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There are many ways to look at Windows 11. A lot of features to talk about. Some of them, you can start using right about now. Some will eventually arrive sooner rather than later. A broader rollout is expected by the end of this year. Microsoft’s “peculiar” hardware requirements for you to be able to run the new OS is subject to debate, but regardless of all the quirks, it is crystal clear right out of the gate that Windows 11 is more than just another Windows update for Microsoft. Even as lawmakers around the world increasingly start to question archrival Apple’s App Store policies and just in general, the heights of Cupertino’s walled gardens, Redmond saw a window of opportunity to send out a message. And it did not waste any time. In the words of CEO Satya Nadella, “Windows has always stood for sovereignty for creators and agency for consumers.” That’s Microsoft taking the fight to Apple. One of the ways it’s doing that is by updating its revenue sharing policies. It is encouraging developers to bring their apps to Windows. It is also opening the platform to Android apps. That’s in addition to rolling out a slew of “interesting” features and a “brand-new” look to the world’s most widely used OS. macOS “the anti-Windows OS” has been a thing for as long as one can remember. This may be the first time Microsoft has a shot to turn the tables and it is aware of this which is why Nadella says, “with Windows 11 we have a renewed sense of Windows’ role in the world.” Here’s your first look at Windows 11 and all the top features coming to your PC later this year. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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An early build of Windows 11 is now available for beta testers under Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program. The minimum system requirements to run Windows 11 include: 64-bit processor or system-on-chip (SoC) with dual cores and more running at 1 GHz or faster, at least 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, UEFI, Secure Boot capable. A Microsoft account and internet connectivity is required for initial setup. You can see if your device meets all the requirements for Windows 11 using the PC Health Check app. The upgrade is free for eligible devices. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Should your device be eligible, getting Windows 11 Insider Preview is a straightforward process. You start by registering for the program. Go into your device’s settings menu, click on update and security, and connect your registered Microsoft account with Windows Insider Program. You’ll then be asked to pick a channel you want to get your previews through. Right now, your only option to get Windows 11 is through the Dev channel. Eventually, you’ll be able to use the beta channel (for public beta) and the release preview channel (for the latest version just before the general release). In other words, Windows 11 is currently available specifically for developers – though anybody with a hankering to try out pre stable release software can get it at their own risk. Windows 11 will launch later this year (and continuing into 2022) and will be available as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs (and on new PCs). (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Microsoft has tried to build a modern, fresh, clean, and beautiful operating system with Windows 11. The biggest visual change comes by way of the Start Menu. By default, it now sits at the centre of the taskbar (though you can change this later). The whole menu itself has been redesigned and divided into three sections. Live tiles are gone and replaced by flatter icons. There is the search bar at the top, followed by apps, and cloud-curated recommendations – this will stay consistent no matter the device or platform you’re using, Microsoft says. It has clearly drawn some inspiration from macOS and Chrome OS for the whole redesign. Cosmetic changes are also coming to the settings menu (with greater emphasis on personalisation with features like improved system-wide dark mode), file explorer, and notifications. The whole OS appears almost glass-like, with new colours, themes, sounds and rounded corners. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Dedicated features like Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops have been added to Windows 11 to enhance productivity and multitasking. While layouts and groups let you pin and access multiple apps together on the same screen (and across monitors) across multiple configurations, Windows 11 also gives you an option to create separate desktops for work, gaming or just about anything you like. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Microsoft seems all but done with Skype even as it tries to take on Zoom in a bigger way with its rival platform Teams which will have its own dedicated place in the taskbar. This is not available yet. But perhaps the most useful thing among all this is the addition of a universal mute button for calls in the taskbar so you no longer have to search for it inside your video calling app, which is, for the lack of a better word, frustrating no matter how tech-savvy you are. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Moving on, Microsoft has made “widgets” core to the Windows 11 experience. The feature now has its own icon in the taskbar and shows you a “personalised” feed of curated content ranging from weather to top news stories. Microsoft says this will help you declutter your mind without breaking your focus. Ironically though, content opens in Edge when you click on it even if it’s not your default web browser. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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The second biggest update, after the Start Menu, is coming to the Windows Store. Microsoft claims it has rebuilt the Store from ground up with big focus on speed and simplicity. It is also making it easier to search for apps through curated stories and collections. Going forward, it will add “more apps than even before” from both first and third-party developers to it.
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In extension to this, Microsoft has also found a way to bring Android apps to Windows – for the first time – in what is clearly a move to one-up Apple, more specifically Cupertino’s M1 Mac. It is doing this with little help from Amazon and Intel. Android apps will be listed on the Windows Store in Windows 11 just like any other app and you will be able to download them through the Amazon Appstore. The “workaround” has been made possible through Intel’s Bridge technology. Once installed, you’d presumably be able to run these apps much like any other Windows app, pin it to the taskbar or a snap layout, though the experience may not be similar. This is not available just yet, but don’t expect the app selection to be as extensive as it is on the Google Play Store meaning not all apps will be available through this tie-up. Microsoft has confirmed that it will be possible to side-load Android apps on Windows 11, though it’s not immediately clear how it would happen. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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On to gaming which seems to be a big focus for Microsoft this year, Windows 11 will seemingly be able to unlock the “full potential of your system’s hardware” through a couple of new features like DirectX 12 Ultimate for faster graphics and DirectStorage for faster load times. Microsoft is also enabling auto HDR in Windows 11 for more vivid colours in games. All this will rely on hardware which is to say, you’ll need supported devices to make the most out of these technologies. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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Microsoft is also trying to make Windows run better on tablets without a keyboard. In Windows 11, it has added subtle features to make experience smoother, from adding bigger touch targets to putting more space between the icons in the taskbar to adding gestures to enabling haptics for pen input. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
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To be able to attract more and more developers to build apps for Windows, Microsoft says it is bringing a “progressive” change to its revenue sharing policies. Developers need not share their revenue with Redmond if they choose to use their own payment system for apps. If they choose to rely on Microsoft for this, they will be charged a 15 percent cut. Taking a subtle dig at Google and Apple, Microsoft says this will help build a more open ecosystem for creators and ultimately benefit the end users. It is also encouraging developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their apps to the Windows Store regardless of their build (Win32, Progressive Web App (PWA), or Universal Windows App (UWP) or any other app framework). (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)