Microsoft has released the latest feature drop for Windows 11, bringing more AI-powered enhancements and improvements to the operating system. The update, which is available for both 22H2 and 23H2 users, includes changes to Windows Widgets, Snap Layouts, Copilot, Inking, and more.
AI Snap Layouts suggest the best way to arrange your apps
One of the new features in this update is AI Snap Layouts, which uses machine learning to analyze your most commonly used apps and automatically suggest the best way to snap them on your screen. This feature can be accessed by hovering over the maximize button in any app window, and it will show you different options based on the apps you have open and your screen size.
This feature aims to make multitasking easier and more efficient, as you can quickly arrange your apps in the optimal layout for your workflow. You can also customize your own Snap Layouts and save them for later use.
Windows Widgets can now be used without the news feed
Another change in this update is the ability to disable the news feed in Windows Widgets, the panel that slides out from the left side of the screen and shows you personalized information such as weather, stocks, sports, and more. Some users may not want to see news stories from MSN in their Widgets panel, and now they have the option to turn them off completely.
This means that Windows Widgets can now be used as a pure widgets panel, where you can add and remove widgets of your choice, such as calendar, to-do list, photos, and more. You can also resize and rearrange the widgets to suit your preferences.
Windows Copilot gets more plugins and skills
Windows Copilot, the AI assistant that lives in the taskbar, is also getting some improvements in this update. Microsoft is adding more plugins that enable Copilot to perform more tasks, such as making a dinner reservation with OpenTable or managing your shopping with Instacart. These plugins can be installed from the Copilot Store, which is accessible from the Copilot menu.
In addition, Microsoft is also adding new skills to Copilot that allow it to control more aspects of Windows, such as turning on or off battery saver, showing device information, launching accessibility features, and more. These skills will be rolled out gradually over the next month, and they can be activated by voice or text commands.
Other improvements and changes
The update also brings some other improvements and changes to Windows 11, such as:
- The ability to ink directly into text fields across the OS, which makes using Windows with a pen easier.
- The ability to remove gaps in audio in video files using Clipchamp automatically.
- The ability to rename your device in Nearby Share, which lets you share files and links with nearby devices using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- The ability to uninstall Bing and Edge from Windows 11 in EEA markets to comply with the Digital Markets Act.
- Updates to Notepad, Windows 365, and accessibility features.
The update is expected to be available for seekers starting February 27, and it will be rolled out to all users via Windows Update in the following weeks. This is likely to be the last feature drop for Windows 11 in 2024, as Microsoft is working on the next major update, version 24H2, which will launch later this year.
