
When Will I be able to download Windows 11
Well Microsoft hasn’t announced a particular date for when will Windows 11 be available to the public. By the end of the year is what was told by Microsoft but we can definitely understand if the update gets pushed back due to Covid-19 and WFH situation.
We expect it to come out by October along with new hardware for Microsoft, Dell, Hp and all others.
Upgrade
Even though Microsoft broke its promise about Windows 10 being the last Windows. Windows as a Service lives hence all Windows 10 users will be getting a free upgrade to Windows 11 if using a supported machine that meets the minimum requirement.