Microsoft Rolls Out Feature-Packed Windows 11 Update: Enhanced AI, New Capabilities, and User Experience Improvements
Microsoft has commenced the deployment of a significant update for Windows 11, introducing a comprehensive suite of enhancements and new features, this update enriches Windows 11 with more control options for the AI assistant Copilot, including the addition of the new Generative Erase option in the Photos app, voice shortcuts for accessibility, refined Snap layouts, modifications to the widgets system, and more.
The rollout of new Copilot features is set to begin in late March, offering new skills such as enabling battery saver mode or activating accessibility features through chatbot commands, Copilot will also have the capability to display available Wi-Fi networks, storage space, and even empty the recycle bin.
The Photos app is now AI-enhanced, featuring the new Generative Erase tool that allows users to effortlessly remove unwanted objects from images, additionally, the video editor Clipchamp gains the ability to eliminate silence from video clips.
Microsoft is also focusing on improving the user interface elements and the built-in Snap layouts within Windows 11, users can now disable the Microsoft Start feed, and the Windows widgets panel has been made interoperable as part of Microsoft’s commitment to the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act.
The Snap feature has been made smarter in this update, remembering your apps and automatically suggesting layouts, enhancing user experience, for tablet users with a stylus, the update includes the ability to write directly into text boxes across the operating system, including support for Windows Ink in apps like WhatsApp, Photos, Paint, and more.
Microsoft has also refined the built-in casting feature, allowing for content streaming to nearby screens in Windows 11, users will receive notifications about streaming suggestions for multitasking, along with improvements in discovering nearby screens and fixing connectivity issues.
For those who frequently share Windows content with other devices or own an Android phone, the update introduces enhancements to make content sharing easier, the Nearby sharing feature now offers faster transfer speeds for users on the same network, and you can assign your computer a recognizable name to facilitate identification by others.
The Phone Link system in Windows 11 now allows access to recent photos or use your phone as a webcam in video conferencing apps.
Microsoft has made improvements in accessibility, including new voice shortcuts that allow for the creation of custom commands to automate tasks in the voice access feature, voice access now supports multiple screens, and Microsoft has enhanced the Narrator feature by adding natural-sounding voices that utilize on-device text-to-speech technology.
This new update is rolling out now, though its arrival may vary for users.
