There are signs that Microsoft will name the next generation of Windows Windows 11-the next generation of Windows

For months, Microsoft has been predicting the “next generation” of Windows, but new hints indicate that the company is not just preparing to update its existing Windows 10 software, but is preparing a version of the operating system with a large number. : Windows 11.The software giant announced yesterday that it will hold a new Windows event on June 24, promising to show “the next step for Windows.”

The invitation letter for the event included a picture that looked like a new Windows logo. The light came in from the window. There were only two vertical bars forming an outline, which looked very much like the number 11. Microsoft subsequently provided an animated version of this picture, again making it clear that the company deliberately ignored the bars.

Microsoft’s Windows activities also start at 11 am Eastern Time, which is not the usual start time for typical Windows and Surface activities. After the invitation to the event, Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi also publicly stated that he has not been “so excited about the new version of Windows since Windows 95!” This is the first time we have heard Microsoft clearly mention that the “new version” of Windows is coming. Come out.

The invitation to this event was also only a week after Nadella announced the news of “Next Generation Windows”. Nadella promised that Microsoft will soon share “one of the most important updates to Windows in the past decade.” Panos Panay, Microsoft’s chief product officer, also previewed the “next generation” of Windows earlier this year.

If Microsoft is really going to surpass Windows 10 and move towards Windows 11, we look forward to seeing big visual changes to reflect this. Microsoft has been developing a product code-named “Sun Valley”, which the company calls the “Comprehensive Visual Rejuvenation of Windows.” Huge UI changes will appear in Windows. Many of these visual changes come from the work done by Microsoft on Windows 10X. Windows 10X is a lightweight version designed to compete with Chrome OS. It was later announced to stop development and merge into the mainline version of Windows. This includes a new start menu, new system icons, file explorer improvements, and icons that end the Windows 95 era. Rounded corners and updates to built-in Windows applications are also planned.

In addition to the user interface, major changes in Windows seem to be steadily underway. Microsoft seems to be ready to solve many lingering problems, plans to fix the problem of rearranging applications on multiple displays, the upcoming Xbox Auto HDR feature, and improvements to Bluetooth audio support.

Perhaps the biggest problem waiting to be fixed is the Windows Store. In recent months, Microsoft has been developing a new app store for Windows, and there are rumors that it will be very different from the current app store. Nadella has promised to use Windows to “release greater economic opportunities for developers and creators,” and the Windows Store seems to be the obvious way to achieve this goal. According to reports, Microsoft is reorganizing its Windows application store, allowing developers to submit any Windows applications, including browsers such as Chrome or Firefox. This will greatly improve the store itself, but Microsoft may also be considering allowing third-party commerce platforms in applications. This will mean that Microsoft will not take a draw from developers who use its own in-app purchase system. So far, Microsoft has only announced that it will cut the commission for PC games in the Windows store to 12%, but allowing developers to bypass Microsoft’s share will be a major change.

The switch to the Windows 11 brand will also support Microsoft’s reinvestment in Windows. The software maker signaled a renewed interest in Windows last year, and during a pandemic, it demonstrated the importance of the operating system. As workers and students around the world turn to laptops and personal computers to work from home, the use of Windows has jumped. Shipments of personal computers have also surged in the past year.

After cutting Windows into two parts as early as 2018, Microsoft moved part of the Windows development work back to Panos-Pane’s control last year. This move obviously acknowledges that Microsoft’s Windows split was unsuccessful. In the past few months, the Windows 10 development experience was chaotic, Windows update was delayed, lack of major new features, and a large number of bugs after Windows update, so that every The regular updates on the second Tuesday of the month almost always shock system administrators.

However, the move to Windows 11 will still be a surprise for Microsoft. The company previously referred to Windows 10 as the “last version of Windows” to vigorously promote the positioning of the operating system as a continuously updated service. Although Windows is updated every month, the more important changes are usually only twice a year.

However, Microsoft has been struggling with naming these updates. We have seen the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the Fall Creators Update, and subsequent simpler date combinations, such as the November 2019 update. Recently, Microsoft also adopted another naming scheme, calling the update 20H1 or 21H1 to indicate the release year and part of the number of updates.

Switching to Windows 11 will not necessarily solve Microsoft’s update naming problem, but if the company can also adopt a point release like Windows 11.1 like Apple, it will definitely help consumers and IT administrators quickly understand which version is the latest.

OEM manufacturers will also be very happy to see the release of Windows 11. The new version of Windows can always promote new hardware sales and renewed attention to the operating system. If Microsoft supports this with a new user interface and a new look and feel of Windows, this will be the typical way to play Windows that we have seen for decades.

We are not far from finding out whether Microsoft is going to dial the version number of Windows to 11. The Windows upgrade (what I call it now) will begin at 11 am Eastern Time on June 24.