Microsoft continues to fix Windows 11 with changes to Taskbar, Widgets

Home windows 11 has continued to tack away from its launch state, issuing new options which can be primarily course corrections from its preliminary strategy. Home windows 11 Insider Preview Construct 22563 is a working example, bringing fixes to the taskbar for tablets and an improved Widgets expertise.

It’s a theme we talked about in our latest video describing the Home windows 11 spring 2022 “replace”: Microsoft launched its new Home windows 11 OS, customers complained, so Microsoft backtracked. For instance, Microsoft launched Home windows 11 with minimal adjustments to the taskbar expertise for tablets such because the Floor Professional 8. Particularly, whereas Home windows 10 alters the taskbar when a pill just like the SP8 is undocked, Home windows 11’s secure configuration leaves it largely unchanged.

Construct 22563 makes a welcome change. One of many considerations with a pill is how simply you’ll inadvertently click on one thing you didn’t imply to. Within the new construct, the taskbar slims down into only a tiny ribbon on the backside of the display. In case you swipe up, it expands right into a extra simply navigable space. Sure, it’s a second click on, however it’s like sliding a utility knife again into its sheath when it’s not in use—you’re buying and selling a little bit of inconvenience for extra security.

The adjustments to Widgets are extra refined—and, if we’re being trustworthy, in all probability extra discernible as soon as we get some hands-on time with the brand new construct.

“We’re attempting out some adjustments in Widgets to convey extra dynamic content material to your Widgets board, by experimenting with bringing collectively the widgets and information feed experiences as a dynamic blended feed containing each widgets and information content material,” Microsoft mentioned in a weblog submit. “This could make it simpler so that you can uncover and interact with new widgets and information content material by your feed. With a dynamic feed there’s much less of a burden on you to curate the canvas by yourself, however you’ll nonetheless have the ability to pin your favourite Widgets to the highest if you need.”

From the illustration Microsoft offered, there actually don’t seem like substantive adjustments to Widgets earlier than and after the brand new construct:

As a substitute, it seems to be like Widgets is being made extra versatile, so that you simply’ll uncover and add new widgets to the feed. Notice that the “add widgets” button seems to have moved to the highest, the place there’s now a small “plus” icon that seems subsequent to your avatar icon.

Microsoft additionally made another small adjustments. The primary seems to be a continuation of Home windows 10’s conduct in Snap Help. In case you snap an app to at least one aspect or a nook of the display, Home windows suggests different apps to fill the area. Now, the primary three “apps” Home windows 11 suggests will likely be your most up-to-date three tabs opened inside Microsoft Edge, then different apps. Microsoft says that you simply’ll have the ability to management this conduct through the Alt+Tab controls: Settings > System > Multitasking contained in the Settings menu.

Home windows 11’s Snap Help will now recommend Edge tabs.

Microsoft

Microsoft has additionally modified the search conduct in Fast Entry, the search bar on the high proper of any File Explorer window. Now, along with looking out recordsdata saved domestically in your PC, Home windows will add a search of your OneDrive content material as nicely.

Beginning with this construct, Home windows Insiders can now use 37 new emoji characters within the emoji picker as a part of Emoji 14.0, the corporate added. They embody “troll,” “melting face,” and “mirror ball” emoji.

Technically, these enhancements are all a part of the Dev Channel, so Microsoft is underneath no obligation to convey them to the secure channel of Home windows. However these really feel like fixes that you simply’ll see quickly, regardless.

As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft information and chip know-how, amongst different beats. He has previously written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

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