The Release of Windows 11: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has officially revealed Windows 11, and those in the insider program have received a developer build of the operating system. To provide an overview of the new features, Krazy Ken will take you through the updates.

When Can You Expect Windows 11?

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding Windows 11 is when it will be available to the public. An official release date has not been announced yet by Microsoft, but it is expected to be released in the US during the fall season, possibly on October 20th. This means that users who are eligible for an upgrade from Windows 10 can expect to receive Windows 11 at some point soon.

How Much Will Windows 11 Cost?

Another question that has been on everyone's mind is how much Windows 11 will cost. According to Microsoft, the operating system will be a free upgrade for any user who is eligible. This means that users who are currently running Windows 10 can expect to receive Windows 11 at no additional cost.

Is Your Computer Compatible with Windows 11?

Before you can install Windows 11, you need to make sure that your computer is compatible with the operating system. Microsoft has a PC Health Check program that will help determine if your computer meets the requirements for Windows 11. The two key things to note are that Windows 11 will only run on 64-bit hardware and that secure boot and TPM 2.0 must be enabled.

New Design of Windows 11

One of the most noticeable changes in Windows 11 is its all-new design. The new design is refreshing yet familiar, with a center-aligned task bar, a redesigned Start menu, rounded window corners, and an all-new out-of-box experience. The graphics and animations have also been updated, creating a more visually appealing interface. In addition, the Start menu now playsfully shifts when new icons appear, and certain icons are animated when clicked on.

Settings App Overhaul

The settings app has also undergone a significant overhaul in Windows 11. The new design is different from what was seen in earlier leaks, with a category list always readily available in the sidebar regardless of which settings are open. There are also new wallpapers and themes bundled with the operating system, including a new wallpaper inspired by Windows 11 that can be downloaded.

Overhaul of File Explorer

The file explorer has undergone some changes in Windows 11, although it may not be as significant as some had hoped. The ribbon has been removed, and a new toolbar with some new icons has taken its place. However, the design change is relatively minor, and it's unclear if further updates will be made in future developer builds.

Maximize Button and Snap Layouts

The Maximize button now offers snap layouts, making it easy to rearrange windows with a click. Windows 11 also remembers what your snap layout was on an external monitor, allowing you to easily switch between different arrangements.

Dashboard Feature and Gadget Sidebar

Windows 11 has introduced a new dashboard feature that contains widgets such as weather and calendar for easy access to information. The gadget sidebar, which was first introduced in Windows Vista, is back in Windows 11, providing users with quick access to various features and settings.

Integration of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is now integrated into the system, allowing consumers and businesses to use its features. Teams can be used for chats, video calls, and other applications, with a universal mute button available in the system tray. Under the hood, Teams is switching away from Electron and will now be a Microsoft Edge WebView 2 application, which offers benefits such as less RAM usage.

Release of Additional Content

Krazy Ken also wants to mention that he released an episode on his other show, discussing additional topics related to Windows 11.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(dramatic music)- Hey guys. How are you all doing?If you're new here, welcome.My name is Krazy Kenand last week, Microsoftofficially revealed Windows 11.And today, people in the insider programgot a developer buildof the operating systemso I wanted to show youwhat's new real quick.So let's take a look.I want to address a fewquestions I know everybody has.First, when is Windows 11coming out to the public?So an official date hasn't beenannounced yet by Microsoft,but it will likely bein the US's fall season,possibly on October 20th.How much will Windows 11 cost?Windows 11 will be a freeupgrade for any eligible user,for example, a Windows 10 user.And finally, is my computercompatible with Windows 11?So I have a link in the descriptionfrom Microsoft PC health check program.Go ahead and run that programand it will tell you ifyour PC is compatible.The two important things to note are,Windows 11 will onlyrun on 64 bit hardwareand you need secure bootenabled and TPM 2.0.All right. Let's dive into the new stuff.My favorite big changeis the all-new design.It's refreshing yet familiar.A center aligned task bar,a redesigned tireless startmenu, rounded window corners,and even an all new out of box experiencewith new graphics and animationsand a new start-up center.(mellow music)Oh yeah. That's nice.Icons in the task bar playfully shiftwhen new icons pop up andcertain icons are animatedwhen you click on them too.And if you'd like, you canstill left align the icons.The settings app has beencompletely redesigned.Yes, it's even differentcompared to the leak Windows11 build we saw earlier,and the category list isalways readily availablein the sidebar, no matterwhich settings are openand there's all new wallpapers and themesbundled with Windows 11 too.And of course, dark modeis still there for you.I also made this new wallpaperinspired by Windows 11and if you like it,you can download it withthe link in the description.Now, many people have beenwanting a file Explorer overhaul,and it looks like theribbon has been removedand a new toolbar with somenew icons has replaced it,but it doesn't appear to be amajor overhaul in the design.Will we get some morechanges in future dev builds?Maybe, but let's not hold our breath.Up next, the Maximize buttonnow offers snap layoutso you can easily rearrangeyour windows with a click.And Windows 11 will even rememberwhat your snap layout wason an external monitor.Windows 11 also has anew dashboard feature,which contains widgets suchas weather and calendarfor easy at a glance information.Is anyone else gettingsome serious WindowsVista nostalgia with this?Oh, yeah, the gadget sidebar,remember that? Good times.No matter how hard you look,you will not find a Skypepre-installed with Windows 11.Some people might be overjoyed by that,but you will find Microsoft Teams.Microsoft Teams is nowintegrated into the system.Teams can be used by consumers,or it can be used for commercial use.It works with chats, itworks with video callsand there's even a universal Mute buttonin your system trayso you can mute your microphonefrom any application.Under the hood, Teams isswitching away from Electronand it will now be a MicrosoftEdge WebView 2 application,which can offer benefitssuch as less Ram usage.Now, before I move ontothe next thing quick,I just wanted to mention,I released an episode on my other show,\"Krazy Ken's Tech Misadventures\"about the Windows 11 leaked build,where I install it and testdrive it for the first time.It's all raw and unscriptedand it was a lot of fun.So feel free to check thatout. All right, what's next?There's some big changescoming to the Microsoft Store.The new store will host more applicationsregardless of app framework,including traditional andfamiliar Win32 applications.For example, Adobe Creative Cloudwill now be in the Microsoft Store.Another important featureis if a developer hastheir own commerce systemthey want to integrate,they can still host their app in the storewithout having to go throughMicrosoft commerce systemand guess what? Theykeep 100% of the revenue.So that's a pretty big thing there.But wait, there's more.Android apps will also beavailable in the Microsoft storevia the Amazon app store integration.Windows 11 uses Intel Bridge technologyto run the Android apps.And according to Microsoft,Android app compatibilitywill also work on AMDand arm devices running Windows 11.So lots of cool featurescoming with Windows 11,and I'm sure there will be more updateswith these future developer buildsbefore the official release.So feel free to follow me on Twitterand I will let you know about that stuffas soon as I get that information.And feel free to let me knowwhat you think about Windows 11in the comments belowand feel free to subscribefor more tech episodes.All the time, I releasethem as much as I can.I like doing episodesabout rare and retro tech,new tech, and of course, scam tech.So feel free to followalong. It's a fun time.And hey, if you liked thisepisode, you know what to do.Thanks for sticking with me.Catch the crazy and pass it on.(upbeat music)\n"