Microsoft Announces New Windows 11 to be Available on 5 October
If you are a windows user, you will be excited to know that Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 will officially launch on 5 October.
In a blog post, Windows Marketing general manager Aaron Woodman confirmed the upgrade will be free to Windows 10 users.
“PCs that come pre-loaded with Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase. A new Windows experience, Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love.”
Woodman says Microsoft expects all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.
The rollout will be based on Microsoft’s models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, device age, and other factors that impact the upgrade experience.
Woodman highlighted several key features that will be available in Windows 11:
- New design and sounds.
- New Start menu puts content at the centre of the desktop and shows recent files from the cloud and Microsoft 365.
- Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Desktops provide more multitasking options.
- Chat from Microsoft Teams is integrated into the taskbar.
- Widgets, a new personalised feed powered by AI, promises a faster way to access the information you need.
- Enhanced gaming with DirectX12 Ultimate, DirectStorage, and Auto HDR.
- Rebuilt Microsoft Store.
- Accessibility improvements built for and by people with disabilities.
- New opportunities for developers and creators with the Microsoft Store, and new developer tools.
- Optimisations for speed, efficiency, and better experiences with touch, digital pen, and voice input.
While the list did not include the much-hyped integrated support for Android apps, Woodman said this feature will only be in preview for Windows Insiders in the coming months.
“We look forward to continuing our journey to bring Android apps to Windows 11 and the Microsoft Store through our collaboration with Amazon and Intel; this will start with a preview for Windows Insiders over the coming months.”
Woodman says Windows Update will notify users with eligible Windows 10 PCs when the Windows 11 update is available for their systems.
