Microsoft at present previewed its first main Windows 11 replace, which is able to carry taskbar enhancements and long-awaited Android app integration. Also coming to the desktop OS are redesigned Notepad and Media Player apps and new methods to share home windows. Windows head Panos Panay briefly teased the modifications in a blog post that describes the evolving PC panorama and divulges some early successes for Windows 11.

We don’t know many specifics concerning the replace but, however Panay says the taskbar might be improved to incorporate a mute and unmute characteristic so that you don’t have to go looking for the one hiding in your video app. The Windows 11 replace, which is able to arrive someday subsequent month, may even return the climate widget to the taskbar, make window sharing simpler, and debut two redesigned apps: Notepad and Media Player.

Notepad and Media Player Get a Makeover

This app duo was previewed late final 12 months and can obtain UI enhancements to raised match the Fluent Design language seen all through Windows 11. Expect clear tabs, rounded corners, pops of colour, and help for darkish mode. The Windows Media Player will exchange the Groove Music app with a “full-featured” music library and help for each audio and video, whereas the Notepad app will get a better discover/exchange device and multi-level undo.

Welcome to Windows 11, Android Apps

The headline characteristic arriving within the type of a “public preview” is Android app integration. Instead of utilizing Google’s Play Store as one would possibly guess, it’s going to run by the Amazon Appstore. The characteristic was first examined in October and allows you to search by a collection of Android apps straight from the Microsoft Store earlier than directing you to Amazon’s Appstore for set up. Android apps can be utilized in split-screen mode with different Windows apps and help keyboard shortcuts and touchpad gestures. We don’t but know what number of Android apps might be out there when the characteristic rolls out; we’ve reached out to Microsoft for specifics.

How We Use Our PCs Is Changing

Panay spent the vast majority of the weblog submit going over the success of Windows 11 and the methods PC demand and use are altering. He factors to a few recurring traits: hybrid work and studying, shifts in leisure habits and distribution fashions, and evolving client habits for on a regular basis duties. These claims are backed by some staggering statistics: Microsoft is seeing a 6x enhance in individuals utilizing video and collab apps like Teams, Zoom, Slack, and WebEx; streaming companies are having fun with a 70% enhance in utilization whereas gaming minutes grew by 35%; and twice as many individuals are utilizing their PC to buy on-line.

As for Windows, Panay says Microsoft is seeing “strong demand” for the OS and claims the improve supply is being taken at twice the speed as when Windows 10 was launched. The new OS supposedly has the “highest product satisfaction of any version of Windows” although Panay didn’t specify what that entails. Concrete proof of Windows 11’s success contains 3x extra site visitors going to the Microsoft Store and other people spending 40% extra time on their Windows 11 PC than on Windows 10 (though the pandemic-fueled traits above are absolutely taking part in a task). One slightly stunning statistic is that “nearly half” of Windows 11 customers are giving the Snap Layouts a attempt.

“Product quality was a huge focus for the team, and we took a deliberate and phased approach to how we rolled out the upgrade. Today, we’re excited to share that the upgrade offer to Windows 11 is beginning to enter its final phase of availability putting us ahead of our initial plan of mid-2022,” Panay wrote.

PC Sales Are Going to the Moon

Hardware gross sales are additionally hovering with PC cargo passing 340 million final 12 months, up 27% in contrast with 2019. Windows is now on 1.4 billion month-to-month lively units, and Microsoft says its buyer insights analysis discovered an almost 50% enhance in people utilizing their PC for creativity, gaming, or work.

If Microsoft needs to proceed this success, it might want to guarantee a clean rollout of this forthcoming replace. Given the troubles it had with Windows 10 (see this catastrophe), you would possibly take into account ready till potential bugs are ironed out.