Microsoft releases first major update for Windows 11 | IT world news Canada

When Windows 11 launched last year, Microsoft announced that unlike Windows 10, which received two feature updates per year, it would only receive one major update per year, with more features being added from time to time. On Tuesday, the company released the first of those annual updates to more than 190 countries.

However, you may not be able to see it immediately. As noted by John Cable, vice president, program management, for Windows Servicing and Delivery in his blog post describing how to get the update, “If data shows that your Device is ready when Our goal is to provide a quality update experience. We will initially be ramping up offer availability for the first few weeks while monitoring quality signals. If we determine that your device may have a problem, e.g. B. an application incompatibility, we can put a backup lock and not offer the update until this issue is resolved.”

The release date marks the start of the version’s support lifecycle, which is 24 months for the Home and Pro editions and 36 months for the Education and Enterprise editions.

Dubbed the Windows 11 2022 Update, the release packs a herd of new features across multiple areas. Microsoft groups them into four areas: making the PC easier to use and more secure; empower people to be more productive; Make Windows the best place to connect, create and play; and providing additional security, management and flexibility in the workplace. In the real world, this all means that they have addressed the main complaints of a large number of users about the first version of the operating system.

First off, the Start menu has finally been updated to support folders that previous versions of Windows had supported from the start, drag and drop of applications to the taskbar has been restored, and search has been improved, despite what Microsoft called number one Ask: Tabs in File Explorer isn’t there – it’s due to be added in October, along with an updated Photos app, a taskbar overflow area, and generating suggested actions when certain types of data, such as email, are stolen. B. Data and phone numbers are copied.

New accessibility features in the 2022 update include system-wide live captions to generate closed captions from any form of audio, voice access preview that lets users control PCs and compose text by voice, and Natural Voices for Narrator that sound more like audio assistants let human language.

Microsoft has been working on Snap layouts to make them more flexible, adding Focus sessions and Do Not Disturb, which mute notifications so people can get their work done without interruption. Focus can also remind users to take breaks.

Playtime isn’t neglected either – the Store experience has been improved, Windows Studio Effects improves video and audio calls, there are new Creator tools and additional game features. GamePass is integrated into the operating system via the Xbox app.

Compatible systems will soon enjoy an expanded Amazon Appstore Preview, reaching more international users, including Canadians, with Android apps and games. In addition, the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) offers two to three times faster graphics performance with hardware acceleration, DRM video support, improved input handling via touch, mouse and keyboard, as well as several network and security improvements.

On the security front, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen detects and alerts users when they enter their Microsoft credentials into malicious apps or hacked websites, and a presence-detection feature in Windows Hello for Business allows computers with presence sensors to securely sign users in via Windows Hello when they do so tun approaches the computer and signs them off when they walk away.

Smart App Control, available on new Windows 11 devices or with a clean install of the 2022 update, blocks untrusted or unsigned applications, scripts and malicious macros (the reason for requiring a clean install is to ensure that already malicious apps are present on the machine).

If you really want to install the update, open Windows Update from Settings and select Check for updates. When Windows 11 2022 Update (aka Windows 11, version 22H2) is available for your PC, you will be presented with the option to download and install.