Microsoft officially announces Windows 11 as the next generation of Windows

The rumors and leaks were indeed true. Microsoft just officially announced Windows 11 at its big June 24 event, ushering it in as the next generation of Windows. Hitting general availability this holiday season, it will follow up n more than five years of updates to Windows 10.

Windows 11 comes with many new features, as was discovered when a leaked build of the operating system got posted online last week. The highlight of the update is a new fresh and modern visual redesign that touches nearly every aspect of the software. The operating system features web widgets, rounded corners, and more touches of Microsoft’s blur-like “Fluent Design” system.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Under the hood, Microsoft improved features like waking from sleep and Windows Hello. It also improved Windows Updates to be 40% faster so you’re able to stay productive. As for performance, Microsoft says it has improved battery life on devices, as well as made Windows 11 the “most secure Windows yet.”

Recommended Videos

Windows 11 is powered by the cloud and Microsoft 365, so you can see the same experiences from your mobile phone on your Start Menu. Snap Layouts are also new, allowing you to multitask with ease and see your open apps in the taskbar with ease. Even the windowing and docking system has been improved, so you can see your window layouts right as you left them when you dock and undock from a monitor.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Elsewhere, when it comes to Teams, Microsoft is including Teams integration right in the Taskbar. With one touch of an icon in the taskbar, you can connect with people that you love. There are even Windows Widgets, which is powered by an artificial intelligence serving you curated content.

Enhancements for gaming with auto HDR, a new Xbox app, the ability to use Android apps in the Microsoft Store through the Amazon app store caps out the list of features.

You can check out our live blog for more updates from the Windows 11 event as things roll along.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details are announced.

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Microsoft finds a sneaky way to slip more ads into Windows

Microsoft is currently testing a new way to showcase ads on the Windows 11 Start Menu, and it's meant to encourage users to download more applications.

The brand has used the top of the Windows start menu as an area to showcase general ads in the past, and it was not well-received by system users. However, it is now experimenting with putting what it calls “app promotions” at the bottom of the start menu area, according to Windows Central.

Read more
Microsoft announces a new threat to push people to Windows 11

Microsoft is sharing more details of its plans to transition customers still using Windows 10 from a free offering to a paid structure if they wish to continue receiving security updates.

The company is phasing out the legacy operating system, which will reach its end-of-life support on October 14, 2025. After this, Microsoft will begin charging enterprise users a monthly fee for Extended Security Updates (ESU). Businesses must purchase an ESU license for all Windows 10 devices in order to maintain security support beyond the cutoff date.

Read more
How to adjust screen resolution in Windows 11 and older

You're not actually stuck with the screen resolution setting your Windows PC came with. In addition to tons of other device personalization options, screen resolutions are customizable on Windows PCs. And adjusting the screen resolution on your Windows machine is easier than you think. All it takes is a quick trip to your Settings app or Control Panel (depending on which version of Windows you're running) and a few clicks and you're on your way to an easier-to-view screen. Here, we'll show you how to adjust screen resolutions for Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 7 PCs.
In Windows 11
Step 1: Navigate to the Windows 11 Settings app.

Step 2: Click Display.

Read more