10 Windows 11 innovations worth upgrading for
Windows 11, Microsoft's first numbered operating system in six years, has been released.
The update redesigned the design and added some important chips that simplify the work in the OS. You can already install it - the upgrade from Windows 10 is free.
I've been using Windows 11 for the last month while it was in "beta". I'll tell you how to install the updates and what features you should pay attention to.
Who can upgrade to Windows 11 - System Requirements
Windows 11 is much more "voracious" than Windows 10 - you'll need a computer or tablet with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of hard disk space to install it.
Moreover, official installation requires at least a seventh-generation Intel or AMD processor with Zen+ architecture. The new OS has only one bit size - 64-bit. You can check if Windows 11 will install on your computer by using PC Health Check.
If your computer supports Windows 11, the OS will offer to install it by itself in the "Update Center".
Microsoft does not restrict users from installing the system manually using an ISO image, which can be freely downloaded from the official site - so you can bypass some of the restrictions. But with such installation automatic updates will be unavailable - install at your own risk.
If you don't like the system or encounter errors, you can roll back to Windows 10.
The look is nicer
The first thing that catches your eye is the redesigned look of the system. Typical icons have been updated, as has the general appearance of windows: after many years, Microsoft has returned to rounded edges. And standard applications became semi-transparent. A lot of things in the system began to resemble macOS.
Now most actions in Windows are accompanied by quick animations. Opening folders, clicking on shortcut icons, accessing sidebars - everything became smoother and more pleasant.
If you think that animations make the system slower, or you're just used to the old style with sharp appearance of objects, you can turn off all visual decorations in the settings. *** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
Open apps are now underlined in the taskbar like on macOS
New Start
The familiar "Start" has moved from the left edge to the center, as well as the shortcut icons. You'll have to get used to it: it was much easier to blindly find the button in the corner.
The layout of elements in Start has also changed - the "tiled" design is gone. Now the pinned applications are a group of small icons that can be placed on the panel in any order.
A group of icons recommended by the system itself has appeared. As a rule, recently opened files and documents are fixed there
If you want, you can return Start to its usual place in the lower left corner.
Multitasking - now even more convenient
If you need to place several windows on one screen at once, the system automatically offers several layouts.
It was possible to "spread" applications across the screen before, but Windows 11 makes it easier and faster: you can see all the options by hovering over the "Expand" button. And the system remembers how you position certain windows, so it can offer you the most convenient options.
This helps to plan your workspace - especially useful for those who have to work with several texts or images at once.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to create your own presets with the arrangement
Working with multiple desktops has been slightly improved
Creating a group of different desktops has been available in Windows for a long time, but after the update, working with them has become easier and more convenient. For example, you can now change the background of each desktop, making it easier to find the right one.
Unfortunately, there are no other significant changes. For example, you still can't customize visible folders and files for each individual desktop.
Tablet mode is a little more comfortable, but could be better
Tablet mode has been updated as well. They added several new gestures that previously worked only on touchpads. However, there are not very many of them, and the system doesn't recognize some gestures that tablet users are used to: for example, you can't move between different layers of folders and settings by swiping left and right.
Individual interface elements, such as icons on the control panel, are pulled further apart as soon as the system switches to tablet mode. It's harder to accidentally click the wrong one.
Widgets are back - in a new design
Next to the Start button there is a new element - "Mini Applications". They resemble the news panel that appeared in one of the recent updates for Windows 10.
Essentially, it's a wall of widgets that can be useful on a daily basis: weather, tasks for the day, recommended news and so on.
The list of available widgets is still very limited, but Microsoft promises to add more in the future. The company will also allow developers to
To Do app for notes is now available
The To Do task management program is now installed in Windows by default. You can use it to create a to-do list or a reminder of an important event.
Simply put, it's a classic task scheduler that can be attached as a widget in the "Mini Apps" ribbon we wrote about above. It's especially useful if you're using Windows on a tablet.
Microsoft Teams chat has been integrated into the system
Microsoft Teams chat is now integrated into the system - its icon is in the taskbar by default. Through the messenger you can chat with all your contacts in Teams, no matter what platform they use - iOS, Android, browser or macOS.
At the bottom of the chat is also a button through which you can fully expand Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Store has been updated
Microsoft has brought its app and game store up to date and made it more user-friendly.
In the future, the company also plans to add support for Android apps to the store - via Amazon Appstore download.
Gaming features Auto HDR and Direct Storage now available
HDR settings now include the Auto HDR feature, which was previously available on Xbox consoles. It adds wide dynamic range support to older games that were made without an eye on this standard. Games will look richer and brighter if you have a compatible monitor - the system automatically detects which parts of the picture need to be emphasized.
According to tech experts at Digital Foundry, the feature does a great job. The image below shows an example of Auto HDR in the game Gears 5: the first picture shows the original original colors in SDR, the second shows the places that the algorithm has processed for the appearance of HDR, and the third shows the natural HDR.
Microsoft's algorithm selects areas of old games to increase their brightness. The areas from the second and third pictures overlap a lot - Auto HDR does its job.
Also among the innovations is the Direct Storage function, which also came from the Xbox consoles. This is a special algorithm that allows the video chip to process graphics bypassing the processor, addressing the memory directly. This will help to reduce the time of reloads in games and start them in just a few seconds.
Direct Storage requires NVMe SSDs with a PCIe 3.0 interface. The feature is also available on Windows 10, but it's slower there due to the operating system's support for older memory standards.
