Back in the last week, Microsoft held its June 24 conference and among novelties introduced the big star of the event – Windows 11 – as its next big operating system update. Windows 11 adds new visual elements, changes a couple of things, and adds Android apps support which probably is one of the biggest features in the new OS. Microsoft will release the first developer preview sometime this week. However, the company is yet to announce the official release date of the stable software. While we’re waiting for that, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer Panos Panay may have inadvertently leaked the release timeline.
Windows 11 possible release timeline
Microsoft is yet to announce the Windows 11 release date. The company’s CFO, Panos Panay, might have accidentally tipped the release timeline. According to a report by The Verge, Panay sent out a “Teams” message that reads “can’t wait until October”. The CPO did not reveal the official release date in the message though.
The new Windows firmware will arrive as a free upgrade for eligible users. The company is determining some system requirements such as a 64-bit processor, a CPU with two or more cores, and at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of Storage.
Gizchina News of the week
Among the new things that Windows 11 brings, there is a new center-aligned Start Menu. The company has placed most of the taskbar icons in the center. However, you can easily put them back on the left part. Moreover, Microsoft is bringing back Widgets support. These widgets will show important information such as Weather, and Calendar, it will also present you with photo previews, along with a search bar powered by Microsoft Edge. Worth noting that the OS will support third-party Widgets which makes the feature even more useful.
Microsoft is also strengthening its portfolio of video-conferencing platforms. In addition to Skype, the company has integrated Teams in the taskbar. Therefore users can easily connect through text, chat, voice, or video with each other. Users can connect with each other via two-way SMS even if one of them does not have the Microsoft Teams app downloaded on their device.
One of the biggest novelties is the Android app’s support. Users will be able to find and discover Android applications straight from the Microsoft Store. The apps will be downloaded from Amazon Store. However, reports indicate that users will even be able to download and install apps in the APK format which expands the feature even further.
