All you need to know about Windows 11

Windows 11 is the latest major version of Microsoft for its operating system and a successor to Windows 10. The operating system features an entirely new simplified interface. It has been designed on inspiration, productivity, and creativity.

Pre-Release and Updates Versions Before Windows 11 Operating System

From July 29, 2021, a Windows 11 Insider Preview Build is available for review to Windows Insider Beta Channel members. Previously, Preview Builds of Windows 11 was only available to the Dev channel members. So, to install Windows 11 version 22000.100 or above on a Windows 10 PC, activate the Windows Insider Beta channel in the Update & Security settings screen in Windows 10. Then click on the Check for Updates button.

On August 23, 2021, Microsoft released the ISO file for Windows 11 Insiders Preview. Previously, your only option was to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through the Microsoft Windows Insider Program. To download the Windows 11 ISO file, go to the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page and sign in with your account.

A new set of features for Microsoft Windows 11 will introduce Snap layouts, Snap suites, and desktops. This way provides "a powerful way for multitasking and keeps in touch with what you need to achieve," according to a Microsoft press release.

By using Windows 11 features, users can organize and enhance on-screen windows to get a cleaner and clearer visual layout. Users can create separate desktop versions and customize them for every part of their lives, such as one for work and one for personal use.

In Windows 11, Microsoft integrates chat from Microsoft Teams into the taskbar so users can instantly communicate via text, chat, voice, or video with their contacts, regardless of the platform or device they're using across Microsoft Windows, Android, or iOS, through Microsoft Teams. Users can now mute and unmute audio or start a presentation directly from the taskbar in the new operating system.

For game lovers, Windows 11 unlocks your system's full potential, letting some of the latest gaming technologies work for you. According to Microsoft, Windows 11 will offer DirectX 12 Ultimate, which enables immersive graphics at high frame rates. Direct Storage is for faster load times and more detailed game worlds, and Auto HDR is for a broader and more vibrant range of colors. Microsoft Windows 11 will continue to support users' favorite PC game accessories and peripherals.

New widgets in Windows 11 are a dedicated feed powered by AI (Artificial intelligence) and Microsoft Edge, rather than using your phone to check news, weather, or notifications. Users can now open their Windows 11 desktop to see a similarly organized view. Tools provide new chances within Windows 11 to deliver personalized content to creators and publishers.

Microsoft Store has undergone an overhaul. Users will have one secure site for apps and content to watch, create, play, work, and learn. According to Microsoft, the Store has been "rebuilt" for speed and has an all-new innovative and easy-to-use design.

We will not only provide you with more apps than ever before but also set up all the content; Apps, games, shows, and movies — easier to search and discover stories and selected collections. Soon, leading first and third-party apps such as Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio, Disney+, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, and Canva will be available in the Microsoft Store.

Coming in late 2021 for Windows 11: Android apps on Windows. Through its partnership with Amazon and Intel, for the first time, Microsoft Store will allow users to discover Android apps that can be downloaded through the Amazon App store.

Microsoft empowers developers and independent software suppliers to bring apps to the Microsoft Store regardless of the application framework used to build them.

The new PWABuilder3 app distinguishes Windows 11. So developers can create a PWA from their web application in minutes. WebView2 runtime is built into Windows 11, making it easy to benefit from its web platform as a secure way to build hybrid web applications. Offerings like the new Windows Terminal and Microsoft Edge DevTools can still be used as they are now included in Windows 11.

Windows App SDK (formerly Project Reunion) will make integrating Windows 11 features into the apps more accessible. But it still lets developers reach over a billion users on Windows 10. Windows App SDK 1.0 is set to be released later this year.

Developers can build applications mainly running on Windows on ARM using the new ARM64-compatible ABI emulation. With ARM64EC, the original ARM and x64 code can be mixed and simulated in the same process or module. This interoperability means that developers can optimize apps to run on Windows on ARM even if the app has x64 dependencies or loads x64 plug-ins that they don't control.

To renew app designs, developers can use WinUI3 in Windows 11, which provides built-in updates to the user interface, like updated icons, new typography, fun little interactions (like; Lottie anime), and an updated color palette. The Snap Layouts feature will help maximize your productivity in Windows 11.

Reunion Windowing enables developers to manage and create application windows easily. The feature works with the existing application codes. It simplifies everyday operations, provides new functionality for desktop applications such as Light-Dismiss Behavior and Picture-In-Picture mode, and easily customizes the title bar.

Besides significant changes to the Microsoft Store, Microsoft is taking steps to open up greater economic chances for creators and developers. Microsoft plans to enable developers and independent software suppliers to bring their applications regardless of whether they are designed as Win32, Progressive Web Application, Universal Windows Application, or any other application framework. This will let developers reach and engage a larger audience.

According to Microsoft, revenue share policies will also change. App developers can now bring their business into the Microsoft Store and keep 100% of the revenue. Microsoft takes nothing. Developers can still use Microsoft Business with a competitive revenue share of 85/15.

What are the System Requirements for Windows 11 Operating System?

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC).
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Storage: 64 GB or more significant.
• System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable.
• Graphics Card: DirectX 12 compatible or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Display: HD (720p) screen larger than 9 inches, 8 bits per color channel.
• Internet connection: Windows 11 Home requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft account to complete the device installation when using it for the first time. It also requires switching the device from Windows 11 Home in S mode connected to the internet.

On Windows 11, some features increased. Therefore, to enjoy these features, you will need some requirements. Below are additional details regarding essential feature requirements:

• G5 support: Requires a modem that supports 5G.
• Auto HDR: Requires an HDR monitor.
• BitLocker to Go: Requires a USB flash drive (available in Windows Pro and earlier).
• Client Hyper-V: Requires a processor with second-level address translation (SLAT) capabilities (available in Windows Pro and earlier).
• Cortana: Requires a microphone and speaker and is currently available on Windows 11 for Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Direct Storage: Requires an NVMe SSD (Non-Volatile Memory Express solid-state drive) drive to store and play games that use the standard NVM Express console driver and DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support.
• DirectX 12 Ultimate: Available with supported games and graphics chips.
• Presence: Requires a sensor that can detect a person's distance from the device or intent to interact with the device.
• Innovative Video Conferences: Requires a video camera, microphone, and speaker.
• Multiple Voice Assistant (MVA): Requires microphone and speaker.
• Mute/unmute from taskbar: Requires video camera, microphone, and speaker. The app must be compatible with the feature to enable global mute/unmute.
• Spatial audio: Requires supporting hardware and software.
• Teams: Requires video camera, microphone, and speaker.
• Touch: Requires a screen or monitor that supports multi-touch.
• Two-factor authentication: Requires a PIN, biometrics (fingerprint reader or illuminated infrared camera), or a phone with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities.
• Voice Typing: Requires a computer with a microphone.
• Wake on sound: Requires modern power model and microphone.
• Wi-Fi 6E: Requires new WLAN IHV hardware, driver, and compatible Wi-Fi 6E router/access and point/router.
• Windows Hello: Requires a camera configured for near-infrared (IR) imaging or a fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. Devices without biometric sensors can use Windows Hello with a Microsoft-compatible PIN or security key.
• Windows Projection: Requires a display adapter that supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 and a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct.

Windows 11 will be a free upgrade for genuine Windows 10 PCs and new PCs running through 2022. According to Microsoft, find out if your Windows 10 PC is open for the free upgrade to Windows 11. You can visit Windows.com to download PC Health Check. Microsoft said it's working with its retail partners to "make sure the Windows 10 PCs you buy today are ready to upgrade to Windows 11."