What we've been (not) waiting for for 6 years: Microsoft officially unveils Windows 11

By: Elena Shcherban | 25.06.2021, 14:00
What we've been (not) waiting for for 6 years: Microsoft officially unveils Windows 11

Today Microsoft held a special event to unveil the new Windows 11 operating system. They say that this is one of the most extensive updates in the last 10 years, although Windows 10 came out only 6 years ago - in 2015. By the way, for many users it is a little too early - it's not the annual updates of Android or iOS.

What's new

The new operating system bets on a simpler interface and improved performance. It is faster than Windows 10 in most tasks and updates will be installed in the background and take up 40% less space.

In terms of interface, Microsoft has updated the Start menu with the ability to run multiple programs at once and the taskbar, which is now located in the center of the screen. Widgets and a new on-screen keyboard with gesture control support have been added.

Windows 11 now supports launching and working with Android applications, and in the updated Windows Store, developers can add their applications, use their payment system and receive 100% profit.

Additionally, Windows 11 integrates Microsoft Teams and the Xbox app with support for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Gamers will appreciate Direct Storage technology, which speeds up game load times via SSDs, and Auto-HDR effect even for older games.

For tablets and laptops, handwriting and voice typing are improved and stylus tactile feedback is added.

Windows 11 will only run on 64-bit systems, with a 1GHz 2-core processor, 4/64 GB of memory, a 9-inch display with a resolution of 1366 × 768, and a graphics card that supports DirectX 12 or WDDM 2. x.

When?

The first preview version of Windows 11 will be available in a few days, and the release is expected in the fall or winter, but the exact time is not specified. The update will be free for Windows 10 owners.

Source: Microsoft