Microsoft has released a big update to Windows 11, an operating system that already boasts quite the suite of features, which brings some quality-of-life enhancements to the operating system. For the US, a preview of Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 will also be made available.
The Amazon Appstore preview allows users to install Android apps from the Amazon Appstore. The catalogue of apps can’t compare to the Google Play Store yet though, even with over a thousand apps and games being added to the Amazon Appstore for this update, so there is still room for this feature to grow.
Windows 11 users in the US can access the preview by updating the Microsoft Store, then simply searching and downloading the apps and games they want, which will then be downloaded through the Amazon Appstore. The integration with the Microsoft Store is almost seamless.
The taskbar has been tweaked in this Windows 11 update, with the date and time being viewable for multiple monitors, a feature that was missing at launch. Some other quality-of-life additions to the taskbar include the return of the weather widget, a convenient button to easily mute and unmute Microsoft Teams calls, and also a more intuitive and convenient way to quickly screen share specific apps and windows from the taskbar directly into Microsoft Teams calls.
The Notepad and Media Player apps are also improved, with the former having multi-step undo, better search interface, find-and-replace feature, and dark mode. The latter, meant to replace Groove Music and Windows Media Player, supports both audio and video formats, while also fitting in better with Windows 11’s UI. The Media Player automatically shows content in the user’s music and video folders, so it’s easier to create and manage playlists on it.
This new update for Windows 11 continues the trend of regular, incremental improvement to the operating system while also giving users time to acclimate to its UI. For those who are still sticking to Windows 10, each new update could be the one that tips the scale in the new operating system’s favour.
Brandon shapeshifts between being a nerd and a geek like Mystique, but with fewer options. He reads an unhealthy amount of comics and manga, while playing a healthy amount of board games and video games.
Si Jia
