Windows 11 developments expected in 2022…

For Microsoft, the version of Windows 11 released last October is only the first version of the future of Windows. Here are the first developments that await the system in 2022…

Windows 11 marks a profound visual overhaul of the system and new ergonomic orientations. But the first version released last October is, in many ways, unfinished, immature, and incomplete. Microsoft is working to refine its system and improve certain points criticized by users who are not entirely convinced, in particular by the new Start menu.

Here are some of the new features and improvements expected in 2022, some of which are already rolling out to Windows Insiders…

The control panel fades a little more

Windows 10 had inaugurated a new Windows settings panel. In Windows 11, the settings screen has been completely redesigned and focused on research to more easily find the system settings that you want to modify and customize. But many links still refer to the ancestral "Control Panel". The latest "Windows Insiders Build" shows that Microsoft continues to enrich the new settings screen so as to make the control panel completely obsolete.

A more configurable Start menu

The Start menu, which appears centered by default, remains very fixed in the first version of Windows 11. Microsoft is working on various avenues to make it more customizable. Thus, the next version should allow users to display more icons and fewer "recommendations". Microsoft could also allow users to expand this menu, to change its size, as was possible under Windows 10.

A more open Widgets panel

Windows 11 reintroduced a Windows Vista feature discontinued since Windows 8: Widgets. A new information panel is displayed when the combination [Win]+[W] is pressed. Currently, the Widgets offered are all produced by Microsoft and are limited. The next edition of Windows 11 should open this panel to third-party publishers. Similarly, some Widgets can be pinned to the taskbar to permanently display information on the screen (Windows Insiders can already pin the Weather Widget to the taskbar for example).

A new Media Player

Apparently, Microsoft intends to resurrect "Media Player", its relatively universal media player. The latest Windows Insiders builds indeed offer a new application inspired by the old Windows media player and intended to replace the Groove application in Windows 10 (and Windows 11 version 2021). The application plays both music and videos and offers advanced management of playlists.

Boosted performance

The first version of Windows 11 often feels faster and smoother than Windows 10. But this is not always true and some scenarios are slower as the 2021 edition of the system has some bugs that for example can degrade the performance of SSDs. the 2022 edition of the system.

Windows Terminal installs in the landscape

Developers, administrators and advanced users appreciate being able to control and automate the system using a command line interface. Since 2019, Microsoft has been developing in open source a new textual interface intended to replace the old "Command Prompt". Called Windows Terminal, this interface is accelerated by GPU, offers a tabbed display and allows not only to display the Windows command prompt but also that of PowerShell, Linux (for those who use WSL), Azure, etc. .As Windows Insiders have already verified, in 2022 Windows Terminal will become the system's default command-line interface. And that's a very good thing...

An icon to control the Microphone

Communication applications will cause a "microphone" icon to appear on the taskbar to allow you to mute the microphone of a single click. The feature is already supported by Teams (for Insiders) but will be supported by other applications in 2022.

Support for Android apps

Windows 11 will allow you to run Android apps directly in Windows windows. The feature was announced during the first presentation of the system in June 2021. But it was not present when the first version of Windows 11 was released. However, it should officially be born in 2022 and can already be experienced by Windows Insiders who live in the USA. Officially, only applications present in the Amazon Appstore will be supported. In practice, hackers offer alternatives to install any APK and even tips for installing the Google Play Store on Windows!

Support for Android games thanks to Google

If Google does not seem to have the intention of officially supporting its Android Play Store on Windows, the publisher is on the other hand working on the compatibility of Android games under Windows. At the Game Awards 2021 in early December, Google confirmed its intention to support Android games on Windows. “Starting in 2022, gamers will be able to experience their favorite Google Play games on more devices and move seamlessly from phone to tablet, Chromebook, and soon to Windows PC,” says the publisher. Google would have developed its own emulation technology different from that of Microsoft (WSA) and that of emulators like Bluestacks. "This Google-built product brings the best of Google Play Games to more laptops and desktops, and we're excited to expand our platform so gamers can enjoy their favorite Android games even more." »