These are the most important innovations of Windows 11

 

Windows 11 has been available since October 5 and, according to Microsoft, marks a major step forward for the operating system. These are the most important innovations.

A new version of Windows is always a big happening. In principle, the major upgrade from 10 to 11 is free, but then you must have a computer that meets the correct system requirements. You can check that here . If your laptop or desktop or Surface device can handle the new operating system, the following things stand out the most.

Start at Start

The biggest differences with previous versions can be found directly in the Start menu and the taskbar. In Windows 11, Microsoft centers the taskbar and Start menu in the middle of the screen. This makes Microsoft flirt a bit with Apple's operating systems. If you are fond of the old(er) way of navigating, you can still move the toolbar to the left. Speaking of Apple, the whole design is sleeker with rounded corners and pastel shades. At first glance it all looks a bit cleaner and simpler.

You can expand, browse and pin frequently used apps. The search bar has collapsed into an icon, and Cortana features are glaringly absent. You can still use Cortana, only then you will have to download and install the app separately. Handy: Teams is integrated directly into the Windows 11 taskbar, making it easier to access for the meeting tigers among us.

Android apps in the Microsoft Store

Pretty special; Windows 11's app store is going to offer Android app support (via Amazon) in the near future , as Microsoft looks to expand its offerings. In addition, for example, the Epic Games Store will come to the Microsoft Store, without Microsoft asking for a part of the revenue. This is in line with the philosophy that the Store should become the place to be for all your PC apps. This approach and extension will also be realized in Windows 10, only without the range of Android apps.

Gaming on Windows 11

Windows 11 claims to bet high on gaming. For example, Windows 11 has support for Dynamic Refresh Rate, in which the refresh rate of the screen is adjusted according to use. Windows 11 can automatically switch between 120Hz and 60Hz depending on the activity you are currently doing. There are also typical Xbox functions (the game console from Microsoft - ed.) in Windows 11 such as Auto HDR and DirectStorage, to improve gaming on your Windows PC.

The lighting in games look nicer with HDR and games load much faster with DirectStorage, provided your monitor screen and your SSD can handle these functions well, of course. In addition, the Xbox App is coming to Windows 11, which should make it easier to play games locally or stream via a Game Pass Ultimate subscription.