After what seemed to be years of waiting, Microsoft finally announced what it called the “next generation of Windows.” Windows 11 is a significant, big change. It represents a substantial change in how Microsoft delivers Windows, but it is also very much improved with UX. In addition, it gets support for the new Android app, the new Store, and much more. Here’s what we know so far!
If you want to be the first person to use the next version of Windows, sign up for the Windows Insider app. Windows 11 has different hardware requirements from windows 10, and you can read about them on this Microsoft blog in the Windows 11 Insider program. The new OS build will be available next week for testing, but all features won’t appear until the holiday purchase. Good news for those running Windows 10? Windows 11 will be their free update.
Release Date
The official release date for Windows 11 is this holiday season. The timeline is very different from the standard Windows feature updates.
Typically, new features arrive at the Dev channel of the Windows Insider program within six months to a year. Insiders inspected them, gave feedback, and things came out. When Windows 10 installs RTM updates, go to the Beta channel. It stays there for use for a few months and then goes to the pre-release preview station just before release.
It is different because Microsoft did not allow people to test this as the features were made. Windows RTM in June and December every year now, since the schedule was introduced to Azure. If you are familiar with that cycle, this can be frustrating.
There are a few answers, one of which is that Windows 10 was temporarily down, and Microsoft did not tell you. Windows 10 Internal previews continued to be exported, but the Redmond company is releasing Windows 11. shell.
Preview is available on the Dev channel of the Windows Insider program now. It is scheduled to arrive at the Beta channel later this month, and it is there that OEMs will also begin to find you installing new laptops and tablets. This holiday season, Windows 11 will be available to everyone as a free update. Windows 11 will not have a specific release date until we get close to it.
Free Upgrade For Windows 10 Users
Just Like Windows 10 before it, Windows 11 will be a free upgrade for anyone with the previous version of Windows and the proper hardware. The company lists specific minimum requirements (see below), and it is unclear whether the new OS will install if your computer does not meet all of them.
System Requirements
According to the Microsoft blog, the minimum system requirements are:
- CPU: Core clock of 1-GHz or faster with two or more cores in a 64-bit processor.
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB of storage
- UEFI BIOS with Safe Boot
- TPM 2.0
- A 9-inch or larger screen with 720p resolution
- Internet connection and MS account. No offline installation.
- The GPU is compatible with DirectX 12
This violates the requirements of Windows 10 in many ways. Microsoft counts it as a 1-GHz CPU (but not a core or 64-bit core), 1 or 2GB of RAM, only 16 to 20GB of storage space, and a capable GPU to direct DirectX 9 with a small 800 x 600 resolution.
New Look of the Windows
Activity bar icons are now as focused as they used to be in Chrome OS, but the first button is to the left of some app icons. Windows will get tightly closed corners, like MacOS. I no longer have a fan of taskbar buttons that are always narrow because having various active apps makes it quick to see which icons are already pinned and happening right now. A focused look can overwhelm me, though, because you don’t need to move the mouse pointer to full screen to launch the app.
Other changes are in the clarity, animation, and cleanness of the icons representing the emergence of the Fluent Design program, which, though promised, will never completely take over Windows 10. The Dark mode will also look consistent.
Gaming Mode
Microsoft focuses on laser gambling, and why shouldn’t it? It only has an active PC gaming platform, a play console, and a back-end that is second to none. And as we know, if there is an Azure game to be played, Microsoft will do it.
Windows 11 has many game improvements. One of them is Auto HDR, the first feature installed on the Xbox Series X | S consoles and now coming to Windows. It automatically adds HDR to older games, as you can guess from the name.
Another feature borrowed from the company’s latest comfort is DirectStorage. You will need a PC “DirectStorage Optimized” for this, as you will need an SSD type created as part of the Xbox Velocity Architecture, but it will allow faster loading times and better performance.
Eventually, Xbox Cloud Gaming will be built internally. It will be part of the Xbox app on Windows 11; although it will be clear, there is no reason why that app update should not come with Windows 10. We will have to wait for Windows 10 users to discover the feature.
Android Apps
You will be able to use Android apps on your PC! Microsoft has beaten Apple in this software-on-desktop software paradigm, or Apple manages both of its platforms, and both now use the same CPU component. It remains to be seen how Android apps will work best on desktops. We’ve seen the visual and emergence of Android apps running on Chrome OS, both owned by Google, so I don’t expect to be perfect for this Amazon-Microsoft partnership. That’s because integration will come with Amazon AppStore running within the Microsoft Store app. Note that your phone application will be another way to run apps on a PC – you can use any app installed on your Android phone.
Other important updates to the Store are that developers will install PWAs (web-based apps) and older Win32 school apps and UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps that are usually available in-store. Best for developers: They will be able to surpass any deductions from Microsoft through their commercial engines. Microsoft’s commercial use includes a 15 percent reduction in the current market share.
Multiple Desktops
The new Windows 11 feature will have the ability to set a different domain for each visible desktop. This makes much sense: I use one desktop to do work and another person, and I suspect I’m not alone. The snap mentioned above properties can be used on each desktop.
Multitasking
The new feature of Windows 11 is multitasking, making it easy to organize windows and give them different sizes and sizes and group them for Snap Layouts. Windows 11 will remember your chosen settings, so it will be a matter of seconds to go back to multitask mode instead of resetting windows.
Most importantly, the function allows you to work with the second screen without configuring windows so the next time you connect it to your computer, as programs reappear in the taskbar.
Teams Integration
Microsoft integrates Groups into the OS. Now you’ll find chatting groups right in the taskbar, so you can easily talk to friends. It will also work via SMS, in case those friends have not yet downloaded Groups. This company specifically refers to it as a “two-way SMS,” so don’t expect the MMS group texts to work.
There is also a mute / unmute button that will appear in the taskbar and start the presentation.
New Store
One thing Satya Nadella said in an extensive Build article was that the new OS “would open up great economic opportunities for developers and creators.” That leads us to the latest Microsoft store. Make no mistake; this is a big part of the review.
Desktop apps have never been to the Store in the same way that Microsoft would like it. With Windows 11, there are some significant changes. Developers will be able to run their applications without installing them, and they can run them on their CDN, which means they will no longer be distributed by Microsoft, just before the Microsoft store.
It opens the Microsoft Store in a big way. Previously, long-term apps like Google Chrome were excluded because of Microsoft’s policies. Now, it’s much easier to install your app in the Store.
The significant point is that Microsoft doesn’t care what kind of app you make. It can be Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Election, Native React, Java, PWA, or something else, and Microsoft is looking for it in Store.
Microsoft has announced that Adobe Creative Cloud, Disney +, TikTok, and Zoom are all coming to the Store. In addition, it brings Microsoft Groups and Visual Studio to its Store. That’s a big deal, especially Visual Studio.
The company also wants to make a better store. Add collections to help you find other apps, and there is an “emerging store” that will handle the installation when you try to install apps from the web.
Not only that, but developers can use their trading platforms. That means your app can use a more profitable platform, and your app can still be in the Store.
What do developers need to Know?
Windows 11 installs the new PWABuilder3 so that developers can create a PWA from their web application in minutes. WebView2 operating time is included with Windows 11, making it easy to take full advantage of Windows 11 web platform as a secure way to build integrated web applications. Donations such as the Windows Terminal and the new MicrosoftEdge DevTools can still be used, as they are now installed on Windows 11.
The Windows App SDK (formerly known as Project Reunion) will make it easier to integrate Windows 11 features into apps and allow developers to reach over a million users on Windows 10. Windows SDK 1.0 is set to be released next year.
Developers can build traditional Windows operating systems in ARM with the new ARM64 Emulation Compatible ABI. Using ARM64EC, native ARM and x64 simulated code can be integrated into the same processor module. This interaction means that developers can run applications on Windows in ARM – whether the app has x64 dependencies or downloads x64 unmanaged plugins.
To revive the app’s design, developers can use WinUI3 for Windows 11, which offers built-in UI updates such as circular geometry, updated iconography, new typing, fun little connections (like Lottie animation), and an updated color palette. The Snap architecture feature will help with high productivity on Windows 11.
Reunion Window allows developers to manage and build application windows quickly. The feature works with existing app codes, simplifies regular operation, and brings new functionality to desktop applications such as Light-Dississ Behavior, Picture-In-Picture mode, and simple page customization.
In line with significant changes in the Microsoft Store, Microsoft is taking steps to create more excellent economic opportunities for creators and engineers. Microsoft plans to enable developers and independent software vendors to deliver their applications, whether built like Win32, Progressive Web App, Universal Windows App, or any other application framework. It will allow developers to reach and engage larger audiences.
Revenue sharing policies will change, too, according to Microsoft. App developers can now bring their ads to the Microsoft Store and save 100% of their revenue – Microsoft does not take anything for granted. Engineers may still use Microsoft’s products for a competitive budget of 85/15
Conclusion
Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 would be available with free upgrades for Windows 10 PCs and new PCs starting this holiday season and continuing into 2022. To see if your Windows 10 PC is eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11, you can visit Windows.com to download the PC Health Check app (the app is coming soon). Microsoft has said it is working with its sales partners to “make sure the 10 Windows PCs you buy today are ready to upgrade to Windows 11.”
