ANI
27 Jan 2022, 00:25 GMT+10
Washington [US], January 26 (ANI): American tech giant Microsoft has plans to launch a public preview of its Android apps for Windows 11 next month, alongside some taskbar improvements and redesigned Notepad and Media Player apps.
According to The Verge, Windows chief Panos Panay has outlined the upcoming changes to Windows 11 in a blog post today, and they seem to be part of Windows 11's first big update.
Improvements to the taskbar include a mute and unmute feature and likely the ability to show a clock on secondary monitors. Both were missing at the launch of Windows 11, but Microsoft is still working on improving the taskbar further to bring back missing functionality like drag and drop.
The upcoming Windows 11 next month will also include the weather widget returning to the taskbar, something Microsoft started testing last month. The company would also redesign its Notepad and Media Player apps, and both include dark modes and design tweaks that more closely match Windows 11.
However, the biggest new addition will be Android apps on Windows 11. Panay said this will be a "public preview," indicating that the feature will still be in beta when it's widely available next month.
Microsoft first started testing Android apps on Windows 11 with testers in October, and the feature allows users to install a limited number of apps from Amazon's Appstore. There are a variety of workarounds to get the Google Play Store running on Windows 11, but Microsoft isn't officially supporting this.
Panay further shared a variety of stats about how important Windows has become over the past couple of years. Windows 10 and Windows 11 now run on 1.4 billion devices each month, and the PC market has experienced strong growth throughout the pandemic.
"As we reflect on what's driving this structural shift in PC demand and usage, we see three enduring trends: the rise in hybrid work and learning, shifts in entertainment habits and distribution models, and changing consumer habits for everyday tasks," said Panay.
Microsoft says it has seen a 6x increase in people using apps like Cisco WebEx, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Next month's Windows 11 update will also make it easier to share your screen in Microsoft Teams and other video call apps.
A new tab will appear when users hover over apps like Teams on the taskbar, and it lets them quickly share window content on a call, as per The Verge. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationGENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...
ABU DHABI, 3rd July, 2025 (WAM) -- The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association...
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): The social media accounts of several Pakistani actors and cricketers remain blocked after it was reported...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 2 (ANI): The much-anticipated LEGEN-Z T10 League will be played from August 7 to August 13 at the...
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra has directed...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 2 (ANI): Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma is back with another episode of 'The Great Indian Kapil Show,'...
Birmingham [UK], July 2 (ANI): Former head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri didn't mince his words while expressing his discontent...