Microsoft is set to unveil Windows 11 , its next major operating system. While the Windows 11 leak gave us a glimpse of some of the design changes , the anticipation for today's event is even greater. A new Start menu, rounded corners, and a general user interface (UI) overhaul have been expected for months, but the company needs to show off some big changes in Windows 11 to prove that it's more than just Windows 10 .
Much of what we've seen so far was already planned for Windows 10X, a version of Windows originally intended to ship with dual-screen devices. Windows 10X included a new Start menu that functioned more like a taskbar-centric launcher. Windows 10X also introduced a number of UI simplifications and general Windows usability improvements.
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After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Microsoft quickly sought to rework Windows 10X for laptops to offer a simplified version of its operating system for devices that were suddenly in high demand during remote work and distance learning. However, Windows 10X’s attempt to simplify Windows and the company’s app model didn’t bear fruit. According to reports, the tech giant has been struggling to achieve acceptable levels of app compatibility with 10X for the past few years, after initially planning to run each app in a special container to improve the security and performance of devices running the new operating system.
Containers would be a major change to Windows, especially for developers , and there's no indication in the Windows 11 leak that Microsoft plans to implement containers, at least not anytime soon. Instead, Windows 11 appears to adopt most of the UI changes that were part of Windows 10X. The Windows 11 leak also shows some changes to multitasking , improved support for multiple monitors, and some potential performance improvements — especially for PC gaming.
The most significant change coming with Windows 11 could be Microsoft's approach to the apps it allows in the Windows Store. The Windows 11 leak doesn't include the new store, but Microsoft intends to open up its store to every Windows app. That means Chrome, Adobe Creative Suite, and many other apps that aren't in the Windows Store will suddenly be available.
Perhaps more importantly, Microsoft is allowing developers to bypass its payment system for app stores. This means developers don't have to take a cut of revenue for in-app purchases if they choose to use their own payment systems. This would be a big change that would put even more pressure on Apple's App Store, since Microsoft helped Epic Games argue that iPhones, like computers, are general-purpose devices.
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Beyond the store, the public hopes that Microsoft will differentiate Windows 11 from Windows 10 by focusing on everyday users of the operating system. Productivity is a big part of that, as it makes Windows easier and more reliable for the millions of people who use it every day to study and work.
The Windows 11 leak also hints that some multitasking improvements may be coming. A new control appears on the maximize buttons in Windows 11 that lets you quickly snap apps into place. However, these snap features have been around in Windows for years, so the public is expecting to see even more changes that will help Windows users improve their daily workflow.
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In addition to productivity, Windows is also used for PC gaming. A bigger effort by the company to make Windows 11 better for gaming would be especially pleasing to the millions of people who use PCs instead of game consoles.
The public is also hoping that Microsoft will improve Game Mode in Windows 11. The mysterious feature simply optimizes your PC for gaming, but the truth is that it does very little. When you run a game with Game Mode enabled, it prevents Windows Update from installing drivers or trying to restart your PC, while mysteriously helping you get a more stable frame rate, depending on the game and your system.
What the audience expects is for Microsoft to hold back some surprises for Windows 11 that demonstrate it is something more than Windows 10.5.
Source of information: theverge.com
