Microsoft has finally announced Windows 11 contrary to their earlier announcement that there will not be any other version of Windows after Windows 10, only updates and improvements here and there. For some people, understanding the status of Windows 11 might feel tedious. But don’t worry, we at MeshPie have created our own version of the Windows 11 Cheat sheet where you can find every single piece of information you need to know about Windows 11.
Flash forward a few years later we have Windows 11 ready to take the place of Windows 10. First announced on June 24, 2021 in an online event, Windows 11 has quite a number of features and a few tricks up its sleeve. Microsoft has revamped the interface which now is slightly Apple-esque and says that “Windows 11 is for Gamers”. The people who are already running Windows 10 PC and meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11 can download the update by participating in the Windows Insider Program. With October 5 is set as the release date anyone can download and install Windows 11.
What is Windows 11?
Windows 11 is Microsoft’s newest operating system promising a lot of upgrades ranging from interface and performance to applications and Optimisation. The people whose PC will meet the system requirements can upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free of cost. Windows 11 comes with an all-new design, a new start menu, features like snap layouts and snap groups, chats from MS teams, Widgets, and a whole new Gaming experience.
What’s New in Windows 11?
The new refreshed version of windows brings in lots of new changes right from the interface to usability. There’s a lot to understand. This section of the Windows 11 cheat sheet brings in the new changes made in Windows 11.
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Interface
Microsoft has always played around and experimented with the interface as seen in Windows 7,8, 10, and now 11. Like every other time, Interface is one of the biggest changes that have been implemented in Windows 11. It can be said that it is more of a revolution than an evolution, the all-new start menu more aesthetically pleasing. The Taskbar icons are in the center and the corners are now rounded. Mac OS and Chrome OS users will find it easy to adjust to the new Windows 11 interface; others might take a slight time to get accustomed. The icons and animations are also better looking and the dark mode also looks more integrated. Microsoft said that the new UI will help people stay productive and has added features like a map navigator which helps you to stay in your flow.
Widgets
Widgets are officially back! Microsoft experimented with widgets by introducing the ‘News and Interests’ panel in the taskbar in Windows 10 and plans to take them to the next level in Windows 11. The new widgets are said to deliver a personalized feed that will be powered by artificial intelligence and rendered by Edge. The new widgets can be expanded to take up as much as the whole screen which serves good news for the third-party content providers.
Snap layout
Microsoft allows the user to change the shape of the windows of different applications on the screen. Recently Apple has also added the ability to set the windows to take exactly half of the space on the screen in their latest Mac OS which Windows users had for a long time. Microsoft has taken this option to a whole new level by introducing snap layouts, which provide a range of window layouts that can be populated according to the wish of the user. The user can also create a custom layout and save it for use in the future
Microsoft Teams integration
Microsoft Teams has been a very successful product, from having 20 million users 2 years back to now almost 150 million users. Microsoft wants to make teams bigger than just a workplace app and has given a button for it for easy access in Windows 11. The application is cross-platform which runs on Windows, iOS and Android. It also works with SMS for the people who do not have the app installed.
Compatibility of Android apps
Windows 11 now finally supports Android apps. Microsoft has integrated Android apps and they are now available on the Microsoft store. Their rival Apple has also tried to integrate mobile apps on PCs which has been a success for the most part given that Apple uses proprietary hardware especially the same CPU across its devices. How will the Android apps function on Windows is yet to be tested with the performance not so satisfactory in Chrome OS even when Android and Chrome OS are both owned by Google. The integration has been said to come through the ‘Amazon app Store’ which will be running inside the Microsoft app store.
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The developers will now be able to add ‘Progressive Web Apps’ and win32 apps along with ‘Universal Windows platform’ apps which are available in the Microsoft store. Using their own commerce engines the devs can also bypass the Microsoft store fee cut which is already one of the lowest in the market at 15%. The store will also have TV and movies which can be cast to TV wirelessly.
Gaming
Xbox cloud gaming is now available in the Xbox app along with an Xbox game pass. Features like DirectStorage and AutoHDR have been added for improved performance. Direct storage will speed the games by loading them from storage to the graphics card and AutoHDR produces better image quality with more color range and image depth.
Security
Microsoft has made some crucial improvements to Windows 11 which are not just present on the outside. It has been said that this browsing, Windows hello, Waking the PC from sleep will all be faster than ever before. Windows updates will be smaller and will be more efficient which will also improve the battery life. But for this a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip would be required to install Windows 11.
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Other changes in Windows 11
How to download Windows 11?
The people who already use a PC with Windows 10 and their system meets the Minimum Requirements for Windows 11 will receive a free update to Windows 11 after October 5. If you want to know if your PC meets the minimum system requirements or not you can download the ‘PC health check’ app. Microsoft has a tiered system of rolling out the updates so the time when you will receive the update depends on the type of PC. Also, Microsoft has not set any time limit on the rolling out of updates so you can skip updating to Windows 11 if you wish to.
Installing Windows 11 can also be installed through an iso file but Microsoft has said that the people who install Windows 11 even when their PC does not meet the minimum system requirements for it will not be officially supported.
Even if you do not own a PC that meets the minimum system requirements for windows 11 you can always sign up for the windows insider programs that will roll out Windows 11 insider build for the users. Even for those whose PC does not meet the requirements!
Windows 11 System Requirements
Processor: 1 gigahertz (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
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.
System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Feature specific requirements in windows 11
Some features in Windows 11 may require additional hardware, below is the list of all the features and hardware –
Conclusion
Officially launching on October 5, 2021, Windows 11 seems like a promising upgrade, and the users will have a good time using it. Microsoft has taken a lot of right decisions and implemented features that translate to real-world utility. While features like android apps integration have yet to be tested for their optimization, needless to say, I’m looking forward to it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Windows 11
How is Windows 11 any different from Windows 10?
Windows 11 has a plethora of new features which differentiate it from Windows 11, even the interface is different.
How much will a PC with Windows 11 cost?
PC prices vary depending on the hardware and type of use, options in any price range and usage type are nearly limitless.
What if I buy a PC now, will I get the update later?
All of the PCs shipped with Windows 10 will be eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11. Make sure your PC has the supported hardware which is required for some features.
Will my accessories work with Windows 11?
If your accessories worked with Windows 10, chances are they will work just fine with Windows 11, although you might want to check with the manufacturer whether your accessory is supported by Windows 11
Will my current Windows 10 PC be eligible for the upgrade?
If your PC runs the latest version of Windows 10 and meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 then the PC will be eligible for the free upgrade rolling out later this year.
Where can I purchase a PC with Windows 11 pre-installed?
Windows 11 PCs will start shipping out later this year.
>Windows Hello requires a camera configured for near infrared (IR) imaging or fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. Devices without biometric sensors can use Windows Hello with a PIN or portable Microsoft compatible security key.
>Windows Projection requires a display adapter which supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 and a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct.
