Windows 10: Microsoft to roll out Android apps preview for Windows 11 next month along with Taskbar...

Windows 11 is set to bring some improvements to the user experience such as the Taskbar, a new Media Player and a Notepad app next month. The company is also set to roll out Android apps for Windows 11 as a public preview.



If you can recall, the Redmond company announced that it had partnered with Amazon to bring the latter's App Store to Windows PCs, allowing users to access mobile apps and games on their desktop.

Image courtesy: Microsoft

It is obvious why Windows 11 was rushed out the door, to drive the sales of new computers, laptops, which shipped with the new operating system during the holiday season. The problem however was that the OS wasn't very well optimized at launch, and Microsoft had to focus on fixing the issues. This meant pushing some features to a later date, including support for Android apps. A month or so later, the Windows Subsystem on Android (WSA) debuted as a limited beta for users in the US. Some users found a way to get it to work on the stable channel of the OS, and we have a guide that shows you how to install Android apps on Windows 11.

Android apps preview for Windows 11


While Microsoft delayed support for the feature, Google reacted to it quickly, and announced its own way to use Android apps on Windows 10 and 11. The search giant is prepping its iteration, called Google Play Games for PC, and is currently available in a limited beta for users in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.



It almost feels like a race at this point to who gets Android apps on Windows first, so it's not really surprised that Microsoft wants to push the feature to users soon. That said, it won't be available to the stable channel just yet, a blog post by Panos Panay, CPO of Windows Devices, states that the feature will be released as a public preview next month.

Upcoming features in Windows 11


If you are a regular reader, you may be aware that we have written about these features, having tested them when they were introduced in the Windows Insider Preview builds. Here's a rundown of what you can expect from them.

Taskbar improvements


Windows 11 will allow you to adjust the volume by scrolling the mouse wheel over the Taskbar's volume icon. It also brings a new button that will appear when specific apps are running such as Teams, clicking on which will mute and unmute the microphone. In order to help users collaborate with their contacts during video calls, Windows 11 lets them share their open program windows directly from the Taskbar. The Widgets button in Windows 11 will be moved to the left edge instead of its central location, and it will display the weather information, such as the current temperature, directly on the Taskbar.



While these maybe impressive additions, the Windows 11 Taskbar menu experience is nowhere close to what its predecessor offered. Drag and drop support for the Taskbar is another feature that has been requested by many users, though it could arrive in the future.

New Notepad and Media Player apps


Microsoft is set to replace the Notepad app with a new one that has a slightly refreshed design. It retains the features from the previous version, but also adds a couple of new options such as a Dark theme, and multi-level undo.



The Media Player app which replaces Groove Music has a fluent design, that adheres to the Windows 11 standard. The legacy Media Player will continue to be available for users. The new version is perfectly capable of playing videos, music tracks, and also lets you play streaming media. It may not offer the more advanced options that you may be used to in VLC, PotPlayer, MPC, MPV, etc., but the new Media Player maybe sufficient for the average user.



If you can't wait to try it, here's a guide on how to install the new Media Player in Windows 11 right now.

What features would you like to have on Windows 11?

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft to roll out Android apps preview for Windows 11 next month along with Taskbar improvements, new Media Player and Notepad apps appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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New Microsoft Family Safety Preview app for Android and iOS

Source: Microsoft Family Safety: Protect Your Family - Office Insider Blog

 

Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows 8 Release Preview

Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview, the next milestone of the highly anticipated Windows 8 operating system. Available for download today in 14 languages at here, the Windows 8 Release Preview delivers a fast and fluid experience, along with a new user interface that responds equally well to touch as it does to keyboard and mouse. Since the February release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which was downloaded more than 1 million times in the first 24 hours, Windows 8 has become the most tested Microsoft operating system of all time, and with today's release, it enters its final phase of development before it releases to manufacturing.

We're thrilled to be at this milestone with the Windows 8 Release Preview," said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft.

New Apps Provide an Even Richer Experience
Windows 8 Release Preview delivers new apps from Microsoft and partners. Highlights include Bing Travel, News and Sports apps, as well as Gaming and Music Xbox apps that integrate with your Zune pass. The Windows 8 Release Preview also features notable improvements to the Mail, Photos and People apps that initially debuted with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. In addition, Microsoft has worked closely with its partners to deliver apps from around the world through the Windows Store.

Beyond the new apps from Microsoft and partners, customers testing the Windows 8 Release Preview will also experience tens of thousands of refinements across the product, such as increased personalization options for the Start screen, improved multimonitor support, refinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows Store, and new Family Safety features. The new Internet Explorer 10 redefines browsing, particularly for touch-enabled devices. The Web is as fast and fluid as any app, and with new capabilities in the Windows 8 Release Preview such as "flip ahead," it is just as intuitive. A touch-friendly and power-optimized Adobe Flash Player is now integrated into Internet Explorer 10, and it is also the first browser to feature Do Not Track "on" by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy.

The Path to Windows 8
Beginning June 2, 2012, Microsoft will roll out the Windows Upgrade Offer in 131 markets, including the U.S. and Canada. Consumers who buy eligible Windows 7-based PCs through Jan. 31, 2013, can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of $14.99 (U.S.) during the time of the promotion. More information about the Windows Upgrade Offer will be available June 1. In addition to the Windows Upgrade Offer designed for consumers buying new Windows 7-based PCs, Microsoft will also announce other offers in the coming months that will help consumers with existing Windows 7-based PCs upgrade to Windows 8 when it is generally available.

In the next month, Microsoft will further detail the value Windows 8 brings to businesses at TechEd North America.

For more information, visit this page.

 

Remote app for android

I recently traded in my iphone for an android, and just realized that hippo remote is iphone only. I'm looking for a similar app for android so I can use it as a remote for my htpc. Any suggestions?