With Microsoft's official announcement of Windows 11, we can piece together all we know about the company's future operating system.
- Release date: By the end of the year
- Price: Free for existing Windows 10 users
- Interface changes: New, rounded design
- Redesigned Microsoft store and support for Android Apps
- Better Xbox app integration
- the author makes old games look more vibrant
- DirectStorage is exclusive to Windows 11
Microsoft has now officially declared that Windows 11 will be available before the end of the year. The "What's Next for Windows" presentation on June 24 was preceded by an early build of Windows 11 leaking just a week before, so it wasn't entirely unexpected. Aside from the fact that Windows 10 would not be Microsoft's final operating system.
Before this official statement, it was unclear what the future of the Windows operating system would include. The prevailing consensus was that the modifications to the Windows UI, codenamed Sun Valley, would be released as yet another Windows 10 upgrade. In many ways, Windows 11 is just another update to Windows 10, albeit one that Microsoft's marketing team can get behind.
However, several changes in store for Windows 11, including a new UI, a new look for the Microsoft Store (which now includes Android apps), improved Xbox app integration, and AutoHDR DirectStorage support. Microsoft is also keen to focus on PC gamers this time around, stating that "if you're a gamer, Windows 11 was made for you."
After all, it's probably about time for a new version of Windows.
When will Windows 11 be released?
Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 will be available for download by the holidays this year, with beta builds beginning to be distributed to Windows Insiders beginning the week of June 28, 2021.
We'd anticipate a November 2021 delivery, which is around when we expected the Autumn Sun Valley update to arrive. There's a good chance that's exactly what we'll get in Windows 11.
However, with early releases being sent to Windows Insiders soon, we won't have to wait long to get our hands on the first iterations of Windows' new features and look.
The new Windows UI
The most noticeable changes in Windows 11 are in the user interface (UI). Microsoft has a history of messing with its user interface, and Windows 11 is no exception. Existing windows now have a fresh style, and the frosted-glass effect on certain overlapping panels has been explored. The start button has been relocated, and widgets are making a comeback, and
The overall ethos is a shift toward a softer, more rounded theme. Windows no longer have the right-angle corners we've been accustomed to but are instead rounded. It's a small difference, but it has a different feel—at least when the windows aren't full screen.
The taskbar has also been moved to the center of the screen rather than crammed into the bottom left-hand corner. But don't worry, you can restore it to how it was in Windows 10 by flipping a switch on the Taskbar Settings screen.
The way you arrange your windows on the screen has also received a long-overdue boost. Right-clicking the maximize icon brings up a drop-down menu where you can choose how you want the multiple windows to be arranged. In Windows 10, you have some control over such things, but with easy support for windows taking up a third or quarter of the screen, this can allow for a much neater arrangement.
This is especially beneficial if you have a huge 4K screen and want to view multiple apps simultaneously.
Windows 11 redesigned Microsoft Store.
The Microsoft Store will be updated in Windows 11, with a new interface and a larger assortment of programs. This new store will have a more user-friendly and well-curated digital storefront. It will also be faster, "We rebuilt for speed," said Panos Panay during the Windows 11 announcement...
The new-look Microsoft Store will be available for windows 10 as well
One of the more unexpected news about the Microsoft Store, apart from the fact that Microsoft isn’t ready to abandon it just yet, is that you’ll be able to run Android apps on your Windows PC
Microsoft has partnered with Amazon to provide its own brand of programs to the Microsoft Store, although you will be able to sideload apk files from elsewhere. This is thanks to Intel's Bridge Technology, but don't fret. It will also run on AMD CPUs.
"The greatest Windows for PC gaming ever."
This is a bold claim given that we've all been using Windows for PC gaming for... well, forever, but it's an indication that Microsoft is taking gaming seriously—something it has previously taken for granted. It promises that Windows 11 would be the fastest option for games, thanks to two special technologies: Auto HDR and DirectStorage.
The Xbox software will be better integrated into Windows 11 as well.
AutoHDR boosts game performance.
Auto HDR has been showing off in Windows 10 Insider Preview releases for a few months now, and it's a feature that Microsoft has previously deployed on the Xbox Series X/S. Although Microsoft claims that any DirectX 11 game should benefit from it, it does not work with every game.
To get the most out of it, you'll obviously need an HDR-compliant screen, but the effects may be dramatic. Not as much as having the games designed for HDR in the first place, but it may potentially offer certain titles that are no longer actively produced a fresh lease on life.
Microsoft demonstrated the technique during the Windows 11 launch event with Skyrim, which appeared a bit more colorful but losing some of its muted charm in the process. Purists, I believe, would avoid this choice, but anyone seeking to show off their HDR screen will be all over it.
DirectStorage is exclusive to Windows 11
The decision to make DirectStorage a Windows 11 exclusive is a bit more contentious. This technology has long been expected to maximize the NVMe SSDs that many of us have in our machines. It's already been revealed that you won't need the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs to benefit from DirectStorage, as it will work with PCIe 3.0 SSDs, but we'll have to wait and watch how this all plays out.
DirectStorage promises to make game loading stages and textures faster, potentially allowing game creators to create games in entirely new ways. Streaming environments in a more efficient manner sounds like a nice idea, but how will game creators accommodate the different types of discs that players have in their machines? After all, some PC gamers are still using hard drives.
The fact that this is coming to the Xbox Series X/S could work in its favor here, giving creators a chance to say, look, you're going to need an NVMe SSD to play this game. It will be some time before we see games that take advantage of DirectStorage. With PCs not receiving support until Windows 11 is released at the end of the year, many can change before the first games utilizing the technology are exposed.
What are the system requirements for Windows 11?
The essential system requirements for Windows 11 aren't all that different from those for Windows 10, at least in processor, RAM, and graphics card. However, there is presently a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 included, which may risk some update plans.
The full specifications are:
- Processor 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
- Memory 4 GB RAM
- Storage 64 GB or larger storage device
- System firmware UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- TPM Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
- Graphics card DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
- Display >9” with HD Resolution (720p)
- Internet connection Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home
How much will Windows 11 cost?
Microsoft has announced that the new Windows 11 operating system will be available to licensed Windows 10 customers as a free update. People who purchase PCs now will thus be eligible for a free upgrade when Windows 11 is released around the holidays.
You must be logged in to post a comment.