14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft used today’s Windows event to officially announce the new Windows 11, the highly anticipated Windows 10 successor that came pretty much out of nowhere.
While Windows 10 was supposed to be the last Windows version, pretty much because the operating system migrated to Windows as a Service, Microsoft has changed plans so instead of rolling out another Windows 10 feature update in the fall, the company will therefore come up with Windows 11.
Microsoft says in its announcement that Windows 11 “is designed to bring you closer to what you love,” so naturally, it will include several major improvements.
Coming in the fall of this year
The most notable is the addition of a new Start menu and taskbar design borrowed from Windows 10X. The Start menu will therefore be centered, and so will be the taskbar icons.
“We’ve simplified the design and user experience to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. It’s modern, fresh, clean and beautiful. From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease. We put Start at the center and made it easier to quickly find what you need. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what platform or device you were viewing them on earlier, even if it was on an Android or iOS device,” Microsoft’s Panos Panay explains.
Of course, these changes aren’t necessarily surprising given a leaked build provided us with an early look at Windows 11 approximately one week ago, but needless to say, they’re big news for the future of Windows as a whole.
Windows 11 will launch later this year according to Microsoft’s typical Windows 10 feature update release calendar, so the fall update will therefore be replaced by this new operating system.