Free free free
Let’s start with the good news – Windows 11 is a free upgrade for compatible PCs running Windows 10. Now for the not-so-good-news – not every computer is compatible. Don’t worry though, there’s a free tool from Microsoft to check compatibility. Called, PC Health Check Tool, it runs a few tests and tells you whether your computer is eligible for the upgrade.
Visual cues
Windows 11 gets a fresh new interface, which we must admit, is very Mac-like. You immediately notice the clean-er design with pastel shades and rounded edges. If you’re open to change, the Start Menu and the taskbar have been moved to the centre of the screen. It also gets new sections for apps like Pinned, Recommended.
Return of the Widgets
Android has widgets, Apple’s OS has widgets, and now Windows gets widgets (again). They have their own button on the taskbar making these widgets easy to find. Clicking the button opens a semi-transparent panel showing widgets for apps like weather, photos, calendar, and more. You can customise the list as per your needs.
Android in your Windows
Windows 11 users will now be able to run just about any Android app on their computer. These apps will be available on the Microsoft Store, via the Amazon AppStore. It is a feature that users have long waited for, and it’s Microsoft’s way of forging a greater bond between Windows and Android phone users.
Xbox inside the box
Gamers rejoice, as Xbox features are coming to PCs, at least some of them. Auto HDR and DirectStorage are two new features that will improve how PCs handle gaming. The built-in Xbox app will allow Xbox Game Pass subscribers to not only download from the catalog of games the service offers, but they will also be able to stream titles via Xbox cloud gaming.