Windows 11 - what the new operating system can do

The originally planned Windows10X project has been cancelled, and instead a new operating system, Windows 11, will be launched on October 5, 2021. Information about its features, differences from its predecessor and the requirements for an update have already been disclosed to the public.

Windows 11 - this is new

Microsoft developers have come up with a lot in the last six years since the release of Windows 10. The user interface of the Windows 11 release shines in a new design, the Start menu extends almost floating over the taskbar, Android apps should be able to be installed as an innovative feature at the latest at the beginning of 2022. The desktop can be customized, Internet Explorer is about to go out - and these are just some of the new Windows 11 features.

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Setup and control

Numerous new Windows 11 functions can also be found in the control system. Above all, the user-friendliness is to be increased and the operation is to be made easier even for laymen. The boot menu appears in a slimmed down, unfamiliar look, the startup sound has been revised. Windows can not only be maximized, but also moved and arranged as snap layouts by a simple keystroke. Among the redesigned Windows 11 features is the search function, in which particularly popular programs have been pre-installed and quick search terms are displayed as a list.

Those who use more than one monitor for work will benefit from the reminder function in the Windows 11 release: the window arrangement is adopted, virtual desktops receive individual wallpapers. While the start menu can be placed in the middle, the conventional arrangement of the start button on the left side of the screen including light and dark modes remains. Finally, while Skype will no longer be pre-installed, Microsoft Teams will be.

New icons

With the Windows 11 installation, the familiar attributes of the taskbar remain, but the look has been noticeably changed: The colored icons are centered, the Windows button given a completely new look along the way. Instead of angular tiles, a search bar at the top is followed by icons of frequently used programs under the topic "pinned", and "recommended" icons and links of recently opened files are displayed even further down. You won't find any static icons in Windows 11, everything looks innovative, dynamic and futuristic. A maximum of 18 icons can be pinned to the desktop, installed elements can be easily sorted and removed, and the most frequently used programs, storage locations and folders are clearly grouped together in a central location.

Photo: ©  Microsoft

Finally, there is something completely new among the Windows 11 functions with widgets: If you want to quickly take a look at the weather or stock prices, from now on you only have to cast your gaze on the small snippets of information on the lower left third of the screen.

Grouping apps

With the Windows 11 release, all open windows are grouped together into an app in the taskbar, a separate display for easier access is no longer provided. In addition to the personal selection of pinned apps, some shortcuts are also created by Microsoft itself. After all, users will be asked about their preferences during the installation of the new Windows 11 features and the focus will be placed on family, gaming or creativity.  

Also new: Microsoft is opening up to Win32 programs and plans to integrate Android apps into its store via cooperation with Amazon. However, these apps will not yet be available when Windows 11 is released; they are to follow in spring 2022. The Adobe Creative Cloud will also be available in the Microsoft Store of Windows 11 and various streaming services can be subscribed directly.

Gaming (XBOX)

Gamers have been at the center of the development of the new Windows 11 capabilities and features. As is already common with the Xbox Series X/S, automatic HDR effects are now added to games on the PC, faster loading takes place thanks to Direct Storage API and an access to the SSD. Xbox Game Pass can be downloaded directly as a game subscription in the Xbox app if desired after Windows 11 release.

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What are the system requirements?

Basically, all home users of Windows 10 should be able to take advantage of a free update to Windows 11. Once the Windows 11 release is released, users of Microsoft 10 will be automatically informed and can install the new Windows 11 features for free, users of Windows 7 and 8 systems still have to wait for confirmation from Microsoft. However, in any case, the hardware must also be compatible - on computers with an age of three years or more, an update is initially not always possible: New processors and motherboards should increase the security. The currently published requirements for an installation of Windows 11 include:

• 64 BIT processor with a 1 gigahertz CPU and at least 2 cores
• 4 gigabytes of RAM
• 64 gigabytes of hard disk space
• Monitor with minimum resolution of 720p
• EFI bios with Secure Boot
• TPM 2.0 chip
• Graphics card compatible with DirectX 12

 If all requirements are met, the slimmed-down installation of Windows 11 should be particularly fast and smooth. The setup presents dynamic background images, futuristic icons and a simple change of the individually desired settings.

How long will Windows 10 be around?

Microsoft users already know: All Windows 10 versions are supported for a limited duration at a time. But the transition period with its many Windows 11 features is long: the end of security updates for home users of Windows 10 is scheduled for October 14, 2025. But insiders give the all-clear even here: the date was initially issued as a rough guideline by Microsoft. Whether really the mentioned date is kept, is currently still in the stars.