14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft hasn’t yet completed the rollout of Windows 11 to all eligible devices, as the whole thing is supposed to happen by the summer of 2022, but the company is already working on the next major update for the operating system.
Codenamed Sun Valley 2, this Windows 11 update, which will land in the second half of the next year, will be specifically focused on polishing the experience with the OS.
However, Microsoft is also planning a series of new features, including support for third-party widgets.
According to a recent report from WindowsCentral, Microsoft wants to substantially improve the widgets panel by allowing developers to create their own widgets. These widgets will be available on the Microsoft Store, though interestingly, Microsoft also plans to allow apps that aren’t listed on the Microsoft Store to also come with their own widgets.
A series of app developers are already working with Microsoft on developing widgets for Windows 11, presumably as Microsoft wants this feature to launch with support for the most popular apps out there.
The new widgets panel
Microsoft itself hinted from the very beginning that its new widgets panel would also be open for third-party developers.
“Windows 11 brings you closer to the news and information you care about faster with Widgets – a new personalized feed powered by AI and best-in-class browser performance from Microsoft Edge. Even when we’re at our most focused and creative we still need breaks – a moment to check in with the outside world or give ourselves a mental reset,” the company said in the original Windows 11 announcement.
“For creators and publishers, Widgets also opens new real estate within Windows to deliver personalized content. Our aspiration is to create a vibrant pipeline for global brands and local creators alike, in a way that both consumers and creators can benefit.”
Windows 11 Sun Valley 2 doesn’t yet have an ETA, but it should launch in the second half of 2022.