14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced a new Windows 11 preview build for users enrolled in the Dev channel of the Windows Insider program.
Windows 11 build 25120 comes with big changes, as it includes support for interactive desktop content.
In other words, it’s some sort of desktop integration of widgets, with Microsoft now implementing a search box that you have right on the desktop to quickly search the web.
“Windows Insiders who use the Dev Channel may get to try out new ideas, longer lead features, and experiences that are intended to help validate concepts. Starting with this preview build, some Insiders will see one of these conceptual features as we begin to explore exposing lightweight interactive content on the Windows desktop. Today, Windows exposes this type of content in the Widgets board. To begin assessing this general idea and interaction model, the first exploration in this area adds a search box displayed on the desktop that enables you to search the web,” Microsoft says.
Just tell Microsoft what you think
Needless to say, this new feature is still in the early days, so for now, only the search box can be placed on the desktop.
More similar “widgets” will most likely make their way to the desktop in the coming builds.
Microsoft, however, explains that users can still disable this feature, and it encourages everybody to send feedback in order to help further polish the experience at this early stage of development.
“If you would like to remove this search box, you can right-click on the desktop, choose “Show more options,” and toggle the “Show search” option. We are excited to learn your feedback on this interaction model, so please use the Feedback Hub to provide feedback if you receive this experiment,” the company said in the release notes of today’s new build.