What you need to know about Windows 11

Windows 10 is arguably one of the most successful iterations of the Windows operating system (OS). However, Microsoft has never been one to rest on its laurels, which is why it will release Windows 11 this holiday season.

What can we expect from this version of the world’s leading OS? Read on to find out.

1. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10

Software licenses aren’t cheap, so the cycle of old software losing support and new software being released has always been a concern for many users who feel that they’re being milked for their money. However, if you’re a Windows 10 user, there’s no need to fret because you can upgrade to 11 for free — provided your computer meets Windows 11’s minimum system requirements.

2. The new OS will feature new visuals

First of all, app icons on the taskbar will, by default, be centered instead of left-aligned, with icons for open and pinned apps appearing to the right of the Start button. This makes reaching that button with the mouse easier, since the user doesn’t have to go all the way down to the bottom left corner every time to do so. However, if you prefer to switch back to the classic left-aligned icon layout, you can do so.

Open windows will feature tightly rounded corners — visual cues that will help users differentiate one window from another. The windows will also feature semi-transparent backgrounds that allow the wallpaper beneath to be partially seen. This refreshing take on an old design is a boon for users who see their wallpapers as digital art.

3. Snap layouts will make setting windows on the screen easy

Windows users have long enjoyed the ability to manually change window dimensions. For added convenience, Windows 11 will let users choose between preset layouts so that apps will easily snap into the right size and onto the right place on the screen.

4. Each user will be able to use multiple virtual desktops

A single Windows 11 license can grant a user different workspaces in the form of virtual desktops (VDs). That is, one particular user may have two VDs — one for work and another for personal use.

To help differentiate between VDs, users can give each one a name. Users can also use different wallpapers and snap layouts so that they’ll have immediate visual cues as to which VD it is they’re using.

5. Widgets will make it easy to get snippets of info

Microsoft is bringing back desktop widgets, which are small apps that feature snippets of information like the weather or news. Widgets can also be tiny apps that let users perform quick functions like adding up numbers on the widget itself — i.e., without having to launch a new window. Users can pick their own widgets, or artificial intelligence can automatically populate widget panels by discerning users’ interests based on their browsing history in Microsoft Edge.

6. Microsoft Teams will be included

The free version of Teams — Microsoft’s popular video conferencing and chat app — will be integrated into Windows 11. By doing this, Microsoft hopes to break Teams’ image as purely a business product and crack the much larger consumer market.

The free version of Teams — Microsoft’s popular video conferencing and chat app — will be integrated into Windows 11.

7. Android apps will be downloadable

Android apps are normally for mobile devices, but now, users want to be able to use these apps on their desktops, too. This is because desktops have much larger screens and can let users avoid cumbersome touchscreen controls. Google did try to make their apps serviceable on Chrome OS, but the apps didn’t look as good or were glitchy. Windows users, on the other hand, had to rely on third-party Android emulators like BlueStacks and Andy.

Microsoft hopes to change this dynamic by teaming up with Amazon and Intel for their Windows 11 release. Users will be able to get apps from Amazon’s Android App Store, which will be added to the Microsoft Store. Downloaded apps will be usable on Windows 11, thanks to Intel’s “Bridge Technology,” which is presumed to be Microsoft’s authorized Android emulator for its new OS.

8. Gamers will gain a better playing experience

Via the Xbox app, video game players will be able play their Xbox games on their Windows 11-powered computer. Two features will vastly improve their experience: DirectStorage and Auto HDR (high dynamic range). DirectStorage prevents lag for games whose data packets are delivered to the graphics cards from storage. Auto HDR, on the other hand, significantly improves graphics quality over SDR (standard dynamic range) with enhanced brightness and a wider range of colors to make contrasting hues more pronounced.

9. OS performance will be better

Microsoft promises performance improvements, such as:

Faster wake-ups from sleep, sign-ins via Windows Hello, and web browsing
Enhanced security
Smaller and more efficient OS updates that will occur in the background
Greater energy efficiency that prolongs battery life
Higher-quality audio and haptic feedback for stylus
Improved voice typing functionality
Touch-optimized experience

Worried about shifting to Windows 11? Don’t fret — let our Microsoft experts at [company_short] help you out. Leave us a message or call us at 801-747-3200 today.

Going passwordless? Microsoft has the tools for your business

Scammers send countless spoofed emails that try to lure you to fake login pages and have you divulge your username and password. Hackers infect your business’s computers with keyloggers in the hopes of recording users’ account credentials. With so many cyberthreats gunning for your passwords, it won’t be surprising if you want to stop using passwords altogether — especially when Microsoft appears to have gotten tired of them as well.

Microsoft has introduced a couple of passwordless tools that users of their software can use to keep their data and their systems safe.

Before anything else, what does going passwordless mean?

Going passwordless means revamping your cybersecurity system so that your business will no longer have to rely on passwords to protect your data from unauthorized access and theft. Using passwords as part of your company’s security strategy actually inconveniences staff and users, as this demands the following from them:

Longer, more complex, and hard-to-remember passwords (which hackers can steal by phishing)
Password replacements every couple of months (which makes users tweak old passwords in a predictable or easy-to-guess way)
Password resets whenever they forget their passwords
Unique passwords for every account
Additional authentication steps (which makes the process of accessing accounts tedious)

In short, going passwordless means opting for cybersecurity tools that are both easier to use and more effective at keeping your company secure than password-based solutions.

Moreover, if you haven’t automated your password reset process yet, you’d know how expensive it is to have your IT team handle password reset requests. Going passwordless will therefore also mean cutting out costs related to maintaining password-centric security systems.

What passwordless tools does Microsoft have for their users?

As of this writing, Microsoft offers three types of passwordless tools, namely biometric scans, one-time passcodes (OTPs), and hardware security keys.

Biometrics

With biometrics, the user’s own unique characteristics become the keys for unlocking their accounts. Depending on the use case, you can opt for fingerprint scans, iris scans, and facial recognition. These promote ease of use while granting high degrees of security because people will literally always have such “keys” on their bodies, and these keys are very difficult to copy or steal.

Windows Hello, Microsoft’s tool for letting users gain quick and secure access to their Windows 10 devices, utilizes biometrics as a primary way to authenticate a user’s identity.

One-time passcodes

OTPs are security tokens generated by an authenticator app (such as Microsoft Authenticator) in the user’s smartphone and act as identity verification keys that grant that user access to their account. In this scenario, the smartphone is unlocked either by scanning the user’s fingerprint or entering a PIN code registered to and known only by that user. This makes the user’s possession of their device a marker of their identity. Therefore, when the user enters an OTP generated from that phone, they’re showing proof that it’s really them who are trying to get into their account.

Hardware security keys

The last type of passwordless tool offered by Microsoft is the hardware security key. These are literally like car keys or keys to your front door, but instead come in the form of hardware such as USB thumb drives or near-field communication smart cards. A user can have their credentials stored in the security keys so that they can then use these keys to open their Windows user account, online Microsoft accounts, and accounts associated with their Microsoft Edge browser.

While some applications will only require one authentication factor, the most secure passwordless systems utilize multifactor authentication, which requires at least two types of passwordless tools.

What tools you apply will depend on what you want to secure and how you want to secure it. To learn more about Microsoft’s passwordless options and which tools best suit your business’s needs, turn to our Microsoft experts at [company_short]. Get a free quote for your project or call us at 801-747-3200 today.