Microsoft Announces a Series of Windows 11 Updates at Build Conference

Microsoft on the Build 2022 developer convention has introduced a listing of updates which might be aimed to make Windows, Edge, and Teams higher productiveness options. The software program big introduced a slew of Microsoft Store updates together with the flexibility to serve advertisements and permitting customers to revive apps after they swap to a brand new PC to present builders methods to make their apps extra discoverable and retain their customers. Additionally, Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm to introduce Project Volterra as a brand new mini-PC to assist builders construct cloud-based synthetic intelligence (AI) options.

Windows updates

Windows 11 has been one of many greatest focus areas for Microsoft since its launch in October final 12 months. Although the brand new working system has refreshed person expertise with options together with centre-aligned Start menu and widgets, the Redmond firm is bringing improvements to these options to boost person expertise.

At this 12 months’s Build digital convention, Microsoft introduced that it’s quickly introducing the flexibility to view apps out there on the Microsoft Store straight utilizing the Windows Search on Windows 11 PCs. The function will initially be out there to Windows Insiders and is aimed to permit builders to make their apps discoverable, with out distracting customers from their circulate. Users will see a Get from Store button for every app itemizing they see on their search outcomes to put in apps of their alternative, with out requiring them to entry the Microsoft Store.

Windows 11 is getting the flexibility to search for apps out there on the Microsoft Store straight from search
Photo Credit: Microsoft

Windows 11 customers are additionally getting a function to let customers robotically restore their apps straight from the Microsoft Store. “This will also help developers retain their customers without having to remind customers to re-download their app,” the corporate mentioned.

The function to let customers restore their apps will initially be out there for testing within the Windows Insider channel within the coming future.

Microsoft can be increasing the Amazon Appstore preview to run Android apps on Windows 11. Currently stay within the US, the preview is reaching 5 extra international locations, particularly France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The enlargement will happen by the tip of the 12 months, the corporate mentioned.

Additionally, the Windows maker has launched Microsoft Store Ads to assist builders run advert campaigns straight within the Store. It will assist Microsoft to increase revenues coming from its Store and permit builders to enhance discoverability of their apps.

Ads within the Microsoft Store will begin showing via a pilot based mostly on Microsoft Advertising that may run quickly, the corporate mentioned.

Microsoft has additionally eliminated the waitlist programme for Win32 apps within the Microsoft Store and is opening it to all app builders. The replace will significantly assist improve the variety of apps out there on the Store for obtain on Windows 11 techniques.

Alongside Microsoft Store-centric updates, Microsoft at Build 2022 introduced support for third-party widgets on Windows 11. The firm mentioned that builders would have the ability to begin constructing widgets as “companion experiences” for his or her Win32 and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) on Windows 11 starting later this 12 months. The new expertise shall be backed by Microsoft’s Adaptive Cards.

Windows 11 is enabling builders to create widgets of their native apps
Photo Credit: Microsoft

OneBe aware can be getting an updated visual design that may feel and look and can have pen and voice functionalities impressed by Windows 11. There shall be fashionable visuals to ship a contemporary person expertise. The note-taking app can even get AI capabilities to recognise inputs from voice within the type of dictations, pictures utilizing the inbuilt digital camera of the system, and by way of handwriting via a stylus pen.

Microsoft Edge updates

While saying goodbye to Internet Explorer subsequent month, Microsoft is enhancing person experiences on the Edge to fill within the hole left by its legacy browser and make the brand new providing a aggressive choice in opposition to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple’s Safari.

One of the largest adjustments that Microsoft Edge has obtained among the many Build bulletins is the final availability of WebView2 for WinUI 2 and Universal Windows Platform (UWP). The new embedded Web management is constructed on high of the Microsoft Edge Chromium platform.

Citing efficiency insights from Cerner Corporation, Microsoft mentioned WebView2 helped ship enhancements together with 85 % lowered render time, 33 % decrease CPU utilisation, and 32 % much less reminiscence utilisation over the standard options out there on Internet Explorer.

Microsoft can be enhancing PWAs on the Edge browser by enabling new APIs and enhancing their notifications. The firm mentioned that the underlying enhancements will allow notifications coming from PWAs to seem as coming from a local app. Users can even have the ability to entry options together with the native platform’s share UI to share information on a PWA.

Microsoft is enabling PWAs to have system’s native UI for sharing information
Photo Credit: Microsoft

Additionally, Microsoft is including the flexibility for customers to seek out PWAs alongside native apps within the Microsoft Store.

The Apps web page in Microsoft Edge has additionally been up to date with an improved interface. Microsoft has moreover developed a brand new Apps Hub expertise and enabled app sync throughout units within the Edge browser to enhance person expertise.

Microsoft Edge can be receiving a simplified DevTools interface that brings a brand new compact and customisable Activity Bar. This will convey over 30 instruments to assist personalise workflows for builders.

Microsoft Teams updates

Microsoft Teams at this 12 months’s Build convention has obtained a function known as Live Share that may enable customers to share apps of their digital conferences. It will assist co-watch, co-edit, and co-create in Teams conferences, the corporate mentioned.

Developers will get new preview extensions via the Teams SDK to allow them to create Live Share experiences for his or her apps. Initially, corporations together with Frame.io, Hexagon, Skillsoft, MakeCode, Accenture, Parabol, and Breakthru have constructed their experiences on the brand new function.

In addition to Live Share, Microsoft has launched the Azure Communication Services pattern app builder to let builders create and deploy a pattern software for digital appointments. Users will have the ability to use the pattern app to e book appointments and be a part of a Teams assembly.

Microsoft has introduced the final availability of the brand new Teams SDK that may assist builders construct apps for Teams, Outlook, and Office utilizing a single software and deployment mannequin.

Developers providing apps for Microsoft Teams can even have the ability to begin giving freemium variations of their choices as Microsoft has launched in-app buying inside its video conferencing resolution.

App development-focussed updates

At this 12 months’s Build convention, Microsoft has introduced Power Apps with the flexibility to generate a working low-code app from inputs reminiscent of Figma design information, PDFs, paper types, and even an image of a hand-drawn app. The firm has used cognitive AI know-how to allow Power Apps to scan the inputs and produce working app controls. The apps created by the brand new expertise can even have information storage.

Microsoft additionally partnered with Qualcomm to introduce Project Volterra — a brand new developer package based mostly on the Snapdragon compute platform. It is aimed to assist builders construct new AI apps utilizing the Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK for Windows toolkit. The mini-PC carries a devoted Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to course of AI algorithms natively.

Microsoft has launched Project Volterra for builders to create new AI apps
Photo Credit: Microsoft

Exact particulars on the launch of Project Volterra are but to be revealed. However, Microsoft mentioned that the system shall be coming later this 12 months.